Earlier this year I entered a raffle through the Turgwe Hippo Trust’s Facebook page, first prize being a 10-night stay at Hippo Haven located in the Save Valley Conservancy in Zimbabwe. Having already expressed an interest in volunteering there, needless to say I was thrilled when I actually won the first prize. So on July 14 I boarded a flight from New York City for the long trip to Harare. I have previously traveled to both East and South Africa, but this finally was the experience of Africa that I dreamed of since I was young and reading about the lives of Joy & George Adamson, Jane Goodall or Dian Fossey.
Through their hard work and dedication, Karen and Jean-Roger Paolillo have created a pocket of sanity in an utterly insane world. If you are someone who craves the experience of what it is like to actually live among wild animals in the bush, this is it. If you feel calm around the animals, they will fascinate and delight you no end. And if you are a dedicated advocate for animals as I am, this is direct action at its finest!
Teresa and Silas, in front of the house
Hippo Haven has a healing effect on both the body and the mind. I slept deeply the first night in my cabin overlooking the Turgwe River, awaking to absolute serenity. One wall is open to the elements, covered with mesh to keep out the animals, so you are basically living outdoors. Karen took me on a morning tour of the pans that were built to save the hippos, and other animals, during the 1991/92 drought when the river dried up. Karen and Jean-Roger have been here ever since.
But first, the baboons and vervet monkeys – they are everywhere! What a wonderful sight and experience to be so near to these wild creatures. In the afternoon I sit on the shaded patio looking out at the beautiful view. I look to my right and left, and nearby baboons are doing the same, one sitting in contemplation, elbow on knee. I am so affected by this private primate moment. I remember feeling that this may be the most serene moment of my life – a feeling to be repeated in days to come. I truly grow to love these guys
Spazzy, baboon sitting at back door and Harry cat quiet inside !
My first close encounter with the hippos was a thrill; I had no idea what to expect. As we neared one of their favorite spots by the river, Karen remarks that we are so very lucky to find that both babies (BonBon and Maxie) along with Maxie’s mother Surprise and the young male Kuchek, are out of the water and we are able to sit and observe within 40 feet of them. This is a group of 9 where Robin is the dominant male and Cheeky is the matriarch. Two days later, upstream at the weir pool, Karen and I find 7 of them peacefully sleeping on the bank across from us, along with the crocodiles. As we approach, Kuchek rises but as before, there is no panic and we are able to sit quietly for over an hour in the sun, sharing in these peaceful moments. As we were about to leave, the 2 hippos that were not in sight (BonBon and her mother Tacha) emerge from the bush. We are treated to quite a show as each hippo slowly rises and enters the water, one by one. What an honor to see all this within my first few days. Only in the company of Karen Paolillo can anyone get this close to hippos as she has earned their trust.
Kuchek & BonBon and Surprise lying down
Each morning I walked in the midst of the baboon troop with a bucket of feed held out of their reach until we get to a spot away from the house where I can spread their daily treat on the ground, all the while watching out for Vixen – a young mother who looks for the opportunity to snatch the bucket. This and feeding the Paolillo’s domestic cats are some of my fun responsibilities.
Teresa feeding the baboons
Snare patrols are a daily and important task. We walk for miles in a large circle looking for these tools set by poachers in the illegal bush-meat trade. When walking through the bush one sees how insidious these cruel wire snares are as they take on the look of branches and unsuspecting victims suffer a horrible and often slow death. As we walk, Karen points out tracks of various animals, including lion and hyena.
Jean-Roger and Teresa on a snare patrol
As the days go on, I feel so much a part of this world. Living among the baboons and monkeys, observing the hippos’ lives undisturbed in their habitat — this is truly a dream come true for me. I am awed by my good fortune. Life in Zimbabwe is very complicated and I learn a great deal about its political history and the hardships of life here. But there is so much beauty as well. I know I will never feel the same again in the unnatural urban environment I live in. The peace of being in the company of the animals and the beauty of the African landscape are restorative.
Teresa and Jean-Roger, Hazel and Dragon lady vervets
I was also privileged to meet many dedicated and brave people in Zimbabwe and am grateful for their hospitality and for taking the time and effort to figure out what foods to prepare for a vegan American! And a special thanks to Silas for picking my winning ticket.
