Experiencing the Addo Adrenaline Rush
Heart-stopping moments, celestial masterpieces part of perfect visit
It was one of those perfect Addo days, the sun was shining, the car windows were open and I was alone in nature, just me, my camera and the surrounding birdsong. Bliss. I felt completely at peace.
But soon my sense of peace was replaced by other emotions - nervous anticipation and a sense of excitement. As I rounded a corner there he was. A massive bull elephant ambling towards me in the middle of the road.
Quickly pulling to a halt, I waited mere seconds for the towering giant to approach me, walking past my car as silently as possible. He had gone a little way past my car when he suddenly turned around, resulting in one of those Addo moments where the heart skips a beat, wondering what would happen next. Although this was not a new experience, my mind instantly went to a scary place. Why had he turned around?
My heart now working overtime, I knew there was only one thing to do - brave it out. Fight or flight was not an option, turning the car engine on could have disastrous results. Again, just about silently, he approached my car, sniffed at it and then me before deciding there were better pickings in the bush, wandering off amiably enough.
In the silence that followed I was left alone with the Addo Adrenaline Rush still pulsing through my veins. Addo’s ellies may be famous for being chilled but they are, after all, wild animals and you have to be alert to the fact that anything can happen at any time.
Perhaps it’s the same thing as a Runner’s High, a state of euphoria experienced during or after exercise brought on by the release of endorphins in the brain. However, in my case, I get my kicks from adrenaline.
So much so, that I would say that’s why I feel the urge to go to Addo at least once a month. I need my fix. But naturally, that’s only part of it. There’s also the undeniable thrill of the chase, sometimes driving almost endlessly in search of a sighting. And then, when you encounter one of the many animals to be found in Addo, endorphins may well be involved as you revel in the experience.
Neither adrenaline nor endorphins were present during my next ellie encounter. A young ellie cow went running through what little water there was in Hapoor Dam before getting stuck in the knee deep mud. The other ellies carried on splashing and trumpeting, seemingly unaware of her plight.
I could hardly watch as she battled for at least 20 minutes to free herself. Since the dam was ‘revamped’ a few years ago, Hapoor has frequently been in the news for just such occurrences, although it is usually a baby that gets stuck with the herd rapidly rallying to the stricken animal. This ellie was on her own in her struggles, finally reaching the safety of the dam wall, ending what was a pretty distressing experience for both of us.
Paul Kruger - head and shoulders above the rest
As I left Hapoor, heading into Mpunzi Loop, there came another adrenaline rush as I spotted what must surely be the park’s biggest elephant, Paul Kruger, towering above the rest of the herd as he made his way to the Dam.
Paul is easily recognised, not only by his sheer size but also by the fact that both his tusks are broken. I have been lucky enough to see him three times in the space of a year, but the pure delight of seeing this giant among giants never gets old.
Making this sighting even more special is the fact that Paul was in musth, a condition which means that an elephant bull can be extremely dangerous – a surge in reproductive hormones leads to heightened aggression. Being in close proximity to a giant ellie in musth had the adrenaline rush quickly kicking in again.
But then it was back to the endorphins, released as Mother Nature put on a spectacular sky show. Each part of the park I visited threw up a different celestial masterpiece, occasionally making a superlative backdrop to an animal sighting.
And sightings there were, a cute monkey drinking from an almost dry puddle, thirst obviously getting the better of him as I pulled up to take a picture, an obliging jackal on Gorah Loop which seemed quite happy to pose for me, buffaloes galore playing host to red-billed oxpeckers and impossibly cute baby ellies, which were being paraded in their numbers by proud moms.
Can this amazing experience be surpassed? Who knows? Addo is very much a luck of the draw experience. What I do know for sure is that I will need my next adrenaline kick very soon.
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