You can feel the excitement in the car as Gordon – Project Manager for Peace Parks in KAZA – and his young family stop the vehicle to watch elephants going about their business in the wild. It is a wonderful reminder of the fact that, as part of the incredible ecosystem of planet Earth, we humans remain fascinated by other creatures around us. In fact, probably more so than most animals are of us. Many wild animals, if they have been lucky enough not to encounter human-wildlife conflict, will ignore any humans having a good stare, as long as they are not protecting their offspring.
In southern Africa, what is special about game viewing is the thrill of getting so close to the animals, with the possibility of seeing large game – elephants, lion, cheetah, rhino, buffalo and so on.
It is called game viewing because it refers to watching wild animals in their natural habitat, a world away from the experience of visiting a zoo. Although some of the wildlife in parks and reserves might be habituated, allowing humans to venture close, they are most definitely not tame. They live in large conservation areas where they are simply given the space to live out their lives in their natural way. In this way, transfrontier conservation areas are vital for the continuation of many species, including the majestic elephant seen here.
In many protected areas such as here in Zambia, a safari or game drive can be taken in your own car. If you are lucky enough to be with someone as knowledgeable as Gordon, you will learn a whole heap about the animals and plants you see. This helps to gain a deeper understanding of nature and its incredible processes that keeps all of us alive. It can also ignite a life-long passion for the wildlife and their surroundings. As much of wildlife spotting is a waiting game involving a lot of patience, guides can fill in with fascinating stories that bring the bush alive, whether or not you see the elephant, leopard or other iconic animal.
As a vital part of nature-tourism, game viewing brings in revenue to the reserves and parks. It also helps provide long-term, sustainable economic opportunities through job creation for communities living in and around the conservation areas. So, it is a win-win for the landscape, wildlife and us curious humans.
