So here I am sitting in the car, waiting for Erik’s extra Math’s class to start and finish... It is hot and humid and a few rain droplets have just started pattering on my car.
I would like to share my experience in Kruger National Park (aka KNP) this past weekend. We went to Letaba Camp which lies on the banks of the Letaba River. Our Safari tent was next to the perimeter fence but on the opposite side of the river. So Sunday morning at dawn I woke to this spoiled brat of a child throwing a temper tantrum for some unbeknownst reason and I was just about to get up and in my mind quiet the little so-an-so down with a plain “boere-klap” (loosely translated it comes down to well-reasoned discipline) and as I poked my nose out the door, the camp neighbors all come storming and galloping past. One man shared whilst running that some Wild Dogs killed an Impala right next to the camp. In the few seconds it took to throw on a gown and sandals, the whole drama had dissipated. The wild dogs killed an impala and then some hyenas come past and stole their kill. So while standing there laughing at the poor imaginary kid, back comes 4 wild dogs and scrounge for some left overs, a few seconds later 2 hyenas come sniffing as well and the wild dogs backed away. Within a few blinks it was as if nothing had happened. The birds were singing, the insects were buzzing, and the sun started to show its face bringing the heat and humidity.
Here are some interesting facts about some of the animals mentioned in my version of the truth
The African Painted Dog
The wild dogs were best guess the size of Great Dane dogs. They are huge. Rather savage in their killing. The whole pack hunt together and they catch their pray by chasing it to exhaustion. They also start eating their pray before it has died
The Greater Spotted Hyena
Hyena are both loathed and feared and are associated with greed, gluttony, foolishness and stupidity yet they are extremely powerful and very dangerous. They have the strongest jaws of all the animals on land. Their ability to eat and digest skin; bone and other animal waste makes them one of the most efficient African Carnivores.
In KNP Story 2 I will share with you our experience with Luke the Monitor Lizard and his antics
Thank you for reading my story, hope it was informative as well as entertaining. Please vote, comment and share. I might not be quick, but slow and steady wins the race!