A special ‘birth-day’ at Lake Eland

I booked a weekend away at Lake Eland in KwaZulu-Natal to celebrate my husband’s birthday. When we arrived, we spotted a pregnant zebra, which is not that unusual, but we were especially privileged to witness her giving birth.

We watched the calf pop out just his head, and saw the sac breaking following the ejection of embryonic fluids. It was touching to see the inherent instinct of other zebras to congregate and protect the mother and her child. She stood up almost immediately after giving birth, and the tenacious calf just wouldn’t give up until he’d mastered standing. It just knows that by standing it’ll learn to walk, and by walking it’ll grow to run, so that it can survive.

I was completely in awe. My husband felt that this trip and our special sighting gave him the best birthday he’s had yet! – Kavendree Muthu-Kurten, Amanzimtoti