A famed English explorer was invited to Oxford University to share tales of his adventures in the African jungle. He strode to the podium, cleared his throat, and declared, “Ladies and gentlemen, I’ll bet you none of you can answer this question: What is the single most dangerous creature in the entire jungle?”
The audience immediately started whispering guesses — lions, crocodiles, snakes — but the explorer held up his hand to silence them.
“Wrong, all of you,” he said with a sly smile. “The most dangerous creature is… the local guide.”
The room fell silent in confusion.
He explained, “You see, the lions, snakes, and crocodiles can’t fool you. They are what they are — dangerous but predictable. But the local guide? Oh no. He’s got a sixth sense for where the best photo ops are, the shortest routes, and the tastiest berries. But, most importantly, he knows how to make you hike twice as far as you planned, climb the steepest cliffs, and get back just in time for tea.”
The crowd chuckled.
The explorer leaned in, “Once, I asked my guide how long the trek was. He said ‘just a little walk.’ Four hours later, I was hugging a tree, praying for mercy.”
A student raised a hand, “But isn’t the guide supposed to keep you safe?”
“Ah,” said the explorer, “he keeps me safe from boredom, exhaustion, and the wild animals—by making sure I’m too tired to chase anything. Including danger.”
The audience laughed and applauded.
“So remember,” he concluded, “when you’re out in the wild, the biggest danger isn’t always what you expect. Sometimes, it’s the one leading the way.”
