There is something very special about Africa, the cradle of mankind, the hint of danger, the landscape, large fierce animals. Life is so real … and so fragile.
My companion on this occasion is Mark*, a professional biologist whose work in Australia mainly concerns wildlife monitoring. He is a joy to travel with, he is fascinated by everything, whinges about nothing and can shed light into every corner of the natural world.
First step was Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe and a Leon Varley Walking Safari.
The accommodation was a base camp on the edge of a cliff. Leon picked us up in Victoria Falls and was keen to get the three hour drive done before dark so that we could appreciate the importance of not wandering over the cliff. We would not have been the first to do so.
The following morning we went for our first stroll. Leon gave the safety briefing …
All the big five are here and they can all do you serious harm or kill you.
Don’t run unless I tell you to run, especially with Lion. Your instinct is to run, theirs is to chase. I’ve had to shoot three lions in the last 24 years, twice it was because someone ran. I’m not going to do it again, run and I’ll let nature take its course.
If I do tell you to run, keep me between you and the animal and stay on your feet. Follow direction.
Most charges are mock charges, except for buffalo. If a buffalo charges it’s coming all the way …
If we come across poachers get down on the ground and stay there until I sort something out.
Obeid, the tracker leads the way. He is armed with a hand gun. Leon follows with a bolt action rifle across his shoulders, it has a cartridge in the breech and two more in the magazine. Then comes Mark, I’m in the rear. There is an old saying about not needing to outrun the lion, just your nearest companion. I look around and for the first time in my life come to the conclusion that I’m the slowest in the group.
The route took us through Mopane woodland to a lake which we then skirted to where we were picked up and taken to camp for lunch. It was the very end of the dry season, if the country had a tongue it would have been hanging out. The Mopane can grow into a fairly substantial tree putting the leaves out of reach for all but giraffe. The elephants seem determined not to let that happen. Large areas of Mopane were broken off or of no great age, bringing the browse line down to a level that smaller animals can reach.
The bushes in the foreground are Mopane just coming into leaf.
A large herd of Cape Buffalo are also heading to the lake. They are quite strung out, the females and young make the pace and get the best of the feed. The males bring up the rear, over time the poorer feed causes them to lose condition and drop off the back. The front of the herd is well ahead of us, we can’t beat it to the lake. Nor can we pass through it. Since we need to get from the right flank to the left we must pass behind it. Cautiously, because that’s where those grumpy old men are. Of the large animals only hippos kill more people than buffalo, elephant follow in third place. You can’t entirely forget about the carnivores but do show respect for the vegetarians.
Along the way Leon pauses to give us the good oil on the life and death of elephants …
At the lake it’s all happening, as well as the buffalo there are elephants, impala, chacma baboon, warthog, impala, crocodiles, hippos and four people on foot. Welcome to the real Africa, stay alert, think about where the wind is taking news of your presence, watch how the animals are reacting and have a nice day.
We had walked about 12 km for the morning by the end of which it was becoming very hot. Lunch was basic but good. At 3pm we headed off again for a further 8km or so. This was the pattern for the next few days. The dining tent was pitched at the cliff edge, from its shade we could watch a water hole that the local wildlife had scraped in the bed of the dry creek below, not a moment of daylight need be wasted.
* Name changed to preserve his privacy.
bobmcgee 