Los cuentos de Tinga Tinga

You see there was a time when Flamingo stood on both legs. One morning, Flamingo and her flock landed at the Water Hole when all the crabs were busy performing their underwater dance. Needless to say, all these legs where in their way! Tortoise came up with the plan that if all Crabs each nipped a flamingo leg, there will be room to share the waterhole. So from then on, Flamingo stood on one legs and Crabs were able to perform their dance in the watering hole.

You see there was a time when Lion had lost his roar. Crocodile was snapping at all the animals in Tinga Tinga and ruling over the Waterhole. Lion could do nothing about it as he had lost his roar. Then one day Flea told Lion that if Lion dares to enter the Great Cave of Tinga Tinga, maybe he will find his roar. Lion plucked up his courage and confronted the Great Cave. He roared with all his might. An even bigger roar came back, but Lion stood strong. He roared again and an even bigger roar came back. Lion's very own Echo! He found his roar! From that day on Lion has always roared with pride, showing any beast who's the real King of Tinga Tinga.

You see there was a time when Rhino didn't charge and he couldn't see very well at all. Poor old Rhino really wanted to be invited to the Dance of the Horns up on the plains with Buffalo and all the other horned animals. But Rhino didn't have a horn, so he wasn't allowed. The Monkeys decided to help Rhino and made him a horn from a piece of old wood. But when Rhino woke up, he didn't know what it was. 'Aargh! Thing on the end of my nose! CHAAaarge!' And that's why Rhino charges.

You see there was a time when Hare did not hop. He was one of the speediest animals in Tinga Tinga but none of the other animals wanted to race with him because Hare always won and it was boring. Then one day, slow-but-clever Tortoise decided to challenge Hare. At first Hare could not believe his luck, but then Tortoise won and he won and he won. When Hare realised it is not such fun being on the losing end, Tortoise let him hop past the finishing line in first place.

There was a time when Crocodile didn't have a bumpy back. His skin was smooth and he had to be careful of the hot Tinga Tinga sun. One day while napping, Crocodile got sunburnt and fell into a deep sleep. Lion warned the animals to be on their guard as the wildebeest had returned and could stampede at any moment. Crocodile missed the meeting, snoring under the hot sun. The animals tried to warn snappy Crocodile, but it was too late and the wildebeest stampeded over him. From that day on, Crocodile has had a bumpy back and has been grumpier and snappier than ever.

You see there was a time when Porcupine didn't have quills, she had the softest coat in all of Tinga Tinga and Jackal wanted it. Despite warnings from all the animals, Porcupine allowed Jackal to invite her to his cave to keep out of the rain. Porcupine took off her coat to allow it to dry, but while she slept, naughty Jackal ran off with it. When she awoke, Porcupine was covered in lots of tiny ant bites and they itched and they itched and they itched. Tortoise suggested Elephant squeeze some milk from the milky quill bush but Porcupine couldn't wait anymore and ran into the quill bushes to relieve her itching. Crash! Crash! Crash! Porcupine crashed through the quill bushes and emerged covered in spiky quills! The animals couldn't believe their eyes! But Porcupine was delighted as no beast would ever come near her sensitive skin ever again! Tales from Africa.

You see there was time when Vulture was not bald. Oh no, Vulture's head was covered in a beautiful crown of golden plumage! Vain Vulture never shut up about her golden feathers and was obsessed about making them as golden as the sun! One day Vulture decided to fly up to the sun, but her precious feathers got burnt! Vulture decided to soothe her smoking feathers with golden honey, which she stole from the bees. The bees were not pleased and Vulture stuck her head down Aardvark's burrow. However, Aardvark loves feathers all covered in honey and when Vulture surfaced, she was as bald as, well, as a Vulture!

You see there was a time when Frog didn't croak. Frog sang like a bird and the birds didn't like it. Birds were the masters of song and that's the way it should be! So the birds tricked poor old Frog into a singing duel and sang and sang and sang until poor old Frog's voice was reduced to a ribbit. Tales from Africa.

You see there was a time when Monkey used to play on the ground and he loved to wind up Crocodile. One day the big rains came and Monkey became stranded up a mango tree. Nasty Crocodile promised to take him to dry land but only in exchange for his heart! So Monkey tricked Crocodile, and when Crocodile found out that Monkey swapped his heart for a measly mango, he chased Monkey up a tree. From that day on Monkey swings in the trees keeping well clear of Crocodile's angry snaps.

You see, there was a time when Warthog was really rather handsome. And did he know it! He strutted around Tinga Tinga as if he owned the place. All the animals were fed up with Warthog's boasting, and then one day Lion decided to give chase. Yikes! Warthog ran headfirst into Porcupine's burrow! After that, he was no longer the prettiest beast in Tinga Tinga.

You see, there was a time when Hen didn't peck the ground. She was a proud mother who spent all her time looking after and cleaning her chicks. Fancy pancy Peacock upset Mama Hen and made her feel plain.

You see there was a time when Hippo did have hair - lots of hair! She was always harrumphingly hot. Then one hot night while Hippo was sleeping, a spark from the fire caught the end of her hairy tail. Hippo was on fire! She ran through the bush until she jumped in the waterhole. From that day on Hippo stayed in the cool waters without a single hair on her hide. Tales from Africa.

You see there was a time when Elephant had no nose. He couldn't swat away the flies, or scrub his belly - he couldn't even blow his nose. Then one day snappy Crocodile snapped! Crocodile pulled and he pulled and he pulled - until ker-doing! Crocodile let go and Elephant's nose was all long and wiggly! And that's why Elephant has a trunk. Tales from Africa.