Cheetahs, Stars and Psalm 8

Thursday 11th September

Pretoriuskop, Kruger National Park

Sunset, Kruger National Park

Tonight we took a sunset game drive with a ranger from South Africa National Parks.  At first, the going was slow, with just a few impala, zebra and kudu followed by some distant elephants.  (Isn't it strange how after only a few days here they have become "just" zebra...)  The only 'new' animal for us to see was a single steenbok.

Then, out of nowhere, we discovered two cheetahs walking across the road in front of us - what a sight!  Unfortunately I didn't manage to get the camera out in time before they disappeared, but then they are renowned for being fast!

Cats and dogs were clearly order of the day, with a jackal being our next spot.  (This taught us an important lesson of safari - no matter what you're looking at, always look behind you.  While I was busy looking at a couple of ground hares, I almost missed the jackal that was hunting them.)

Hyena came next, first some young ones then an adult on the prowl.  Shortly after, a genet ran across our path. What we thought was another genet turned out to be a civet - slightly more cat-like.

We also came across a white rhino who was less than impressed with our interruption so we didn't hang about for long.

As well as the animals, two things of great beauty stood out.  First, Africa knows how to put on a spectacle of a sunset, with the sun going from full view to hidden from sight in under a minute.  Second, the lack of light pollution out in the bush allows the most wonderful view of the stars.  Of course, these are southern hemisphere stars so different from the ones we're used to seeing, but in the darkness of tonight whole distant galaxies were visible, and the sky awash with colour.

It really brings home the sentiment of the Psalmist:

Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!  You set your glories above the heavens.

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and stars that you set in place, what are human beings that you're mindful of us, mere mortals that you care for them?