Kruger Park, the famous Kruger Park, spanning 350km in length and 60km from east to west, the keeper of the big five. The buffalo, leopard, lion, rhino and above all, the greatest of all, the biggest land animal on earth, the elephant.
I have spent the whole day roaming the roads of this unmatchable park. Like a master of his craft, I exhausted my eyes to get a glimpse at the 147 species of mammals who stomp and climb, jump and sneak their way through the diverse vegetations, 114 reptile species, 51 different snakes that slither their way through the dry grounds, 49 fish species and a colossal 508 bird species. Unparalleled to anywhere else in South Africa.
Hyenas protected their cubs symbolising the strength of a mother-child bond, vervet monkeys cleaned each other epitomising brother hood, Zebras stood like a calming shield in a place ruled by the law of nature and giraffes characterised audacity as they made their way through the highlands with a perspective unknown to all others.
Single standing trees in savanna grasslands and the few shrubs that sway in the light breeze.
Am I delirious?
As a fact I hope I am at this very moment. The sun is setting, skies turn pink and orange, a piece of art. We drive determined into the direction of the gate as the Krueger Park is soon to close. I open my long-awaited magnum ice, that I took with me from a restaurant/lodge where we rejuvenated our strength, and race against the heat as my ice starts to melt.
It all seems to go well, until there he walked. Untamed, unquestioned and majestic. His big feet stomped to the front at a beat, his ears flapped slightly forth and back and his russell danced in the sunset light. The visage of the biggest land animal on earth came closer and closer towards our car. We stop the car, turn of the engine, silence the joy that comes from the jaunty music playing on the radio and my ice slowly drips, melts away over my hand without that I gift it any of my attention.
The elephant continues to walk straight at us, becoming more unsettled by the second as a car pressures it from the back. Are we going to be one of the visitors whose car gets heaved into the air by the greatest land animal and crushed afterwards? Are we going to have to flee out into the wild falling into the arms of one danger into the other?
Silenced by the force of nature already short of breath the elephant indecisively decides to take a right turn of the paved road into the bushes. Not until the last bit of the elephant returned back on its path, the car remains silent as it ever was.
The moment that seemed to last for many minutes, were in reality merely a few seconds.
I guess it’s not the length but the context of what gives a moment it’s value and meaning, hu?
I know you elephants are famous for your intelligence and impeccable memory. So, I guess you and I have something in common, at least in terms of memory, as for these moments I will remember for long.