On
Friday 21st October, I arrived at George airport around 9 AM. My friend,
Johan, a local cab driver, was waiting to pick me up and gave me a big hug as
we met!!! I first met Johan in 2012 as I was doing volunteering at Knysna
Elephant Park. Himself, his brother and other cab drivers from his company,
Dolphin cabs, would drive the volunteers to Plettenberg Bay, Knysna and so on.
Johan has a generous personality and is a very hard-working guy! So, of course
we caught up on the latest news during the trip to Knysna Elephant Park where
we arrived around 11 AM.
I first met Mac, (check image 13), a wonderful elephant handler who has
been part of the successful story of the elephant park since the beginning. As
it was too early to get my room, I went to the shop to buy some water and
“bumped” into my good friend, Geoffrey,(check image 10), who was off work and just happened to
be inside the souvenirs shop and was very surprised to see me there so
suddenly. He had known I would arrive on the Friday but did not expect me so
early. I think he was gobsmacked! We hugged and I fetched some water and
rushed back to the reception to be able to go on the next tour to the
elephants. Luckily enough, my friend Aubrey was in charge of that tour. He was
also gobsmacked to see me there so early! I went in the video room with him
and the other tourists and got to see the new video that Knysna Elephant Park
shows the tourists before meeting the elephants. I find it beautiful and very
well-made. Finally, after a quick look at the boma, we drove to the field to
meet the ellies. I had bought a bucket of fruits and veggies to feed my babe,
Mashudu. Since we were only a few people, I got to feed him. I was so moved at
seeing him again, that I felt like a little girl! The tourist next to me did
not understand why I was so moved, so I told them, I had come a long way to
feed that little fellow. Maybe they thought I was crazy but the people who know
me also know how much Mashudu means to me! After feeding the ellies, I got to
spend time with Aubrey and Mashudu. It was good to be there again. At last, I
was home again!
Later,
I went back, had lunch and finally could go to my room. I unpacked and went to
see the ellies again. I spent a couple of hours there with the ellies and the
elephant handlers.
Here
are a few pics of my beloved ellies.
Mashudu |
Keisha |
Hungry ellies |
Thandi and Nandi |