Addo Elephant National Park

We do, from time to time, take off and see the glorious country around us and all the flora and fauna it has to offer. Saturday, eight of us borrowed a car from the college for a day trip down to Addo Elephant National Park. The eight of us were made up of four of contextual theology students (Suzanne, Sara, Dean, and I), three students from the College of the Transfiguration (Vongai, Emilio, and nKanyiso), and another American participating in the Episcopal Church's YASC program (Young Adult Service Corps).

We learned that we could actually visit two game parks that afternoon, because one of the swankier private reserves, Shamwari, has a free area anyone can drive through. Shamwari was known to have giraffes which Addo regrettably does not. Except for the occasional monkey, however, the trip through Shamwari was largely uneventful until the very end. As we came to the other end of the park, we thought we saw a grey shape a ways down the side road and we decided to go ahead and take a gander. As we drove up, we realized that these grey shapes were in fact two rhinocerouses? rhinoceri? rhinoceroos?...well rhinos anyway. The exciting thing is that the rhinos were right next to the road we were diving on, not four feet from the road. Thus followed the most comical portion of our trip as our car at times inched forward towards the rhinos and at times jolted back as one of the passengers panicked. Windows went up and down in direct proportion to the closeness of the rhinos. In the end, the braver (or stupider) group won out and we came up to the rhinos who were not five feet from the car at the closest.

In a day full of great animal viewing experiences, our first was in my opinion the best. To see a rhinocerous so close, with no zoo-type barrier between us was fascinating and intense. I even managed to capture a video of one of them with just about no zoom:


It's hard to imagine just how huge they are until they are right there. Eventually, we escaped the rhino trap with our fears about being charged somewhat allayed.

Speaking of huge, the elephants at Addo were almost as good as the rhinos. And they were certainly more plentiful. Just as we entered the park, we encountered a horde of elephants devouring a tree. I use the term "tree" loosely. It was basically a large thornbush. And by thorns, I really mean 3 inch spikes. Didn't bother elephants in the least. Their skin is thick and their trunk allows them to put the branch far back in their mouth where their massive teeth can go to work and crush the pricklies.

These elephants locked trunks in a faceoff.

We spent the rest of the day watching elephants drink and walk around, laughing at some energetic warthogs, admiring some zebras, spotting several meerkats, trying to correctly name the various antelopes, and eventually hoping a lion would show up and try to eat something. We were originally just looking for some lazing lions, but as dusk drew nigh and our frustration grew, we got a little bloodthirsty. Well, the animal pacifists amongst us can relax, the lions were content to be their normal lazy selves, and we didn't spot any.

We'll save the lions for another day, but the day we had was a blast. Fun, friends, fellowship, and fauna, who could ask for anything more. After seeing these beautiful animals up close and personal, I can't imagine how anyone would ever consider shooting one for a little ivory or a knife handle. God's work was clearly apparent in myriad incredible creatures and the breathtaking landscapes.

Peace to you all,

Gates