Change in plans…A fabulous day wiith the “ladies that lunch”…Beautiful vegetation and scenery away from Marloth Park…Tom’s familiar pleasure…

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No one was handy to take a photo of the three of us.  Linda and I had to suffice. The Buhari Lodge was located on the Crocodile River.

Change in plans?  Yep, we’ve been invited by Louise and Danie to stay at the African Reunion House for the weekend, which will leave us four remaining nights at the little house down the road.

My wonderful friends Linda and Kathy, (left to right) who live part-time in Marloth Park.

Hoping to see more wildlife was temporarily pushed aside for our comfort for the upcoming long weekend we’ll remain here. We sleep better here with more powerful AC in the bedroom and a larger more comfortable bed.  We can stay outdoors all day with fewer flies (the price of having many visitors pooping in the yard at the little house). And, dining outdoors, here is divine. 

I’d never seen papaya trees growing in the orchard at Buhala Lodge in such numbers. The fruit was not quite ready for harvesting.

Thank you once again, Louise and Danie. We’re very grateful for everything you’ve done for us.

Papayas grow in a massive orchard on the grounds of the lodge which is separated by an electrified fence in Kruger National Park.

We can only hope that when we return on Monday, our visitors will hear us and return. You can be assured, I’ll be walking around the garden, dropping a trail of pellets while using my high pitched (embarrassing) voice, calling to them.

A sole hippo near the river’s edge.  We weren’t able to determine what was in the rear of this photo.

Within minutes of our arrival in Marloth Park on December 1, 2013, we had our first visitor and then they came in droves over the next several days and weeks. Hopefully, the same will occur during our remaining four days at the little house.

A Cape Buffalo munching on the vegetation along the shore of the river.

Yesterday, the lunch with Kathy and Linda was exemplary. The location, an out of the way quaint resort, Buhala Lodge,  a 35-minute drive. The quiet lodge was surrounded by a fruit farm creating some eye-catching scenery as shown in our photos today. The service and food were delightful. 

As is typical in Africa, properties are adorned with local art.

 

The indoor lounge at the lodge that offers 10 guest rooms.

The veranda, where at first we lounged on the sofa, provided an excellent view of the Crocodile River. Later we moved to the table at the far left.

A deck where guests watch the activity on the river, especially at sunset, an experience we’ve had many times at various locations over the past almost three months.

I purchased dinner to bring home to Tom and the total bill for both meals with tip was only ZAR $205, US $18.33. In the US, I’d easily spend 20% more for only one lunch, beverage, and tip, let alone a second meal to go. The cost of living in South Africa is considerably less than anywhere we’ve lived.

Once we returned to Marloth Park, the wildlife prevailed.
Mom and baby zebra, larger than the baby, we posted yesterday.

Tonight, Kathy and Linda are coming for dinner, giving us the opportunity to enjoy their companionship one last time and finally reciprocate for inviting us to their homes.  The two husbands are out of town at one of their other residences. Tonight, Tom will be surrounded by three lively, opinionated women, which no doubt he’ll thoroughly enjoy.

A curious baby wildebeest.  Linda and Kathy explained that wildebeest seldom visit the homes in Marloth Park.  No wonder we’ve only seen one prance through the yard in a hurry.

As I look at him now, sitting at the table on the veranda at the African Reunion House on a gorgeous day, I can’t help but smile. His earpieces are in place to avoid disturbing me as I write, as he listens each day to the favorite radio show from Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, entitled “Garage Logic.” 

When riding in a car, it’s difficult to tie up traffic for too long while waiting for the various wildlife to pick up their heads for photos.

Although listening to an online radio show for two hours, five days a week uses a ton of data (we budgeted for this) it brings him considerable pleasure, often resulting in fits of laughter, sharing a morsel with me that makes no sense out of context.

This was the largest male Wildebeest we’ve seen in the park.

In this life, we each find pleasure and fulfillment in many ways. For me, taking photos and writing each and every day brings a sense of connectedness and joy that is difficult to describe. 

But, more than the photos and the writing is “living” the experiences that provide the fodder for our stories that we can only hope will continue to pique our reader’s curiosity and interest as we move on to our next adventure.

Nine days and counting…

The colorful rocks of the mountains and hills in South Africa have been a sight to behold.

A ”girls only” lunch date today…Baby photos along the road in Marloth Park…Birthday coming up…Less fearful…

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The zebra on the right is a youngster, born earlier this season. The one on the left was most likely born in the last four weeks. What a joy to see these in Marloth Park while on our way to Komatipoort for grocery shopping.

Taking photos from inside a moving vehicle is difficult. If we get out of the vehicle, they’ll take off.

It’s a busy week in the bush as we wind down our last 10 days. Today, my two new friends, Kathy and Linda, are arriving to pick me up at 11:30 for a surprise location for a pre-birthday luncheon. 

Mom and baby zebra as we zoomed past, cars behind us.

The last time I participated in a “girls only” lunch was a few days before we left Minnesota in October 2012 with the close group of four of us in the old neighborhood; Sue, Jamie, Nelleke, and I. We were friends for 26 years with meaningful friendships, all left behind, all of us now staying in touch by email.

What a face! We saw many giraffes along the road on the way out of Marloth Park. The fluffy ossicones indicate this is a female.

Of course, we miss our grown children, spouses, and grandchildren, soon to be together again in 10 months in Hawaii at Christmas. But, we couldn’t make a decision to travel the world such as we have, only to carry regrets or grieve those we love and miss.

Too busy munching treetops to offer a good pose.

The friendships that we nurtured for many years are maintained through Facebook and email. But, lunch with new friends? A treasured experience. Anticipated. Appreciated.

Our birthdays, always celebrated in the past with the utmost of excitement and expectations, now seem important only in the fact that it means we’re blessed with another year of life, perhaps a little wiser, possessing an unstoppable desire to continue on, for as long as we can as we age. 