I can still hear the hippo grunts in the nights. I can still hear the baboons and vervet monkeys running along the roof of the cottage as the days dawned. And I will forever be humbled by the gift of looking into their eyes and into their souls. Shame on the human race for thinking we are the only living beings that matter. But thanks to the Paolillos and other passionate men and women who believe otherwise, we can only hold out hope that we and the animals will survive.
Teresa watching baby Maxie and Kuchek
Teresa photographing Kuchek and his croc friend
“People, it appeared, were more interested in the private lives of celebrities than in the desperate fight for survival by some of the earth’s major life forms.” — Lawrence Anthony, The Last Rhinos: My Battle to Save One of the World’s Greatest Creatures.
Windows of the soul
Teresa at feed time, big one baboon is : Joe
Teresa D’Amico, August 2012
To buy tickets please follow the above link and select the donate in £'s. Donate the amount for the number of tickets required and Karen will forward them to you.
Hear about feeding wildlife especially the Turgwe Hippos and many other wild animals in severe droughts where they all would have perished. Presented by Karen Paolillo the founder of the Turgwe Hippo Trust.
Watch video footage filmed from trail cameras in situ at the feeding areas during the 2024 drought. See unusual and interesting footage of various wild animals that fed during that 10-month period. Hippos, Elephants, buffalo, warthogs, wildebeest, zebra etc.
Meet Anthony Martin CBE, of the AVM Foundation.
Watch 15-minute film created by Actor, Filmmaker and Producer Dan Richardson. Filmed on site in Zimbabwe in July at Turgwe Hippo Trust.
Meet Actor and Animal Advocate and Auctioneer for the evening PETER EGAN, After Life, Death at a funeral, Downton Abbey, Chariots of Fire and so much more from stage and screen. Also meet Actor Mark Bonnar, Shetlands, Napoleon etc.
Donate to a cause that helps not just the Turgwe Hippos but any wildlife in the area. Protecting them from poaching, sport hunting, and natural events such as droughts and floods. People that step in every single day to keep them all safe and alive in the wild.
Purchase one or both books, A HIPPO LOVE STORY or HIPPOS A MONGOOSE AND ME published by Penguin South Africa, written and personally signed by Karen Paolillo; memoir and stories about living and protecting hippos and other wild animals in a remote area of the African bush for over three decades.
Purchase ‘Legacy of Love’, a book that celebrates the relationship between animals and actors, artists, photographers, animal charity founders; this includes the Turgwe Hippo Trust.
Purchase the 2027 Turgwe Hippo Trust hippo calendar presenting some of the hippos of the Turgwe River or the 2027 wild animals calendar. Images for both calendars by Karen Paolillo.
Join all of us for an inspiring evening learning more about the hippos, one of Africa’s iconic species, and helping to protect the Turgwe Hippos to continue their wild lives in the south east lowveld of Zimbabwe within the Turgwe River.
Auction items:
1)Stay for 2 people with Karen and Jean-Roger at Hippo Haven, headquarters of the Turgwe Hippo Trust in Zimbabwe for 9 nights, which can include 2 nights in the Gona Re Zhou National Park at a rustic bush camp where you pay National Parks for that experience. Jean-Roger and Karen Paolillo will personally drive you there (2 hours from Hippo Haven) and bring and prepare the food.This does not include air tickets to Zimbabwe or travel by courier service Harare to Hippo Haven and Return. (5-hour drive).Jean-Roger and Karen Paolillo will pick you up at the entrance to the Conservancy which is 70 kilometres from Hippo Haven and return you to the boom at the end of you stay , where you will be collected by the Courier service.
Accommodation in Harare at your own cost, the Paolillo’s can suggest hotels and guest lodges. Dates this is available at this moment are between June to end of September, date to be arranged with the Paolillos by end of November 2026. Winter months in Zimbabwe i.e. cooler nights June to August. August and September hotter around 30 degrees in August in daytime but it can go as high as 36 degrees in September, climate change notwithstanding.You may be lucky enough to meet Max hippo, the Turgwe Hippo Trust house hippo if he is still visiting the house in 2027.
