National Geographic Experience

Previous days have been about facility tours and ministry. Today was all about the animals.

We began the day by having a leisure morning. I have had a difficult time sleeping through the night so I slept in until 9 AM.

We are moving into Hippo Lakes Lodge tents today so we had to get our luggage ready to be picked up at 11:30 AM.

We made our way to Hippo Lakes for lunch which consisted of the best chicken sandwhich I think I have ever had. Lunch was held in the Water Lapa which is a palapa surrounded by water. Martin gave a breakdown of the future plan for TEN including both the plans for development of content, translations and facilities.

With the purchase of the Lediba Homestead, 4 rare female Roan antelop were included. They subsequently purchase a male Roan in order to have a breeding program. The male Roan was in a fenced area near the Lediba Homestead. The 4 females needed to be moved to the area where the male was located.

This afternoon's adventure was to locate the roans with a helicopter, tranquilize them, and move them.

After lunch, we headed back out to Lediba. By the time we arrived, they had already located, tranquilized, and moved the first female. We drove to the area next to the Homestead's auxiliary housing units. We arrived just as the veterinarian was giving the young roan a dose of antibiotics, vitamins and medicine to counteract the tranquilizer. She got up quickly and ran off into the bush.

We felt like we had been dropped into a National Geographic documentary on how to care for and develop a breeding program for animals who are termed vulnerable. It is amazing how well cared for the animals are here at Hippo Lakes.

The helicopter had landed in the savannah behind the Homestead. We all gathered near the helicopter to plan the moving of the next roan.

The helicopter soon took off in search of the next roan.

In order to insure the safety of the animal, there is only 30 minutes between the time the animal is tranquilized and when the traquilizer needs to be reversed. This requires close coordination between those in the helicopter and those on the ground. In addition, the animal's head must be elevated at all time so its airway remains open.

We were amazed at the skill of the helicopter pilot, the veterinarian, and the ground crew.

We got the call that the next animal had been tranquilized. We quickly made our way to the location indicated by the helicopter.

The animal had fallen right on the road. This would mean that the pilot would have had to herd the animal onto the road and the veterinarian would have to have been an extremely good shot. It is clear that both of these men are experts at their jobs.

Once we arrived at the roan, its head was quickly elevated, the animal was cooled by wetting it with water, moved to a tarp and loaded into the back of a truck.

Before we knew it, we were headed back to the enclosure.

Once there, the roan was removed from the truck and kept cool while waiting for the veterinarian to arrive which happened within minutes. Again, the animal was given antibiotics, vitamins and medicine to reverse the tranquilizer. This roan was a larger female and it took her a bit longer to wake up fully.

This procedure was repeated once more.

After the third roan had been moved, the helicopter went search of the last roan.

The relocation event was called after about 40 minutes because the last roan was not able to be located.

Next came an even more exciting adventure. We drove back to the savannah behind the Homestead. The helicopter landed. Bob and I were allowed ride in the helicopter. This was the thrill of a lifetime was we soared over the Waterberg and observed herds of giraffe, wilderbeast, and cape bufflo as they stampeded through the bush! We will never forget this experience! I will try to upload the video but I must edit it to a smaller size in order for it to upload.

The helicopter landed in a field next to one of Hippo Lake's auxiliary compounds where we met up with our safari vehicle for the return trip to Hippo Lake Lodge. On the way we saw a large Cape Buffalo.

Upon arrival, we had about 30 minutes before dinner. Bob and I made our way to our "tent" which is located on the newly constructed area of the lodge. The tent is absolutely stunning. I wish I would have been able to get better pictures before our belongings got spewed across the tent!!!

We quickly washed up and headed back to the lodge for dinner.

We had dinner in the Water Lapa. The west African pastors had not yet departed so we had one more opportunity to see them. We also met with an attorney who supports the ministry and his wife.

After dinner Bob and I were escorted back to our tent in an "African" strength golf cart.

Upon arriving at our tent, we promptly had a shower in the luxurious bathroom before crashing in our 4 poster bed. This is unlike any tent in which I have ever been.Read more