Timbavati 'Dawn Chorus'

A Primitive Trail can change the way we see the world, but returning home can make it surprisingly difficult to hold onto that feeling. The noise, pace and demands of everyday life can quickly begin to erode the presence, simplicity and clarity we found on the trail.This guided meditation is designed as a way to keep the spirit of the trail alive - to pause, reconnect with what you experienced and bring a little of that wilderness awareness back into everyday life.The trail may have ended.The journey doesn’t have to.

Recording of a 'dawn chorus' from Talamati Camp in Kruger National Park. Various frogs including Foam Nest Frog, Bubbling Kassina and Painted Reed Frog call repeatedly. Some of the prominent bird calls include Fiery-necked Nightjar, African Scops-Owl, Natal Spurfowl, Burchell's Coucal and Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver. Find more recordings at www.dereksolomon.com

A small herd of Buffalo (+50) feed in a rocky area amongst the reeds in the Olifants River as it flows through Balule Private Nature Reserve. Various birds and Baboons call during the recording. Find more recordings at www.dereksolomon.com

An evening recording from the banks of the Runde River in Gonarezhou National Park, Zimbabwe. The soundscape is dominated by African Scops-Owl, Verreaux's Eagle Owl and occasional mammal calls such as Hyena and Baboon. Elephants can be heard feeding nearby as they push past the trees and break branches. Find more recordings at www.dereksolomon.com

A fairly strong breeze echoes through the grass on a dark night in the central Timbavati Private Nature Reserve. African Scops-Owl and Southern White-faced Scops-Owl calls continuously while a Leopard calls on various occasions. At one stage the a Black-backed Jackal reacts to the presence of the Leopard. Elephants are also feeding in the bushes nearby, occasionally breaking branches with one giving a loud rumble. Later on, the African Scops-Owl moves closer and a Bronze-winged Courser calls. Find more recordings at www.dereksolomon.com

A 'dawn chorus' from the dry Hlaralumi River in central Timbavati Private Nature Reserve. The soundscape recording starts at 4:30am on a warm and humid summer morning. Some of the prominent bird species that can be heard include African Barred Owlet, Fiery-necked Nightjar, Woodland Kingfisher, Burchell's Coucal, Natal Spurfowl and African Green Pigeon. A Spotted Hyena also calls from nearby. Find more recordings at www.dereksolomon.com