South Africa on Safari
6/5/2010 | 26m 46sVideo has Closed Captions
Joseph gets an elephant-sized helping of the African wild on safari.
Joseph gets an elephant-sized helping of the African wild on safari at the Lion Sands Private Game Reserve adjacent to South Africa’s famed Kruger National Park. He rounds out his wildlife tour at Camp Jabulani when he joins other camp guests atop a team of rescued elephants on safari. He visits the local villages and schools in order to understand more about the native culture.
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South Africa on Safari
6/5/2010 | 26m 46sVideo has Closed Captions
Joseph gets an elephant-sized helping of the African wild on safari at the Lion Sands Private Game Reserve adjacent to South Africa’s famed Kruger National Park. He rounds out his wildlife tour at Camp Jabulani when he joins other camp guests atop a team of rescued elephants on safari. He visits the local villages and schools in order to understand more about the native culture.
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship>> male announcer: WELCOME TO TRAVELSCOPE, WITH JOSEPH ROSENDO, WHERE EACH WEEK, YOU JOIN US AS WE ACCEPT THE WORLD'S INVITATION TO VISIT.
>> Rosendo: TODAY ON TRAVELSCOPE, I HEAD OUT ON SAFARI TO WILD SOUTH AFRICA TO MEET THE PEOPLE AND RUB SHOULDERS WITH CHEETAHS AND ELEPHANTS.
>> announcer: TRAVELSCOPE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY DK EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDES.
DK CITY, COUNTRY, AND DRIVING GUIDES FEATURE EVOCATIVE PHOTOS, 3-D MAPPING, AND ILLUSTRATIONS FOR KEY SITES AND TRAVEL ITINERARIES.
DK EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDES: THE GUIDES THAT SHOW YOU WHAT OTHERS ONLY TELL YOU.
[birds chirping] >> Rosendo: IT'S DAWN AT CAMP JABULANI.
I LOVE THE DAWN.
IT GIVES ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE THE THREE THINGS THAT ARE DISTINCTLY AFRICAN TO ME: THE SMELL OF AFRICA, THE SOUNDS OF AFRICA, AND THE LIGHT.
THE SMELLS OF AFRICA ARE THE SMELLS OF THE TREES, THE EARTH, AND THE ANIMALS.
THE SOUNDS OF AFRICA COULD BE THE LOW RUMBLE OF A LION ANNOUNCING HIS TERRITORY OR SOME OF THE 300-PLUS SPECIES OF BIRDS THAT LIVE HERE.
AND FINALLY, THE LIGHT, WHICH STARTS OUT AS A RED GLOW IN THE EAST AND QUICKLY BECOMES WHITE, HOT, AND BRILLIANT.
IT'S MY FAVORITE PART OF THE DAY.
LOCATED IN KAPAMA, ONE OF A NUMBER OF PRIVATE GAME RESERVES ON THE WESTERN EDGE OF KRUGER NATIONAL PARK'S 5 MILLION ACRES, CAMP JABULANI OFFERS A LUXURY AFRICAN BUSH ADVENTURE CENTERED AROUND AN ORPHANED ELEPHANT, JABULANI, WHOSE STORY INSPIRED THE CREATION OF THE CAMP.
IT'S CALLED CAMP JABULANI, AND IT ALL BEGINS WITH JABULANI, AND HERE HE IS.
>> HERE HE IS.
>> Rosendo: HOW DID HE GET HERE?
>> HE'S AN ORPHAN.
HE WAS DESERTED AT THE AGE OF FOUR MONTHS, RECOVERED.
>> Rosendo: WAS THE IDEA TO TAKE HIM--PUT HIM BACK IN THE WILD?
>> THE IDEA WAS AT THE TIME GETTING REESTABLISHED INTO THE WILD HERD.
>> Rosendo: AND HOW'D THAT GO?
>> NOT SO VERY SUCCESSFUL.
HAVING BEEN WITH HUMANS FOR SIX YEARS, ONE CAN IMAGINE HE WAS SO USED TO HUMAN ACTIVITY THAT HE ACTUALLY FORGOT THAT HE'S AN ELEPHANT.
>> Rosendo: [laughs] >> ELEPHANT INFANTS ARE INCREDIBLY SENSITIVE.
THEY'RE VERY MUCH LIKE HUMANS.
THEY GET USED TO SOMEBODY TAKING CARE OF THEM.
YOU CAN IMAGINE WHAT HE MUST HAVE THOUGHT WHEN WE TRIED TO REINTRODUCE HIM INTO THE WILD HERD.
>> Rosendo: A BUNCH OF WILD, HUGE BEASTS.
>> A COMPLETE WILD HERD, YES.
>> Rosendo: BUT HERE ARE SOME WILD, HUGE BEASTS.
>> ALSO ORPHANS BUT NOT QUITE THE SAME AS JABULANI.
THEY WERE THE RESULT OF A MAN-MADE MANAGEMENT REDUCTION PROGRAM.
>> Rosendo: AND DID THEY TAKE HIM IN?
>> THEY TOOK HIM IN, PUT A TRUNK OVER HIM, HUGGED HIM.
>> Rosendo: AND LET HIM INTO THE FAMILY.
>> LET HIM INTO THE FAMILY.
>> Rosendo: TELL ME SOME THINGS ABOUT AFRICAN ELEPHANTS.
