5

I had a pleasant enough evening with Ruth and Hendry as it turned out. We sat on the balcony and chatted all night. The ever opinionated Ruth can talk for South Africa, and Hendry has periods when it gets to much for him, “Ruth-less” (His nickname for her, “cant you keep quiet just for one hour” he would joke, they had a relationship a little like a husband and wife although it was simply circumstances that had brought them together here. They were always looking for something to laugh about and they were good company. Hendry was ever vocal about his sex life and regaled me with stories of his numerous women problems, Ruth was full of enthusiasm about my work giving me advice on how and where and when which later became an instruction to buy a house down the road and let her manage a backpacker hostel there. Her ability to socialise was only eclipsed by her ability to cook and she would be a fine candidate for the job.

The morning text from Wouter said he would pick me up at 1pm. I took a morning walk with Ruth down to the bottom of the road and into a nature reserve. I had the small but exceptionally pleasant experience of seeing a wild tortoise, I don’t quite know why this made me so happy, I think it is rare to see an animal that exists exclusively as a pet, and then appears in the undergrowth as a wild animal, my enthusiasm was not reciprocated however, and he hid in his shell with surprising speed.

Wouter made good on his word and collected me at 1pm, I made a rushed exit from the Old Vic, not able to say goodbye to Ruth as she went out shopping with her sister.

Wouter was apologetic and I saw honesty in his face that reassured me. An average set healthy guy in his early forties with a handsome face with a brow and jaw that speak of leadership. His white land cruiser took us north towards white river and beyond and as we drove the terrain became flatter.

We chatted about his work and the challenges his team face, he was good company and he made me feel at ease from the start. His new and very excitable jack Russell puppy came along for the ride sitting on my lap and chewing my hands with his needle like teeth, like all puppies (Especially jack Russell ones) his behaviour would suggest he had recently consumed a gallon of redbull, always on the move and chewing anything near him that made the mistake of moving.

After entering the park Wouter was eager to take me out for a patrol and collect the motion sensitive camera traps velcroed into trees. He was apologetic for the lack of animals, which he put down to the unusually cool weather. I objected and remarked on how this was indeed a successful trip in my eyes as in England you are unlikely to see hippos, dung beetles, emperor king fishers, black mamba snakes and impala on an average evening drive.