Friday 29 April 2011

Enthusiasm and zebras; two incompatible notions? I think not.

I find that South Africans are always pleasantly surprised at how excited foreigners get about animals. Especially zebras, which I guess are like horses to them. I once expressed my enthusiasm over a herd of zebras walking right next to our car at a game reserve to which someone replied "that's nice, but don't you have those where you're from?" Um no. Obviously most of us have seen these animals before...in a zoo, which is definitely not the same thing (no offense, Blijdorp). We're used to staring at overfed lazy zebras that are about as lively as Stephen Hawking. And some of us have only had "quality zebra time" while watching Dreamworks' Madagascar. So pardon me if I do a cartwheel every time I see a zebra frolicking around here.

"Carl, that girl has been staring at us for a while now..."
"Just act natural, Mary...we'll get through this together"


Zebra in the middle engages in headbutting. Literally.






Tuesday 26 April 2011

The Big Escape.

No longer to be subjected to the pressures and expectations of Western civilization, Beertje finally decides to flee. Holland has its perks and one cannot deny that fun times have been had here and that people will be missed dearly. But the cold weather and the threatening feeling of repetition and mediocrity have made Beertje anxious. Like any good owner would, I follow Beertje and together we embark on our South African adventure.