>> AFRICAN ELEPHANTS DIFFER SLIGHTLY TO YOUR ASIAN ELEPHANT.
YOUR AFRICAN ELEPHANT IS A LARGER SPECIMEN.
THE OTHER DIFFERENCE: THE AFRICAN ONE HAS TWO LIPS.
HE'S GOT AN UPPER AND HE'S GOT A LOWER LIP.
YOUR ASIAN ONE LACKS A BOTTOM LIP, MAKES OURS SLIGHTLY MORE VERSATILE.
>> Rosendo: SO HE COULD ALMOST USE THOSE TWO LIPS AS A FINGER AND A THUMB.
>> ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY.
>> Rosendo: THEY'RE SO SWEET AND SO GENTLE.
>> VERY MUCH SO.
DESPITE THEM BEING BIG AND RUGGED, THEY CAN BE VERY, VERY GENTLE.
>> Rosendo: YES, YES, YES.
>> THE MORE ATTENTION YOU GIVE THEM, THE MORE ATTENTION THEY GIVE YOU.
>> Rosendo: DOES HE UNDERSTAND YOU, ACTUALLY UNDERSTAND YOUR COMMANDS?
>> YES, HE UNDERSTANDS YOU.
THEY KNOW THE WORDS.
SHALL WE TALK?
[elephant grunts] >> GOOD BOY.
>> Rosendo: DON'T YOU THINK THAT THE BEST WAY TO SAVE THESE ANIMALS ARE BY INTRODUCING THEM TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN AND HAVE PEOPLE REALLY HAVE A ONE-ON-ONE RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM?
>> MAKE PEOPLE AWARE OF THE ELEPHANT, MAKE THEM AWARE OF THE INTELLIGENCE OF THE ELEPHANT.
GIVE HIM A COMMAND: TALK.
>> Rosendo: TALK.
TALK.
[elephant grunts] THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, JABULANI.
YOU'RE A BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL ELEPHANT.
[elephant grunts] [exotic instrumental music] ♪ ♪ >> Rosendo: WITH MORE THAN 140 KINDS OF MAMMALS, 114 TYPES OF REPTILES, AND HUNDREDS UPON HUNDREDS OF SPECIES OF BRILLIANTLY COLORED BIRDS, THERE'S A LOT MORE THAN ELEPHANTS TO DISCOVER IN THE KAPAMA GAME RESERVE.
STEVE, IT'S CALLED CAMP JABULANI, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY A GAME RESERVE THAT WE'RE IN.
>> YES, WE'RE IN A PRIVATE GAME RESERVE.
IT'S CALLED KAPAMA.
>> Rosendo: AND IT WAS ONCE, OBVIOUSLY, A PLACE WHERE ANIMALS ROAMED FREELY, THEN BECAME WHAT, FARMLAND?
>> BECAME CATTLE FARMS, YEAH.
CATTLE FARMING WAS QUITE A GOOD BUSINESS.
>> Rosendo: BUT NOW IT'S BACK BEING A RESERVE, SO ALL GOOD THINGS COME FULL CIRCLE.
>> EXACTLY.
>> Rosendo: JUST SO PEOPLE DON'T HAVE ANY MISCONCEPTIONS, THERE'S NO FEEDING OF THE ANIMALS THAT TAKES PLACE HERE.
THIS ISN'T A ZOO.
>> EVERYTHING HAPPENS NATURALLY.
THE LIONS HUNT FOR THEMSELVES.
THE ANIMALS HAVE TO FIND THEIR OWN FOOD.
BECAUSE THE RESERVE HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A FEW YEARS, IT'S DEFINITELY CHANGING FOR THE BETTER.
THIS IS WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO LOOK LIKE: YOU KNOW, THESE OPEN AREAS WITH A FEW TREES IN BETWEEN.
>> Rosendo: LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE ROAD.
[laughter] >> GIRAFFES DON'T HAVE A FIXED SOCIAL STRUCTURE, SO THEY WOULD BE A HERD, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE TO STAY IN THAT HERD, SAME AS WITH THE CALVES.
THE FEMALE'S ONLY RESPONSIBILITY TOWARDS HER CALF IS FOR THE FIRST SIX WEEKS.
AFTER THAT, IT'S THE CALF'S RESPONSIBILITY TO STAY WITH THE MOTHER.
IF IT DOESN'T, WELL, THEN, TOUGH.
THESE CALVES STAY BY THEMSELVES, AND THEY MAY JOIN UP WITH THE NEXT PASSING FEMALE HERD.
>> Rosendo: WELL, THERE'S GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEWS.
>> GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEWS.
>> Rosendo: YOU GET ABANDONED, BUT YOU GET PICKED UP BY THE NEXT GROUP THAT COMES BY.
[laughter] BOY, HE'S REACHING UP FOR THAT ONE.
>> THE NEW LEAVES ARE THE MOST NUTRITIOUS.
>> Rosendo: GRACEFUL WALK, AND THE BABY FOLLOWING.
IT'S LIKE WATCHING A SHIP GOING ACROSS THE OCEAN.
[exotic instrumental music] ♪ ♪ IN AFRICA, THEY ALWAYS TALK ABOUT "THE BIG FIVE," STEVE.
WHAT IS THE BIG FIVE?
