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Lights for Imire
Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force (ZCTF)
April 29, 2008

Three weeks ago, I paid a visit to Imire to see how Tatenda was doing.

Some tourists and volunteers were there and we all went down to the mud pool in the game park to watch Tatenda having a mud bath. All went well at first and we all thought how "cute" Tatenda looked, wallowing in the mud with his best friend, Hog Wash.

Tatenda and Hog Wash playing in the mud.

This idyllic situation soon changed, however. It was a very hot day and Tatenda, apparently overjoyed at being able to cool down in the mud, decided he wanted to play. He suddenly charged out of the mud pool and up the embankment towards the terrified onlookers who had to dive for cover.

The speed and agility of this young 350kg rhino was unbelievable. He charged everyone he saw, acting very much like a rodeo horse, leaping up and doing complete 360s in the air with all four feet off the ground. He seemed quite confused that nobody wanted to play with him and everybody persisted in running away from him instead. It is common knowledge that if you are ever charged by a rhino, you should just side-step as he approaches and he will hopefully run straight past you. Don't ever be deceived into thinking this evasive move will work with Tatenda.

I was busy filming the whole fiasco when he caught sight of me and started charging. I immediately stopped filming and took flight. I was running with Tatenda hot on my heels when the unthinkable happened. I tripped and plunged headlong into the dirt. I lay there, bracing myself for the onslaught but it didn't come. I turned my head to see what was happening and Tatenda screeched to a halt just as he reached me, sniffed at my shoes and then went after another potential playmate.

He relentlessly carried on with his "game" for over half an hour, completely ignoring the desperate attempts of his handler to control him. I left Imire with a broken camera, a grazed knee and stones imbedded in my hands and I would strongly advise anyone visiting Imire to wear good running shoes and to keep a safe distance from the mud pool.

The following week, Ron Henwood very kindly donated 6 high powered security lights for the rhino pens so went to deliver them to Imire. When we arrived at the Travers' house, there was nobody around so we walked around the front to the verandah. John and Judy's bedroom opens out onto the verandah and we found them there but they weren't alone. There, lying in the middle of their double bed were Hog Wash and Tsotsi, the little hyena. They decided against naming the hyena Morris for fear of possibly offending Morris, the game scout.

Hog Wash and Tsotsi on the bed.

We handed over the lights which were immediately inspected by both Tatenda and Hog Wash.

Tatenda and Hog Wash inspect the lights.

A very big thank you to Ron Henwood for this fantastic donation.

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