I drove to South Africa early December to collect Kim, Kyeren, the last load of furniture and Jenna the Jack Russell puppy. We then headed back to Maun, spent two nights at home on the Boro and then went up to Shakawe to the wedding of Grant and Trudy Reed.
The wedding was a good place for a first intro to most of the folk from Maun, a colourful array of characters, all of them tanned and seasoned by the sun and outdoor living life style that epitomised the bush and safari industry.
The cacophony of inaudible voices and chatter indicated that everyone there was acquainted, with the exception of us. We were a bit out. Michael Hill made a concerted effort to come over to chat to us or include us the best he could. In the years that followed, Mike proved to be one of the best people to have had the privilege of knowing, He is kind, gentle and unassuming, yet strong and determined.
Mike is the founder and owner of Endeavour Safaris, apart from the usual safari offerings, Endeavour cater for handicapped people that wish to experience the wilderness. Their vehicles and equipment are adapted for this purpose and the staff specifically trained.
But I digress.
Kim had moved away from the group to watch the sunrise over the Okavango River, the single boat approaching carried Trudy and the bridal party. The ceremony was about to begin
At one point we were standing chatting and waiting for the completion of The Bridal parties photos, Kyeren was pulling on my hand.
"Hey dad, can I go swim?’ he asked.
‘Yes Kyeren, but only in the swimming pool, do not go near the River.’ I replied, hardly looking down and trying to maintain being part of the group's conversation. Kyeren pulled my hand again.
‘Are you sure dad?’ he asked.
‘Yes Kyeren’ was my short reply.
Kyeren pulled my hand again and said ‘Please come with Dad.’
By this time I was no longer following the group's conversation so I turned and followed Kyeren to the swimming pool. As we approached the pool a large crocodile submerged below the surface of the water and remained perfectly still as if waiting for us to pass before coming up to the surface for another breath of air.
‘Shit Kyeren!’ I gasped. ‘Okay no swimming today!’ I said firmly.
‘If there are crocodiles in the swimming pool and that big, you don't even want to know how big the fuckers in the river are!’ I exclaimed.
I picked up his towel, waited for him to get dressed and headed back to the group where we were standing, only to find Kim standing alone. Again, Kim had moved off and was staring down the river. “+Look carefully” she said softly “I thought that was a hippo on the opposite bank, it’s a crocodile, its firkin huge!”
Kyeren responded with “Yip, like one in the swimming pool”
Kim gasped.