Tuesday Night in The Bush

5:30pm the phone rings......“Hey there, you home” says Tian. “Yes, what’s up?” I said. “Want to go baboon hunting?” Tian says. “Umm of course,” I say. As Tian pulled up outside my place, I came out excited for the hunting ahead. He looked down and laughed and told me to go put on proper shoes. I was a little confused so I asked if we would be walking or driving. “No, we will drive,” he says. Still confused as to why my flip flops were not proper I obediently went back inside to change.

I hopped into his buckie (aka truck) and we went barrelling down the dirt road. We travelled along the perimeter of the property that is next to Kruger National Park. I had my eyes peeled in an effort to see any possible game on our way to shoot some baboons.

The dirt road began to get worse and worse till the bushes on either side of us were coming into the buckie. Tian stopped and opened his door. I timidly asked, “where are you going.” “Umm baboon hunting,” he sarcastically replied. A little perplexed by the fact that he had previously told me we were driving, I slowly got out of the car not wanting to be a burden. I carefully placed my feet in the bush, since I am constantly warned of stepping on a Puff Ader – apparently one of the many poisonous snakes to be wary of. However, I have started to notice that they say that about everything.

Anyways, I followed Tian through the now thick bush. He of course was in shorts and flip flops and I was in long pants and closed shoes yet still having trouble keeping up with him as the thorny bushes would pull against him and smack right into my legs. He didn’t seem to notice so I tried to keep my screams in pain to a minimum. After 15 minutes he stopped and turned around to tell me to be quiet. Little did I know that my constant swatting of flies might warn the baboons that we were coming.
We finally arrived to a little clearing and Tian motioned to me to sit down. I looked down and saw a pile of ants, I decided to squat instead. After 5 minutes of silence, squatting, and mosquitoes swarming my head, I decided to get a bit more comfortable and lean against the fence separating us from Kruger. As soon as I moved, Tian grabbed me and whispered, “What on earth are you doing that is electric.” Hmm, oopps, guess I forgot that part. I conceded and sat in the ant pile hoping the baboons would come soon.

As dusk turned to night, Tian stood up and said “Ok, lets go” doesn’t seem like they are coming tonight. I quickly stood up, pissed, I just spent 25 minutes hiking through the bush, 5 mins squatting, and another 30 mins sitting in an ant pile.
As we tromped back to the buckie, Tian turned and asked if I wanted to try again tomorrow. Umm, “No, Thanks” I answered. “Patience my dear, patience,” living here for a year should give you that.

So while we did not even see a baboon to even think about shooting. I was able to learn a little bit about the thing I have never had - patience. Maybe I should try again.