There are views so big, spaces so wide, that an elephant standing in the open, will become a dot so small, it is not visible to the eye. It will disappear on the canvas of infinite beauty, from every wispy tuft of grass, to distant mountains and the sky blue of continuous horizons.
You feel each breath you draw as far away as the endless horizon, and the mountains as close as the air you breathe.
It is a sensation, a feeling. It is a reality where the space is is so part of you, you of it, that it is easy to remember..every thing you feel is real.
This is what what the desert brings to me. I can feel it now. I can touch it.
Damaraland, Namibia is such a place. Where you can experience this and the word ‘expedition‘ comes to life. I went there with my close friend Rory Johnstone, who you’ve met here at WildEarth. I did see more sunrises than people, and became invisible in the solitude and vastness of that place. I saw elephants, we walked with a black rhino and woke up with lions roaring in the desert. Had coffee around a stone ringed fire, when they walked out on the forever canvas of the ancient Huab valley.
I left that spectacular wilderness and arrived back at this one, Djuma, another very special place. As always, things at WildEarth are changing, progressing, getting you closer to our nature!
The tank is a happy, distant memory now, winter has arrived, the impala are halfway through their rut and the ellies are coming back more and more!
The wildlife’s been fantastic! Elephants at Vuyatela pan, the Mapogo male with a belly like a hippo at Buffelshoek dam, sandy patch lioness and Karula’s cub surprising us at Treehouse dam.
I write this more just to say hello to you, to scribble down a few words to draw you more into the spirit of nature. Over the next few weeks WE will see amazing sights, share intimate moments with wild, wonderful animals and hopefully, feel that beauty stronger in our hearts.
My adventure in Damaraland reminded me yet again how evocative nature is, how the spirit of exploration and the power of passion, can be so much greater than any individual person, specie or event. Then, the elephants last night!
They let us wait for a while, or shall I say WE had to wait a little while, but what a place to wait. The small birdlife, strarling, dove and threebanded plover, early evening and Humgo the hippo snorting and yawning, rippling the sunset gold water.
WE waited and they came..First a few, gentle gray giants in the crepuscular glow of evenings’ approach. They walked slow and heedful, all of them acquainted to the youngest addition to their family herd … a little one, perfect from trunk to toe, wobbly legs and eyes opened only weeks ago.
Such a beautiful scene, a sea of legs and trunks, all ancient next to his little elephant body. His trunk still only a floppy nose he’ll still learn to use with dexterous precision.
Every day out here, I see and feel such beautiful things, and then there are events that just, yet again, leaves me in absolute awe of our wonderful earth, her capacity for beauty,magic and life.
It leaves me with a feeling as vivid and enchanting as the silhouettes of the elephants leaving, the little one kept safe and sheltered in the embrace of the whole herd. They are free to live, right now, as you think of them!
Explore the dream, share the surprise and enjoy WildEarth! Everything you feel is real.
Written by Pieter Pretorius
The threedimensionlessness.
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Pieter, What Can I Say.Your Words ,Your Felling About The Bush. You Make Everone Dreams Come To Life.We See The Bush Though Your Eyes.We Fell The Love You Have For The Anmials. Keep Bring Us All The Love Of Your World To Us. Thanks To You,Rex,Alex & Jan You All Make My Dreams Of Seeing The Bush Come To Life For Me.
Audrey
Wow pieter, the way you talk to us about all the wonderful sights and sounds, makes it all the more real for us, im sure i speak for a few who have never been able to come to africa when i say THANK YOU so much for bringing all this and more into our homes, it truley makes us all feel like we are there right beside you, feeling what you feel, smelling what you smell, seeing what you see, thank you pieter and to everybody else there at WE, you truley are AMAZING
emma from UK
Pieter, if only all of humanity could feel as you do about our world, so many problems could be solved.
Ouf!
After the power of the words, let us hear and feel the sound of silence!
Claire-M.
that was nice Pieter. I was watching when you came across those ellies with the young one. I was at work and had to keep minimizing the screen lest I be caught! I was never a huge elephant fan (excuse the pun) I liked them well enough enjoyed thier intelligence and social inner workings in the herd. I had always been a big cat fan, travelling to India years ago to see my favorite in action – the tiger. we saw elephants thier, washed the working ones in the river at the end of each day with the Mahouts. But since I have been watching them at WE I am falling in love with them! There is somethign so serene and gentle in their eyes. I watched that calf flailing its little trunk around trying to sort out its movements and each time I thought “he will get it this time” ;)
Your photographs are stunning. You must feel so blessed to be living out your dreams and I appreciate WE and you and Rex for letting so manyof us live out our dreams through your eyes.
Thanks!
Thanks for the beautiful write-up, Pieter. Your appreciation for the bush and all it’s wonders is infectious! Those of us who have been with WE since the beginning, as well as those who are just joining enjoy your drives and now your writings immensely! Thanks for all you do! Cheers!
Beverly
Wildcall (on MyAfrica)
Well wrtitten Pieter, how true the beauty of mother nature you feel in areas that are so remote and wide open. You feel at one with nature and the environment the sounds of animals the smell in the air. How beautiful and special it was to see all the elephants last night. I loved how the young male made a playful scene infront of the jeep. The little baby being tenderly looked after by the watchful eyes of the herd. Thank you so much and WE for bringing this beauty into out homes across the world. – an aussie with a passion for all things African
Pieter…your words touch me as they do so many others. I have no words…I will just read yours and imagine I am in Africa seeing what you see and living these moments through your eyes.
Beautiful thoughts, Pieter. You create an image with the written word that transports me to Africa.