One of the biggest misconceptions I had about South Africa regards animals. In our Peace Corps orientation in Philly, many volunteers (me included), wondered about the possibility of encountering wild animals in our remote villages. We worried about getting ambushed by a lion or run over by an elephant. It's funny now. I did see an elephant very close to where I am living, but it was securely trapped inside the fences of Kruger National Park. My family assures me that it is rare that any animals escape from the park and never have they seen anything more wild than a dog. South Africa is supposedly home to the Big 5 animals (elephant, lion, giraffe, etc.), but they are no more visible to folks here than are the animals in the zoos in America. Most are restrained in maintained game parks.
Yet my village certainly has its share of resident non-humans. Herds of cows wander everywhere, occasionally blocking the roadway or wandering into the yard to find green grass. Mangy dogs come and go as they please, usually in a playful pack, as well as the occasional very scrawny cat. (None of the animals are permitted inside or are spoiled like American pets.) My family keeps about 8 guinea hens, freaky-looking turkey/roosters (pictured at left) that constantly squawk like children swinging on a rusty swingset. In addition, chickens, roosters and baby chicks roam about at all hours. There are dozens of doves that roost on the roof, as well as numerous other native birds flying about. And in a pen away from the house, are two huge hogs and six newly born baby piglets. During the day, the trunks of mango trees are home to two blue-headed green-bodied lizards the size of iguanas and very large brown bats that fly noisily overhead at night.