Josh phones me just before two. “Quickly, get the car and pick me up at forest, we’re doing buffalo capture.” I only understand half of it, but I jump in the car and 8 minutes later I meet Josh at Forest Lodge. To get to the meeting point in time we race off with our Tazz. It’s amazing how she takes us everywhere even on rough terrain. We should give her an award, Josh and I joke.
Adrenaline. I love this action. We run to the car even when it’s not really needed.
The buffs are huge - it’s very special to touch them, feel their thick skin and their enormous horns. Some are almost one meter wide. I write down the width of the horns and the chip-number that Chap, the vet tells me.
Grant, the buyer of the buffs, offers me a flight in the copper that they use to dart the buffs from. I can’t believe it and I must have looked confused. But soon Craig, the pilot and I walk off to the chopper. Craig has been flying for 17 years and is an excellent pilot. He shows me the seat belt – the only thing that will keep me from falling out of the open chopper. I say nothing but secretly I am quite happy that I can hold on to the dartgun.
Craig says it could be bumpy because of the wind. When we take off I am amazed by the smooth movements of the chopper. It is amazing from up there, with the enormous coloured sky and beautiful green hills. We look down on a large part of Phinda. The rhino and her calf underneath us look rather small.
When we land I am just one big smile! What an experience.
No comments:
Post a Comment