Emotionally? Our enthusiasm has only increased over time, now that we’ve left behind the apprehension and fear that traveled with us in the beginning. As we’ve become more resilient, more readily adapting to the continuing change of environment, we’ve found the most stressful times are the “flying” days, not the “living” days. 

And yes, there is a bit of trepidation over the upcoming 29 hours from door to door starting on the 28th. I try not to think about possible delays which could cause us to miss one of the four flights in order to arrive in Marrakesh, Morocco. Missing one flight could easily upset the remaining flights. We know from experience, such an occurrence is more likely than not.

Mrs. Warthog a regular visitor to African Reunion House is weaning her four babies. She sits down when they try to suckle. Her eyes follow our movements as she rests in the garden, hoping we send a few more pellets her way. When we toss the pellets, she stands off to the side, letting the babies get them first. What good moms they are! We make a point of tossing some of the pellets directly in front of her to ensure she isn’t left out.

On Thursday this week, we’ll move back to the original smaller house to begin the packing, again requiring more lightening of the load. Our baggage was overweight on the last flights, but somehow we skated through without incurring additional baggage fees. Unable to imagine what more I can give away off of my of my limited clothing supply, the task remains challenging.

The road to Komatipoort, once we’re outside of the Marloth Park security gates. The 25-minute drive goes quickly when Okee Dokee and I tell endless stories resulting in much laughter. We’ll miss her, too.

Part of me is anxious to return on Thursday, to the familiar house and wildlife for our final eight days. Maybe we’ll see Big Boy Warthog again or Kudu Kevin or multiples Mrs. Warthogs and babies. And, maybe if safari luck kicks in, giraffes and zebras will visit one more time before we leave. If not, we certainly have had more visits than we ever imagined.

Photo taken yesterday after this tree frog returned to his favorite spot on a beam on the veranda roof. He must have left for a few days to eat and drink returning yesterday to this same spot. Like us, animals are “creatures of habit.”

We’ve loved the three weeks total we’ll have spent between Kyaha Umdani and the African Reunion House, each with its own unique charms. 

Thursday night, the actual day of my birthday, we plan to go to Jabula which is all the celebration I need or want. Being with Tom and the familiar faces at Jabula is in itself a celebration.

Another Tree Frog was lounging on the wicker chair only a few feet from the tree frog in the rafters. We heard noises back and forth between the two.  Perhaps, mating is on the horizon, but, we haven’t seen a white foam nest near the pool.
Yesterday, Okee Dokee and I made our last trip to Komatipoort for groceries during which I took the photos shown here today. A simple trip for groceries proves to be a heartwarming experience while driving through Marloth Park. 
We hope that we haven’t bored our readers with endless photos of warthogs. This is a fast-growing baby in the above photo. These playful, smart, adorable animals are as enjoyable as the two dogs we grew to love in Kenya, Jessie, and Gucci. I know it may sound crazy to love “pigs” but the residents of Marloth Park feel the same way we do, adoring their familiar and frequently visiting warthogs. Dogs or any pets of any type aren’t allowed in Marloth Park. The warthogs, although still wild, thriving off of the vegetation in the bush, fulfill our desire for the companionship we’ve experienced with pets in our lives.
Having purchased enough data to last until we depart, last night we calculated how many more meals we’ll eat in, as opposed to dining out using as many of the ingredients we have on hand and food in the refrigerator and freezer. Each time we leave a country, we use most of the food, mainly through careful planning.
This and the other babies will eventually be shooed away by their mom as she prepares to mate for another litter. Occasionally, we’ve seen two males hanging out together or a female and a male contemplating mating. With summer in Africa now, the primary mating season has ended. In April or May, the warthog mating season is at its peak. The gestation period of five to six months results in babies being born in October and November.
Last night, we cooked dinner; tender, thick fillets, veggies, and salad. Having downloaded a number of our favorite shows on Graboid yesterday, we were set for the evening’s entertainment which is always accompanied by the frequent pausing of the video we’re watching when we hear sounds in the bush. 
This mom’s ribs are showing which is the first case we’ve seen. This may have prompted her to stop nursing to gain nourishment from the upcoming winter beginning on June 22 when the vegetation is sparse. Warthogs dig up roots to eat during the winter months.

The tree frog returned to his favorite spot on the rafters after a two-day disappearance. Trying to figure out a tree frog’s behavior makes us laugh. In a way, our lives have become mighty simple when we’re able to spend time trying to analyze a frog.

A special bush braai to remember…A sunset like none other…And a moon that lit the night…

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Excellent stopped the vehicle for us to take photos of this amazing sunset. This occurred at 6:19 pm.
 This occurred one minute later at 6:20 pm.
 This occurred at 6:26 pm. We all agreed that it looked as if the “eyes of God” were watching us. In awe and total silence, we all snapped away.
The moon as it appeared on the horizon. Wow!

Dinner in the dark in the bush is not for the faint-hearted. Although safe with an armed guard on the constant lookout, a cleared area for cooking and table setup, we weren’t traipsing in the tall grass in order to dine. 

The table settings were lovely. Imagine serving a meal for eight guests (and most times as many as 18 guests) in the dark. 
We were so busy having fun, I missed taking a few good food photos and, spent little time making sure my shadow didn’t end up in the photo. The others had sushi while had this appealing and delicious appetizer plate containing everything I could eat.

An enclosed candlelit, toilet area off to the side, partially damaged by rhinos when no one is around, provided ample modesty when a visit was much needed after the long game drive. 

Tom squawks that he doesn’t like salmon. But each time it is presented to him when dining out he enjoys it.  Go figure. Tom’s holding his little LED flashlight in his hand, as shown.
In South Africa, shrimp is referred to as prawns. After consuming these multiple prawns, I could easily have been satisfied to stop eating. We continued on.
This dish took me aback. It was Ostrich Carpaccio, a local delicacy. I thought of our two-time visitor, Clive (aptly named by a Facebook friend), and I had trouble with this item. Tom loved it, eating mine as well.

