South Africa #14: Scream 2

I figured that I would get scared at some point during my trip, and I did.  In fact, there were two times when I screamed.  I was 20 to 30 feet away from a lion and lioness.  I saw big hairy spiders.  A hyena walked right next to me as I slept in my tent.  Bats flew above my head.  And I saw another volunteer almost get bit by a crocodile.  But no, these were not the times that I screamed.



I mentioned previously that I freak out around bees.  This applies to wasps too.  There were huge ones that had nests in the roof of the lodge.  Sometimes they would go inside the lodge.  As we were trying to get work done in the project room earlier this week, one was flying around the room.  I kept ducking, trying to dodge it.  At one point I was standing up and it landed on the front of my shirt.  I lost it!  Without even thinking, I screamed and swatted at it and ran around.  People looked at me like I was nuts.  I think we've all learned though that each of us has a fear or hatred of some critter, whether it be spiders, snakes, or ticks.  I seem to be the only one that feared the wasps.

One of the wicked wasps.  This picture was taken through a window.  There's no other way that I would get this close to one!

To get to our campsite, we would drive down a long dirt road that ran along a barbed-wire fence.  This fence separates private property from the reserve.  We noticed two impala in the road ahead.  As we slowly got closer, one impala decided to jump the fence.  I couldn't believe that it even made it over.  The other impala followed suit, but did not jump high enough.  It slammed into the fence and hit the ground.  I was horrified and screamed while everyone else gasped.  The impala ran away, possibly not too injured...at least I hope so.  But he and his friend (or relative) were now separated.

Driving down the road after the incident happened.

I felt horrible about the whole thing.  First of all, I hate the fences, but that is a whole 'nother issue with how conservation is managed here in South Africa.  I primarily came here to help wild animals continue to live in their natural habitat.  The reserves should technically be their turf, not ours.  I was very upset and saddened by the thought that if we had not been driving down the road, the impalas probably wouldn't have tried to jump the fence in the first place.  When it comes to conservation, there is a fine line between helping and hindering wildlife and the natural world.