Chasing Rainbows

In pursuit of the African Pittal

- MIKE BUCKHAM

My birding journey started when I was six years old. The -parents of one of my nursery school mates offered to take me to the Kruger Park and introduce me to a world outside the big city. With my parents' blessing, I spent five days gawking at animals that I'd only ever seen in picture books.

On my return, it didn't take me long to convince my parents that we should put game reserves on our holiday itinerary. We didn't plunge into the deep end early on. It was a measured toe-dipping, as my family wasn't that keen on tents and self-catering, so we started with Londolozi Game Reserve, an upmarket private reserve in the Sabi Sands. Back in the days of political isolation, it was appropriately priced for South Africans so it was an affordable option and gave my parents the peace of mind that creature comforts would follow a few lion and elephant sightings. It wasn't a particularly brave first step, but it was a fortuitous one - and it probably changed my life. That may sound hyperbolic, but I am not sure that it is.

We were welcomed by our ranger Ian Thomas, a man of the bush who was happy to show this 'green' family the wonders of the African bushveld. He was the first of many rangers we'd experience during our subsequent years of interest in wildlife, but to this day we all agree that he was probably the best.