“For the
person for whom small things do not exist, the great is not great.”
When it comes to super moons and mega pachyderms surely not a truer word
can be spoken. For the most part a trip from the lodge to our guide accommodation
is a stitch in time something filling the gap between the last lantern being
blown out and our tired eyes crashing into a pillow.
These are the smaller things of our passion so often overlooked I often
think in the times where sleep may take preference over a Sneaky Civet or an
ever Evasive Honey Badger so much is missed.
So when nature offers up something quite unreal such as this week’s
Perigee Moon the smaller things such as a simple drive from the lodge to a
comfy bed is bound to offer up something quite magical.
The Moon rise on that evening’s drive was something quite spectacular
with a fantastic red hue and a very impressive girth as it rose over the
Kransberg on the southern side of Marakele. After a fairly short night of
hosting, our Chef Jessie and I were beating a hasty retreat to our
accommodations in the Kameeldraai section of the reserve.
Rounding a corner the familiar sound of cracking timber gave away the
forward legions of a rather large breeding herd of Elephant. The breeding herds
in this area of Marakele are well known for their skittish and somewhat testy
temperaments so I was quite pleasantly surprised when the bulk of the herd
started to appear in a clearing at a big four way junction. With the super moon
bursting with light in the middle of the sky, the scene was completely surreal
with the engine and lights off we were comfortably positioned as the 30 odd
group moved out into the open.
Atypical of herds in the area they appeared completely relaxed with not
even a sign of a head raised in disgust. They casually moved past uttering
their completely soothing rumbles and communications’. With us in the middle of
them out popped a barley week old calf still questioning it’s confidence to
leave it’s mothers side the moonlight giving the scene an almost mystical
quality and as soon as they arrived they vanished into the misty opaque bush.
The straggling bulls then began to slowly melt into open area as if they
themselves were walking on the pillows my head had so desired a few minutes
earlier. The procession of bulls gave clear indication of the complexities of Elephant
pecking orders with the rambunctious younger boys leading the charge after the
ladies followed by the ever so cool adolescents with their usual indigence for
anything with four wheels. Then as if a spell was cast, silence fell on the
open area as a Monstrous Bull entered the scene. With this big chap entering
the fray displaying full musth the younger and smaller bulls seemed to simply
realise the king was present and not wanting to be in the wrong end of some Ele.
discipline simply gave way to his majesty.
Just as soon as it had begun it was over, them leaving us with one last
trumpet echoing through the valleys of the Kransberg. There in the spectacular
Perigee moonlight we were left contemplating the magnificent moment that a
small and seemingly insignificant trip home could offer.
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