From Johannesburg / Jo'burg a quick post from the hostel that Floor and I are staying in. I came over to the city to pick her up on monday evening. We'll spend today and tomorrow here and return to Marakele briefly. It'll give her a chance to experience what I have experienced for the last two months. After that, it's on to Bangkok! I expect to be able to update everybody much more frequently through this site from Thailand. Uploading will -again- probably fail, so you guys have to be satisfied with this short story. I'll try and recuperate as well as I can, but more detailed posts should follow when I have the time. Lets begin...
The last eight weeks have largely been about my responsibility to take care of four, later seven, Black Rhino's. After the African Wild Dog, these are the most endangered species in Africa, so quite a responsibility it was. I must say I have been extremely lucky to have been given that specific task. My duty consisted of feeding and watering the animals inside an especially constructed 'boma', or enclosure. Twice a day I had to drive into the savannah with my 'own' bakkie (doublecab pick-up) to cut branches of a number of suitable trees in the environment. These branches had to be cut into smaller bits, that the animals where able to digest. I set out on my own at 07.00 and around 14.00 each day of the week (including saturdays and sundays), together with my panga and saw. It offered me the fantastic opportunity to explore the park on my own, day in day out. I saw the complete Big Five up close as a result: Elephants at five metres, African Buffalo on a few occasions, magnificent Lions on several occasions, and -althouy already partially devoured by another big cat- a Leopard as well. Obviously I stayed in close contact with Black Rhino's on a daily basis! Other animals include my personal favourites the Giraffe, four of which I met almost every day in the same area, the Warthogs, Impala, Blue Wildebeest, Waterbuck, Kudu, Reed- and Bushbuck, Gemsbok (although a bit more rare), Tsessebe, Red Hartebeest, Sable and Roan Antilop, Ostrich, Cheetah, White Rhino, African Wild Dog... Smaller animals incuded the Black-backed Jackall (they stay in pairs throughout their lives and were usually found together with their mate), Bat-eared Foxes, Steenbok, Ground and Tree Squirrells, Civet and Genet and African Wild Cats, and of course many, many birds in all coulours of the rainbow. The rare Cape Vultures have the largest breeding population on earth at the Waterberg mountains that are part of the Marakele park.
Having been interested in nature all my life, it has been nothing short of overwhelming for me. Most memorable experiences include -but are not limited to!- meeting close up with two Lionesses (actually they were siblings) across the dam at the personal camp of the Fentener van Vlissingen family, having a boerewors roll together with two Elephants spurting water across the river, meeting a lone Waterbuck bull at dawn, being allowed as a quiet bystander of a tower (group) of Giraffe drinking. Apart from the animals, there was the beautiful flora (capital not used on purpose) that surrounded me at all times. The Waterberg mountains at the background always pointed out South and the drying-out landscape and red earth truly gave me the feel of being in Africa. Once you've set foot on the continent, it will never let go of you. I have no option but to return, hopefully many times, in the future.
Socially, it's been great too. We got together for a braai (barbecue) most nights of the week, and especially the converstations with Ivo and later Jelle contribute greatly to the memories I have of Marakele. The daily schedule meant we had to leave our compound at 06.30 each morning. Taking care of the Black Rhino's and PVV's camp Kingifsher, usually I had the chance to help out during the afternoon, in between shifts. Around 16.30 usually we got back at our houses (grouped in a compound area enclosed in electric fencing, next to the animals) and started a fire. We drank a few beers and ate untill around 20.00, at which time most people head for their beds.
I hope the above provides some kind of insight into the superb two months I've experienced in Africa so far. As soon as possible, more will follow!
The last eight weeks have largely been about my responsibility to take care of four, later seven, Black Rhino's. After the African Wild Dog, these are the most endangered species in Africa, so quite a responsibility it was. I must say I have been extremely lucky to have been given that specific task. My duty consisted of feeding and watering the animals inside an especially constructed 'boma', or enclosure. Twice a day I had to drive into the savannah with my 'own' bakkie (doublecab pick-up) to cut branches of a number of suitable trees in the environment. These branches had to be cut into smaller bits, that the animals where able to digest. I set out on my own at 07.00 and around 14.00 each day of the week (including saturdays and sundays), together with my panga and saw. It offered me the fantastic opportunity to explore the park on my own, day in day out. I saw the complete Big Five up close as a result: Elephants at five metres, African Buffalo on a few occasions, magnificent Lions on several occasions, and -althouy already partially devoured by another big cat- a Leopard as well. Obviously I stayed in close contact with Black Rhino's on a daily basis! Other animals include my personal favourites the Giraffe, four of which I met almost every day in the same area, the Warthogs, Impala, Blue Wildebeest, Waterbuck, Kudu, Reed- and Bushbuck, Gemsbok (although a bit more rare), Tsessebe, Red Hartebeest, Sable and Roan Antilop, Ostrich, Cheetah, White Rhino, African Wild Dog... Smaller animals incuded the Black-backed Jackall (they stay in pairs throughout their lives and were usually found together with their mate), Bat-eared Foxes, Steenbok, Ground and Tree Squirrells, Civet and Genet and African Wild Cats, and of course many, many birds in all coulours of the rainbow. The rare Cape Vultures have the largest breeding population on earth at the Waterberg mountains that are part of the Marakele park.
Having been interested in nature all my life, it has been nothing short of overwhelming for me. Most memorable experiences include -but are not limited to!- meeting close up with two Lionesses (actually they were siblings) across the dam at the personal camp of the Fentener van Vlissingen family, having a boerewors roll together with two Elephants spurting water across the river, meeting a lone Waterbuck bull at dawn, being allowed as a quiet bystander of a tower (group) of Giraffe drinking. Apart from the animals, there was the beautiful flora (capital not used on purpose) that surrounded me at all times. The Waterberg mountains at the background always pointed out South and the drying-out landscape and red earth truly gave me the feel of being in Africa. Once you've set foot on the continent, it will never let go of you. I have no option but to return, hopefully many times, in the future.
Socially, it's been great too. We got together for a braai (barbecue) most nights of the week, and especially the converstations with Ivo and later Jelle contribute greatly to the memories I have of Marakele. The daily schedule meant we had to leave our compound at 06.30 each morning. Taking care of the Black Rhino's and PVV's camp Kingifsher, usually I had the chance to help out during the afternoon, in between shifts. Around 16.30 usually we got back at our houses (grouped in a compound area enclosed in electric fencing, next to the animals) and started a fire. We drank a few beers and ate untill around 20.00, at which time most people head for their beds.
I hope the above provides some kind of insight into the superb two months I've experienced in Africa so far. As soon as possible, more will follow!
