Not many words from me today. Not many needed. The pictures hopefully convey some of the sheer wonder of this place. We have been on multiple game drives with our guide, whose name I have now discovered is Henk (not Heck). My bad! I'll correct it on earlier posts...
But just one commentary before I post the pictures and videos. Yesterday I saw a rhinoceros in the wild. I have been, I think, on either 5 or 6 safaris, in Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa and never seen one. The reason of course is because of poaching, because morons will pay astronomical prices for ground up rhino horn to supposedly aid their sexual prowess. A more apt metaphor for the pathetic exploitation of the animal world by the rich world is hard to imagine. But in reserves like this, they are well protected and can thrive. I don't know the numbers because they won't tell us, as part of the protection of the rhinos, and I won't name the reserve either as that too will help. Apparently poachers even track social media accounts for information about the location of rhinos that still have their horns. And it turns out removing the horn is no solution, as poachers will either kill the rhino for the stub that remains, or kill it simply to avoid having to track it again.
OK, nuff said. Time for some pictures. Some by me, some by Nareesa, some by Elisa and some by Andy. I have much closer ones on my camera, but no way to extract them - idiot!
Three in a row.
Cheetah, just wandering past. Nope, not interested in you.
I'm off
Giving a log a fright. Another picture by Nareesa (she insisted I told you)
Video too! (Yep, Nareesa's)
Cheetah playground
Excuse me
Vervet (or Blue) monkey, checking us out
He's big boy. In many ways!
Let's just give him a bit of space.
Am I a white horse with black stripes or a black horse...
That will do for now. Except perhaps this species of wild thing, not often seen in these parts. It's cold on the morning game drives!
I see you, see me, see you...
There is always one looking the wrong way.
And finally, the last wild thing! I've been to several lodges where a "cultural experience" was presented to the guests. They are usually, to my mind, somewhat false and based more on the perceived expectations of the tourists than a true expression of African music and dance. But this one was not a bit like that. It is possible they were faking it but I doubt it. Whilst I am sure it wasn't actually spontaneous, this one seemed genuinely an expression of African music, wit, charm and exuberance. There was no script, no dress code (they all just had the clothes they were working in), and no excuse for not joining in! What an evening, what a day, what place! And at least I can keep time!
And so the sun sets on another amazing day. Good place to close - under African skies! We leave here tomorrow for the coast, so probably be a couple of days before I set finger to keyboard again.
I called this a "haddock sky". Nope, no idea why!
He looks happy!
So it's goodbye from me(for now), and goodbye from Zeus. Thanks for having us guys.
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