Game drives and open eyes

People have different reasons for raving about game drives and getting up close with wildlife, birds and animals.

For me, and August I think, it is twofold.

To some degree it is about knowledge and conservation. We love learning how the bush functions as a system; the role of each plant, animal, insect and bird, and how each do what they do in a seamless dance of give and take. Most human systems are frustrating and immature in comparison to how beautifully nature functions, if given half a chance of course. Our time with conservationist Johan van Jaarsveld has given us much perspective in this regard. Humans seem to be the only dance partner 'out of step' with the rest of the earth's amazing symphony, and we're missing out, rather than ruling the roost.
So we love going to parks, seeing bird and beast properly respected and protected, just doing their thing, and learning from them. A good outdoor education might save your life too. Aug and I have both been in tricky situations where reading the weather, the lie of the landscape and sometimes the behaviour of the beasties have saved us from some nasty outcomes (...mostly self-inflicted, lol, but it makes for good stories).

Secondly, being in the bush isn't very different from being at home. Because we are neither separate fom nature nor independent from it. What do I mean by this? Well the cuppuccino on your table is a forest of trees (beans) a field of cattle (milk) a quarry of clay (ceramics) and possibly a few barrels of oil and some coal resources. We interact with nature every moment of our lives. In the city we're just less conscious of it. And we need nature to be 'doing nature' in order for us to stay alive and thrive (...and drink coffee). For me its not so much about 'being green' or saving the planet. Being in the veld, identifying birds, learning about spoor and plants and being able to navigate with sun and stars is just a normal part of being a human creature on a planet filled with other life forms.

Chobe game reserve (Botswana) spoilt us with some wonderful animal encounters, and it was a treat to learn from Johan, both about wildlife and about photography. Currently we're in Savuti (just saw a heap of round-bellied lions asleep under a tree), witnessed herds of buffalo and elephant too plentiful to count (Thobelo's reserve), and marked off many, many birds and small mammals on our lists. The camping is getting wilder and wilder, and the calendar days passing way to quickly.

Our thoughts are with all our friends and family with the increased covid restrictions, limitations and/or recovery from illness. May the mini 'wildlife reserves' in your back yard or outside your office window inspire you, reminding you of the flamboyance, resilience and intelligence of nature, of which you are part.