Bushbuck inside the house camp

Nature constantly interferes with manmade barriers. In nature reserves designated areas are cordoned off for visiting humans, providing tall shade trees and manicured lawns for children to play.

Beyond the electrified fence nature is left as pristine as possible to maximise wildlife sighting for paying guests. Intruders arriving freely through the fence include insects like the wasp and the mosquito, noted with varying levels of apprehension. Snakes and spiders are downright feared by city-adapted tourists.

Then something like an adorable female bushbuck arrives inside the fence somewhat miraculously, delighting everybody from child to photographer. Its beauty suggests all is well. The spreading monoculture of humanity is still being challenged by the vigour of nature. Bulldozers and poisons have pushed nature into allocated boxes from where it fights its losing battle as hard as ever.

But how hollow is the human victory? Are we still proud of our achievement in taming nature? Is a belated change of strategy needed regarding the receding green and disappearing species? Are we really OK with the shrinking of the forests, the melting of the ice and the evil in our air? What residual caricature of nature will remain as legacy for the coming generations? Is nature about to retaliate against us, its well-treated problem child?

A visit to the bush lodge is a good time for reflecting upon the world we are shaping by action and neglect.