A Chameleon:  A Camouflage Expert in a Harsh Environment

    We lived about two miles north of the Mmokolodi Nature Reserve in Botswana.  During the four years that we were there, we only saw this one, solitary chameleon.  He was very busy, catching his dinner on a succulent plant which had a very strong fragrance when we crushed the leaves.

   The plant had small purple flowers reminiscent of a lavender bush and many insects were always around - so a perfect spot for him.  We were hoping that he would move to our side of the fence where children wouldn't disturb or catch him, but he had his own ideas.  Before we knew it, he was on the move, using the fence as his highway and disappeared into a small shrub.  No matter how much we looked, we never saw him again. What a pity!

    We managed to take three photos - with a mobile phone device - perhaps not very clear, but I hope they will help you to appreciate this little chameleon's camouflaging abilities. :-)

     If you look carefully at the chameleon photos - no. 3 , you'll notice an open field almost devoid of grass with a large reservoir in the background - essential in a thirst-land.  My story called "African Adventures:  Flame and Hope" has a chapter which is called, "The Bird Mission" and this reservoir is part of the inspiration behind the chapter.  The two photos above were taken while the reservoir spouted out large quantities of water when one of its main pipes burst in the middle of a drought . . . and all we could do was to watch and see the water wasted until the pipe could be fixed.  Well, not quite wasted. Cattle, donkeys, goats and the bird population had a bath that day, splashing in the water - just like happy children. :-)