ADVENTITIOUS ATTACK IN SOUTH AFRICAN THABAZIMBI, GROOTFONTEIN [EN]

Thabazimbi is an iron mining town in the Limpopo province of South Africa. The land name is mountain of iron, because of the large iron ore reef. We have been visiting a farm called Grootfontein, 1,5 hours away from the border with Botswana and only 2 hours from it’s capital.
My friend was in love in this land and wanted to buy it for the future business development. I did not share his optimism, knowing how big of a project it would be and that it is basically a lifetime mission to sustain it. But indeed the property was huge and amazing. We came there for a weekend to make some land prospection and planning.

Iron rock

Grootfontein

Grootfontein

This was time spent with friends, filled with brainstorming, mapping and visualising where lodges will be built, dams and what attractions, the land and neighbourhood can offer. The host has joined too. For two days we were enjoying ourselves picnicking, driving around and hiking.

Huge plan

The property was located in the valley, near a huge active iron ore mine. There were some koppies -rocky hills, making a great lookout opportunity. The land was red from the iron in it. On the sightseeing tour we have visited some of the host’s relatives, still owning houses there. It was very hot and we have driven in 4x4 car through the bushveld terrain of grasslands. One of the possible future attractions for our development was several kraals on the land. Built by the locals who were living here at least five generations before (that’s when the owner’s family acquired it). I assume they have come with the first settlers into South Africa. The Kraal is Afrikaans means enclosure and in this case was a settlement with homesteads.

Kraal

Giraffes

Our host took us to his favourite lookout place, where one could see almost the whole property. It was indeed a beautiful place, with the huge old fig tree growing on the rock.

As we all enjoyed the views, on the way back to the lodge we stumbled upon some other guests. A couple with the tracker, carrying rifles, it was not difficult to guess that our host was also running a hunting business there, which gave us mixed feelings. We have known that it’s quite common in this area, but didn’t suspect the farm is one of such places.

View from the koppie

View from the koppie

After roaming through the land and having a quick sundowner at the top of the hill, we have proceeded to our hosts house for the main part of the evening. The braai – the Afrikaans barbecue.

Sundowner at the top the hill

Sundowner at the top the hill

The house was amazing, built in the rustic bush style, fully open, two stories high, cosy bedroom a bathroom and a pool with the sky view.
As we have arrived slightly later, we couldn’t stay in the main bedroom. It was already occupied.
We had to put up a tent, so called bird hide and a mattress on the ground, were proud to have a full on camping style resting place.

House inside

House the view on one side

Open air bathroom

Pool with the view on the other side of the hill

With the last sunrays, sitting near the fire and enjoying the beer, we have finished the dinner with its highlight - the special Potbrood- bread in a pot, our host made for us. It was already dark and one could really appreciate the night sky in the middle of nowhere, no distant towns polluting the horizon with it’s lights, just the fire and stars.

Bread dough

Potbrood In the making

After few hours enjoying the sounds of the warm night and the smells of the bush, we decided to get a good night sleep, jumped to our bird hide and hit the sack. I had a strange feeling about the mattress being on the bare ground, but inspired by the surroundings and tranquillity forgot about it quickly.
Than I rapidly woke up, felt immense pain in the palm of my hand, which I hung over the mattress. Shocked with this sudden feeling I ‘ve remembered my dream from a split second before I woke up. It felt like there was something crawling and bit me in my finger. My hand was burning, my finger was visibly swollen and I got a small rash.
After short consultation, we have decided to go to the nearby hospital, I really couldn’t gamble, it could have been many creepy crawlies, even venomous.

We have jumped into the car and drove to the nearby town to an emergency unit. The stones were shooting from under the wheels, as we were speeding on the dirt road, racing with time. In the darkness, few zebras jumped in front of the car, that, have raised the adrenaline levels even higher. It was kind of funny watching their black and white striped bottoms in the headlights. We have arrived and immediately got admitted, the nurse made an interview with me and pointed out, what came to my attention already before, never put the mattress on the bare ground!

They looked at my hand, the swelling was smaller. The doctor said it was a scorpion but fortunately harmless one. If it wouldn’t be, within 15 - 60 minutes from the envenoming my hand would look much worse and I might have suffer a reduction or loss of upper respiratory protective reflexes, not mentioning other toxic effects. That didn’t sound good.

I was thoroughly checked, my pulse, my blood etc. I have received local anaesthetic agent and antihistamine shots. Don't ask where.

Shortly after, we were on the way back to the farm. No drama, but a small trauma. Exhausted I couldn’t really remember the rest of the night, fell dead asleep almost immediately after the shots. In the morning I was still alive and happy to share the story.

The traditional rule of thumb that scorpions with thick tails and slender pincers (Buthidae) are more venomous than those with slender tails and large pincers (Scorpionidae) is a useful guide.
Source: Continuing Medical Education

Source Photo: Continuing Medical Education

We eventually didn’t buy the land, but in my opinion it was some sort of a sign, because soon after the idea turned out to bee too expensive and was dropped anyway.

*All photographs taken by @highonthehog