The Garden of Eden, or Paradise, a place of incredible beauty and harmony, is a central and common myth of humankind. The passage of time has probably made it impossible to know exactly where the Garden of Eden was located, but for us we found our Garden of Eden in Namibia.
Photo: Are the cheetahs hungry now? Are there any preys here?
It was in 1996 when we drove in a hired car from the capital Windhoek up to Okonjima. The nature there is almost unspoilt, and lies in the Omboroko Mountains, which is a part of the Waterberg Plateau. Okonjima means "the place where the baboons live" in the local language. Here we met friendly humans and animals as warthogs, small cats, mangoes, baboons, parrots, cheetahs and other strange creatures living together in perfect happiness.
This made strongly associations with the bible's description of the Garden of Eden. As most people know, Garden of Eden was the first home to humankind. In the garden there were trees of life and of the knowledge of good and evil. It was the place where Adam and Eve lived before the fall because they ate the forbidden fruit of the three standing in the middle of the garden. Then Adam and Eve were banished from the garden in the presence of God.
Photo: The cheetahs were nice to touch and feed. We just said good appetite. Fortunately we didn't stick our fingers too near.
Think about that; having cheetahs as a pet animal! The cheetahs we encountered walked freely around outside the house` main entrance without throwing any hungry look at us humans. We could socialise among them without much fear for ending up as a breakfast, lunch or dinner meal. They didn't consider us as any desert either. But it took a while before we got used to it.
Photo: Eating brekfeast together; people and animals.
Photo: The warthog on its daily visit asking for food - see the Mango on top
Mike Tyson - thrilling meeting with the garden's "serpent"
As it is written in the bible there was one serpent in this garden; a "serpent" craftier than any other wild animals that the Lord God created. We had a perfect life in the Garden of Eden until Mike Tyson emerged. It was an animal that everybody feared, but it was not a snake, but a monster of a leopard, which we never have seen before.
So early in the evening we had the big courage and pleasure to meet Mike Tyson, but it was on a certain distance. It roared wildly when it ate the evenings` dinner. Apparently he had not learned the customs to eat well behaved. I wouldn't be in the ring for a million bucks with that creature.
Silent did he move towards us. He was wild, big, strong, had an unusual tick neck and was extremely hungry. Our guide's riffle was loaded and ready to fire if Mike Tyson threatened us. I could apparently see how he got his name. The leopard had many common features as the famous boxer Mike Tyson. This includes his neck, and the face.
Photo: The leopard, Mike Tyson, the "serpent" in the garden.
Be sure; we kept our distance. We wouldn`t challenge Mike for all in the world.
Photo: Our guide was prepared to defend us against any blood thirsty attacks.
Wild cats - perfect predators
There lives 35 species of cats in the world. The leopard is easily recognised by its golden spots patterned fur, with an extremely long, darker tail. The total size of the leopard depends on the subspecies and location. The largest leopard can grow to a length of nearly 5 feet with an additional tail length of some 3 feet. In general the male is between 20-40 % larger than the female.
The leopard is a versatile hunter. Usually its` hunts in the dark. Its` a typical nocturnal animal. Increased frequency of hunting is because that female raises their cubs. This leads to more opportunists hunting during the daylight. Opportunist means that the leopard eats almost everything.
Leopards hunt mostly wildebeest, impala and gazelle. Big cats are really perfect predators, a killing machine, as the leopard Mike Tyson, with a body perfectly suited in every detail for hunting and catching a prey. The cheetah is one of the most perfect of hunters within the wildcat species. It can speed up to over 110 kilometres per hour, and is the fastest creature in the world. But their stamina is not so good.
If you plan to walk around in Okinjima you should be aware of those cheetahs catches up to 60%-70% of prey that it hunts. The lion has a relatively low success rate, and it is estimated to be lower than 30 %. But when hunting in flocks the lions increases their success rate with catching larger preys. Once the cat has captured its prey it is killed quickly. There is no universal way to kill.
The killing bite varies. It depends on the size of the cat related to its prey. Larger cats often hunt prey with the same or larger body size than their own. In this cases a neck bite is not always enough to kill the prey. Under such circumstances the throat bite is used. When the prey is fighting for its life, the cat will hold it with it's paws whilst biting the prey's throat.
Photo: A incredible versatile hunter - the leopard
Preservation
As population grows it comes closer to the natural habitat of the wild cats, and disturbing their life. The feeding grounds of many of the wild cats' natural prey are destroyed. Across the world conservationists and environmental organisations are actively attempting to prevent the species extinction.
In many of the wild cats' native countries, governments, aided by various independent organisations, have set up conservation programmes and reserves to help support the preservation of many species. We heard about a research project aimed to protect the wild cats in Okinjima. The conservationists there worked together with the farmers. The farmers have during years shot big cats to avoid them steeling their cattle, but now they have found other methods to protects their herds killing the cats in large numbers.
The Temptation
After the meeting with the "serpent" leopard Mike Tyson, we were exposed for the strong temptation and the fall. Did we take and eat any fruits from the threes in the Garden of Eden? No, definitely not from the three standing in the middle of the garden. So we were not expelled from the Garden, and could leave the place voluntary later the next day with a memorable experience of life. But before that our hosts took us on a bush walk. We were supposed to meet a bushman who lives there, but unfortunately he died few days earlier.
We found traces after his life and work, and become very impressed about how he had survived in this harsh nature for so long. We never forget the Okinjima, our Garden of Eden.
This is as far you can come something associated with a paradise as described in the bible, the symbolic of fertility, bounty and a life in harmony.
Stein Morten Lund, 8 September 2000
Additional information
If you would like to read more about Namibia, you can click on the following link:
Visiting the Bushmen in Kalahary. Read more (Click here)
If you like to read more about wild cats and other animals, you can click on the links below:
Surrounded by 30 lions. Read more (Click here)
Thrilling suspense in the Krüger National Park. Read more (Click here)
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