There is so much we can learn from the wild so keep calm and witness all it has to offer. Infinite wisdom has collected over years of evolution and adaptation; a wealth of knowledge waiting and willing to be accessed. Every day the wilderness presents situations in which, in order to survive, one needs to be awake, alert and aware. Its inhabitants do not have the luxury to quit, or take a sabbatical, they must learn and grow with their circumstances, becoming more resilient with each challenge.
Dr Ian McCallum, author of ‘Ecological Intelligence’, encourages us to, like wild animals, expect anything and assume nothing. This tool will help us to survive in crisis and beyond. It is through coming home to our roots and reconnecting to the wilderness where we reawaken our skills for growth and survival. We learn that we are in fact inseparable from nature, an important reminder to reunite with our wild spaces.
By observing and implementing strategies of nature, using its intelligence and expertise to transform, we can also gain renewed perspective and meaning in our daily lives. ‘Keep Calm and Witness the Wild’ is priceless advice.
In witnessing the natural ebbs and flows of nature, in its rivers, seasons and life cycles, we are reminded that change is the only constant. Nature reiterates that change may be difficult, but in the end the result could be something beautiful. Adversity too, has its place in building strength, growing resilience and igniting the instinct for survival. From the persistence of the seed through parched earth, the first steps of a baby giraffe, ancient knowledge of wildlife corridors leading to water or the vehement defence of a mother warthog against a lion; the wild needs adversity to thrive.
These thoughts came to me as I dreamt about sitting at the boma of Camp Kuzuma, Chobe, watching the elephants quench their thirst from this well known waterhole. They have been coming here for years; a life source ingrained in their memories. The lodge borders an important animal corridor, the Seloko Plains, the wildlife dependent on its existence.
Due to the annual rainy season, the lodge is currently inaccessible. As much as we would love to have constant access to Camp Kuzuma, we take a leaf out of nature’s book, and accept the season for all it offers, adapting to its ways. We wait patiently for the bush to soak up the rains, the wildlife to feast and the earth to dry enough to once again let us partake in the wonders of the wild.
