The small things in life count too

You’re out on the deck in front of your safari tent, coffee in hand with the sun creeping up over the horizon and you notice the crickets have stopped chirruping, the calls of the Barred Owlet have been replaced with those of a Crested Francolin excitedly announcing the arrival of the new day and little things are starting to scurry about in the undergrowth - or do you?

Many experts have said and still say it’s these little things that add meaning to our lives … if we notice them of course. And so it is with spending time in the wilds - it’s about the things you notice and how they can add more meaning.

Mostly, when out and about in the African wilds, we’re all consumed with seeing the larger life (granted it is generally easier to spot) such as the big 5, giraffe, zebra and possibly a kill. Maybe we’ll even grant a little time to some of our avian friends and call it a good day. But let’s not forget the little guys. Very often it’s these smaller participants who through alarm calls, tracks and various signs lead us to the “exciting” sightings and then there’s a bunch of them whose very existence allows said sightings. It’s good to note therefore that “smaller” mostly refers to physical stature and not the size of contribution to nature and the environment.

Besides additional knowledge gained, there’s fun to be had in the challenge of crawling around in the dirt trying to get an acceptable photo of a dung beetle that can’t seem to roll his carefully worked prize in a straight line.

Natures’ cleaners – imagine the literal tonnes of dried poo that would be lying around if the over 5000 species of dung beetle to be found around the world weren’t around to roll up balls of it and stuff them in holes in the ground to feed their hatching young? Note: not all dung beetle species roll balls but they all eat it!

… and in finding surprisingly beautiful critters such as this one? I say surprisingly as it is called a Common flat lizard, even though there appears to be nothing common about its colour. The “flat” part is understandable though, as it needs to be able to fit in amongst and under the rocks in the habitats in which they are to be found.

… or or being so intrigued by some ants going about their daily business you end up too close and they send out the troops to help encourage you away.

You see, when we stop and take notice of the smaller things, for example the ants and termites and the pivotal roles they play in nature as gardeners, cleaners, pollinators, fertilizers, scavengers, farmers, builders and let’s not forget soldiers, we start to gain a better understanding that this intricately woven web of life is made up of many integral components and a great percentage of the larger life forms are able to exist as a result of, rather than in spite of a good deal of the smaller ones.

Hey! And maybe there’s a parallel here we can take back with us to our busy worlds of family, friends and earning a dollar? Perhaps noticing and giving time to some of the smaller things often taken for granted in our day-to-day, may lead us to more “exciting” “sightings”.

There’s an old saying we all know and mostly ignore, “Stop and smell the roses” … or coffee, if you prefer.

Just a thought …