Crossing Your Rubicon…
At least a hundred!
I’ve read and heard about large elephant gatherings during the dry season but never in the wet. Witnessing drove upon drove of eles streaming across the Savannah of Ruaha National Park in Tanzania during the lush season was entirely unexpected and exciting.
The more I tried catching up with the parade, the more I realised the extent of their numbers, it just went on and on. With a start it dawned on me that they were heading straight for the Mwagusi River at a point where the road allows access to the shallows...we however had to wait for the current of eles crossing the road ahead of us, to clear. Whilst making a little video of their passage I attempted to count...I gave up when reaching about 250!
Once the path cleared I crossed a point of no return, sped off with guests flailing, yelled instructions to get ready with their cameras, kick off their shoes and follow me as soon as we screech to a halt...
My leaping from the driver’s seat even before the Landy came to a standstill must’ve been rather disconcerting to the remaining passengers...I however was so in-the-moment that I hardly noticed. Usually unencumbered by shoes, I was the first to rush down the sloping bank into the half-meter deep water. Splashing my way as fast as possible into the middle of the stream to witness and capture the last remaining family units crossing to the Northern bank. Squatting down in the water to lower my perspective, I unwittingly drenched my shorts whilst taking a few frames, then just lowered the camera and marvelled at this incredible spectacle.
Looking across the Mwagusi we could see the cluster of eles we encountered, joining another hundred or so more, already on the other side. That would bring to a total of at least 350 elephants in one single gathering...the largest I’ve ever experienced. I was ecstatic!
When my soul eventually returned to earth, I noticed that only two of my guests followed my example, the rest remained seated in the Landy with a restricted view.
What is it that inhibited them from embracing this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity at bearing full witness to something so awe-inspiring? How often do we allow our prejudices or illusions to deprive us of visceral, meaningful experiences which fills the heart with euphoria? Was it fear, ignorance, uncertainty? Are any of these worthy of stopping you from truly LIVING?
May you garner sufficient courage to embrace every single opportunity to experience awe with complete abandon...go ahead cross your Rubicon.
Yours in awe,