A herd of waterbuck waited regally outside the gates of Reilly’s Rock, the colonial homestead where the Last Chance to See crew were fast approaching. It seemed as though the bush telegraph really had gone into overdrive as Mlilwane’s animals arranged themselves into their most fetching positions and strained to catch a glimpse of this rare creature from England. Stephen Fry appeared just as he does on screen (perhaps, if anything, even taller) and only slightly crumpled from his long haul flight wearing a linen jacket, shirt and jeans. He carried a brightly striped bag containing the treasured Apple gadgets that go everywhere with him. We told the crew about our new charismatic friend, Tsandziwe the Roan Antelope and they set off almost immediately to meet her for themselves. Predictably, they were just as charmed. Later we watched on as co-presenter Mark Cardawine assisted Dr. Hamish Currie and Ted Reilly’s son Mickey in sedating a Roan bull in order to put plastic tubes over the horns. This blunting is an important precaution to protect precious females during mating as apparently the males can be quite rough.
Then it was off to sister game reserve Mkhaya, which is home to a host of endangered species and at the forefront of black and white rhino propagation. Lachlan got a lift with Mickey while I travelled with Ted and he told me more about Yonge Nawe, the NGO which is irresponsibly encouraging poaching in Swaziland by offering poachers legal aid. After witnessing all the good that has been achieved with conservation in Swaziland and knowing of the Reilly’s personal sacrifices, it was a heart breaking story.
