The shiny new 1958 Chevrolet is a beautiful deep-sky-blue and cloud-white, loads of chrome, and even a sun-visor to round out the very attractive lines of the vehicle. In this small mining town it is quite a conversation starter at the time – the first vehicle in town with double headlights.
As I’m told the story later, my Dad is very particular about his new car – doesn’t like to get even a speck of dust on it. But it gets a load of dust – and almost more – when family members arrive from South Africa to visit. Uncle Danie is my mother’s cousin and Auntie Joey, his wife, has the readiest and most charming laugh of anyone I’ve ever known. She must be the happiest person alive! Even when she’s not laughing, those eyes are sparkling as if at some hidden internal source of amusement. Uncle Danie has a quieter, but equally entertaining, way of expressing his enjoyment.
His dry sense of humor requires careful listening to catch the meaning but, once you do, his observations are hilarious.
The town of Hwange is near the world-famous Hwange National Park – home to some of the largest herds of elephants and lion prides. You can’t visit Hwange and not visit Hwange National Park!
My Dad is working a long shift at the colliery and my Mum makes a unilateral decision to take the visitors game viewing in the brand new Chevy – ideal for the job since there’s plenty of room for everyone on the comfortably wide, dark blue leather seats.
Off we go, navigating two-track roads, the dust billowing in a great cloud behind us, till my Mum slows down and our guests start oohing and aahing at the abundant game: ubiquitous Impalas, shy Kudu, lounging Baboons, and high in the trees overhead, little Vervet Monkeys with bright blue genitalia. “Mommy, what’s that blue?” “HUSH!”, and half-suppressed adult giggles… And here’s a herd of elephants crossing the road: a number of adults with slow gracious strides and young ones of two different sizes and ages trotting occasionally to keep up with the long natural pace of their giant elders.
They’re magnificently large, so amazingly close that you can see the lines and crisscross wrinkles in the grey hides. Oops, too close. The matriarch has taken exception to the blue and white Chevy. The babies in this herd are small and vulnerable and that big Mama is taking no chances with her brood. She gives a warning flap of the ears, raises her trunk to give a thunderous piercing trumpet volley, and then makes a heart-stopping charge at the car.
Anthills, Elephants, and Other Fascinations Description:
Rina Flanagan grew up in Africa, dodging snakes, elephants, teasing uncles and cousins, and other even scarier imagined creatures, and somehow survived to tell the tale…
A quick and entertaining read for people of all ages.