A roaring fire and our gracious hosts, Louise and Danie, and all their helpers greeted us warmly when we arrived, as the smell of a wide array of foods wafted through our senses.

After we were served the multiple courses, we headed to the table with the main courses, piling our plates with wide a wide array of local favorites.
This plate is pap, a common maize dish in South Africa. In my old life, this would have been a favorite of mine. Now, I had to pass. But, the vegetables on the right become a favorite. The yellow item in the pan is pattipan squash, an item I can have.
This pork dish was made with pineapple.  Danie had left a portion held aside for me without the fruit.
This Greek salad was right up my alley, also a local favorite found in restaurants.

This special Valentine’s Day braai had been postponed by a day due to rain. The eight of us, a small group for this special occasion, were immediately offered beverages, alcoholic and non, easily finding ourselves at ease in this seeming vulnerable location in Kruger National Park, with no fences, with wild animals all around us.

This is a pan of skewered Moroccan chicken. I told Tom, “Get used to it, Honey. You’ll be eating plenty of that soon enough!” It was delicious.
My plate, filled with the above items that I could have, all wonderfully seasoned and prepared.

This has been our third bush braai since arriving in Marloth Park. The first time, I must admit, I was tentative, looking under our table every few minutes for scorpions or snakes and glancing around the lighted perimeter for lions or hippos which we could hear at a distance. But, these next two occasions, I rarely looked down, feeling safe and protected by our conscientious hosts and their staff.

Tom didn’t hesitate to partake of his dessert plate.

Whenever we heard a sound, we all stopped talking as our guards went into action to investigate further. His rifle-armed and ready with ample bullets on his belt, we had little to fear. “Lucky,” our guard was a military guy. He knew what he was doing.

This shot was taken while seated at our table. We felt fortunate to see the breathtaking sunset and rising moon all in one night.

Soon we were seated at our beautifully set tables with comfortable chairs, linen napkins, fine china, silverware, and glassware, it could only be construed as elegant dining in a rather unusual place, for most of us anyway.

Tiffany and John, the darling couple we thoroughly enjoyed on the game drive and at our table during the bush braai.

At our table was the lovely couple from Australia with whom we chatted on endlessly only stopping long enough to savor course after course of delectable delights presented by our hosts. The special dietary needs of both Tiffany and I were honored with great reverence and creativity. Tiffany is a vegetarian and me, well, you know the drill. Not a morsel was presented that didn’t comply with our needs.

What a fabulous group of people.  Four of us were tourists and the remaining are residents of the area.

A bottle of champagne in a silver ice bucket sat unattended on our table. We commented that we hoped that later Louise and Danie would enjoy it in celebration of yet another fine job of entertaining guests in the bush, one of their many specialties. 

Tom took these beautiful sunset photos using the small pink Samsung camera.  The lens was dirty from smudges on the interior of the lens resulting from humidity in Kenya, as is the same problem with my Sony.

After a delicious dinner and dessert (I didn’t  have dessert but didn’t mind at all), a bouquet of red roses and a box of chocolates were presented to the ladies with little liqueur bottles presented to the men, an elegant touch to end a fabulous Valentine’s evening, a special bush braai, a night to remember.

Another similar shot from the Samsung camera. Before my computer crashed, I had an app capable of removing the spots. Now it is gone. Soon we’ll purchase a new camera.

The people were astoundingly fun and playful and  Louise and Danie shared in our merriment. We couldn’t thank them enough for this evening and all they have done for us since the day we arrived.

At different points the group was singing, laughter filling the air. Group photo-taking ensued and when it was time to go, we all hugged one another, none of us want to say goodbye.

An evening to remember in every way added to the surprising number of extraordinary experiences we’ve had in South Africa.  It’s hard to believe that in 11 days, we’ll fly to Morocco. This, dear readers will be a hard act to follow.

A rewarding final game drive in Kruger National Park…Tomorrow, we’ll share the most romantic bush braai ever…Photos and more photos…

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Yesterday, while waiting outside the African Reunion House for our ride to the Crocodile Bridge Gate for the upcoming game drive and bush braai, we spotted this Golden Orb Spider and her web which is gold in the sunlight. The colors in the background are the designs painted on the outside of the house.  Moments after taking this photo, Tom accidentally walked into the web, taking over half of it down. I was sorry for the spider but couldn’t help but laugh as he was flailing his arms to get the web off of him. Today, she’s still hanging onto her web, although, it’s considerably smaller. 

Error correction from yesterday’s post:  With the assistance of local friends, the photo I referred to as a Duiker was actually a Bushbuck. In addition, we’ve added the names of all the bird photos in the post, three of which we didn’t know. Thanks to Lynne and Mick once again!  Please check yesterday’s post which has since been amended, by scrolling down on today’s post if you’re curious about the bird names.

Spotting wildlife, such as this wildebeest in Kruger National Park is different from the Masai Mara where we could literally drive across the bush to get up close and personal. Kruger is a combination of paved and dirt roads. Off-road driving is forbidden often preventing closeup photos unless the animals are close to or on the road. Many visitors to Kruger are able to see the Big Five close to the road at times. We did the best we could from afar. But, we were having so much fun, we weren’t disappointed. 

We’ve decided that “safari luck” presents itself in many ways. It no longer revolves around seeing the Big Five on a game drive. For us, it extends to many areas of our lives:  a good time, safe travels, avoiding snakes and other poisonous creatures, meeting new people negotiating a good price on a future vacation home, or simply having a fulfilling day.

These two hippos popped up their heads as we drove across the bridge.

It may sound as if I’m rationalizing the fact that we didn’t see any lions on last night’s game drive. Perhaps I am. But, we had a great time beginning with the moment the driver picked us up at 3:30 pm for the drive to Crocodile Gate, the entrance to Kruger National Park, when we rode along with a delightful couple from Australia, Tiffany, and John, with whom we spent most of the evening.
 

