In my last blog, I wrote that there are a huge number of
elephants on Lewa at the moment. So clearly, it was only a matter of time
before a charging incident. We are on a lovely morning ride with some guests
heading up the hill when we come round the corner and encounter a herd of
elephants. Not on the track blocking our way but close enough that it could be
a problem. So we continue walking quietly by trying not to disturb them, but
straightaway a young bull elephant starts walking towards us with purpose,
flapping his ears and most definitely not happy. We start trotting to try and
give the herd the space they want, but that wasn’t enough for this elephant. He
starts trumpeting and running, we start cantering up the hill. The elephant is
now on the track and running up behind us fast making very loud angry
trumpeting sounds. It was fortunate that we had a good track ahead of us
because he followed us for quite some time before he gave up the chase. To be
honest, it was really fun – the horses loved an excuse to gallop up the hill,
the guests loved the adrenalin rush (fortunately they were all experienced
riders), and everyone had a good story to tell at breakfast.
Sad times though, my friendly little tortoiseshell cat has
now been missing, presumed dead, for a week - probably eaten by a leopard whilst
on her night time wanderings. It is not the same now when I go up to the
stables each morning. The two cats would always come bounding across the yard
to greet me – not because they love me so much, they just want their breakfast!
Now I just have one sad little tabby cat who misses her sister desperately…
They would sleep curled up together, wash each other, and play and fight
together so she really doesn’t know what to do with herself now that she is
alone.
For the first time ever on Lewa, I found it necessary to
wear a dress. The wedding of Will and Emma’s niece took place last weekend up
on the hillside near Pombe Rocks. Kate and I got invited to the evening dinner
and dancing and - after stressing greatly about what to wear - had a lovely
time and a very late night. It’s all very well wearing a dress during the day
but it is freezing once the sun goes down, hence our what to wear dilemma! The
trick is to keep dancing so you don’t feel the cold…
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