5/27
Finally we get our turn to go to Nhoveni, the little piece of Kruger that belongs to Moholo. We left around 5:30 am on Thursday morning and stayed until this evening. Even though we had to battle frost-bite weather, it was an incredible trip.
Brian was with us most of the first day. We trekked on foot through the park for the first two hours. It was absolutely mind blowing how Brian and Jan could pick out tracks and tell what animal made the track. Not only that, but how old they were, which direction it was going and which foot made the track. Brian made a pearl spotted owl call to attract smaller birds and named them off as they came whizzing by. They gather together to chase off the predatory owl. In a mere two days we have learned so much in the bush. It doesn’t matter if you memorize textbooks and can ace every test. What counts is knowing what to do when you’re being charged by an elephant or what plants can kill you out here. Besides it’s way more fun to have first hand experience and the world as your classroom.
The other times we ventured into the park were on drives. Animals we saw: a white rhino, giraffes, zebras, elephants, impala, kudu, a hippo, hyena, water buck, a fleeting glance of a honey badger, brown snake eagle, African king eagle, a leopard…tortoise and buffalo. We saw squat the second day. It was a fantastic break to be on our own looking for animals. The place was perfect with mountains in the background and a fiery sun to paint the sky.
Earlier during the day Brian was radioed back to the rehab about a brown hyena caught in a snare. He left for a few hours, but returned in time for dinner, which included delicious chicken kabobs. After I spoke with him about wanting to return to South Africa at some point. He talked about the people volunteering here at Moholo being rehabilitated as much as the animals. He’s had a few terminally ill kids and people with problems come and be changed by the animals. One kid came in a wheelchair and a baby white rhino that was at the rehab walked past a crowd of people to lay his head on the boy’s foot. Another had his wish granted to pet a real cheetah, Shinandi, before bone cancer took his life. I realized this place was more than just a simple wildlife rehab center last night. It’s just incredible how animals can be such good healers for broken people. One girl who was abused came to the center and bonded with a blind owl. Again I was reminded to not get angry with people, but try to step into someone else’s shoes or “boots”. We can’t just assume the worst of everyone. Otherwise you become bitter and paranoid. A wise nugget of wisdom we can all benefit from.
That night we slept in “the hide”; a one-room building by a water hole. We all took one hour shifts throughout the South African winter night (by the way, it can get quite cold in South Africa too) to watch for animals. We saw nothing. It was still an interesting experience.
