Throwback to Brendan the Wildebeest

In early 2018, I volunteered with Ride Zimbabwe near Bulawayo. Part of my volunteering work was to go up to Cawston Wildlife Estate , a family run safari camp not too far from Hwange National Park, and help look after the horses there. As well as horses, I had another surprise charge to care for: an orphaned wildebeest dubbed Brendan.

Brendan became my little shadow for about two weeks. I heated her milk on the stove next to my morning toast, fed her in the back garden, and took her for walks around the property with the dogs.

She even came into the house and watched TV with me.

Her favorite place to be while I was there was was with the pack of dogs. I think she thought she was a dog.

She had the softest nose and the longest eyelashes of any animal I have encountered, and it was a pleasure to look after her.