Wednesday, June 2, 2010

The Safari


First off, thanks to everyone for their kind words regarding my blog. You are my motivation for continuing to write. I know it’s been a few days but there is a lot to say and I have struggled to find the time to sit down and focus on the task of describing my weekend.
I must say that raindrops are following us around the country! First in Cape Town, and now in Kruger National Park. Shame. (But, I guess it is winter here so I need to stop complaining.)
We ended up on a 3 day safari in very chilly conditions, making the open air game drives somewhat uncomfortable, shivering under our blankets. However, the weather was easily won over by the beauty that is the African bush and the wonder of the spectacle of animals in their natural habitat. Emma and I stayed in a very rustic camp with little huts without any electricity. Awesome. The only thing lighting the way at night was our lanterns and the open campfire in the main lodge. We were on the Klaserie Game Reserve in particular and this is where we stayed: http://www.sa-venues.com/visit/africaonfoot/
Saturday afternoon we went out on the 4x4 and saw lots of impala, a warthog, kudu and a female lion walking by herself down the road ahead of us. She was beautiful and the guides said she had cubs based on her appearance (she was visibly lactating). We turned off the engine to hear the lions roaring under the stars. They were surprisingly loud, those Kings of the savanna! We took in the Southern Cross and Scorpio constellations above our heads. The moon was also red and full in true African style. 
After a delicious dinner around the campfire on Saturday night, we were told to silently move towards the swimming pool. And voila! There was a herd of elephants drinking from it...about 6 of them including a baby! We shone the flashlights on them and finally they got a bit stressed and so proceeded to move on, but we did get a great look. Amazing to know that animals just rock up to the camp like that!! I slept like a baby to the soothing sounds of the winds and owls hoo hooing.
The second day we saw another herd of elephants and more kudu. We went on a nature walk and saw lots of different plants and trees and kinds of dung (I’m now an expert on animal poo...and saw proof that giraffes and hyenas were also in the area.) Later that night we went on another drive and saw dozens of zebras and a few rhinos. They were so quick on their feet and jetted away from our obtrusive headlights!
The final morning (Monday) we set off on a long morning walk and it was spectacular to watch the sunrise (we set off at 6 am) and to relish in being so connected to nature. I just couldn’t quite get my head around where I was...AFRICA. The one animal I didn’t get to see by the end of the 3 days that I desparately wanted to was a giraffe. However, the guide pointed out a bone we came across that morning, it was huge. He told me it belonged to a giraffe leg and that a lion had clearly killed it to eat. I was sad to see this but realize it is the true nature of the food chain. (Then, ironically, as we were exiting the park, I was driving and Emma spotted 4 giraffes by the side of the road! So...........my safari experience was complete indeed!)
After this experience I was thinking about how humans and animals in this particular community (and many others for that matter across the world) live in harmony. Humans here respect the animal’s space and vice verse. There is an innate courtesy for how each species live. Yet, humans and other humans can’t seem to get it together and respect each other in the same fashion.  I heard on the news about the Israeli attack on the Palestinian boat, how blacks and whites continue to fight for position and resources in this country, the war raging in Afghanistan, etc. How can we not live in peace given all of our so-called 'advances' and ‘global’ view we claim to have? If animals and humans got it figured out, so should we really. 
Possibly the biggest shock I’ve had since arriving on the 8th of May occurred on the way home from Kruger National Park. I should say as a disclaimer that the drivers and the roads here are quite unlike anything I’ve seen before. You have to be completely aware at all time and on the lookout for potholes, road kill, animals grazing, school kids walking, people flagging taxis, cars driving at break neck speed, etc. PLUS we are dealing with being on the other side of the road. Concentration is mandatory. Emma and I were about 1 hour out of Pretoria on a fairly decent double-laned highway and we came upon a very bad car accident. It must have just happened a few minutes before because there was not yet emergency help on the scene. As we approached, I realized that bodies were on road. There were likely two dead and others injured, but I couldn’t bring myself to look closely. Talk about traumatizing. I have never seen anything like this in my life and felt ill.
I have come to the realization that this is the reality of Africa. Death and encounters with life and death are very normal and prevalent....way more so than what we as North Americans see. We are quite sheltered. Diseases, violence, accidents, are far more in-your-face. I would safely say that Africans are desensitized to these things and just seem to get on with life. I have not been able to stop thinking about it and find myself wondering, was the man I saw on the road a father, a brother, a son? What was he on his way to do when he crashed? Who would be impacted most by his passing? What was he thinking in his final moments? 
Often we don’t take the time to really live and be present in the moments we have. Seeing this really made me critically look at being alive and embracing everything life has to offer. It also made me think twice about driving on South African highways!
Anyway, this is getting long (see, I told you I had a lot to say!) and I will go for now and report back on the weekend about my practicum. There are very exciting things happening there too.
I keep on swinging,
Brianna