Next trip planned for visa 90-day visa stamp…Off to Kruger to see old friends…

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Mongooses stay close to one another, often seen grooming and cuddling one another.

“Sighting of the Day in The Bush”

We love all the wildlife in Marloth and Kruger Parks, but baboons are our least favorite. They are intelligent and destructive, as are the Vervet monkeys mentioned in yesterday’s post that entered our house. Baboons are much more robust and larger than Vervet monkeys.

Today’s post will be done quickly! At 9:00 am, we’re taking off for Kruger National Park to meet up with friends Cathi and Rick from Kauai, Hawaii. This will be the first time we’ll see them since early 2015 when we spent four months on the island making new friends over the extended period, many of whom we’ve stayed in close touch with.

Waterbucks are often found along the Crocodile River, frequently accompanied by a cattle egret who feeds off their “leftovers.”

Our original plan was to meet Cathi and Rick in Lower Sabie at noon, but we received a message last night asking if we could make it by 11:00 am instead. As usual, getting up early, I felt determined to get today’s post done and uploaded before leaving at 9:00 am. 

As of this writing, I have about one hour to rush through and get it done. If you spot errors, please bear with us. We’ll correct them upon our return later in the day. 

One of our most frequent visitors is the bushbuck, more often females than males. The females, without antlers, are gentle and graceful. It has been reported that male bushbucks can attack hunters when provoked and cause severe injury or death.

One may ask, “Why not do the post when we return?” This makes sense, but we don’t expect to return until 4:00 pm or so, and at that point, we’ll have to make dinner and set up the veranda for  our usual “night-time watching.” 

Neither of us likes to rush. We’re always the early birds. Our friends Kathy and Don asked, “Why are you always the first ones to arrive?”

Male bushbucks are cautious around humans and seldom relax in our presence.  This particular male feels comfortable that we aren’t seen as a threat and often lounges in the yard.

The answer to this question easily falls into our continuing plan of avoiding stress in our lives of world travel. Rushing last minute creates stress. As a result, we make every effort, regardless of the circumstances, to either being right on time or a few minutes early, when possible.

Often, we arrive at airports a half-hour before necessary, which is an environment that can be wrought with stress and frustration. We’d rather quietly wait for an event to begin than be rushing, under stress, to get out the door. We’d instead grab a beverage at a Wi-Fi restaurant and relax waiting for our flight than staring at the clock, worrying we won’t be on time.

A wildebeest is a rare visitor to our yard. 

Speaking of airports, on Friday, we paid for and booked our next trip out of South Africa on August 16th, the last day of our 90-day visa, which we’ll need to renew to stay in South Africa.

As explained in prior posts, South Africa doesn’t allow foreigners to visit any surrounding countries to re-enter for a new visa stamp. It’s vague in the law if even leaving for a non-bordering country entitles a visitor to re-enter for a unique 90-day visa (for some passports, not all). 

The recent full moon.

A few weeks ago, we found we were able to re-enter immigration at the airport in Nelspruit for a new 90-day visa when we’d gone to Zambia for multiple tours (Victoria Falls, Chobe, Zambezi River) for a period of one week.

If we’d gone to another country requiring going through immigration in Johannesburg, we might not have been allowed to re-enter. Our best bet was the small airport in Nelspruit, which only has one direct international route to Zambia…was our best bet. 

Hornbills spend considerable time visiting especially when they love spending time feeding on our bird feeder. It appears she has a seed in her mouth.

Based on our particular circumstances, we decided we’d have no choice but to return to Zambia to fly out of and back into Nelspruit Mpumalanga Kruger Airport. We’ve accepted this reality along with the cost necessary for yet another similar trip.

We’re leaving on August 16th and returning on August 23rd. We got a  great deal on a package with Expedia on our site for a total cost of the roundtrip flight for both of us, including a week-long stay at the same hotel (which we found to be quite good) for a total of ZAR 21,946 (US $1680), less than we paid last time.

What will we do again in Zambia? More tours. When we only spent the morning in Chobe National Park, we were sorely disappointed when the safari ended. We longed to see more. This will be our opportunity to return to this special place which over 30,000 elephants make their home.

The mating season continues.  Warthogs hang around with females and their offspring with high hopes.  The males make a train-like sound when they feel particularly amorous.

We’ll have no shortage of ways to stay busy when four countries come together at the Zambezi River in Zambia. We’ll plan everything once we arrive.

