In South Africa, one time, our guide/driver took us to the Cape of Good Hope. After an enjoyable morning we got back into our van; D and M (the participants shall remain nameless) in the back seat, I in the middle seat where I like to be and J up front with the driver. A few miles along we saw baboons all over the highway and hills. We pulled off the road and watched. J rolled down her window to take a picture. - Fossil Huntress

Suddenly a baboon shot through the window and landed in the back seat. I'd automatically ducked my head and it was still down when I heard "Brenda, he has your purse". I looked up to see this baboon (about the size of a six-year-old) hunched on the seat beside me. He had a hold of the strap of my purse which contained my passport and plane ticket. I automatically grabbed the other end of the strap -- he pulled, I pulled, he snarled, I snarled. He grimaced and I was suddenly very aware that his halitosis was overwhelming and that he had a mouthful of very sharp-looking teeth. - Fossil Huntress

In the background, M is yelling at our guide "unlock the doors -- unlock the goddam doors." M slid the door open, and yanked the baboon’s tail. My knees collapsed and with heart pounding fiercely, I plonked down on the seat. The enraged baboon shot out of the van clutching my purse, ran for about 200 yards, then sat to enjoy his spoils. Cars and vans had had to stop and one couple assessing the situation started their car and then drove it straight at the baboon, which took off without my purse. Our guide, who did admit later that she should have told us to keep our windows closed, was the same one who, when we finally convinced her that we were heading out of, not into, Durban, merely drove over the highway median to head in the other direction. But that’s a different nightmare. - Fossil Huntress

I'll definitely keep my purse clutched close when we are in South Africa. Good story. - Todd Hoff