>> WELL, THE BIG FIVE ORIGINALLY WAS THE FIVE MOST DANGEROUS ANIMALS TO HUNT IN AFRICA.
IT'S--BASICALLY, IT'S THE ELEPHANT, CAPE BUFFALO, LION, LEOPARD, AND THEN RHINO.
THOSE ARE THE BIG FIVE.
>> Rosendo: AND ARE THEY ALL HERE IN THIS RESERVE?
>> ALL BIG FIVE, YES.
WE DO HAVE THE BIG FIVE ON THE RESERVE.
>> Rosendo: LOOK, THERE THEY ARE... >> YEAH.
>> Rosendo: CAPE BUFFALO, MAGNIFICENT.
>> NICE BIG HERD, YES.
>> Rosendo: IS IT AN AGGRESSIVE ANIMAL TO BE ONE OF THE BIG FIVE?
>> IN A BIG HERD LIKE THIS, NO, BECAUSE THEY FEEL SAFE IN THE NUMBERS, BUT WHEN YOU FIND THE OLDISH MALES, ONE-ON-ONE, THEY'RE QUITE AGGRESSIVE.
THEY'RE ACTUALLY THE MOST DANGEROUS ANIMALS IN AFRICA.
THEY DON'T KILL AS MANY PEOPLE AS HIPPOS, BUT THEY ATTACK MORE PEOPLE.
>> Rosendo: ANOTHER GREAT JOY OF THIS EXPERIENCE, OF COURSE, IS THAT YOU CAN GET SO CLOSE TO THESE ANIMALS.
>> THE ANIMALS NATURALLY GET TO CHOOSE WHETHER THEY COME CLOSER OR NOT.
>> Rosendo: THIS GUY COMING RIGHT AT US.
>> COMING TO SEE WHETHER WE'RE A THREAT OR NOT, TRYING TO TO PICK UP THE SCENT.
THIS IS A YOUNG MALE.
YOU CAN SEE THE VERY BIG HORNS RIGHT ON TOP OF HIS HEAD.
>> Rosendo: HE'S STILL COMING.
HE'S GOT A FEW PASSENGERS ALONG FOR THE RIDE.
>> HE'S GOT A FEW RIPPLED OXPECKERS CLEANING HIM UP, TAKING THE TICKS OFF.
>> Rosendo: HE'S--HE'S VERY INTERESTED.
THAT'S EXTRAORDINARY TO HAVE THEM-- >> REALLY NICE TO HAVE THEM SO CLOSE.
>> Rosendo: SO CLOSE AND SO MANY OF THEM.
[exotic vocal music] ♪ ♪ WHILE THE CAPE BUFFALO MAY BE AFRICA'S MOST DANGEROUS ANIMAL, ALL RUN FROM THE KING OF THE BUSH.
NOTHING LIKE SEEING A LION.
THAT'S PRETTY EXCITING.
HE'S NOT BEING VERY EXCITING.
HE'S JUST KIND OF SACKED OUT AFTER A BIG KILL.
>> THAT'S BECAUSE HE ATE SO MUCH.
THEY'LL EAT AS MUCH AS THEY CAN AS QUICKLY AS THEY CAN, AND THEN HE'S SO FULL THAT HE CAN'T DO ANYTHING ELSE THAN SLEEP.
>> Rosendo: LOOK AT THAT.
WOW.
THAT'S BEAUTIFUL.
DON'T THEY KILL AND THEN TAKE THE FOOD BACK TO THE PRIDE?
>> NO, NOT NORMALLY.
THE MALES WON'T NORMALLY DO THAT.
THE MALE, HE'S ON HIS TERRITORIAL PATROL, AND WHEN HE'S DOING THAT, HE WON'T TAKE HIS FEMALES WITH HIM.
>> Rosendo: LOOKS LIKE THERE'S A VULTURE COMING AROUND TOO.
WILL THEY BRING IN MORE ANIMALS?
>> FIRST OFF ALL, ATTRACT OTHER VULTURES, BUT THE JACKALS WILL ALSO USE THE VULTURES.
IF THEY'RE ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE WIND, THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO SMELL THAT KILL, AND SO THEY HAVE TO RELY ON THE VULTURES SHOWING THEM IF THERE'S A KILL OR NOT.
>> Rosendo: WOW, SLEEPING, ACTIVE, WALKING AROUND, STANDING UP, IT DOESN'T MATTER.
IT'S ALWAYS WONDERFUL TO SEE A LION IN THE WILD.
EVEN BEFORE CAMP JABULANI, THE HOEDSPRUIT ENDANGERED SPECIES CENTRE WAS A REFUGE FOR SOUTH AFRICA'S WILDLIFE.
FROM SABLE ANTELOPE TO CAPE BUFFALO, FROM CHEETAHS TO WILD DOGS, THE CENTRE'S MISSION IS TO TREAT THE INJURED, PROPAGATE THE RARE, AND PROTECT THE ENDANGERED WHILE EDUCATING THE PUBLIC.
[dogs squealing] >> WILD DOGS ARE THE MOST ENDANGERED PREDATORS OF ALL PREDATORS IN AFRICA.
ONE OF THE REASONS: PEOPLE JUST KILLING THEM BECAUSE THEY WILL GO FOR LIVESTOCK.
