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Streaming Adventure Through Africa, Part Two

© Robin Greenhalgh

...The rural people around the reserve learn to utilize nature and live off the land. In most cases, they respect Mother Earth for what she provides and never underestimate her brutal side. One of the more interesting techniques I learned was a fishing method. It involves a root of a plant, which is thrown into shallow water. Within minutes all, the fish in the pond were floating on top of the water. The root had the amazing ability to rob the shallow pool of all its oxygen. The rangers said the root was from the tree Euphorbia (Euphorbia ingens) and used mostly by Bushmen. The latex from the tree is very toxic and has been used in the past on spearheads for hunting. It is obviously a very effective fish poison, when used properly.

...There are no carnivorous plants on the reserve, and to the best of their knowledge, none in all of South Africa. There are no exotic species on the reserve, and no significant problems with any introduced species. There is a weed that posed issues in some of the aquatic regions. In the areas where it thrives, it grows so dense that it starves the native species of oxygen. The rangers laughingly claim that an animal rising from beneath these growths look as if they're covered with green hair. It can be a particular problem in the river and the dam. The rangers could not remember the name of the weed, although were pretty sure that an aphid was introduced to control it. They added that if memory served right, the biological control was not very successful.

...Anyone who knows anything of African nature can surely surmise about its brutality. Therefore, I asked about the safety precautions they took, especially at night since they sleep on the ground. The one basic rule if sleeping in an unfenced area is too not walk around much. Even the fences are not 100% safe the rangers explain, so if you do need to move around, a torch is of vital importance. Not only to look for glowing eyes in the darkness, but to be on the lookout for snakes. Much of the time, Puff adders (which incidentally are responsible for the most snakebites in Africa) are found warming themselves on the roads. The most important advice to remember is that the night is for the animals and we must respect that.

...When asked to divulge some of their more interesting memories, here is what one ranger had to say. "For me personally, I have a number of stories. When I was in Zimbabwe, we had a hippo walking right past us while we were sitting at the fire. He was quite aggressive and we had to retreat behind the car. We had to actually clap our hands and bang the car doors for him to move off. Also, while working in the Sabi Sands last year, I was walking back from supper and was shining my torch around. About 20 metres away from me stood two lions. Luckily they just bolted. I've had hyenas sniffing around my tent at night and elephants feeding in the trees above my tent."

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