Environment
It was at the end of one of these fishing
trips that we crossed Mwerihari River in
front of the serial crocodiles and hippos.
Funny creatures indeed and kings and
queens of the waters.
Anyone who has been through these
parts will tell you that their very first,
upclose encounter with the one of the
most dangerous reptiles (crocodile) is
a conflicting experience indeed. Do I
stand in absolute awe of these majestic
creatures before me? Or do I attempt to
break the land speed record until I reach
a safe enclosure?
I could feel questions rioting in my
blood. But once you relax around these
magnificent animals and reptiles, you can
truly appreciate them for the placid and
often humorous creatures that they truly
are.
During one of my days at Ruti Dam,
the biggest and majestic dam in Buhera
district that qualifies to be a tourist
attraction, I gained a full appreciation
of how funny and indeed savvy some of
these animals and reptiles are.
Covering a large portion of magnificent
Buhera or Uhera mountainous and terrainbound land mass, the area engulfing Ruti
Dam is truly a very beautiful wildlife
sanctuary.
Here, hippos, crocodiles, birds of
different types and one of the largest
populations of wild dogs in the land are
resident.
Having stopped at the ever busy
Chiurwi Shopping Centre to quench
thirst, we headed for the Ruti Dam.
Game was abundant, as were some
rather large puddles. It was slow going;
having to stop periodically to check the
depth of water spilling across the road
by wading in with a stick, if it disappears
under water, then it’s probably too deep
and dangerous to drive through.
Heavy rains had fallen in Buhera, the
first such volumes in many years. A half
day’s driving saw us setting up a minicamp for two hours, tired but happy to be
travelling the bumpy and pothole ridden
road that has been in existence for a long
time now.
With the tents erected and the braai
going, we all settled for and knocked over
several bottles of red labels, brown and
green lagers in our possession.
Soon after we left our place of temporary
residence, we heard noise from a group
of hyenas making haste with whatever
food they had managed to salvage off the
bakkie.
A few hours later, we were taken aback
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by the amount of birds flying above our
heads, a lot of grazers and wild cats
enjoying the fantasy of the usual home but
a bit sceptic about the strange visitors.
Not far from where we were taking
pictures of animals and reptiles, a group
of tourists had also pitched up tents in a
row, away from the dam and supposedly
out of trouble.
They had then taken off for fishing,
leaving their tents unattended but for a
troop of errant baboons which stumbled
upon it much later, the ensuing chaos was
reminiscent of a scene of confusion as
bags were upended and toiletries strewn
around. Even some tents were destroyed.
Over the years and in similar
circumstances, I have learnt that in
travels and situations like this, you
should look around for an accompanying
local guide, gauge their reaction and then
decide if panic should be the order of the
day.
During the course of my tour, I had
had been rammed by a goat, fallen in a
hole and sharply twisted my ankle and
almost had my eye taken out by a stick
in the face. But, wow, what a whale of
experience we had in rural Buhera, whose
memories remain imprinted in the eye of
my mind!TP
April 2013
Page 47