FARMERS, OF COURSE, DON'T TOLERATE ANYTHING KILLING THEIR LIVESTOCK.
THE OTHER THING ABOUT WILD DOGS IS, THEY NEED VERY, VERY BIG PIECES OF LAND.
THEY'RE STAMINA HUNTERS, SO THEY'LL CHASE THEIR PREY UNTIL THAT ANIMAL FALLS OVER OF EXHAUSTION.
>> Rosendo: STEVE, HOW COME THEY ARE ALLOWING THE PUPS TO EAT?
BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY, THE ADULT DOGS COULD JUST RUN IN THERE AND STEAL THAT MEAT.
>> WILD DOGS HAVE GOT A VERY SENSITIVE SOCIAL STRUCTURE.
YOU'LL HAVE AN ALPHA MALE AND AN ALPHA FEMALE, BUT THE HIGHEST SOCIAL RANK APART FROM BEING ALPHA MALE OR ALPHA FEMALE WOULD BE A PUPPY.
EVERYBODY JUST TAKES CARE OF THOSE PUPPIES.
>> Rosendo: THAT'S AMAZING.
IT'S AMAZING TO SEE AND TO LEARN.
WHILE THE CENTRE HAS EXPANDED TO INCLUDE ALL OF SOUTH AFRICA'S VULNERABLE WILDLIFE, IT ALL BEGAN WITH OWNER LENTE ROODE AND HER LOVE OF CHEETAHS AND HER DREAM TO BREED, RELEASE, AND REESTABLISH THEM IN THE WILD.
>> THIS IS TIAN.
THIS IS A TYPICAL MALE, SO HE'S BIG.
THE CHEETAH IS THE FASTEST ANIMAL AND FROM NOTHING TO TOP SPEED.
>> Rosendo: DO YOU BREED THEM HERE IN CAPTIVITY?
>> YES, I DO.
I DO.
>> Rosendo: OKAY, SO HOW MANY YOUNG WILL THEY HAVE, AND HOW LONG WILL THEY CARRY THE YOUNG?
>> WHEN THEY MATE, IT'S 96 DAYS.
IN THE WORLD, ONLY 2% OF THE CUBS SURVIVE.
>> Rosendo: 2%, AND THEN THERE'S A KING CHEETAH, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THE MAIN THING THAT SEPARATES HIM FROM THE OTHER CHEETAH IS THAT THERE'S SO FEW OF THEM LEFT.
>> BECAUSE WE BREED THEM, THERE ARE ABOUT 15 IN CAPTIVITY, MAYBE LESS, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S A RECESSIVE GENE, SO THE MARKINGS, YOU CAN SEE, IS VERY BLACK, AND THE BLACK STRIPES IS ALSO LONGER, AND-- >> Rosendo: OH, WHAT A BEAUTIFUL ANIMAL.
OH, MY GOSH, WHAT AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO TOUCH IT.
>> WHAT MAKES SOUTH AFRICA OUTSTANDING: THE WILDLIFE.
IF YOU TAKE THE WILDLIFE AWAY, WE WILL LOSE SOUTH AFRICA, SO IT'S VITAL TO PROTECT WHAT WE'VE GOT.
>> Rosendo: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US HERE.
>> MY PLEASURE.
>> Rosendo: AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR WORK.
>> [laughs] NO, THANK YOU.
>> Rosendo: THE TRADITIONAL SUNDOWNER PUTS A FINISHING TOUCH ON MY STAY IN CAMP JABULANI WITH A TOAST TO THE AFRICAN SUN.
ORIGINALLY ESTABLISHED AS A PRIVATE CAMP RETREAT THREE GENERATIONS AGO, LION SANDS NOW OFFERS LUXURIOUS ACCOMMODATIONS IN THREE LODGES, INCLUDING THE SWANK 1933 LODGE, WHICH COMES WITH ITS OWN CHEF AND STAFF, AND THE CHALKLEY TREEHOUSE, WHICH FEATURES A CANOPIED BED UNDER AFRICAN SKIES.
AS WITH MOST PRIVATE PARKS ON KRUGER'S WESTERN BOUNDARY, THERE ARE NO FENCES TO PREVENT THE ANIMALS FROM MIGRATING BETWEEN THE NATIONAL PARK'S 5 MILLION ACRES AND THE SABI SAND GAME RESERVE.
GOOD DAY.
>> HOW ARE YOU DOING?
>> Rosendo: JOSEPH ROSENDO.
>> GAWIE.
NICE TO MEET YOU.
AND THIS IS MY TREKKER, BHEKI.
>> Rosendo: OKAY, WONDERFUL.
ON MY AFTERNOON GAME DRIVE, WE HAVE OUR FIRST WILDLIFE SIGHTING MINUTES FROM THE 1933 LODGE.
HE'S GOT A FIRST-CLASS SEAT.
>> YEAH, THAT'S HIS OFFICE.
THAT'S WHERE HE DOES MOST OF HIS WORK FROM.
[exotic chant music] ♪ ♪ >> Rosendo: GAWIE, THERE ARE SO MANY BEAUTIFUL BIRDS HERE IN AFRICA.
WHAT'S THIS ONE HERE?
>> HE IS KNOWN AS THE MARTIAL EAGLE.
