Skip to content

Ollie’s First Flight

Sit quietly, children, and lend me your ears
And I will tell you a story about conquering fears
The fear of flying to be more precise
About a young bird who eats lizards and mice
A bird of the night, a fluffy little fowl
Yes, this is the story of Ollie the Owl

Ollie was born in a tree on a ridge
Overlooking the waters at Crocodile Bridge
His lazy existence was perfect, all right
He slept through the day and mom fed him all night
His time was enjoyed with no trouble or strife
He never wanted to change this luxury life

But then came the day he had secretly feared
As his feathers grew longer he knew it had neared
He knew jolly well those lazy days couldn’t last
He just didn’t want them to become a thing of the past
He started to sniffle, he started to cry
As his mother announced, “You must now learn to fly”

Ollie said to his mom, “Let’s just stay here and play
I’m far too young to be flying away
It really is very much too soon
To be venturing out by the light of the moon
Besides which, I really don’t understand why
A bird like me needs to learn how to fly”

Mom replied, with a big sigh of fate,
“Because the treasures of Kruger before you await
Let me describe some of the wonderful things
You can enjoy from above as you’re flapping your wings
These are the reasons you must learn to fly
These are the places we can explore from the sky

We can visit the birthplace of the dog they called Jock
Or read of the warden at Stevenson-Hamilton Rock
We can go to Crooks Corner to witness a kill
Or watch the sun rise over Boabab Hill
We can, if you like, visit the gate down at Numbi
Or glide over the landscape as seen from Nkumbe

In a sky that is blue on a day that is fine
We can follow the Old Selati Railway Line
We can trail the spoor of the wild dog pack
As they hunt at the scene of De Kuiper’s Attack
We can show off for the twitchers in the bird hide at Sweni
Or relax at the dam they call Shimangwaneni

We can sit at Nwamanzi and admire the crocs
Or bathe with the elephants in the pools at Red Rocks
If you try to fly and be Ollie the Brave
We can visit Neves Cross and Anna Ledeboer’s Grave
If you just flap your wings, if you just take a chance
We can take a rest later at Bobbejaanskrans

If you fancy a loop, I suggest Shongololo
Or if you prefer, then try Mphongolo
We can relax in the garden of the camp at Shingwedzi
Or can take in the view from the deck at Nwanetsi
From Satara we could either head east to Gudzani
Or south to have lunch in the shade at Tshokwane

Without being blessed with the miracle of flight
You wouldn’t get to Masorini Archaeological Site
You wouldn’t be able to follow the Drive of Nyala
Or gasp at the tuskers in the Elephant Hall at Letaba
You wouldn’t be able to drink at the Olifants fountain
Or watch the herds of giraffe from the top of Ship Mountain

It really is worth it to conquer your fear
To watch the kingfishers fishing at Biyamiti Weir
To visit the camps, really and truly
From Punda Maria to the huts at Balule
To marvel at the spirit of the waterbuck ram
As he protects his herd at Eileen Orpen Dam

So try to flap your wings open and shut
And before long we will arrive at Rabelais Hut
And if after that you’re still looking for more
Perhaps you will find it at Sardelli’s Store
And as you’re enjoying yourself on the breeze
Look down at the Forest of the great Fever Trees”

Ollie replied, “Mom, I want lots and lots
To be able to visit these beautiful spots
I realise now that Kruger’s stunning terrain
Is so much more than the view from my little domain
I must try my utmost and must do my best
To take to the sky from my warm little nest”

And then to Mother Owl’s surprise, lo and behold
Ollie the Frightened became Ollie the Bold
He flapped his wings as an old lion roared
And he caught on the wind as his small body soared
Above the tall treetops, Ollie became aware
That he really was flying high up in the air

Suddenly feeling inspired and free
He flew off to the Southernmost Boabab Tree
Then he carried on north all the way to Pafuri
Where he stole off the braai half a chop and a boerie
Then back towards Mopani he decided to swoop
Going via the Tropic of Capricorn Loop

Flying back south he was having such fun
He posed for the birders outside Ratelpan
Now feeling excited and really quite manic
He took a dip in the reeds by the hide at Lake Panic
And then with his feathers decidedly damp
He dried off at the golf course by Skukuza camp

Ollie then admired the scene from Granokop Hill
Where he saw in the distance De La Porte’s windmill
On the Doispane Road he saw troops of baboons
And at Phabeni Gate he found Albasini’s Ruins
Taking off from the rocks of the mount at Shabeni
He rode on the wind to the dam at Silolweni

Thoroughly enjoying his new-found role
He watched the wildebeest drinking at Duke waterhole
As he caught sight of a snake starting to slither
He glided along the banks of the Sabie River
He popped in for a snack at the spot called Nkhulu
Then watched the sun set behind the hills of Matjulu

As the clouds gathered and it became a bit colder
He took a well-earned rest atop Napi Boulder
Realising now that it was getting quite late
He took off for his nest via Malelane Gate
As the moon rose it was getting quite cool
There was just time hover over the Hippo Pool

Before Ollie re-joined his mom in the tree on the ridge
Overlooking the waters of Crocodile Bridge
And he said to his mom she was certainly right
To convince him to take his first aerial flight
To see all the places through the light and the dark
Of his home in the Kruger National Park