This baby impala was no more than a few weeks old. It was alone, lost from its mother. We watched for quite a while, hoping the mom would return, only to be saddened when she didn’t. Hopefully, another mom would adopt her which often occurs.
This baby impala, only a few weeks old, starting approaching our vehicle and Excellent shooed her off, to avoid her learning that the road was safe.

Returning home close to midnight, we were shocked at how late it was after never asking Tom the time, indicating a fabulous experience was in process. As they say, “time flies when you’re having fun.” And fun, we had. That was “safari luck.”

From a considerable distance, we spotted this Goliath Heron.

A total of eight guests loaded into the game vehicle once we arrived in the park, all the rest of whom were residents of Marloth Park who definitely know how to have a good time. 

This muddy cape buffalo watched us approach.

Annoyed by our presence, he and a few other Retired Generals moseyed on down the road, taking their time.

Endless comments and laughter ensued in the vehicle during the three and a half hours of the drive. Our guide and driver, Excellent (yep, that’s his name) was not only informative but very entertaining. At times, we were all singing “oldies.

This giraffe’s cheeks were filled with vegetation she’d gathered from the treetops. What appears to be horns at the top of a giraffe’s head is called ossicones which are hairy at the ends in the female and bald at the ends in the male. The males use the ossicones in fighting during the mating season, which wears off the hairs.

Nope, we didn’t see lions or leopards, two of the Big Five. But, we did see three of the Big 5: rhinos (at too far of a distance for photos), elephants, and cape buffaloes, as shown in the photos here today. We were content with that. 

 Often birds sit atop high bare branches on the lookout for food.
Later, we’ll post the names of these birds after doing some research. 
 Although we enjoy taking photos of birds, we seldom know what they are which is frustrating. Our guide Excellent, pointed out many varieties. We’ve found it difficult to remember the names of each of the birds to match with our photos. Many bird enthusiasts keep paper and pen handy.

At around 7:30, we drove into the bush braai area for the one-day-late-due-to-rain romantic Valentine’s Day Bush Braai, hosted by Louise and Danie, an event we’ll always remember. 

As the sun began to set, we spotted these elephants and a baby.
In many areas in Kruger National Park, many of the trees have been taken down by the elephants. However, they leave the Marula tree intact since it bears fruit that they eat. In South Africa, a popular after-dinner liqueur is Amarula (the letter a is added to the beginning of the word to connote the liqueur, not the fruit) which was served last after the romantic bush braai. Laden with sugar, once again, I had to pass on this drink. Tom thoroughly enjoyed both of ours.

Tomorrow, we’ll post photos of what we’d imagine being the most extraordinary bush braai ever held in South Africa; the food, the décor, the guests, and the experience of being surrounded by lions, hippos, elephants and more, while “‘Lucky,” a military guard with a rifle and spotlight, continually scanned the perimeter to ensure our safety.

The vultures, checking for dinner at the end of the day.

A safe evening in the dark with wild animals all around us in itself is “safari luck” which surely we experienced on this special day!

This was only the beginning as the sun began to set giving all of us the opportunity to take photos of the most amazing sunset that we’ve seen in our almost three months in South Africa, all of which we’ll share tomorrow along with photos of the romantic bush braai. Amazing!

Still here at the African Reunion House…New visitor photos…Off to Kruger National Park…Tomorrow photos from the game drive…

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This is a Golden Tail Woodpecker which we were thrilled to spot yesterday afternoon.

Thursday afternoon Louise sent me an email explaining that they had rented the house on short notice and if we went back to the little house for two days, we could return to the African Reunion House.

Yesterday, this adorable bushbuck hung around the yard for quite a while. Very skittish, we stayed still and quiet in our seats on the veranda, taking these photos from afar.

Immediately, I started running around picking up our stuff to begin packing. Staying in these two lovely homes, Khaya Umdani and African Reunion House required packing comparable to one going on what may be a two week trip. It was certainly more than an overnight bag.

The wide furry tail swishing wildly every few minutes to ward off the flies. This yard has tall grass, many trees, and lush vegetation that appeals to the herbivore wildlife.

We’d hauled along all of our groceries from the refrigerator, freezer, and cabinets. It was quite a load. Fortunately, the packing and unpacking only required an hour at the most, at each location. 

Bushbuck wander alone unless mating or with their young which makes us feel bad for them. But, they seem content munching away on the greenery.  Notice the open mouth, caught while he was grabbing leaves.

Spending a few hours packing and unpacking is insignificant compared to the pleasure we’ve had in these two gorgeous homes.  Besides, what else do we have to do other than write here, look for photo ops, buy groceries, cook dinner, and now the African Reunion House, do our own dishes five nights out of seven? (Zeff cleans two times a week at this location as opposed to every day at Khaya Umdani. And, with Jabula closed until the 18th, we’ve been cooking more frequently).

Finally, he’d had enough of the yard and wander off into new territory. The water in the foreground is the infinity edge of the pool.

After running around gathering our belongings for the next morning’s move, I took a break from the heat to sit at the table on the veranda to check my laptop. Alas, there was a message from Louise saying the guests had canceled after all. She insisted that we stay. We happily stayed, unpacking everything I’d already packed.

A family of Helmeted Guinea Fowls (Tom calls them guinea hens) is living in a group of scrubs a short distance from the veranda. Yesterday, an eagle swooped down and must have taken one of their eggs or new chicks which happened so quickly we had no time to grab the camera. Collectively, they made their “kek, kek, kek” sound for no less than 15 minutes.

In a funny way, we miss the little house, mostly due to the familiar wildlife that visited.  Here, at the African Reunion House, we’ve had to make new “friends” to warrant daily visits. Day by day, we’ve noticed the number of visits gradually increasing. Certainly, the animals have learned to visit homes where pellets may be offered.

This mom has three babies, as evidence by her three utilized nipples.  Each baby uses the same nipple each time it suckles. Later, when the mom with four babies arrived, she has four obvious nipples. Warthogs have a total of four nipples, rarely having more than four offspring accordingly.  If by a fluke she has a fifth piglet, one may die.

