I wish a was back in school this year.

I would have had the best answer to the “So, what did you do over the Christmas break?“- question.
It would have sounded like this: “Nothing much, got up early to watch the cricket, got charged by a Black Rhino, survived, got some good pics ….. the usual stuff..”
“Anything else” the teacher might have asked sarcastically -  to which I would have been able to reply :”... o yes, the day after I got caught between an Elephant bull and a Buffalo – and I survived that too. Thank you Miss.”

It would have been larny and way kiff – and I would have earned some serious playground credit.

Be that as it may, even if I’m not 10 anymore, it still happened and it was still very cool.

I was at Hlosi Lodge in the Eastern Cape.
Invited by the Lion Roars group to update their virtual tours of both Hlosi and Bukela Lodge.

On the first morning, after 2 or 3 hours of fruitless photography a Black Rhino suddenly appeared near the lodge. Seeing that there are no fences he duly set off towards the lodge pool for a morning drink,

I got a great 360º, which you can get a look at by clicking on this thumbnail.

[flash http://virtualafrica.co.za/blogspins/rhino/rhino%20at%20pool.swf w=800 h=500 preview={http://virtualafrica.co.za/blogspins/rhino/thmbs/rhino%20at%20pool%20tmb.jpg|200|125} mode=3]

After posing for a few pics, he took a leisurely stroll to the nearest chalet, where I was lucky enough to get EXTREMELY close and get some unique shots.

[flash http://virtualafrica.co.za/blogspins/rhino/rhino%20at%20figtree.swf w=800 h=500 preview={http://virtualafrica.co.za/blogspins/rhino/thmbs/rhino%20at%20figtree.jpg|200|120} mode=3]  (you know the drill – click away..)

After this close encounter, I followed him as he grazed further and further away from the lodge until he decided to inspect one of the game viewers. This made for a great shot and I ventured into the open veldt to get it.

Seconds after the shot below, a water pump, located about a meter from the rhino switched itself on.

Now I don’t know if you’ve had the privilege of seeing an angry rhino head on – but I can assure you, it’s exhilarating.

I did my best to keep still, but when he was about 15 m away it became apparent that he was blaming me for the incident with the water pump and that he was not planning to stop.

I made a dash for a rather large bush about 5m to my left, but the rhino kept coming.

Luckily the ranger was quick on his feet and by the time I came hurtling around the bush, he drove the game viewer between me and the sharp end of the galloping dinosaur.

The perfect end to a perfect day at Hlosi Lodge.

The following day I had a similar experience with a huge elephant and a very lazy buffalo, but that’s a story for another time…..

Links to virtual tours:

• Bukela Lodge
• Hlosi Lodge

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