Valentine's Day

Wow what a day for animal viewing. The day was divided between a ride out in the morning, a visit to a local ecological school for children, and a game drive in the late afternoon/evening. The giraffes are quite fearless of riders. We came galloping around the corner to two standing in the road and they just looked at us and blinked. We were able to watch a couple of males rough housing. They were using their heads and necks like a boxer would use his fist and arms--bashing each other. Next were the rhinos. The head shape is quite interesting and they were very curious. One of the young males came right over to us, but spooked away when one of the horses started to move. Then we tracked down a baby bull elephant who was very relaxed about us. I feel a bit like a paparazzi chasing down movie stars. The tourists on the jeep safaris were taking pictures of us as well as the animals--it is all a bit comical at times, but dangerous too!!!

Daktari is a vision/school that Gerti, Philip, Ian, and Helen have created to educate local children about the importance of the environment and animals in the environment. People from all over the world come to help with the program, but it is always in need of funding. A group of 8 children come for a week to improve their learning skills, learn about health practices, the environment, local wildlife, and personal development. It is a program that could be used around the world, not just here. The question is how to grow it so it provides more possibilities for young people and their futures. I will get the website. There were a few local animals housed there so the children could learn about respecting and caring for them. I was very deeply touched when I met these young souls--feeling into the future of the world.

Afternoon game drive was also lovely. Another way to experience nature. It felt a bit lazy compared to finding my way with the horses. Almost like sitting on the couch with a remote control in comparison, but it is definitely a nice way to still see the animals. In fact, the animals are less agitated by the jeeps than the horses. Zebras, large herds of impalas, jackals, bush babies, birds, birds, birds, crocodile, and one of the Big 5-water buffalo were all on the list. The Big 5 are considered the most dangerous animals: water buffalo, elephants, lions, leopards, and rhinos.

As I learn about life here, I see how over population is no doubt the biggest problem in the world. Of course, it is a subject that is very difficult to navigate. Who is willing to discuss population control other than the people who are doing it. We are going to run out of space. We are going to destroy habitats for animals. We are going to come to a point of mass destruction? It is lovely to talk about education, resource management, animal diversity, etc, but none of if it going to matter if the human population doesn't slow down.