Each and everyday I awake to find the sunlight filtering through the Moringa oleifera outside my bedroom window on to my make shift bed created by joining two twin mattresses, so soft that I wake up in the depression left by my sleeping body. The nights are filled with silence and then are disturbed by grazing Spingbok and Nyala that clumsily bump into the sides of my dark cold cabin. The wind howls and the animals shriek all throughout the night. I jump at any sound, which makes me feel like I am being invaded or watched. The nights are different. With each waking day I find the sunlight accompanying, its presence creates a new sanctuary filled with the morning birds singing new songs.
On my morning drives around the preserve I find the Nyala, Greater Kudu, and Blessbok gathered around the corners of the lake and the Gazelles on the levi fleeing in every direction when they hear my bucky approaching up the path. All the animals don’t mind when I park my car to gaze into their eyes but once I open the car door they jump up in fear and dart away.

The Greater Kudu and the Nyala both belong to the same genus, Tragelaphus. Not as large as the largest Gazelle related animal, the Eland, but they stand large and elegant. The Nyala has a large white bar across his nose and white strips that flare down the sides of his body. It was only after a chance encounter when I found the Nyala grazing outside of my living room window, that I felt safe knowing that such a large animal keeps me up during the cold and lonely nights.

The day grows colder with each rotation of the Earth sending South Africa deeper in to winter. The mornings are welcoming and warm, the sun embraces the plains and spark fires in the afternoon. Smoke rises from every direction, the sun directly above blazes the bush into embers sending the Blessbok to nod for forgiveness. The Gazelles leap high sending their hind legs into the air breaking a distance away from the ground that bursts into flames. Winter parches the thirst of all living animals, the dry season makes the dirt settle into the nostrils of all breathing life forms. The water has receded in all the wetlands and lakes, trash that once was submerged now stands out to be collected. Insects buzz through the air landing on my skin at every opportunity to moisten themselves on my sweat.

Not a day has gone by where my heart laments for more sunlight, the cold nights can send fear in to a uncommon dweller. It is only when I look up to see the stars lighting up the night that I am reminded once more of my insignificance, just as I am at home. One more pebble in the sea of sand.