They say Africa is not a place, it is a feeling. Sitting on the pristine banks of the Sand River - Kruger National Park, a place riddled with some of the best wildlife on the continent, it is hard not to embrace the ‘feeling of Africa’. What is meant by this? What lives here so powerful that it is enough to move visitors to tears…
As summer approaches seasonal changes have taken place throughout the bushveld. Dust and dryness are converted into a palette of green and gold. For me the summer is undeniably the best season on the east coast of Africa. Young Impala lambs bound through the lush vegetation among Kudus and Nyala. A zebra or giraffe contrasts so beautifully against the natural greenery of developing Senegalia and Combretum trees. Butterflies and bees pollinate furiously and abundance is the order of the day. It is possible to count over 150 bird species in a day. We witness incredible behavior around each corner and indulge in Amarulas and Gin and Tonics at sunset. All things big and small join forces to create a natural phenomenon that has been preserved for our benefit. Frogs as a chorus replace our usual musical tastes and whooping hyenas keep our spirits alive at night.
How do you explain this experience to somebody who has never been to Africa ? How could you possibly explain the intricacies of a herd of elephants as they communicate between feeding, a low rumble from the matriarch that shakes you from within. Is it possible to capture in still photography or video the light falling through a riverine forest onto a pride of lions; the smell of a pack of wild dogs or the excitement of following the tracks of an animal? They say we should envy the person who has not yet been to Africa for they have so much to look forward to.
The summer months, often adorned with rainstorms, create an array of weather patterns for us to enjoy. We wake up to see the sun rising from our bed as the birds busily establish themselves for their morning activities. Blue skies will later give way to cumulus cloud build ups and most likely an hour or two of rain. It has been hot and sunny for a week and precipitation is inevitable. This pattern is to be embraced, it is the very life force that sustains the wildlife that we hold so dearly. The river slowly fills, tortoises and terrapins alike can be seen scrambling ceremoniously from puddle to puddle. Dry sand gives way to wallows as the animals fluctuate from clean to muddy and back again.
The abundance of water and vegetation is matched in behavioral opportunities. Predators move with the increased opportunity of hunting grounds, herbivores disperse gratefully as resources reach their peak. It may take time to track and find these incredible beasts but using the interim wisely can be most advantageous. Spend some time watching dragonflies display over a waterhole and you will not need to watch science fiction. Engulf yourself in the world of dung beetles or the intelligence of termite alates forming a new colony. It is the chance to ask questions, to examine in greater detail the inner workings of our natural environment. A chance that many have never had and others will never have again. ‘’Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better’, said Albert Einstein. He had unlocked the magic that lies in front of us as we bundle onto our Land Rovers drive after drive.
So no, it may not be possible to explain the full complexities of a summer safari. We are unable to bottle the smells or capture the sounds of the African bushveld. We are hard pressed to find adjectives that do justice to ‘the feeling’. A feeling installed in our hearts from sharing a world we were once a part of, a world we are desperately trying to protect. So I hope you take with you this feeling. Let it carry you home and stay with you until the next time your feet touch down on Mama Africa.
Wow. What a mesmerising read. I was transported back to Africa. And that "feeling" for me, is one of home.