AS YOU CAN SEE OVER THERE, HE'S GOT A MONITOR LIZARD, AND THEY ACTUALLY SPECIALIZE IN CATCHING BIG LIZARDS, EVEN DOUBLE THEIR OWN WEIGHT.
[elephants growling] >> Rosendo: AND IN THE BACKGROUND, WE HAVE THE ELEPHANTS HARD AT WORK.
>> YEAH, YEAH, THEY--THEY ARE MAKING A LOT OF NOISE.
IT ALMOST SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE IN JURASSIC PARK, DOESN'T IT?
>> Rosendo: IT DOES.
>> THEY'RE ALL DOWN BY THE WATER.
>> Rosendo: SO THOSE ARE THE SOUNDS OF PLEASURE?
>> YES, YES.
[exotic instrumental music] ♪ ♪ THERE'S A POD OF HIPPO DOWN HERE.
>> Rosendo: I UNDERSTAND HIPPOS ARE THE MOST DANGEROUS ANIMAL IN AFRICA.
MORE PEOPLE DIE FROM HIPPOS' ATTACKS THAN-- >> YOU'RE 100% RIGHT.
>> Rosendo: OKAY, SO WE'LL BE CAREFUL.
>> YEAH, WE NEED TO BE VERY, VERY CAREFUL.
ARE YOU READY, BHEKI?
>> Rosendo: HE'S GONNA LEAD THE WAY.
>> LOOK, LOOK, LOOK.
>> Rosendo: HUGE.
>> RECORDS HAVE SHOWN THAT THEY CAN GET UP TO ABOUT 6,000 POUNDS.
>> Rosendo: 6,000 POUNDS?
THAT'S INCREDIBLE.
>> LOOK, LOOK, LOOK, LOOK, LOOK.
ALL RIGHT, JUST--JUST STAND STILL.
JUST STAND STILL.
>> Rosendo: THEY DIDN'T LIKE US WALKING BY THEM.
>> NO, THEY DIDN'T.
DID YOU SEE HOW QUICKLY THEY REACTED?
>> Rosendo: YES.
>> YEAH.
>> Rosendo: HE'S LOOKING AT US?
>> YEAH, HIPPOS HAVE GOT VERY GOOD EYESIGHT.
>> Rosendo: AND THEN WE HAVE THREE MORE OVER HERE IN THE WATER.
>> YES.
>> Rosendo: THEY SPEND MOST OF THEIR LIFE IN THE WATER, DON'T THEY?
>> YES, YES, THEY DO, BECAUSE THEY'RE SO HEAVY WITH THE BUOYANCY AND SO ON.
ONE OF THE REASONS WHY HIPPOS DON'T LIVE FOR VERY LONG IS BECAUSE OF THE KNEES AND THE ELBOWS AND SUCH THAT ACTUALLY DISINTEGRATES BECAUSE OF THAT HUGE BODY WEIGHT THAT THEY CARRY.
[hippos grunting] >> Rosendo: DO THEY FEED IN THE WATER?
>> NO, THEY COME OUT MOSTLY AT NIGHT.
THEY LEAVE THE WATER, AND THEN THEY GO AND GRAZE.
>> YEAH, THEY'RE SETTLING IN, SO LET'S GO ON OUR NEXT ADVENTURE.
>> SHALL WE DO IT?
>> Rosendo: YES.
[upbeat exotic percussive music] ♪ ♪ THE SOUTH AFRICAN SAFARI EXPERIENCE IS ABOUT MORE THAN ANIMALS AND LAVISH LODGING.
IT'S ABOUT MEETING THE PEOPLE WHO FORMERLY LIVED OFF THE ANIMALS AND NOW PEACEFULLY COEXIST WITH THEM.
IN THE TOWN OF HUNTINGTON, WE HAVE A CHANCE TO GET ACQUAINTED.
WHEREVER YOU TRAVEL IN THE WORLD, YOU CAN STAY IN FIVE-STAR ACCOMMODATIONS, HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME, BUT NEVER REALLY HAVE ANY KIND OF AN EXPERIENCE AT ALL WITH THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE DESTINATION, EXCEPT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE MAYBE SERVING YOU YOUR MEALS.
HERE WE ARE IN THE VILLAGE OF HUNTINGTON, A POPULATION OF 5,000.
WE'RE ABOUT 15 MILES FROM LION SANDS, AND, GEOFF, YOU DO TOURS ALL OVER AFRICA.
DO YOUR GUESTS HAVE AN INTEREST IN REALLY GETTING TO KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PEOPLE?
>> THEY WANT TO COME AND SEE HOW THE PEOPLE ARE LIVING, AND THEY REALLY ENJOY IT.
>> Rosendo: I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT.
>> ONE OF THE EXAMPLES I SHOW MY GUESTS IS A PROPERTY LIKE THIS IN THE VILLAGE, WHERE THE GROWTH OF THE MIDDLE CLASS IS HAPPENING.
SO WHEN THE HUSBAND OR THE WIFE GET A JOB IN THE LUXURY LODGES, THEY NOW HAVE GOT A REGULAR SUPPLY OF MONEY THAT COMES BACK, AND THEN THEY'RE BUILDING A BIGGER HOME.
THEY'LL BUY THE WINDOW FRAMES, THE DOOR FRAMES.
>> Rosendo: SO THIS WOULD BE A FAMILY.
>> YES.
>> Rosendo: HELLO.
