The day oom Willie did water 4x4

A lot of new things happened today. I am now a captain. Captain Buddy of the Venda Solidarity. Not quite the USS Nimmets, but I’m getting there. We went over to the closest island like real tourists, but it was great.

You cannot believe this lake. It is 750 metres deep at its deepest and at that point it is 300 metres below sea level. Apparently it is quite dark down there, but I didn’t go and check it out. Where we were cruising, the water was as clear as crystal. With all the locals washing themselves, their clothes and dishes in the lake, it is a wonder. They say it is because there is so much water. Other than that, there are over a 1 000 different types of fish in it and you won’t find any one of them anywhere else in the world. While moored at the island one of our guides caught a small little bright blue fish with his hands.

Suddenly we heard the beautiful, chilling cry of fish eagles around the western side of the island. We immediately mobilised and sped at 3 knots per hour towards the cries. Then it happened. One of them swooped down, braked in the air and picked up a late afternoon snack from the water. The people on the boat all shrieked. They have never seen anything like this before. Neither have I, but I kept my mouth shut. Humans, sometimes...

Meanwhile Theresa was also beaming with pleasure back on terra firma. Six old students came to her workshop and they have all been promoted to higher ranks in their different parks and fields of wildlife and conservation. What they were taught at the SAWC is working.

The best part of the day, however, was brought to us by oom Willie. He and a couple of the other guys went swimming on the rocky side of the shore. There was a neat, smooth rounded rock in front of him when he decided it was time to get out. Smooth is the operative word. Every attempt got him about halfway out of the lake before he started spinning in the algae.

Eventually I had to show him how it was done. Being a canine on all fours has some serious advantages. On all 4x4’s he roared out onto dry rock, turned around, studied the horizon and pretended nothing has happened. Respect oom Willie, it is great to have you with us. It is great to see how the real guys still do it. For those not in the know, oom Willie has been involved in all nine trips done so far, but he retired during the year. That was not going to stop him, however. He is still here, doing his job and giving the Outreach his experience.

Tomorrow is a long day, driving back to Harare in Zimbabwe. We are getting up at four so now it’s time for Howling Moon. No, that is not a ritual. Nor is it a lost Red Indian in Malawi. It’s our tents. Supplied by Campworld. They make a long night short.

See you other side of the border.