MY four-year-old daughter was being tiresome. There I was settling down to enjoy myself, the rest of the children having returned to the 'chalet', and this irritating little girl kept leaning on me and repeating, 'Mummy, I see something with four legs!'

Darkness had swept in swiftly, as it does in the tropics, and the glowing embers of the fire barely lit the edge of the lake. Between us the Rodgers and I fielded eight children and we were thankful all but one had decided to go and play Trivial Pursuits, rather than listening to boring adults.

Dragging all the 'braai' equipment to the lake had been quite a mission and, thanks to their early departure, we now faced carting it back, unaided. However, it would be worth it. Now we had a chance to relax while soaking up the chirps and rustles of the African bush. Civilisation seemed far away although we were less than 25 miles from the capital.

The Rodgers family, normally based in England, were revelling in this weekend 'safari' at Harare's closest game park.

During the afternoon we had seen hundreds of buffalo, buck, zebras, baboons and giraffes (this reserve contained no major predators). The evening 'braai' was providing a perfect ending to the day - although I had been surprised when Sara Rodgers managed to 'book' the site at such short notice. It was Saturday night and all the other chalets appeared to be occupied.

However, here we were and the annoying infant was still insisting she could see something with four legs.

'Now don't be silly', I said for the tenth time, taking a sip from my glass. 'Of course you ca - a - a....'

That was when time stood still because I too could see an enormous something with four legs.

There were, in fact, two enormous somethings - one only a few metres away. A rhinoceros no less, in all its gargantuan glory, grazing quietly.

The size of the creatures sent my heart plummeting footwards and I clutched Avalon (who had absolutely no intention of leaving my side, anyway).

Another gulp of wine and it was time to break the news.

'Actually she can see something' I began, casually. 'Don't move, but look to your left.' Sara and Anthony did so, and froze also.

We gazed and gazed, almost afraid to blink in case we attracted their attention. I knew these were white rhino but their mass alone petrified me. Had they been black we would have really been in trouble.

White rhino are not reputed to be particularly aggressive, but they could have squashed us, oh so easily, and small comfort if it was by accident.

The minutes passed and the rhinos moved fractionally. I have no idea how my overseas friends were feeling, and initially I was beyond thought. The only communication taking place around that dying fire was strictly telepathic.

We could see the lights of the chalets in the distance, where all the sensible people were having their 'braais'. No-one was going to come to our assistance and the rough terrain hat separated us from 'safety' was definitely not designed for sprinting. In any event the rhinos were in the way.

By now the fire was so low it was certainly no deterrent, and I reluctantly decided we could not sit there endlessly, waiting to be trodden underfoot.

My cigarettes were on a rock on the other side of the fire. Ridiculous as it might seem I was not going anywhere without them, so I whispered.

'Keep still while I fetch my cigarettes. It will give us a chance to see what they do if we move.'

Telling Avalon to stay behind I crept past the fire to the cigarette rock, then back again. The rhinos seemed oblivious. .

We resumed our motionless vigil, then one of the monstrous beasts took a few non-threatening steps towards us. Some action was required.

'We have to run', I hissed. 'We'll go together and run as fast as we can.'

Normally I could barely lift Avalon, but it's amazing what a bit of adrenalin can do.Snatching her up and giving the rhinos as wide a berth as possible, I led the charge across the uneven veld. Stumbling and gasping we ran for our lives, too terrified to look behind and only slowing down when we reached the first of the chalets.

Of course this stampede did not escape notice but only pausing to yell, 'There are rhinos at the lake', we hurried towards our own safe haven.

The Trivial Pursuiters were furious when they discovered what they had missed. They were far too cross to be even semi-sympathetic, but before we had fully recovered the cry went up, 'There are rhinos outside!'

This was too much for Avalon, who immediately shut herself inside a cupboard, thereby avoiding the mad dash to the windows. And sure enough there were rhinos - eight of them.

We watched them proceeding slowly and awesomely towards the lake - and the other children were somewhat mollified.

It was obvious this was part of the rhinos' routine evening ritual. In the wild animals always head for water at the end of the day - and of course I knew that.

Suddenly it was apparent why the lovely lakeside 'braai' site had been ours for the taking, but this was a story we would dine out on for years.

The following day my husband came to fetch us - having opted to look after his horses that weekend rather than his family.

We've told him a thousand times how close we were to instant extinction but he's convinced (because he wants to be) that we are exaggerating!

Copyright 2001 Sheldene Chant