Rhino Walk

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Crazy Old Dude Dancing

We all piled into the converted army Land Rover & headed off to the Matopo National Park. The Matopo are natural stone formations which look like bald old men, hence the name Matopo - The Wise Ones. We stopped to look at some fresh rhino poo which Ian our guide explained was left as a rhino was on the way to or from a watering hole. Our journey continued to the other side of the park where we got out to walk up the rocks to a cave containing fantastic bushman paintings. When everyone had made it up the gruelling climb Ian told us about the bushmen, how they hunt & how their population has declined as they have been forced to live in more inhospitible environments. After a super lunch (only made possible as Ian managed to find a bakery that could supply bread) we went rhino tracking. We checked out a few usual haunts but apart from a fleeting glimpse in the distance all we found was dung. Then as the sun was low in the sky we resigned ourselves to going home rhinoless. Luckily on the way out another group had stopped on the path & had located a mother & two calves. Once they had finished watching them we split into two groups & ventured into the bush, keeping low & quiet. We got in suprisingly close & it was if they didn't notice us, they just continued grazing. It was the youngest calf who was most inquisitive & would come up to us but always staying within a few feet of its mother. Then after what felt like a few seconds we had to leave, happy that we had got so close to such a rare animal.

Drink of the Day: Bohlingers Lager

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