This blog
doesn’t have a story, in fact, nothing
happened so if you've tuned in for an adventurous tale, it may be time
to move on to a more action-filled blog.
No, this is
a rumination about what might have
happened, and the extraordinary account that might have been if expectations
had come to fruition.
I left the
check in administration to Him Outdoors when we arrived at the Kruger National
Park’s Malelane gate yesterday, thereby missing a kernel of information passed
on by the friendly lady at reception. He
charily chose his moment to share it, flicking the top off a chilled cider.
“The camp
fence is down,” he tentatively offered, “the elephants are coming in at night.”
I’m not
sure what reception he imagined he’d get to that, but “kewl!” was probably not
it! A large tonnage of ellie family
perambulating around our 5 sleeper (made in China) tent which barely fits the
two of us while we slept – this is going to be a campfire tale that’ll keep audiences
entranced for years to come.
 |
| Beautiful Maroela tree |
Oh the
decisions – do I keep the camera at hand to record the moment? Would the flash enrage a bull inebriated on
ripened maroela fruit?
Considerable
time was spent carefully selected the perfect tent site -
flat, under a tree, close to the power point, against the fence and with
my contribution – NEXT to one of the two flattened areas of fence, but NOT on the path between
the broken fence and the maroela trees.
I want an adventure but I’m not stupid enough to place our bodies midway
between the newly created unofficial entrance for an elephant mob eager to get
to the cocktail tree and the bar itself.
Let the
record reflect that the camp was empty but for us and another couple – so choosing
a site next to a hotspot with at least 15 safer alternatives available - was a
considered choice.
Issuing strict instructions that I was to be
woken at the slightest noise, we turned in.
This was an important detail - on
a once in a lifetime Serengeti trip I slept oblivious through giraffe browsing
next to our tent, hyena’s and jackal and heaven knows what else stomping about
the camp, making a racket that woke up all except me. The next morning I felt as though I was left
out of a game drive, the way the others were comparing notes on what they’d
heard.
 |
| A regular job, apparently - fence repair |
Sadly, (and
I did warn you) the jumbo’s elected not to drink at Malelane pub last
night. Perhaps the heavy rain put them
off or our eager vibes transmitted themselves to the herd. The section ranger and his crew arriving to
repair the fence this morning were quite startled to be greeted by a pyjama
clad woman requesting the repairs be delayed a day or two, leaving the fence
down to welcome the night visitors.
 |
| The yummy ellie treats |
He said,
though, that this happens every year.
Despite a park filled with maroela trees the elephants trash the fence
to get at the 5 or 6 trees inside the camp.
Sounds remarkably like forbidden fruit and defiant children to me.