Value of Stay at Hippo Haven, Turgwe Hippo Trust Zimbabwe £3700
Transport Harare to boom and return to Harare 900km. £800 to be paid by winning bid
CHITAKE This is one of several paintings I have done of Zimbabwe’s Chitake Springs, one of the wonders of the wildlife world. The Chitake river bed itself is sandy and dry for most of the year, flanked on both sides by cliffs gouged out by the river over hundreds of years. On top of the cliffs the iconic towering baobab trees, perhaps a thousand years old, add to the grandeur of this gem of wild Africa. A spring wells up and is the only water for many miles. When myself and my family camp here the best times are when we are alone – just us with no noise other than those of a wild world that pays no attention to us. On the occasion of this painting the Cape Buffalo herd of over a thousand has not yet arrived, the lion pride of over 30 individuals is waiting patiently in the shade of the giant baobabs, and the elephant have ambled up for their midday drink. Small numbers of Impala are left after the main herd has finished drinking, Helmeted Guineafowl have arrived, and huge numbers of Cape Turtle Doves are milling around, drinking as fast as they can, then leaving in a flash of wings before the Lanner Falcons strike. This is raw untamed Africa at its best and a paradise for me as an artist.
Value of Chitake £3700 Ant Fynn
Framed size 26”x 36”
IMPALAS by ANT FYNN
Size 14” x 23” value £400
Richard Symonds passion and commitment to wildlife spans over 20 years.
He has held a number of exhibitions and auctions in and around London including Christies and Sotheby’s and his work can be found in private and corporate collections worldwide.
In 2006 Richard hit the headlines with his life size oil painting of an African bull elephant which sold for a staggering $100,000 to a private collector. With a large donation from that sale going to the Born Free Foundation. Richard has always pledged to himself that whilst making his living from his wildlife art it only feels right to balance his success with giving back to the wild by raising funds through the sale and auctions of his originals and prints.
Value of LION by Richard Symonds
£3500
Framed 24”x38”
I've known about Karen's dedication towards hippos, warthogs and other creatures living locally to her area for a few years now and am happy to help through my art whenever possible. So when she contacted me recently about her latest event being organised for the Turgwe Hippo Trust, I chose this special framed print for her auction at the Royal Geographical Society. Having the THT patron, Peter Egan as the esteemed auctioneer will surely help as he's one of the good guys, involved in many wildlife charities.
Besides 'Hippo' being an embellished print, which means I have personally added many thousands of new pencil strokes over many hours on top of the print making it more dynamic and quite unique. It becomes much closer to an original drawing and this particular copy has also been co-signed by two shining lights of the conservation world, Dame Virginia McKenna and Rula Lenska.
I've been fortunate to have witnessed serene scenes like this many times over the past 36 years, in Kenya, Tanzania, Gabon, Botswana and most of all in South Luangwa, Zambia where hippos abound in their thousands.
Value of HIPPO by Gary Hodges £845 unframed
Size 45.5cm x 15.5cm
Suzie’s animal sculptures have gained great acclaim over the last 35 years and she now has a loyal following both in the UK and abroad. She has undertaken many private and business commissions including sculpture exhibits for a museum in Taiwan and two public installations, one of Nelson the Seal at Looe Harbour in Cornwall, the other of Police Dog Finn at Layston Court Gardens, Buntingford, Hertfordshire. Her work reflects her love of animals and her fascination with their character and form. She often produces work to aid animal charities close to her heart and this has taken her to the Animals Asia bear sanctuaries in China and Vietnam as well as the Turgwe Hippo Trust in Zimbabwe. In recognition of her own four cats who double as artist’s models, Suzie is also a keen supporter of Cats Protection. Her initial work is in clay and her originals can then be cast in bronze resin and/or foundry bronze. All of her work is suitable for the home or garden.
Value of stoneware HIPPO Suzie Marsh £2000
Weight 10kg 45cm long x 24cm deep x 29.5cm high
She is a one-off original sculpture made in stoneware clay.
The Turgwe Hippo Trust does its best to promote indigenous artists by suggesting to guests and volunteers which markets to visit. In Gift’s case many of the Trust’s volunteers have purchased his work as his talent shines through in the details and accuracy of the shape and look of the wild animals he sculpts.
We so look forward to meeting you all and hope you have a wonderful evening with us.
