Growing up in Africa for me was amazing – only I never got to experience going to a Game Reserve.
Needless to say as of a few weeks ago I’ve been spoilt in that department and today I got a whole day of it to savor. Some of the crew got to go on foot (yes, that’s right) and walk a few km’s till they came across an animal carcass a day or two old. How awesome. I got to watch from the 4×4 – someone had to stay behind and be the look-out should any danger be lurking about – and I can only imagine the absolute rush they must have felt, judging from the look on their faces when they came back (with amazing footage and rouged cheeks).
Vultures circled and soared above the stinking carcass, buck scurried away at the sight and smell of humans and warthogs dashed around the plethora of palm trees that make up most of the forests in the Gorongosa National Park. I had my own issue with monkeys trying to get on the 4×4 and pesty tsetse flies trying to get a bite. It seems the tsetses have a real penchant for moving vehicles and had us all huddled under blankets in desperate hope that they’d stop biting. Let me tell you – it didn’t work. It took another vehicle overtaking us to get rid of the tsetse torture.
The real highlight of the game drive though was on the way back, dark and cold as it was due to the late afternoon sun dropping fast, when we got the call that lions had been sighted. We radioed for Justin and Sunel, who were in the Land Cruiser, to meet us where the lions lazed about and thank the stars that we did. When they finally met up with us we were slowly being surrounded by a pride of 5 young female lions. Very clever they were, these cats. Hearts thumping, voices raised slightly, torches been shone from all corners of the 4×4, a surge of panic kicked in as we realized a 6th lion was just a few km’s ahead. As we were filming all of this, the engine of the 4×4 had been turned off so there really was no quick escape. Enter the bright flashlight from the Land Cruiser – in the nick of time, I’d say. Definitely a story to tell the grand kids one day.
Taz Wilde – Sound
