Jumbo Maroela Mambo

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.