Safari Holidays to South Africa and Namibia for independent travellers.

In the Beginning, the Warthog was the most handsome animal.  He knew this, and unfortunately became very vain. 

As a result, none of the other animals liked Warthog very much.

One morning, Warthog left his burrow, and wandered off with his tail proudly sticking up in search of food. 

He passed Porcupine, who had been up all night foraging for food.  Porcupine was extremely tired, and wanted to go to sleep, but he still had a long way to go before he reached his home.  

Porcupine had an idea.  Why not nip into Warthog's burrow and have a quick nap before Warthog returned?  So Porcupine went down the burrow and promptly fell asleep.

Porcupine, who had been sleeping soundly, awoke with a start. Thinking that he was being attacked, he stood up and spread his quills ready to fend off anyone.

Warthog was running so fast into his burrow, he was unable to slow down when he saw Porcupine, and ran straight into him. 

Warthog cried out in pain, because many quills became stuck in his face and nose.

In haste, Warthog backed quickly out of the burrow again. 

Lion, seeing the Warthog coming out with a face full of quills, laughed gleefully.

"Serves you right," said Lion.  "That will teach you to be so vain." 

When the other animals heard what had happened to Warthog, they all came to laugh too, and no one helped to pull out the quills. 

Poor Warthog's face swelled up, and his once handsome features disappeared. 

He was very upset, but realised that he had learnt a hard lesson for being so vain.  And still, to this day, the Warthog is still ugly - and also always enters his burrow backwards - just in case.