African Wildlife and Environment Issue 67

FAUNA, FLORA & WILDLIFE

morningwalk. The jokes and ragging started in earnest and there is not much that brings people together like shared adversity. I am sure that after many years the stories have grown in stature and what might in reality have been 20 meters away would have shrunk to five meters and the black mamba would have had a meter or two added to it. And for me and my assistant it was just another day at the office, but in essence it was wonderful to have experienced Africa at its very best.

up some granite boulders on the opposite riverbank. The elephant trumpeting had reached a fever pitch and they burst out into the river bed, where we had been standing a minute before. We all watched in terror as they systematically walked back and forth trying to locate us. The matriarch smelt the path like a bloodhound and every time she got a fresh smell of human scent she trumpeted like a frenzied demon, with the rest of the herd following suit, including the babies. Fortunately they got tired of the game before they plucked us from the boulders and they disappeared, running off into the distance still creating a terrible din. I turned and looked at my trail group and realised that some of them did not need the loo, as they appeared to have already completed their ablutions somewhat involuntarily! We pussyfooted back to the trail camp and only when we were back in the safety of the camp did everyone start talking and discussing the incredible

Bryan Havemann General Manager Timbavati Private Nature Reserve bryan.havemann@gmail.com

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