Each morning and late afternoon, we’ve had two Mrs. Warthogs, one with three piglets and another with four.  They stop by with the moms staring at me until I get the cup of pellets. Both moms already responded to my voice. When we see them at a distance, I call them and they come. We laugh every time.

It was difficult to get close enough to get a better shot of this Black Headed Oriole.

A few days ago, a giraffe stopped by to check us out and more days ago, a group of four giraffes made a visit on the road in front of the house. Yesterday, a sweet little duiker stopped over photos of which we’ve included today. 

Over and over I ask myself how I will stop looking for wildlife in the hustle and bustle city of Marrakesh, Morocco, known for its many cats that wander the narrow streets living off of the rodents and food from the vendors. We’ll travel to the desert where we’ll see Camels. Bird watching can be interesting in both the city and outlying areas.

The colorful birds are amazing in Africa, including this Red-Headed Weaver.

With the cancellation of the game drive and bush braai for Valentine’s Day due to rain which has been moved to tonight, last night we were content to dine in, rather than try to get a last-minute reservation in a restaurant. We watched a movie, “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” while munching on nuts. It was a fine evening.

For dinner, we had one of our favorites, the Unwich (my version of a copycat from Jimmy John’s sandwich shop, the sandwich we make without the use of bread, wrapping it in lettuce and parchment paper).  Here’s the link with instructions and photos for making the breadless sandwich.  On a hot, humid evening such as it was, a cold meal was ideal.

Today at 3:45 pm, a game vehicle will pick us up to ride along with other guests to drop us off at the Crocodile Bridge entrance gate to Kruger National Park for a three to four-hour game drive, followed by a delicious and romantic meal thoughtfully hosted and prepared by Louise and Danie. 

Tomorrow, we’ll be back with photos of our safari experience, which will be our final into Kruger National Park.  As yet, we haven’t seen any lions in South Africa. But, after the daily sightings while on safari in the Maasai Mara last October and the glorious daily sightings of a wide variety of wildlife in Marloth Park, who’s to complain? Certainly, not us!

A repeated photo was taken in October 2013 in the Masai Mara. The fact that we were able to see many lions at that time has prevented any disappointment from not seeing any in Kruger National Park. Who knows?  Maybe “safari luck” will kick in later today!

Happy Valentine’s Day for those who celebrate…Bush braai changed to tomorrow due to rain…A card to my love..

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Honey, if I can’t make your favorite butterscotch pie for Valentine’s Day to celebrate.  Instead, I present you with this photo of one that I had made many moons ago in the days when we ate sugar and flour and ingredients were available.

Over the decades, Valentine’s Day became a “Hallmark moment” during which I’d become totally entrenched in the process; cards, gifts, a heart shaped pan in which to bake a cake (yes, I had one of those!) or a special pie as shown. I’d make a gourmet dinner with fancy place settings and flowers on the table.

Now, all of that seems so far removed from our reality.  In the places we have lived its been impossible to find the necessary ingredients to make the special meal befitting our way of eating, there isn’t a card shop within a two hour drive and we have no room for gifts in our luggage. 

The alternative to feeling disappointed in this life we’ve chosen is simple;  every day is a day of love.  So, today I give this online card to my husband, lover, friend and traveling companion.  I offer these words which is all that I can give, as we carry on our lives of travel.  For those of our readers that have followed along with us, this will all make sense.

How We Share Our Love

Romantic notions, views of oceans, is how we share our love
Birds singing, church bells ringing, is how we share our love
Ships that sail, a stormy gale, is how we share our love
Security checks, broken steps is how we share our love

Power’s out, endless doubt, is how we share our love
Centipedes, constant needs, is how we share our love
Guards with guns, your silly puns, is how we share our love
Gluten free, a sight to see, is how we share our love

A flight delay, a humid day, is how we share our love
A lion roaring, a movie boring, is how we share our love
Outdoor living, kindness giving, is how we share our love
Broken PC, doesn’t blame me, is how we share our love

WiFi trouble, fees are double, is how we share our love
Memory making, pleasure taking, is how we share our love
Our stuff is gone, we continue on, is how we share our love
We don’t know when, it will ever end, is how we share our love

Happy Valentine’s Day to my love, to all of our family, old and new friends and to all of you.

A tough night…A rainy day…It’s not always easy…Spider bites!…

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Tom, comfortably situated in the usual position reviewing his Ancestry.com files, a daily occurrence. Later in the day, he checks the stock market when it opens here at 4:30 pm.

On Tuesday night when I crawled into bed, a spider jumped into the air, landing on the back of my calf close to my ankle, biting me. Immediately, I washed the area and placed a plastic bag with ice on the spot.

The chicken wire fence is necessary to keep the Monkeys out of the house. If they enter, they are horribly destructive and poop everywhere, a veritable fiasco.

Although it stung like crazy, it didn’t seem to swell more than a mosquito bite so I didn’t give it much thought and went to sleep. Upon awakening, it was simply an annoying itch with a bit of a stinging sensation. More ice and I’d be done with it.

Tom’s view of the bush today in the rain from the upper-level veranda at the African Reunion House.

Last night when I went to bed, the itching and discomfort increased but still no major swelling. Tired, I went to sleep. Around 1:30 am I awoke to crazy itching in my left elbow and I mean crazy. I could have bit my arm off.  Jumping out of bed I looked for and found a first aid kit. But nothing inside the kit could alleviate that degree of itching. 

Louise and Danie brought us a power reel when we’d mentioned that we’d moved upstairs away from the rain to work on our laptops. As we’ve traveled, Tom has figured out the use of our various adapters, converters, and power strips, handling all the recharging duties each day.

Of course, at the same time, the back-of-the-ankle spider bite was also itching. like crazy. Apparently, in my sleep, another such or similar spider bit me on my elbow. It was definitely not a mosquito bite due to the pain and itching. Was I worried? Not at all. I just wanted to sleep.