THIS IS GREAT, AND THEY'VE BEEN SO NICE TO LET US COME THROUGH HERE.
HERE ARE THE LADIES OVER HERE GETTING THEIR HAIR BRAIDED, AND THEY'RE ALSO WASHING CLOTHES.
>> THERE'S WATER PIPED THROUGHOUT THE VILLAGE, AND THERE WILL BE COMMUNAL TAPS WHERE THERE'S CLEAN, POTABLE WATER.
>> Rosendo: WELL, LET'S CONTINUE OUR VISIT HERE, AND I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT ALL OF YOUR GUESTS WOULDN'T BE INTERESTED IN AT LEAST SPENDING A LITTLE TIME HERE.
YOU COME TO AFRICA, AND PEOPLE COME A LONG WAYS, AND THEY PAY A LOT OF MONEY TO SEE THE ANIMALS AND MISS THE PEOPLE, BUT THAT'S A PART OF THE EQUATION YOU CAN'T LEAVE OUT.
>> AND IT'S SUCH A DYNAMIC, IMPROVING SITUATION, AND I THINK WE AS SOUTH AFRICANS ARE PROUD OF WHAT MANDELA TAUGHT US AND WHAT OUR GOVERNMENT'S DOING, ALL OF US.
>> Rosendo: NELSON MANDELA SAID, "THERE CAN BE NO KEENER REVELATION OF A SOCIETY'S SOUL THAN THE WAY IN WHICH IT TREATS ITS CHILDREN."
DURING OUR STAY IN HUNTINGTON, WE ACCEPT AN INVITATION TO VISIT A LOCAL PRESCHOOL.
GOOD AFTERNOON.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
WELCOME TO HENNA PRE-SCHOOL.
IT HAS BEEN OPERATING NOW FOR OVER 12 YEARS WITH LYDIA BEING THE HEAD TEACHER HERE.
WE NOW HAVE 145 CHILDREN.
>> Rosendo: AND THEY'RE ALL FROM THE LOCAL VILLAGE?
>> THEY ARE ALL FROM THE LOCAL VILLAGE HERE.
WE ACCOMMODATE KIDS FROM A YEAR UNTIL FIVE YEARS.
SO NEXT YEAR, IN JANUARY, WE'RE GOING TO START ACCOMMODATING FROM BIRTH, BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING IN THE COMMUNITY MAINLY BECAUSE OF THE LARGE NUMBER OF TEENAGE PREGANANCIES.
>> Rosendo: THAT'S A BIG JOB TO UNDERTAKE.
>> IT'S A BIG JOB, BUT WE ARE USED TO IT.
[laughter] WELL, LET'S GO MEET THE CHILDREN, I WOULD THINK.
DOES EVERY RESIDENT OF THE VILLAGE HAVE A RIGHT TO BRING THEIR CHILD HERE, OR IS THERE A CERTAIN CRITERIA OF WHO CAN COME TO THIS SCHOOL AND WHO CAN'T?
>> ALL THE CHILDREN ARE WELCOME HERE.
>> Rosendo: WHY DID YOU START THIS SCHOOL?
>> I GOT INVOLVED HERE BECAUSE I WAS BORN IN THIS COMMUNITY.
>> Rosendo: OH.
>> AND I DIDN'T WANT TO SEE THESE CHILDREN GOING TO SCHOOL THE SAME WAY AS I DID.
>> Rosendo: HOW WAS THAT?
>> I HAD TO WRITE ON THE DIRT.
I HAD NO BOOKS.
>> Rosendo: YOU HAD TO WRITE ON THE DIRT?
IS THAT WHAT YOU SAID?
>> THAT'S CORRECT, USING MY FINGER.
I NEVER OWNED A BOOK OR A PENCIL UNTIL GRADE FIVE, AND I WANTED THESE CHILDREN TO OWN A BOOK FROM BIRTH.
>> Rosendo: NOW, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE RESORT LION SANDS SUPPORTS THIS SCHOOL.
IS THAT CORRECT?
>> THAT IS CORRECT.
>> Rosendo: THAT'S A VERY NICE RELATIONSHIP.
IT'S GREAT THAT YOU'VE GIVEN THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY.
OH, HERE THEY ARE.
THEY'RE SO WELL-BEHAVED.
>> THEY ARE.
THEY ARE GOING TO SING RHYMES FOR YOU, BUT LYDIA IS GOING TO HELP US WITH THAT.
>> ALL SAY, "HIV AND AIDS."
HIV AND AIDS.
[all singing] >> Rosendo: IT'S AMAZING TO ME AT THIS EARLY AGE, THIS IS ONE OF THEIR CLASS LESSONS.
>> WE DECIDED IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT KIDS FROM THIS AGE KNOW ABOUT HIV AND AIDS.
IF WE IGNORE IT, WE DON'T TALK ABOUT IT, THEN OUR KIDS WILL NOT KNOW ABOUT IT, AND AN HIV-FREE GENERATION STARTS WITH US.
>> Rosendo: RIGHT.
WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
IT WAS A PLEASURE HAVING YOU HERE.
>> Rosendo: IT WAS A PLEASURE BEING HERE.
>> THIS IS VERY SPECIAL TO US.
>> Rosendo: AND US TOO.
GOOD-BYE.
>> [together] BYE.
