She’d already chosen me…
long before I had a say in the matter.”
At the beginning of May 2025, just after lunch and en route to the scullery at River Camp, I stumbled upon the tiniest little Nyala calf — no more than a few days old — wandering alone and crying softly. Clearly confused, terrified, and far too young to be out on her own, she stopped me in my tracks.
I placed my plate on the ground and called Amelia to help. Together we gently moved the fragile calf to the front lawn and offered her water. She calmed down — but only slightly. Our intention was never to raise a baby Nyala… just to find her mum.
With hope in our hearts, we located a nearby herd with several females and calves. For more than an hour we waited, urging her towards them — and hoping one might come forward to claim her. But she wouldn’t budge. She’d already chosen me… long before I had a say in the matter.
Still, we tried to give nature its space. We withdrew out of sight and waited from the bushes. But her mournful cries only intensified, and eventually she tucked herself into a thicket — alone again.
We decided to leave her there and hope for the best.
A day later, I told Chrisna and Anita what had happened. They asked me to return to the area to check if she was still there. Honestly, I didn’t expect to find her — but there she was, in the same place, weaker than before and visibly dehydrated.
At that moment, I knew I couldn’t walk away again. I wrapped her gently in my Sibuya hoodie and took her to the vet for advice. I was told what to get — a bottle, some Pro-Lyte, and Protexin. When I brought her back up to the yard to show Chrisna and Anita, she couldn’t even stand. Her eyes were half-shut, her little nose dry. It didn’t look good.
But we agreed to give it a try. And I had no idea what a journey I was about to begin…
