Where the wild things are

Yesterday afternoon I looked out my window and saw animals just outside the fence that surrounds the home ground. I grabbed my camera and made my way around the house. I misjudged the fence opening and accidentally walked past it, scaring away some baboons and kudu. Some hartebeest were not as concerned and stuck around awhile.

I left the front gate and continued on a path within the farm in search of my spot to take sunset photos. This was my first chance to do so since we have otherwise been in the blind at that time.
As I walked I recalled Danie telling us the day before that he had seen a large python track (not in the area where I was walking). I saw the hartebeest group up ahead- obviously I had not scared them too much. I could hear the snorts of each of them as they told the group that there was danger coming. Me, dangerous? Do they know that I swerve to avoid hitting ground squirrels at home? Nonetheless, they took no chances and scattered, leaving me alone to my thoughts.
I sat and took in the quiet. I savored feeling God's presence in the quiet. I could hear in the distance the pounding of hooves. Within this 18 km square farm, there is between 400-700 mammals- a far cry from the occasional deer, raccoon or possum we see at home.

The sun sets quickly here and I sized up my surroundings to be prepared for the event I have been waiting for. As the last of the sun showed itself I saw how the darkness began hiding the potential danger, or at least unpleasantness, of the thorns that take over the landscape. I had only minutes to take in the last drops of sun before the moon would shine and the stars would reveal themselves in brilliance and peace.

If you enlarge this photo you will see the thorns in the bushes in the foreground. The thorns are a reminder that though this is a place of unimaginable beauty, there resides along with it bitterness and pain among the inhabitants here. As with the thorns, you don't have to look hard to see it...they are scattered throughout the landscape. The solution is not quick, easy or at this point even understood.

Today is our last day here since we are moving on to hunt a few days in another area. I am glad that this place is big enough for me to take a part of it with me. This is a magical place and I can't wait to see what else is in store!