>> Rosendo: THINGS HAVE CHANGED IN SOUTH AFRICA FOR THE PEOPLE AND THE WILDLIFE.
THROUGH THE DEDICATION OF INDIVIDUALS, THE CHILDREN OF HUNTINGTON HAVE A BETTER LIFE THAN THE GENERATION BEFORE THEM, AND THE SCHOOL THEY ATTEND IS SUPPORTED BY A RESORT THAT BENEFITS FROM WILDLIFE CONSERVATION.
IT'S A WORLD THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE, INCLUDING THE WHITE RHINOCEROUS OF THE SABI SAND.
>> THEY LOOK SO PREHISTORIC, DON'T THEY?
>> Rosendo: THEY ABSOLUTELY DO.
NOW, THIS IS A WHITE RHINO.
>> THIS IS A WHITE RHINO.
IT'S NOT REALLY BECAUSE OF THE COLOR, BECAUSE YOU CAN SEE, THEY'RE A DARK GRAY ANIMAL.
>> Rosendo: YEAH, IT'S A GRAY RHINO.
>> YES, IT'S A GRAY RHINO.
THEY WORD ACTUALLY DERIVES FROM THE DUTCH WORD CALLED WITTE MOND, WHICH IS "WHITE-MOUTHED RHINO."
>> Rosendo: NOW, ARE THEY ENDANGERED STILL?
>> NOT ON A CRITICALLY ENDANGERED LIST, BUT THEY ARE AN ENDANGERED SPECIES.
THERE'S POACHERS.
THEY JUST HUNT THEM FOR THE HORN, BASICALLY.
PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT THERE IS MEDICINAL PROPERTIES WITHIN THE HORN OF THE RHINO, BUT SCIENTISTS HAVE BEEN BUSY ALMOST 30 YEARS NOW, AND THEY CAN'T FIND A SINGLE CHEMICAL IN IT WHICH YOU CAN USE.
>> Rosendo: IT'S JUST THE SAME-- SAME THING AS YOUR NAILS, RIGHT?
>> PRETTY MUCH.
HAIR AND KERATIN, THAT'S IT.
>> Rosendo: SO INSTEAD OF STEALING A RHINOCEROUS HORN, PEOPLE CAN JUST CLIP THEIR NAILS AND USE THAT, GRIND IT UP AND USE THAT AS APHRODISIACS.
>> YES, YES, YES, AND THEY BASICALLY USE IT AS A PROTECTION MECHANISM.
YOUR MALES ARE VERY, VERY TERRITORIAL, AND YOUR FEMALES LIVE IN HOME RANGES.
IT'S LIKE A FRIED EGG.
ALL RIGHT, YOU SEE THE WHITE OUTER WITH THE YELLOW INNER.
THE YELLOW INNER WILL BE YOUR TERRITORY, WHICH YOU'LL PROTECT FIERCELY.
IT'S LIKE YOUR HOME, WHERE YOU LIVE.
AND THEN THE WHITE OUTSIDE IS YOUR HOME RANGE, SO THAT'S WHERE YOU GO ABOUT, YOU KNOW, YOUR DAILY ROUTINE.
THAT'S WHERE YOU GO SHOPPING, GO BUY FOOD.
YEAH, THIS IS WHERE YOU GO FOR A DRINK.
AND THAT'S BASICALLY HOW THEY WORK.
>> Rosendo: LOOK AT THIS NOW.
HE'S GETTING CLOSER.
>> YEAH.
>> Rosendo: ON THEIR OWN.
THEY'RE JUST WALKING RIGHT AT US.
IT'S AMAZING THAT YOU CAN GET THIS CLOSE TO THEM, AND THEY DON'T GET UPSET OR ANYTHING.
WHAT ELSE AWAITS US, HUH?
>> YOU NEVER KNOW.
>> Rosendo: WHAT TOPS A FAMILY OF RHINOS?
A HERD OF ELEPHANTS CAVORTING IN THE BUSH.
>> ONE THING YOU SHOULD NEVER DO IS, YOU SHOULD NEVER PARK IN BETWEEN ELEPHANTS, BECAUSE THEY COMMUNICATE, AND AS SOON AS THEY CAN'T COMMUNICATE WITH ONE ANOTHER ANYMORE... >> Rosendo: THEN YOU'RE IN TROUBLE.
>> YES.
>> Rosendo: LOOKIT HERE.
LOOKIT, RIGHT IN FRONT OF US HERE.
LOOK AT THIS.
WOW.
SO HE WAS JUST CHECKING HIM OUT.
>> YEAH.
JUST CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT'S BHEKI DOING THERE UP FRONT.
WHY ISN'T HE IN THE VEHICLE?
YEAH, LOOKING AT ALL THE DIFFERENT SIZES OF THEM, I MEAN, YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENT GENERATIONS FROM THE MATRIARCH, PROBABLY HER DAUGHTERS AND THEIR OFFSPRING AND THEIR OFFSPRING AND MAYBE A NIECE OR TWO IN BETWEEN AS WELL.
>> Rosendo: THAT LOOKS LIKE A NEWBORN.
>> A COUPLE OF MONTHS.
>> Rosendo: HERE HE COMES.
>> [laughs] HE'S CHARGING US.
>> Rosendo: CHARGING US.