For now, we can sit back and relax and continue to enjoy our next few months until we have to figure this out one more time in November. In February, after the next 90 days, we’ll be off to Kenya, not needing a visa extension again.

With time moving on here, I need to wrap this up. Hopefully, tomorrow, we’ll have plenty of great photos to share from today’s self-drive through Kruger. Once again, we feel the anticipation and excitement of going into Kruger, especially when we have the opportunity to see old friends.

Have a fantastic day! 

Photo from one year ago today, June 10, 2017:

One year ago, tonight was Minnesota, “Meet & Greet,” where we had an opportunity to meet some of our Minnesota readers and other friends. It was a great night.  For that post: “Marie and Bill started following us at the beginning of our posts which started in March 2012. It was Marie who inspired the fabulous idea of the “Meet & Greet.” Thanks, Marie and Bill!  It was wonderful to meet you in person at long last and fun to meet another couple who are “glued at the hip” like us!” For more photos from the event, please click here.

Yikes!!!…Monkey in the house!!!…Quite a sighting on the river…A meaty mishap…

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Water spouted out of his mouth after he took a big gulp of water.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

An appropriately named Fish Eagle stood to watch over his “catch of the day.”

Each day brings new excitement. Whether it’s the sighting of a new bird, beast, or blooming flower, not a single day passes without one form of adventure or another. It becomes a matter of paying attention more than being lucky. There’s never a shortage of opportunities.

We’re always hoping to have the camera on hand for such occurrences, but sometimes something happens so quickly a photo isn’t possible. This morning was exactly that case.

Last night, while viewing the Crocodile River in Kruger National Park from Serena Oasis, aka Amazing River View, we noticed this solitary giraffe approaching the water.

Tom was outdoors and noticed many Vervet monkeys trying to get seeds out of the bird feeder. When this occurs, he often takes the bird feeder down from the tree, which requires the use of a long pole we keep close to the front door. He did precisely that while alerting me to the monkey’s presence.

I was busy indoors, chopping vegetables for wildlife and to roast for tonight’s dinner. While he was busy in the yard, a monkey ran into the house, onto the kitchen bar stools, perused what was available and countertop, and snatched an apple in a literal second in time. There wasn’t enough time with my wild response to grab anything more.

And respond, I did!  I screamed at the monkey to “Get out!” while yelling at Tom, “Monkey in the house!” There was nothing he could have done that I wasn’t doing, chase the darn thing back outdoors.

Several times, he bent down, preparing to take a drink but hesitated, standing and looking around.

This all transpired in literally 20 seconds or less. Of course, my first thought, once the monkey was back outside, was, “Darn, I wish I could have taken a photo!” 

Generally, while preparing food, I don’t plan for photo ops and didn’t have the camera beside me on the wet granite countertop. But, when I’m not in the kitchen or bedroom, it’s always within a second’s reach. Oh, well, this time, we can only tell, not show, what happened.

We prefer to keep the door to the house open, and while we’re on the veranda, generally, the monkey won’t approach the house. This unique and isolated case of circumstances is just right for the monkey and is not so suitable for us.

Giraffes are vulnerable when they slowly bend to drink when predators such as lions, cheetahs, leopards, and crocodiles attack.

Many people are fascinated with Vervet monkeys and baboons. However, as we’ve mentioned in the past, they are highly destructive and can tear a house apart in a matter of minutes. That’s why most of the houses in Marloth Park have some type of protection over their windows, not necessary screens (which are seldom seen on windows in Africa) but bars and other protective materials.

With my heart pounding, I retold the incident to Tom, and we both chuckled, grateful nothing was damaged and intrigued by this first experience. Luckily, we were out only one apple for the “other” wildlife. We’d never had a monkey in the house. Such an oddity. Have you?

As for last night, we had a farewell dinner with Kathy and Don. They’re on their way to Pretoria on Sunday but fortunately are returning in about three weeks.  We have such fun with these two fine people, and last night couldn’t have been more perfect.

He didn’t stay down for more than a few seconds, fearful of his vulnerability.

We met shortly before five at Serene Oasis, a bar/restaurant located in a local park with outstanding river views from their veranda. They don’t allow visitors to sit and watch unless they purchase a beverage and food. We’d decided to have “sundowners” there and once the sun was set, head to Jabula for the best food in Marloth Park.

It proved to be a perfect plan, after all. Not only did we capture many of today’s photos, but we had a fabulous time sitting outdoors yakking up a storm while enjoying nature at its finest.

