Afval, Simbavati's New OwnerHe fell from his nest 3 months ago. We knew he wouldn't make it on his own, because he was only about a week old, therefore we adopted him - not knowing that the adopted child would take over as owner of the lodge!
Priority number one was to give the poor fellow a name. Nobody wants to go through life as a no-name brand. There was only one name that was suitable for him: Afval. Afval is an Afrikaans word that means to fall down. Afval fell down from his nest, therefore his name is Afval.
Afval was hand raised on Kitty Formula powdered milk. Every 3 hours he had to be fed and then his tummy had to be wiped with a wet piece of cotton wool to teach him how to pee and to poo! Fortunately he slept through from day 1, so his adoption daddy (that's me) could sleep through as well.
After a month Aval was not happy to be confined to his little picnic basket room anymore. We decided he would now be able to survive in the wild, therefore we let him out every day. He was fine with that from the start, but still came back to our rondawel at night. When the sun sets, he charges back to our rondawel and snuggles up under the duvet. He now sleeps in his new room, our washing basket - but when it is very cold, he snuggles in behind my back!
He learnt very soon that breakfast is served at 09:30 and lunch at 14:45. Exactly on time he arrives for breakfast and lunch, preferring to eat with the guests from their plates and have a sip of their juice from their glasses - obviously we don't allow him, but he comes back to try everyday. (Fortunately he is in bed at 8 when dinner is served. Can you imagine him at the dinner table???) The rest of the day he spends around the lodge in trees and on the deck with guests. He nibbles on their finger tips, sleeps on their laps and walks around with them on their shoulders!
He is the most popular one at the lodge. He has to pose for photo shoots every day and gets greeted personally when guests depart. He featured in the Globe and Mail in Canada and is going to be the main character in a children's story book in India. Afval is now rated as part of the big 6. His advantage above the big 5 is that he loves to be with people.
In his own eyes he is the true owner of Simbavati River Lodge!
What kind of animal is "Afval"?
ReplyDeleteI remember him well! I hope he is still with you - maybe one day he will bring home a wife & kids ;-)
ReplyDeletethis time last year Michael and I were in the wonderful continent of Africa........We cant wait to return.....We did not meet the new owner of the lodge....however we look forward to one day meeting this cute animal who has so much personallity.
ReplyDeleteHello Omiga and Arulla.....we miss you every day.....chrissie and michael (carlyle-taylor)