The last of the four bedrooms we’ve shown at the African Reunion House. This particular room left us in a quandary as to what bedroom to chose when we moved in on Sunday.  We chose the bedroom shown previously, with its convenience on the main floor. Isn’t that what most seniors would do?

I took a bag of ice to bed, moving it back and forth between the two bites. After a few minutes of icing, it dawned on me to slug down a Tylenol PM which contains Diphenhydramine, an antihistamine that diminishes itching and causes drowsiness. Forty minutes later I was in a fitful state of sleep, dreaming of itching. Both bites are better today.

The bedroom, as in the case of the other three, is beautifully decorated with the finest furnishings and amenities. Note the double sinks and corner soaking tub.

We’re living in the bush. I accept this, reminding myself the entire time I was fussing. But no one no matter how long they’ve lived here is exempt from occasional annoyances such as this. In some cases, a sting or a bite is more severe and requires medical care. I’m grateful that was not the case for me.

These two lounging chairs provide a private seating area for guests sharing the house with others.

This morning, we’re situated on the second-floor veranda at the African Reunion House. It’s raining too hard to sit on the first-floor veranda with all of our power cords. Up here, it’s comfortable and dry. 

We’ve yet to use this upper-level living room. We’ve discovered that living rooms in general are not important to most African homeowners when they build a house. They prefer to spend most of their free time outdoors experiencing nature, rather than indoors watching TV or playing video games.

They’ll be no visitors today. They too, prefer to be sheltered from the rain. This is the one place we’ve visited in the world thus far that we welcome the rain which is vital to growing more abundant vegetation for the animals. Also, the clouds and rain create a welcomed coolness compared to the usual sunny and humid heat typical in Africa’s summer months. 

A renowned local artist painted this picture for Louise and Danie, specifically for this house.

All that I say here is moot, based on my aching heart, knowing that in 15 days we’ll be leaving. No, I won’t miss the snakes and poisonous insects. But, they are such a small part of life in Marloth Park. 

This was the second piece of art painted by the renowned local artist.
As we written over the past two and a half months, life here feels comparable to having an “E” ticket to Disneyland (for those of us who remember). The options for thrills and excitement are endless. One only needs to glance around to find an interesting “attraction” to fill the heart with joy, curiosity, and wonder.
This handcrafted art piece is more beautiful in person, in its many details.

Hunkered down for the day, we are hopeful that tomorrow will be dry by late afternoon for our upcoming final game drive and bush braai in Kruger National Park neither of which are fruitful in the pouring rain.

The male version of the above artwork, equally appealing to the eye.

May your day be filled with joy, curiosity, and wonder as you embrace your surroundings, however cold, hot, snowy, or rainy as we attempt to do the same in ours.

It pays to go outside early in the morning…

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This mom was looking out for her baby to the right as we watched from the road in front of African Reunion House early this morning.

It was 5:45 am and after our another great night’s sleep at African Reunion House, we were both awake and ready to get outdoors. The sun was up, the sounds of the birds wafted through the air, and nature was calling to us.

Shaded by dense vegetation and early morning sun hidden behind the trees, we weren’t able to get closer for better shots. Plus, giraffes are so tall, one can’t get too close in order to get a good photo.

I was in the other bedroom where I shower and dress to hear Tom yell out to me, “Giraffes! Hurry!”

This is the surprise room set among the treetops in African Reunion House, a fully screened Jacuzzi room on the second level. The temperature in this room is surprisingly about 20% less than the outdoor temperature. The surprise room is located off one of the two upstairs bedrooms, shown in the photos below.
One can imagine the charm of a glass of wine, the candles lit, surrounded by the sounds of nature while soaking in the relaxation of the whirling jets of warm water. Hum…seems like this may be a perfect end to Valentine’s night after the game drive and bush braai!

“Grab the camera!” I yelled back as I hurriedly threw on shorts and shoes, still in my sleep tee shirt. We were out the door in less than a minute.

One of the two upstairs bedrooms, this is the room off of which the surprise room is located which also includes an en suite bathroom with a double shower.

Tom was standing in the doorway between the house and the veranda checking out the status of the tree frog, still hanging out on a beam in the ceiling. He looked out toward the road to see a tail and tall legs.

This beautiful “nguni,” cow rug sets the theme of the room.

Running out the front door, we gasped when we saw them, four of them, nibbling on the treetops, on the road outside the house. We never cease to be amazed nor do the residents we’ve met in Marloth Park. No matter how long they’ve lived here they never stop feeling their hearts pound with excitement when they see the majestic giraffes, especially in their neighborhood.

Another view of that exquisite bedroom off of the surprise room upstairs.  The décor is lovely. Notice the matching vanity seat on the left under the built-in vanity table and the items on the bed.  An elegant African theme followed through the entire house.

And this morning we were given the treat to see them at African Reunion House reminding us when we first arrived at the little house that 12 giraffes came down the driveway to visit. Click here for the link. It was December 14th, two weeks after we’d arrived in Marloth Park, a day we’ll always remember. And four of them came another time. And one came alone racing through the yard on a mission.

Only Danie would think of placing a spigot inside of a tree.  Clever! Befitting!

This morning, although not as close as our past experiences, the excitement was palpable, our sensible caution, preventing us from getting too close, as we carefully approached the four giraffes this morning. Giraffes are gentle by nature but their sheer size can result in serious injury or in the case of a resident in Marloth park some time ago, death from an injury from getting too close.

The second late afternoon visit in a row, Mrs. Warthog was as happy to see us as we were her and her four babies.

They knew we were there as the mom kept a watchful eye on us as the baby stood nearby. After a few photos, they began to wander away, as did we. Our day was complete and it was only 6:30 am.  We’d seen giraffes.  What more could we want? 

With leftover cut-up fruit from yesterday’s breakfast with guests, the warthog family was thrilled to get fresh fruit which they eat off of the trees and bushes as they wander through Marloth Park. We’d removed all the pits from the apples, plums, nectarines, pears, and apricots.  The only fruit they didn’t eat was apricots which in the shrink-wrapped package I’d purchased at the grocery store, turned out not to be ripe. They’d take a bite only to spit it out.

