Christmas Eve in Eswatini

 

The lions in HLANE National Park are sluggish during the day and their manes protrude from the tall grass as they yawn out loud. Young African antelopes are mostly caught by the more active female lions. Some months in Swazi language are named after animals. For example, October is named after the impalas. HLANE National Park covers an area of 22,000 hectares and animal numbers are kept secret.

Locals say the Swazi king and his companions used to go hunting in the park. It was mainly for this reason that the park was originally established. It has specially reserved areas for specific animals - lions, elephants, giraffes and rhinos. 

 

HLANE National Park (Eswatini)

We discover the animals only during the guided evening ride through the park, the Sunset Game Drive. The guide knows exactly where the animals hide from the daily heat. The white withered tree branches are twisted to the sides like hands calling for help. Groups of vigilant vultures sit on their tops.

Afterwards we spend Christmas Eve by the light of kerosene lamps. Roasted antelopes with red beetroots and letcho-style vegetables with polenta are served. A white owl watches us sceptically from the ceiling beam. The dinner is followed by a traditional program. Four guys drum loudly and about five barefoot women throw their feet in the air in the style of an African cancan. 

 

Herds of elephants and rhinos refresh themselves in the small lake in front of the NDLOVU Campsite before sunrise. Therefore we get up at four o´clock to observe them for a while. One of the small elephants does not like it and attempts to destroy the fence to get to us. However, he seems to become distracted by the rising sun.

We make just a short stop at the petrol station before leaving Eswatini. An about 8-year-old boy approaches us with his self-made jewellery. He does not attend school and asks for coke or ice-cream. 

 

Štedrý večer v Svazijsku

Levy a levice v Národnom parku HLANE sú počas dňa ťažkopádne a ich hrivy vytŕčajú z vysokej trávy, keď nahlas zazívajú. Na aktívnejšie levice doplatia najmä mladé africké antilopy- implaly. Vraj sú niektoré mesiace v svazijskom jazyku pomenované po zvieratách. Október nesie názov práve po impalách.

Národný park HLANE má rozlohu 22.000 ha a čísla zvierat sú držané v tajnosti. Miestni hovoria, že do parku kedysi chodieval na poľovačky aj svazijský kráľ so svojimi kumpánmi. Práve z tohto dôvodu vraj park vznikol. V parku sú špeciálne vyhradené areály pre konkrétne zvieratá- levy, slony a žirafy, nosorožce. 

 

 

Zvieratá objavíme až pri večernej jazde so sprievodcom Sunset Game Drive. Ten presne pozná úkryty zvierat pred horúčavou. Biele vyschnuté konáre sú vykrútené do strán ako ruky volajúce o pomoc. Na ich vrcholcoch posedávajú skupinky ostražitých supov.

Štedrý večer trávime pri svetle petrolejových lámp. Servírujú sa pečené antilopy s červenou repou, zeleninou na štýl leča a polentou. Zo stropného trámu nás skepticky pozoruje biely kuvik. Po večeri nasleduje tradičný program. Štyria chlapi hlasno bubnujú a a asi päť bosých žien vyhadzuje nohy do vzduchu na štýl afrického kankánu.

V jazierku pred kempingom NDLOVU sa pred východom slnka chodia ovlažiť stáda slonov či nosorožcov.