In Zimbabwe, our hosts were kind enough to take us along on their family vacation to a game reserve in remote Zimbabwe. The reserve was around 15,000 hectares in size, and we were accompanied by a cook, housekeeper, and a game scout. It was strange to have so much taken care of for us, but also a really nice treat.
Rather than going on a safari where the animals are contained in small areas so that you’re guaranteed to view them, we were able to see African animals in their natural habitat! Our host and his son, plus a couple friends, were hunting for impala. I’ve never gone hunting before, so it was exciting to tag along with them for my first semi-hunting experience in Africa.
Each day we would take a couple Land Rovers out each day, along with a game scout who helped us locate animals on the massive reserve. We would drive for hours through beautiful landscapes, seeing impala, sable, warthogs, wildebeest, kudu, and even giraffe! It was an incredible experience to see these infamous animals in their natural habitat.
One day, we had the opportunity to work with a conservationist to track and view endangered black rhinos! About 25 years ago, there were thousands of rhinos in Zimbabwe, but now they’re down to only 400. The black rhino population has dropped down to 3,600 worldwide, and they’re estimated to be extinct soon. A team of men tracks the rhinos on this reserve 24/7, no matter the weather and no matter the holiday. They protect them from poachers, track them from a distance, and insure their overall health and safety.
We drove far out and walked and walked to catch a glimpse of these incredible creatures. Before going out, they warned us that rhino can be quite aggressive. If charged, we were instructed to find a tree to stand behind and freeze because rhinos have poor vision, so they would mistake us for the trees and leave us alone.
We walked quietly at the guidance of our conservationist until we spotted them! We were able to watch a family (mom, dad, and baby) graze in the bush until they noticed us and trotted off. Since I’ve spent the last few years studying the natural world and all of its species, this opportunity to view an endangered species in the wild in a non-invasive way was absolutely incredible. I can easily say it was one of the best days I’ve ever had.
The Race can be a lot of work with little obvious results and little rest. While we sometimes talk about feeling guilty for taking days off, we need them in order to keep serving well. Days off like this one are a refreshment and inspiration, just what we needed.