We’ll take whatever comes our way, whether it be a tree frog as the same one from yesterday continues to observe us from the rafters, an unusual insect, a bird, a dung beetle, a warthog, or a zebra. We’ve loved them all!  Big and small.

See the slice of unripe apricot they refused to eat?  Mom and one baby were looking at us for more fruit that they would eat. We complied. How could we resist?

Tasks for today? A trip with Okee Dokee to pick up a few items at the little house and to the handy little nearby shopping center to buy beer for Tom. With Jabula closed while Dawn and Leon are on vacation in Cape Town, we’ve been making dinner. Once they return on the 18th, we’ll be anxious to return a few more times for the great food and festivities.

As for Valentine’s Day, around 4:00 pm, we plan to go on another four-hour guided game drive and nighttime bush braai in Kruger National Park all cooked and hosted by Louise and Danie. Dining amid the wildlife, once again, we’ll feel safe with armed guards (with rifles) ensuring our safety. The food, always delicious will include many items I can enjoy. What could be more romantic than being entrenched in nature with the person we love? Nothing. Absolutely nothing!

Guests for breakfast at African Reunion House…Visitors in the bush…What more could we want?.

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Yesterday, late afternoon, we had our first visitors to African Reunion House.  “They” say the number of visitors increases the longer humans stay at a house in Marloth Park. 

We sat at the end of the table and the seat to the left to allow our guests a great view of the pool and the bush.

Much to our delight, a warthog family of four stopped by, not a family that we recognized, although the little house is only a few short blocks away. It is easy to identify the moms and babies when they each have their own distinct features, as humans.

The bedroom we chose to use at African Reunion House on the main floor overlooking the veranda.

They visited only seconds after Okee Dokee stopped by to drop off a flash drive that she had purchased for me in the town of Malelane, for me to use to make Windows 8.1 reboot set for this new computer which I had yet to do. Not wanting to carry four discs with us as we travel, a flash drive was a more sensible option. 

The king-sized bed has provided a great night’s sleep for both of us. The comfortable mattress, bedding, size, and coolness of the room have been highly instrumental in uninterrupted sleep.

When she and I shopped yesterday morning in Komatipoort, we stopped in an office supply store to discover they didn’t carry anything over 8G. I’d decided we’d buy one to be included in our next supply order to be shipped to Morocco shortly after we arrive.

The addition of this zebra backside only adds to the gorgeous décor in not only this bedroom but is carried throughout the entire house.

Lo and behold, Okee Dokee, who originally was suggested to us by Louise and Danie, never ceases to amaze us, called me from a computer shop while out and about, asking if I wanted her to purchase it. Unreal. A few hours later she appeared at the door, 32G flash drive in hand.  Reimbursing her promptly, she stayed for a while for a much deserved cold drink. 

This soaking tub is located in the bedroom we chose.  It’s unlikely I will use it when there’s a special Jacuzzi room upstairs that is outrageously appealing.  Tomorrow, we’ll post photos of that special area.

We’re lucky to have met such wonderful people in Marloth Park. And, as we sit here now overlooking the lush greenery of the bush, our breakfast guests having left for Kruger National Park in the afternoon, we are once again reminded of how fortunate we have been to have the opportunity to enjoy new friends and, another luxury home.

I chose this bedroom for showering and dressing in the mornings to avoid waking Tom, who usually stays up an hour later than I and sleeps in a little longer in the mornings. This beautiful bedroom has an en suite bathroom with a double shower.

Entertaining guests in African Reunion House was seamless with all the amenities for setting a lovely table and cooking a great breakfast. 

The formal dining room off of the kitchen, seats eight.  Dining outdoors each night its doubtful we’ll dine at this table. Instead, we’ve used it for my now-defunct laptop as shown. 

Ken had recently gone gluten-free making it easy and familiar to make an entirely gluten-free meal consisting of GF Coconut Flour Pancakes (click for link to the recipe we posted some time ago), scrambled eggs with cheese and onions, bacon (referred to as “streaky bacon” in South Africa), orange juice and fresh fruit. 

This tree frog on the rafters on the veranda has been watching us all day, occasionally sticking out his tongue in a feeble attempt to grasp a flying insect.  We laughed at how he has his front legs tucked under himself.
 Of course, I don’t drink juice or eat fruit due to the low carb aspect of my way of eating. It had been a long time since we’d cooked breakfast which turned out to be a very pleasurable meal, added to the enjoyment of the companionship of our guests.
Local art is highlighted throughout African Reunion House.

Ah, the simple things in life hold so much more meaning to us now than they ever in the past. 

The work of a local artist is a fine addition to the dining area.

And even then, we found great pleasure in the gathering of family and friends. I suppose the difference now is based on how little we take for granted in this life; the kindness of a friend or a stranger, a thoughtful gesture, four linen napkins delivered by Louise, and the peaceful beauty of this new environment, now our third house in Marloth Park.

Danie handcrafted the bar and the bar stools. Both Louise and Danie are creative and artistic.
African Reunion House is difficult to compare to Khaya Umdani. They each possess their own unique features and appeal. Would we choose one over the other? As difficult it was for us to choose which bedroom we’d sleep in, it would be impossible to decide which of the two houses we’d select. As a tourist, the only necessary consideration would be sleeping capacity. 
The door free cabinets makes finding items in the kitchen easy.

While Khaya Umdani can sleep eight to ten guests, African Reunion House can accommodate eight guests, each with two guests per bedroom. For us, both houses have been perfect. We love the spacious feeling, although we tend to use only the bedrooms, kitchen, and verandas.

We feel as if we are on vacation/holiday until we return to the little house containing the rest of our belongings, and to begin packing to leave Marloth Park in a mere 17 days. How did three months pass so quickly?

As “they” say, “Time flies when you’re having fun!”

