The sounds of Africa

I would like to allow you to experience Africa with all your senses. Today I will tell you about the sounds. It is blissfully quiet here, allowing you to experience the subtlest of sounds.

Most frequently there are birds singing with an occasional squawk. The songs they sing are different than the songs at home. They are happy songs as they call and respond to each other. Most times you will hear many species at once from all directions. It is a soothing noise.

At times you will hear the clap of flocks of birds leaving at once. Looking in their direction you are sure to see some animal coming their way, for there is nothing other than their boredom to make them leave.

In the mornings you can hear the wind, perhaps at 5 mph- nothing enough to stir up dust of the ground but only enough to hear the rustling of the leaves in the trees.

This morning I am hearing the rthytmic soft thud of balloons as they hit the lapa support beams. Today is my birthday and I welcomed the day with balloons scattered throughout the lapa and part of our living quarters.

At times you will hear the cracking of wood in the distance as elephants make their own road to the location of their choice. Their only limitation of travel or residence is an occasional cliff.

Often you will hear the sound of the workers and their families talking in a language I do not understand but laughing in a language that is familiar. English is the official language in Zimbabwe and most often spoken as we’ve traveled so far but there are still Afrikaans and other tribal languages occasionally heard.

The sound of shuffling footsteps as they glide over the stone and cement is the workers going to and fro with their chores- cleaning the rooms, cleaning the compound and maintaining it. Maintenance is done without any kind of modern implements that we use and do not even consider. Wheelbarrows and grass woven cleaning tools are the norm here. You will often hear the sound of sweeping, not only in our living quarters but even to the sandy perimeter of the compound. We have seen the sweeping of sand many times whilst traveling here- a sight that has been quite curious. After what we’ve been told I wonder if this might be done to reveal evidence if any animals or snakes have been present since the preceding day.

One of the favorite sounds here is the clanging of the stainless steel table service- a sign that the meal is near. At night you will hear the crackling of the fire as it heats the water for the compound.

During the night you will hear many kinds of animals, mostly baboons. Other times you will hear hyenas. Depending on their proximity it is either a soft background noise or loud enough that earplugs are needed in order (for me at least) to be able to sleep.

Perhaps the most favorite sound of all is the sound of a vehicle coming in early- a sign of hunting success. The hum of the diesel engine is heard first and then the chattering between the vehicle occupants and the people at camp.