Carefully bending his knees, he gracefully dipped for the first drink.

When darkness fell, we drove to Jabula for a delightful evening with great food and again conversation. Dawn, the owner (with husband Leon) her assistant, Lyn, always welcomes us with hugs and kisses and the land’s most satisfactory service and food. 

Now, on to the “meaty mishap.” It goes like this…on Thursday, we grocery shopped, ending up at the butcher when we were done at Spar. We purchased ZAR 798 (US $60.40) in meats, from chicken breasts, beef mince, pork tenderloins, to bacon.

Another quick sip…

Twenty-five minutes after leaving the butchery on Thursday, we were back home putting everything away.  We hadn’t used the little car for 26 hours since purchasing the meat when we left yesterday at 4:30 pm to meet up with Kathy and Don.

Upon getting our seatbelts on, I asked Tom, “What’s that bag in the back seat?”  He turned around and touched the bag.

This morning I was cutting vegetables for roasting when the Vervet monkey entered the house. There were two apples near this pan. He took one of them.

“Oh, no!” he exclaimed, “That’s the bag of meat!”  He had a pained look on his face. “Yesterday, I put it in the back seat, not the trunk, which was already full.  Then, when I brought everything inside the house, I forgot about the bag in the back seat.”

Since we both avoid “blaming” in such situations, my thoughts revolved around trying to make him feel better and not beat himself up. It could have been a lot worse. In the realm of things, it’s no big deal. Sure, no one wants to be out the money, and it’s only a minor “hit” and not worth stress or frustration.

The monkey didn’t have time to grab any of these grape tomatoes I’d washed with me, shooing him outside while yelling all the while.

Soon, when we’re done here, we’ll head to the butcher store, another branch of the store in Komatipoort, and re-purchase the items we lost. We found a dumpster and unloaded them before we entered the restaurant for fear the smell might attract wild animals while we were at dinner. 

Tomorrow morning, we’ll be posting but doing so earlier than usual. We have an exhilarating day planned. We’re meeting up with friends Cathi and Rick in Kruger National Park, whom we met in Kauai, Hawaii, in 2015. (We’ve booked another trip and will share details). 

This big bowl of vegetables, for the wildlife, also caught the monkey’s eye, but he opted for the big apple as I shooed him outside. 

Avid photo safari enthusiasts, having been to South Africa in the past, we thought it would be fun to meet up in Kruger rather than some other location. They have other friends with them. Otherwise, they’d have stayed with us for a few days.  But, seeing them for lunch tomorrow in Kruger will be such fun.

If we leave by 10 am and take our time driving in Kruger, we’ll easily contact our prearranged destination in Lower Sabie, where there’s a popular restaurant. It will be excellent for all of us to be driving through the park seeing wildlife on our way to our get-together.

On Monday, we’ll report back with photos and details!

Have a fabulous weekend!

Photo from one year ago today, June 9, 2017:

Perfect pink orchids at Butchart Gardens in Victoria, British Columbia. For more photos, please click here.

Cool, cool, cool!!!…Tom’s new laptop…

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A leisurely drive in the park resulted in spotting these giraffes.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

We observed nature taking its course when we spotted this dead impala in the bush.

It was so cool we stayed inside the house this morning. At 7:00 am, the temperature on the outside thermometer showed 8C, 46.4F, a little too cool for us to be sitting outdoors. It’s warmed up wonderfully in the past few hours, but we’re just not used to these cold mornings.

“Big Daddy” nibbling on leaves.

Last night, we managed to dine outdoors, but we had no choice but to go inside as the evening wore on. On June 21st, winter will begin in this part of the world. 

When we were here four years ago, from December 1st to February 28th, it was in the heat of summer for most of our stay. Summer starts on December 21st, and it was hot, hot, hot during those three months. 

We recall sitting on the veranda all day wearing the least amount of clothing possible with all exposed skin covered in repellent protection from the mosquitoes. At night, we were forced indoors due to the mosquitos.

Pretty female kudu in the bush.

Of course, we’re a little tougher now, and when summer comes round again in December, we’ll be more prepared for the heat and equally more resilient with the mozzies and other insects that the summer months bring to this part of the world. 

In February, we’ll fly to Kenya for the exciting photography tour, after which we’ll be leaving Africa until we return by cruise 21 months later for a short three-month stay during which it will be spring and summer again. 

