By Karen Paolillo 

Here in the south-east lowveld of Zimbabwe in the Save Valley Conservancy, life has once more returned to normal. The rainfall this year of over 505 mm has been above the average, as if to compensate for the devastation and sorrow of the previous drought. The Turgwe Hippos as well as all other resident animals now live the lives they were born to lead. All that survived the terrible drought are in excellent condition and many have new-born young.

The rains this year have changed the course of the river to some extent, for the flooding of the Turgwe has been so extreme that the river's channels have altered, extending their boundaries. In places silt has been carried from upstream to cover old grazing lands.

The drought's ugly face is still noticeable though, as the many dead trees lay witness to the previous lack of rain. Impala only gave birth to their young in late February, as opposed to November. Many creatures are sadly gone, with hardly a snake around this year, only a few of the resident waterbirds appear to have survived, with greatly reduced numbers in zebra herds and hardly a warthog to be seen.

Of the 13 hippos who were being fed, Happy, my favorite bull has "stolen" one of Bob's (the dominant bull) females and her two youngsters. Bob lives with the others at his old haunt, the Chlabata pools in the Turgwe. Daily I witness his majesty as he lunges wildly out of the water, most of his body raised up and his mouth agape, showing off his massive two and a half ton weight. Cheeky his youngest female calf, survived the drought; she is now following in her father's footsteps, mock charging any human observer. Robin, Bob's eldest son, now lives a solitary life 7 kms upstream of all the other hippos.

On my side, my husband and I have decided to stay on here. We have leased the small campsite above the Turgwe hippos' home. We are in the process of building a house (after nearly three years under canvas). Living here will enable me to continue to monitor the lives of these animals that have become so very dear to my heart. 

The hippos recognize me, of that I have no question in my mind; they try to communicate with me in their own way. Cheeky nearly always moves up to me as I call her at the river's edge. Bob puts on his most impressive displays when I am on my own.

The change in the land is such a miracle, which only nature has the ability to achieve. Luckily, our first rains fell early on October 13th, and by the end of November, grass was sufficient for Happy to leave his feeding station. By December 18th all hippo had stopped eating their artificially prepared meal. Grass surrounded us, green and lush, the sweetveld of the lowveld, in places higher than my head. New life stirred; one vervet monkey even brought her newborn baby to show us. An explosion of wonderfully colored butterflies appeared seemingly overnight. Now as I write this at the end of April, the grass already has changed, returning to the golden colors of winter, which overseas visitors seem to recall. Our dry season is back, but this year is different; for as far as the eyes can see, the grass abounds. 

The pan built with your help is now home to 15 terrapin, one water monitor, one small crocodile, and is still visited by Bob and his family. Kudu and bushbuck drink from its spillway, for here it is quieter and safer away from the glare of the larger crocodiles eyes as they glide up and down in the Turgwe in their search for prey. The pan is surrounded by a multitude of vegetation, hammerkops and knobbilled ducks; herons and kingfishers spend many an hour inspecting the now natural rain water within the pan, numerous frogs jump in and out, a new little ecosystem has begun.

We people and animals living here in the lowveld now rejoice with the renewal of life that is complete. For once there is a happy ending like in all the good story books. The animals are alive and well and once again the hippos and I thank you all most sincerely for having made this possible.

Karen Paolillo Hippo Haven, Turgwe River, Save Valley Conservancy.