TIP 9: EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED
Photo Credit: (c) T J Allen Art
Expect The Unexpected
As with everything in life, there are no guarantees . . . unless you go to a zoo or petting farm. I loved visiting such places as a child, but now that I’ve been on a range of experiences with wild animals (African safari, diving with sharks, mountain gorillas in Rwanda), I can’t quite summon the same appeal. Knowing that you can move from one caged area to another to see a catalogue of species from every continent in the world seems a little contrived.
The Real Deal
For me the ‘not knowing’ what will appear and when, generates a more stimulating and exciting element of surprise. It might be that I go for a walk and see nothing of any great significance . . . but that’s the point, because then when I do see something it is all the more special. The joy of nature is that it is unrehearsed.
When things are quiet in the bush on game drives and the ‘Big 5’ are evading the trackers, the rangers turn their focus to less obvious species that never normally get the time of day. This includes everything from insects to plants. I can happily confess I’ve heard some equally fascinating facts about an acacia bush as I have about a lion. We tend to overlook the cleverness and design of Mother Nature as we become seduced by the bigger, stronger, more powerful representations of wildlife.
Originator Of Inspiration
The closer you look, the more you will begin to recognise how many everyday products in your life have been inspired by the environment. From patterns and colours, to shapes and features. The ingenuity is in the detail. So fear not the days of AWOL animals and become wide-eyed at everything else you normally take for granted.
Who knows, you might be struck with an idea for a new invention?