Elephant spotted from the Marloth Park side of the fence between the park and Kruger.

Yesterday, Tom dropped me off at the Spar Shopping Centre in Komatipoort at a local women’s clothing shop while he headed to Lebombo to buy the usual carrots and apples. I had one credit card with me. No problem. The shop accepted credit cards.

I found three warm tops to get me through the cold season, handed the salesperson my credit card with a plan to walk to the supermarket and begin shopping. When Tom returned, he’d find me partially done with the grocery shopping. 

Parade of elephants leaving the river to head back into the bush in Kruger.

Alas, the credit card processing device indicated the “system was down” on their end. I waited no less than 20 minutes while they attempted to get back online to no avail. This is Africa, after all.  These things happen.

I left without my items with a plan to return when after grocery shopping. Tom had all the cash in his wallet. We hooked up in the market, and while Tom loaded the groceries into the car, I walked back to the shop but this time with sufficient cash to make the purchase.

View of the Crocodile River.

Determined to get the three items, one soft jacket and two sweaters, priced at only ZAR 606 (US $45.67), I didn’t mind walking the distance back to the store. Their machine still wasn’t working, and thus, I paid with cash, reassuring the staff, “no worries” since they both seemed so concerned for any inconvenience this may have caused. 

In no time at all, we’d returned to Marloth, put everything away, and settled in for the remainder of the day and evening. Earlier in the day, we’d decided to have Tom start using the new laptop we’d purchased for me last November. 

Crocodile River has many sandbars and small islands, creating a haven for birds and other wildlife.

We’d had it shipped to us in Florida while we were awaiting a cruise, with the intent that once my over-three-year-old laptop died, I wouldn’t have to worry about getting a replacement in a rush.

Alas, this laptop keeps chugging along without any major issues, so I postponed loading it with my files. Instead, I’ve continually backed up all my data on a cloud and our portable two terabytes external hard drive, which we purchased in 2012.

Eight female kudus stop by in the early evening.

When Tom started having problems with his laptop’s monitor about a month ago and after a trip to the tech store, we discovered there wasn’t a practical fix for the issue. Tom found a temporary workaround that failed Wednesday night.

Subsequently, we fired up the new laptop for Tom, and all is working well. Thank goodness we had the extra unit. Next time we place an order to be shipped here (we’re waiting for a box to arrive in the next few days), we’ll include another laptop for me.

At many points in Marloth Park, we can walk toward the fence to see the river.

Constant travel and heavy usage are hard on laptops. We’ve replaced them several times in this past almost six years. But, like many other aspects of world travel, one must adapt to the expenses, inconveniences, and realities of living this type of life.

Whether it’s the weather, technology failing in stores, insufficient and unsuitable clothing, or the shorter life of digital equipment, it’s all a part of the experience that we’ve learned to take in our stride.

We often see giraffes in groups, called a “tower” or “journey’ of giraffes.

Tonight at sunset, we’re meeting Kathy and Don at Amazing River View for sundowners and watching wildlife on the river. Once the sun sets, we’re all off to Jabula for dinner.  

They are leaving Marloth in a few days and may not be returning for several months. We’ll miss them along with many other friends who have left for a period of time. But, we’re fortunate to have other friends living here permanently or staying through the winter season, like us. There will be no shortage of social interaction!

Have a warm and blissful day!

Photo from one year ago today, June 8, 2017:

This scene from Butchart Gardens in Victoria, British Columbia, reminded us of Versailles in Paris. For more photos, please click here.

Returning our focus…Never forgetting what we’ve learned…

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Stunning mountains and Crocodile River view from our visit to Wild & Free Rehabilitation in Hectorspruit.
“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”
Blue-tailed skink lizard, one of many that hang around a Crocodile River overlook.

After our focus on the two stories about our visit to Wild & Free Rehabilitation and the posts regarding Bovine Tuberculosis, we’re still reeling over the hard facts and reality for wildlife victims of this dreadful disease.

Three girls stopped by to check out the pellet situation.

It’s not easy rolling back into our usual mode of the joys of life living in the bush, embracing every visitor that comes our way, both human and animal. But, as we promised, we’ll continue on the path of past posts, although occasionally, we may address more issues as they become relevant in our remaining time in Africa and all over the world in years to come.

Did our stories affect any change? We’re hoping change may come based on the number of people who read the stories on our site and Facebook, including several Marloth Park pages. 