>> WELL, THE REASON WHY THIS LITTLE ONE CHARGES US LIKE THIS IS BECAUSE IT'S GOT A LOT OF CONFIDENCE.
>> Rosendo: BECAUSE HE HAS A BIG, GIGANTIC MOTHER.
>> EXACTLY.
I MEAN, IF I HAD A BIG MUM LIKE THAT, I MEAN, I WOULD ALSO DO THE SAME THING, AND I WOULDN'T CARE ABOUT WHAT I'M DOING.
[laughter] AND THAT IS THE AMAZING MOM.
AN ADULT ELEPHANT, IF IT HAD TO CHARGE YOU, WOULD HAVE LOOKED EXACTLY THE SAME.
>> Rosendo: IT WOULD HAVE DONE THE SAME THING.
>> BUT JUST--YOUR PANTS WOULD HAVE BEEN WET BY NOW.
>> Rosendo: [laughs] AND THEN THEY HAVE THE TWO OVER HERE THAT ARE KIND OF TUSSLING WITH EACH OTHER, WRESTLING WITH EACH OTHER.
>> YEAH.
>> Rosendo: LOOK AT THAT.
HE'S HOLDING THE OTHER ONE DOWN.
>> YEAH, YOU SEE, HE'S PUSHING HIM DOWN OVER THERE.
[elephant trumpets] YOU HEAR HOW THEY COMMUNICATE.
>> Rosendo: SHE WAS TELLING HIM TO STOP DOING THAT.
>> EXACTLY.
>> Rosendo: "YOU GUYS STOP FIGHTING."
>> JUST LIKE A NORMAL FAMILY.
YOU'VE DONE SOMETHING WRONG.
YOU NEED TO BE TOLD THE LESSON, "DON'T DO IT AGAIN."
>> Rosendo: THIS IS REALLY QUITE A SHOW.
THIS IS THE MOST LIVELY THAT I'VE SEEN ANY OF THE ELEPHANTS WHILE WE'VE BEEN HERE.
[exotic chant music] ♪ ♪ [elephant trumpets] >> Rosendo: THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME ON MY SOUTH AFRICAN ADVENTURE.
BY 100 YEARS AGO, SOUTH AFRICA'S WILDLIFE HAD BEEN DECIMATED.
SINCE THEN, THROUGH THE WORK OF THE NATIONAL PARKS, PRIVATE RESERVES, AND DEDICATED INDIVIDUALS, SOUTH AFRICANS HAVE PROTECTED WHAT REMAINS AND IN FACT, HAVE ENHANCED THIS GREAT NATURAL RESOURCE.
DURING APARTHEID, THE GAME PARKS AND THE PLEASURE OF WILDLIFE VIEWING WAS ENJOYED BY A SELECT FEW.
SINCE ITS DEMISE, THE RESERVES ARE OPEN TO ALL.
AND THROUGH A RESURGENCE IN TOURISM, SOUTH AFRICA HAS BEEN ABLE TO SHARE ITS NATURAL WONDERS WITH THE WORLD.
IN TURN, TOURISM HAS HELPED SUSTAIN THE PARKS, THE ANIMALS, AND THE PEOPLE WHO WORK TO PRESERVE THEM.
ONCE YOU ACCEPT SOUTH AFRICA'S INVITATION TO VISIT, YOU'LL NEVER BE SATISFIED WITH ONLY A ZOO AGAIN.
UNTIL NEXT TIME, THIS IS JOSEPH ROSENDO REMINDING YOU OF THE WORDS OF MARK TWAIN: "TRAVEL IS FATAL TO PREJUDICE, BIGOTRY, AND NARROW-MINDEDNESS."
HAPPY TRAVELING.
>> announcer: TRAVELSCOPE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY DK EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDES.
DK CITY, COUNTRY, AND DRIVING GUIDES FEATURE EVOCATIVE PHOTOS, 3-D MAPPING, AND ILLUSTRATIONS FOR KEY SITES AND TRAVEL ITINERARIES.
DK EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDES: THE GUIDES THAT SHOW YOU WHAT OTHERS ONLY TELL YOU.
FOR A DVD OF TODAY'S SHOW OR ANY OF JOSEPH'S TRAVELSCOPE ADVENTURES, CALL: OR ORDER ONLINE AT: YOU CAN ALSO EMAIL US AT: OR WRITE US AT THE ADDRESS ON YOUR SCREEN.
>> Rosendo: NOW THAT YOU'VE EXPERIENCED WILD SOUTH AFRICA, LEARN MORE AT TRAVELSCOPE.NET, WHERE YOU CAN FOLLOW MY WORLDWIDE ADVENTURES THROUGH MY BLOG AND PODCAST.
KEEP IN TOUCH.
NEXT TIME ON TRAVELSCOPE, I TAKE A TIP FROM THE LOCALS AND TAKE A BEACH BREAK ON THE WHITE SANDS OF THE ISLANDS OF MOZAMBIQUE, AFRICA.
Captioning by CaptionMax www.captionmax.com [elephant grunts] >> SINCE WE WERE LOOKING FOR LEOPARD, WE THOUGHT WE'D LEAVE SOME BAITS OUT HERE.
>> Rosendo: [laughs] OH, I'M THE BAIT?
>> YES, THIS IS WHERE YOU'LL STAY TONIGHT.
[animals growling]
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