Red October- An Update From The Bush
Sounds like the title of a song by Cliff Richard, but despite soft resonances of his voice floating in on a cool breeze of a summer holiday to your ears right now, the African sun at this time of year can be anything but soothing.
Ra, the sun-God of the ancient Egyptians, is making her re-appearance in full force, driving plants to awaken from their slumber and make food for the dry winter season far ahead.
The searing rays on a clear day penetrate almost through the leafy canopies of shady trees under which Impala or Kudu take refuge.
Driving through the bush during mid day I came across a herd of Elephant that had taken shelter under a tree, attempting to escape the heat radiating down furiously onto their unprotected backs.
Two young calves were sound asleep in the middle of the group, deeply protected amongst the legs of the adults in full, dark, relatively cool shade– all thirteen of them. The astonishing thing was that all fifteen elephant were huddled together under the canopy of the Shepherd’s Tree that cast a measly shadow of around only 12 square metres!
To experience raw nature, to feel her fury and simultaneously perceive her immense and incomprehensible beauty at the end of a summers’ day is to start feeling alive again. Especially with an iced Gin & Tonic at hand!
Rain has mostly been a mocking whisper on the October breezes, despite isolated falls on distant, most fortunate lands, the inhabitants of whom thus have reason to be jovial. Most bush inhabitants are waiting however for the heavens to open and release the stuff of life, that sweet silver liquid that sustains all.
In the meantime, the splendid and sometimes harsh scenes of the dry hot days play themselves out over the daily cycle of the savannah. Kudu, Impala and other water dependent antelope make daily forays to the often dwindling water sources, often running the gauntlet past awaiting predators, eager to pounce on any unsuspecting or non-vigilant individual.
It is a time approaching easier pickings for lions and leopard due to diminishing forage, and thus condition, of their herbivorous prey. Nature is a balancing act, never the same and always in incessant movement and counter adjustment.
Make a journey to a wild place. Bear witness, behold beauty and tragedy, feel pity and delight.
From someone who says it better than I can:
“What cause impels you to attempt the unknown paths?”
(Virgil- Aeneid)
Click here for the Rhino Plains Walking Safari.
Ra, the sun-God of the ancient Egyptians, is making her re-appearance in full force, driving plants to awaken from their slumber and make food for the dry winter season far ahead.
The searing rays on a clear day penetrate almost through the leafy canopies of shady trees under which Impala or Kudu take refuge.
Driving through the bush during mid day I came across a herd of Elephant that had taken shelter under a tree, attempting to escape the heat radiating down furiously onto their unprotected backs.
Two young calves were sound asleep in the middle of the group, deeply protected amongst the legs of the adults in full, dark, relatively cool shade– all thirteen of them. The astonishing thing was that all fifteen elephant were huddled together under the canopy of the Shepherd’s Tree that cast a measly shadow of around only 12 square metres!
To experience raw nature, to feel her fury and simultaneously perceive her immense and incomprehensible beauty at the end of a summers’ day is to start feeling alive again. Especially with an iced Gin & Tonic at hand!
Rain has mostly been a mocking whisper on the October breezes, despite isolated falls on distant, most fortunate lands, the inhabitants of whom thus have reason to be jovial. Most bush inhabitants are waiting however for the heavens to open and release the stuff of life, that sweet silver liquid that sustains all.
In the meantime, the splendid and sometimes harsh scenes of the dry hot days play themselves out over the daily cycle of the savannah. Kudu, Impala and other water dependent antelope make daily forays to the often dwindling water sources, often running the gauntlet past awaiting predators, eager to pounce on any unsuspecting or non-vigilant individual.
It is a time approaching easier pickings for lions and leopard due to diminishing forage, and thus condition, of their herbivorous prey. Nature is a balancing act, never the same and always in incessant movement and counter adjustment.
Make a journey to a wild place. Bear witness, behold beauty and tragedy, feel pity and delight.
From someone who says it better than I can:
“What cause impels you to attempt the unknown paths?”
(Virgil- Aeneid)
Click here for the Rhino Plains Walking Safari.
Labels: levuvhu, luvhuvhu, makuleke, northern kruger, northern wilderness walking safari, pafuri, updates
posted by Kruger2Canyons.com at
Friday, November 03, 2006
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