Africa safaris are full of surprises!

Morning tea is as much a part of Africa safaris as wildlife observation.  For this one Paddy selects one of his favourite spots by the river, where we are the company of a pod of hippos wallowing contentedly – now I’m particularly wary of hippos considering they kill more people in Africa than any of the predators.  However, as the heat of the day is already beginning to build there is little danger of an adverse encounter with these enormous but cranky herbivores.  The trouble arises when humans invade their space, particularly by blocking their path to the safety of deep water!  Thus Africa safaris goers are advised to give these monsters a wide berth, as they can move a lot faster than you would imagine their huge frame would allow!  While Africa safaris are full of surprises, we were very taken aback one evening in a camp in Botswana having to abort our nocturnal retirement until the pod of hippos, who had decided to dine on the succulent green grass of the camp garden, had finished their evening repast or moved off to other pastures!

But these morning tea hippos have clearly finished their grazing for the day and look like they have no intention of emerging from the protection of the water for a long time – boy does that suit me!

First off we must find the ablutions corner – Paddy designates the bush we have just passed as the ladies – to me with my very full bladder, it looks almost ideal!  Armed with a couple of tissues and a doggie poo bag (to store the wet tissues) I am first in the queue.  On moving off again, considerably relieved with an empty bladder, I appreciate just how suitable the bush we chose as the “ablutions block” was compared to the one just past our “tea party” obscuring as it did, an enormous male elephant – as I said Africa safaris are full of surprises.

A very unpleasant surprise followed our morning tea, a white rhino with a bullet wound – unfortunately, it seems poachers have infiltrated the Sabi Sands – the problem is growing and the perpetrators particularly inhumane with no regard for the agony they cause to these poor innocent creatures – you really do hope that karma is not merely imaginary!  Paddy radios in the position of the wounded animal so the local vet can make an assessment of the wound.  Thankfully it seems relatively superficial so we leave the poor injured rhino in the company of his mate and head off in search of our next Africa safaris surprise, which comes in the shape of a couple of 7-month old lion cubs whose mother has unusually kept them apart from the rest of her pride long after they would have become part of the family – in an attempt to protect them from a particularly aggressive male that comes and goes through this reserve. 

Our friend David Blumberg has named the two cubs Frank & Ralph and while they and their Mum are engrossed on a recent kill we harangue David – “you cannot call male lions Frank & Ralph – I mean what were you thinking!!”  “So what’s wrong with the names Frank & Ralph?”  “Honestly David they’re supposed to have big strong names like Kashan or Hercules!!”  “So who made those rules ……”  Still arguing about imaginaryAfricasafaris rules, the noise of the approaching vehicle frightens a clan of dwarf mongoose much to my dismay as I have a real soft spot for the smaller less illustrious wildlife!  Fear not says Paddy “I speak fluent mongoose!” and without further ado he chatters away to these funny little creatures who are teased out one by one – their little heads popping up around the log which moments ago served as their hiding place – Paddy really does speak fluent mongoose!!

As the light of the day begins to fade we head off to an Africa safaris customary activity for this time of day – a sundowner!  Darkness has settled by the time we reach the designated site, where a picnic table has been set up, laden with goodies, underneath a tree festooned with fairy lights and candles – champagne and beer already in the cooler - perhaps this is the enchanted forest??  No just a little birthday treat for one of our jeep companions, a regular visitor to Savanna – as I keep sayingAfricasafaris are full of surprises!