Tomorrow, we’ll be back with more photos including the “surprise room” upstairs and more wildlife photos as we begin to wind down our time in Marloth Park.

African Reunion…Our new home for now…A new “Vigil for Visitors”…A huge Spider, the Golden Orb…

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African Reunion House, named after the island off the coast, is considerably larger than it appears in this photo with four bedrooms, five bathrooms, two huge verandas, a Jacuzzi room, open kitchen with dining bar, over-sized dining room and inviting entertainment/TV/living room/lounge. 

Yesterday, our only challenge once we’d moved into the African Reunion House, was which bedroom we’d choose. After nearly a half hour of walking up and down the stairs to the second level and back and forth on the main floor, we looked at each other contemplating our dilemma.

Tom, doing his usual power lounging on the “new” veranda at African Reunion House, another temporary house we’re enjoying in Marloth Park.

“You know what, Honey?” I said, grinning from ear to ear.  “Look at us. Our biggest problem is which bedroom to choose.” We burst into laughter.

The stone braai area, conveniently located to the house and pool.

At that point, we quickly made a decision. We’d choose the two bedrooms on the main floor, the one overlooking the pool for me to use for showering and dressing for the day and the other for sleeping. 

The infinity-edge pool is cool, clean, and refreshing. We took our first dip today.

This way, I wouldn’t awaken Tom in the mornings when I usually get out of bed before him. We’ve made this type of arrangement in most of the houses in which we’ve lived in the past 16 months. This plan has served us well.

Today, we had a chance to soak up a little sun after the dip.  No wonder I’m behind on posting today.  I was goofing off!

Moving was relatively easy with Zeff and Okee Dokee helping on both ends. An hour after arriving at the African Reunion House, we were fully unpacked and organized, in awe of the ample supplies and storage areas at our disposal.

This wall of various size and shape twigs and branches provides a privacy wall at night simply by flipping a light switch that magically creates full blocking of the veranda.

Louise and Danie stopped by later in the day to check on us, although it was totally unnecessary. Their thoughtfulness and consideration for our well being are outrageous. 

The view from the main floor veranda provides an excellent sweep of the yard as one searches for visitors.

Louise, bless her heart, had brought along four beautiful white linen napkins knowing that we were entertaining Linda and Ken for breakfast on Tuesday morning. Apparently, she’d read our recent post about how in our old lives, I’d always used linen napkins when entertaining and for ourselves when dining alone. 

Danie handcrafted this wood door. Not only is he a highly talented designer and builder, but, he also excels in the fine art of woodworking. 

There are no words suitable to describe the quality of service and attention to detail that these two over-the-top hosts provide on all of their properties. One hardly needs to ask. They pick up tidbits in conversation and respond to them quickly with the utmost of consideration. We’ve never felt so pampered in our lives.

Yesterday afternoon, while riding with Okee Dokee and Zeff, both of whom helped us move from Khaya Umdani to African Reunion House, we spotted this giraffe along the road. We tried to entice her to stop munching and pick up her head for a good photo.

And, this same personal service they offer is evident in the meticulously stocked, designed, decorated, and maintained houses they own and manage. If one were expecting perfection, they’d be totally fulfilled. If one expects less than perfection, they’d be surprised and in awe, as we have been long before we arrived, by the prompt and complete answers they provided for all of my annoying and seemingly endless questions.

This was the best photo we could get from her.  That must have been one tasty tree.

African Reunion House, although different from Khaya Umdani, offers similar quality design, decor and construction. With four bedrooms, each with an en suite bathroom as well as a fifth half bathroom on the main floor, two are located on the main floor, one of which is fully handicap assessable with a “roll in” shower and extra-wide doorways, the room we finally chose for sleeping. The bed, the pillows, and the covers were exquisitely comfortable. 

A few hours before leaving Khaya Umdani on Sunday, our friends Linda and Ken stopped for a visit. Earlier, I’d noticed this spider when I walked through its web. Ken captured this excellent photo, identifying it as the Golden Orb, which is non-poisonous.  As far as Spiders go, what a beauty!  As far as photos go, what a beauty!

One of the many enticing aspects to this home is the “outdoor” fully screened Jacuzzi tub off of one of the two bedrooms in the second-floor suite which also includes an inviting living/TV/entertainment room. 

Coincidentally, today, when OKee Dokee and I stopped at the little house for supplies she spotted this Golden Orb, hanging over the pool. My camera can’t do as good a job as Ken’s. But, I was thrilled to get this shot showing a smaller spider caught in the web.

There would be no disappointment by a group of four couples deciding on which of the four bedrooms to select. Each of the bedrooms and the other rooms in this fine home has its own special charm and amenities.

We’d planned to dine out last night, but decided to cook instead. The fully equipped kitchen was calling to me.  I couldn’t wait to chop and dice in the open space overlooking yet another tastefully decorated dining room with seating for eight. Also, eight can be served on the veranda at the comfortable handcrafted wood table and wicker chairs.

Last night, not only did we dine at that spacious table on the main floor veranda (there’s an additional veranda on the second level), but we stayed outdoors until after 11:00 PM, looking and listening to the nighttime sounds of Marloth Park, now so familiar and music to our ears.

After an excellent night’s sleep, we couldn’t wait to wander outdoors to begin the new “Vigil for Visitors” which without a doubt, will prove to be rewarding, as will be our stay for however long, in the enchanting African Reunion House.

Today, shopping was on the agenda resulting in another trip to Komatipoort for groceries, more data at the Vodacom store, the chemist to pick up Tom’s vitamin B6, which we’d ordered last week, a stop at Credence Clearwater for more bottled water, and a quick trip to the little house for more of our stuff. Leaving at 10:00 am with Okee Dokee, we didn’t return until after 12:00 pm which put me behind on posting today. 

For the early birds out there not seeing our post this morning, we apologize for the delay. Tomorrow, we’ll be back on track posting in the morning with lots more photos, South Africa time, of course.

Happy day to all.