Elephants are gracious animals. The matriarch, which leads the herd is clever and has so much knowledge she accumulated through the years. Like the routes to waterholes through the drought. She then gradually passes the knowledge to the other female members. If you are silent while watching them, and have your car window open (without the air-conditioning), you will pick up on her communication which is a very low rumble. This is apparently formed in the cavities of her skull and can be heard long distances away. It is also audible to people.
Elephants have “personalitie”s with likes and dislikes.
In Namibia. Kwando river
The calves and teenagers are playful. Elephants love water which they drink and use to cool off. The also do dust baths. See photo below.
Throwing up dust.
Males sometimes meet at waterholes and form strong bonds.
All the travels allowed me to take pictures of sunrises and sunsets. Some are spectacular creations and could not be more beautiful. The pictures do not give justice to the beauty.
Kwando river Naamibia
Kwando river Namibia. Sioma campsite (Zambia) sunrise. Sioma campsite (Zambia) sunrise. Sioma campsite (Zambia) sunrise. Zambezi river sunset (Mana pools)
Namibia is a wonderful country to travel in. People are friendly and the nature is awesome. Our tour started in Naukluft National Park. These campsites are not managed and there is no water, wood and electricity. Also what you bring in you have to take with you. But this has wonderful open vistas and spaces and silence. Food for the soul.
Dead tree pan in SossusvleiSossusvleiSuper sunsets
Everybody has already been where you have just gone.
Botswana 2022
“We went to Central Kalahari” I told my friend the other day.” “Oh, she replied, I have also been there.”
Funny that some friends have already been where you went, even before you considered planning for the trip. “Where, I asked?” “Kgalagadi! she says”My turn– “Oh no, this is in Botswana. Close to Maun but far enough to travel for a whole day to reach your camp.” “I think we were there too.” “Which camp I ask?” “Oh, Stop challenging me! she answered.” So I let it go. They will tell us again that they have also been there. Perhaps they really have been there. Who I am I to disagree. But this is my story.
Traveling there is strenuous on the occupants and the car. I was secretly happy for a moderate breast size. Had pity on those larger ladies due to the quality of the road. Then the teeth also felt like they became looser as we drove along. At some point I wanted to climb out of the moving bakkie just to find solid ground.
Our Poppleton moment. “You know we don’t have any more Pula (Botswana currency) after we had to pay cash at the gate. For our next park trip we will have to draw more money or pay at the office in town.” “Where did all the money go? Did we not say we are goin to bring along 7000 ZAR. “No we said 7000 Botswana Pula.” “It is not the same. That is why the shortfall… See! Now we will have to go through a lot of effort to top up our cashflow.” “How did this happen?”
But then we arrive and experience the bliss of silence and containment of the camp. Even though no wood and electricity and also not fenced.
Here one can stay for a while and allow the day to guide you along as it unfolds.
In 1992,
the South Africa cricket team had to score 21 runs from 1 ball. This after 12
minutes of rain during a critical time and the Duckworth Lewis formula
implemented. This was an impossible task and we lost that game.
I use the Duckworth Lewis as metaphor to what
sometimes happens in most relationship due to misunderstandings, mainly due to
miscommunication from where there is also almost no proper comeback. I call it
the Poppleton effect. Here is how it started. Assie and I were talking about
something and the conversation turned to a family who newly moved in and out of
our neighborhood. I referred to them as the Poppletons and kept talking
confidently about the Poppletons. Needless to say their surname was not
Poppleton but my bad association had it fixed in my memory. Poppelton happens
when one party is sure they are sure about something that is not sure. This
creates confusion, discomfort and sometimes arguments on what the actual truth
is and on who’s truth is actually the real truth…which there aren’t.
Some examples of the Poppelton effect is.. “We
need to pay for this fuel in Kwacha. (Zambian currency) Please give it to me” “We
don’t have any Kwacha.” “You told me we had.” I never ever told you that. I cannot
recall you even asked me about currency. “Yes I did and you told me we had.”
“But you said Nata.. Are you sure… We are too
far now… Don’t you mean Mana?” “I said Mana.” “ No, you said Nata.”
Mana pools is in Zimbabwe. No electricity but drinkable water. Ablutions are old and need reparing. I discovered that tsetse flies are quick and hungry and one cannot feel their bite immediately. Only later when the itching starts and you have eleminated spider bite do you consider the damage is done by this little pest.
In the most secluded campsite, our neighbours were baboons. Humble and quiet and not in the least interested in our possessions. Not like the more populaR sites where you have to be on constant look-out to safe guard your food. Monkeys and Baboons alike.
A local elephant mother frequently visited the campsite with her calf. Indeed a humbling experience.
Morning coffee is one great. Good coffee makes this even better. And to drink this mindfully, savoring the taste is fantastic. I move attention between the coffee and the sounds around me. Birds, frogs, crickets and more birds.
We have planned this trip for a long time. Finding small spaces for big things. Packing endlesly. So many detail!
Eventually we had to decide what is worth losing our minds on and what not. It is not that we wanted all the luxuries. Some stuff just makes your life easier.
