Gert Scholtz

7 years ago · 2 min. reading time · ~10 ·

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Ex Africa Semper Aliquid Novi

Ex Africa Semper Aliquid Novi

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Off to the Drakensberg for a few days. A beautiful part of the country. Family time, fresh mountain air, long leisurely walks and gently soaking up nature. Or so we thought.

In the morning the four of us set off eagerly for a walk. Down well-trodden paths initially until we came to steep hill. “Who’s up for it?” All four of us it turned out. Up an incline which seemed easy from below. Halfway up and the cliff faces were higher than I expected and I suggested we turn back. None wanted to. I scolded myself for allowing the family to get into this position. With drops of a few meters below we went up the face. My teenage daughter is a keen athlete and my misgiving gave way to astonishment. She clambered up, pulling her own weight with feet dangling on some of the ledges. Eventually she stood proudly glowing at the top of the hill. She had faced her fear of heights and left us all behind.

We ambled on. The next events happened in no more than five seconds. My wife gave a shriek and as I looked back a snake was storming toward her. Yes, storming is the only way I can describe the incredibly fast crawl. The snake reached up and sank its teeth into her ankle. Next it went for my daughter. She jumped away in fright. It then slithered away with….my son running after it! He turned round: “You can relax Mom, this one is not venomous.” His quick reaction was (I only realized later) based on his training in snake handling; first identify the snake species and then treat the person. My wife, always calm in a crisis, this time let out a few words I never knew was part of her vocabulary. We clambered down the hill, all the while keeping a close eye on Mom for signs of pain or distress. No signs, she was fine. She quickly regained her upbeat composure and now showed only irritation at the snake attack.

In the afternoon we decided to all go for a horse ride after the mornings’ near misadventures. Sitting on horseback meandering down mountain paths must be one of the most serene experiences one can have. Until my horse trotted across a wooden bridge. One of the boards broke as the horse stepped on it and I hurtled head first over the horse’s head. Some instinct took over and I tucked my head in to flip over and land on my hips with an ominous thud. I missed the side railing of the bridge by a few inches and in a frenzy the horse stomped next to my head a few times to break free from the bridge. I got up slowly waiting for stabs of pain; none came. Badly bruised though. The horse was unscathed.

Now here is the peculiar thing.

A day later, all us of felt relaxed and invigorated as never before. Was it because of being on the edge of potentially perilous events? Or being face to face with some of our most primal fears? I don’t know the answer. But what I do know is the family is unanimous in that we will go walking, cliff climbing and horse riding again any day. Bar the snakes, heights and tumbles of course. Or because of it?

Ex Africa semper aliquid novi.

Always something new coming out of Africa.


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Comments

Gert Scholtz

7 years ago #18

Irene Hackett "Trek me if you can" - what a great line! Thanks Praveen.
Great story Gert Scholtz. Thank you so much !

Graham🐝 Edwards

7 years ago #16

Literally every day can be an adventure... thanks of sharing Gert Scholtz

Gert Scholtz

7 years ago #15

#19
Dean Owen The Sani Pass is where the highest pub is - also part of the Drakensberg. The pub was top priority after these events - and at high altitude quickly had the desired effect.

Dean Owen

7 years ago #14

That's what cars are for Gert Scholtz! Talking of cars, I recently saw an episode of the new (and really bad) Top Gear with Matt leBlanc, and I distinctly remember them taking their cars to the highest pub in Africa, which, if I'm not mistaken, was where you were. So why is it that this pub was not numero uno priority destination (ditch your daughter somewhere amongst the snakes)?

Gert Scholtz

7 years ago #13

#12
Aaron Skogen Nothing like a fall to get you back in the saddle - very true Aaron - literally and figuratively. Would like to hear your story sometime. Thank you reading.

Lisa Gallagher

7 years ago #12

#16
your son sure was, he sounds brave!

Gert Scholtz

7 years ago #11

#15
Lisa Gallagher I think you are spot-on Lisa. It was the overcoming of adversity together. The snake was a scary experience but my son was a little hero. Thanks for your reading and comments - from a gingerly seated me.

Lisa Gallagher

7 years ago #10

I bet it's because you and your family faced adversity in the face it gave you a renewed sense of 'anything is possible,' on that day. What a story Gert Scholtz! I cringed when I read your wife was bitten by a snake and was glad to hear it wasn't venomous. My daughter used to trail ride and show horses, so I understand how easy some horses can spook and the dangers humans face when riding these large animals. Glad you were just bruised and nothing more. What a great story . I'm glad this turned out to be a positive experience! My husband once had to take a large stick and fling a rattlesnake off a path in the woods. It's a good thing he saw it.

Gert Scholtz

7 years ago #9

#6
Don Kerr I had something stronger than wine - which strangely seemed to help with the seating as well :) Thanks Don for stopping by and reading.

Gert Scholtz

7 years ago #8

#6
Don Kerr I had something stronger than wine - which strangely enought seemed to help with the seating as well :) Thanks Don for stopping by and reading!

Gert Scholtz

7 years ago #7

#5
Jim Murray Thank you for reading Jim and for your experienced pointers on readability of posts. Your time appreciated.

Gert Scholtz

7 years ago #6

#4
Julie Hickman My kids were holding back the mirth at dad going headlong over the horse. I think the horse held back too :)

Gert Scholtz

7 years ago #5

#2
CityVP Manjit Thank you for the link and reading deeper than than the story. Your exploratory mind is amazing City VP.

don kerr

7 years ago #4

Yumpin yiminee Gert Scholtz May I recommend a comfortable chair and a few glasses of lovely South African wine.

Jim Murray

7 years ago #3

Crikey Gert Scholtz...I think you would have been better off with a stay-cation. Good story though, but those paragraphs are a bit on the fat side.

CityVP Manjit

7 years ago #2

Here is the link for Nature and the American Identity http://xroads.virginia.edu/~cap/nature/cap2.html

CityVP Manjit

7 years ago #1

Beautiful part of the world, and a great reminder that the wilderness needs serious attention. That drew me into exploring insights into how settlers of America regarded the wilderness. In "Nature and the American Identity" there is a cool contrast between the tension of wilderness and garden, and of savagery and civilization". There are ecological issues that arise from this contrast but for the context of Drakensberg, the chief contrast is with the view of the wilderness we have today which is what we focus on today, compared to the mindset of pioneers, as well as settlers who operated on the philosophy of manifest destiny.

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