Lots of elephants on the hill by the Crocodile River in Kruger, as seen from Marloth Park.

During our short remaining eight months in Africa, we may never know. Change doesn’t come easily for many, regardless of the circumstances. When people realize that certain habits are destructive for their health, well-being, and longevity and don’t make the necessary changes, it’s unlikely that charges will be made for wildlife.

Another scene of the Crocodile River from our visit to Wild & Free Rehabilitation in Hectorspruit.

In a way, it’s a part of the human condition. Most of us are not amenable to change. We find comfort in the usual, the status quo, the expected, and the familiar. In many ways, we’re just like animals here in Marloth Park and throughout the world. 

They, too, find comfort in the familiar, treading on some of the same paths, visiting the same favorite spots, only wandering away when food supplies or mating opportunities are diminishing in familiar territory.

Baby and mom bushbuck often stop by for a visit and always stand at the bottom of the steps to the veranda.

Yesterday, we had our cement pond emptied, cleaned, and refilled with fresh water and will continue to have this done weekly. No, we won’t stop tossing handfuls of pellets, carrots, and apples to the visiting wildlife. Throwing the pellets, fruit, and vegetables is certainly less harmful than feeding wildlife in unwashed bowls and troughs. 

None of us are perfect. We do the best we can. Let’s face it, people come to Marloth Park for the wildlife, for interacting with the wildlife, unlike anywhere else in the world.

Yep, finally, we were able to get a photo of four bushbabies on the small stand.  Now, we’re trying for five.

Recently, we asked our readers to tell us of any other place in the world like Marloth Park. We didn’t receive a single reply.  Without the wildlife, Marloth Park would be another lovely bush suburb with friendly people, lots of birds, and its fair share of insects and mozzies in the summer months.

We can only hope that awareness will ultimately have an impact.  Isn’t that the case with everything?  When do we see videos of a dying beached whale who swallowed 80 plastic bags from the garbage in our oceans? Who’s listening?  Who willingly and conscientiously will make a change?

Mating season. This kudu couple stops by together every few days.

There are factions of our world population who don’t care. We’ve seen this in many countries in which we’ve lived over the years.  We had chosen not to eat the local fish in many locations when the oceans were filled with sewage and garbage, and the beaches were challenging to navigate due to all of the trash and toxicity.

Oh, I could go on and on about environmental and conservation issues but, I’ve said my piece, and now we’re back to sharing the intricacies of our daily lives while living in Africa.

Ostrich was walking down the road when we went out for “sundowners” (drinks while watching the sunset), a popular undertaking here in South Africa.

Today, we’re off to Komatipoort for shopping. I need to purchase a heavy sweater or sweatshirt if I can find such a thing. The temperature is very cool now, 15C (59F) in the mornings and even cooler at night. During the daylight hours, it warms up considerably, and it’s pretty comfortable. We don’t want to be indoors for fear we’ll miss something extraordinary.

Those are some mighty big warts on Wart Face. Those by his tusks are so big, they droop.

And wonderful it is, and excellent it will continue to be. We’re grateful, eternally grateful, and without a doubt, humbled by the world around us.

And then, the sun began its final descent.

Thank you for continuing to sharing it all with us!

Photo from one year ago today, June 7, 2017:

As a part of the landscape at Butchart Gardens, this opening provided an exciting view for visitors. For more photos, please click here.

Part 2…An important message for residents and tourists in Marloth Park…

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This is a Bovine Tuberculosis-infected kudu we spotted only the day after being educated on this dreadful disease, mainly kudus in Marloth Park.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

Another view of an Egyptian goose (from yesterday’s post here) recovering from an amputated foot due to a severe injury. He’s recovering well and will soon take flight.

First, we must qualify today’s post with this important and heartfelt message: We are not wildlife experts in any manner, nor do we profess to be. The minuscule amount of education we’ve had on Bovine Tuberculosis has been gleaned from others and by reading online scientific reports from universities and veterinary medical resources. We do not intend to express opinions or engage in any controversial conservation issues of which there are many. Our intent is purely to report what we’ve heard, seen, and read about potential means to reduce the incidence of Bovine Tuberculosis here in Marloth Park and save these magnificent animals from extinction in this magical place.

From this scientific abstract at this site:

“Abstract
Five kudus (Tragelaphus strepsiceros), three bulls, and two cows within the Greater Kruger National Park complex were diagnosed with generalized tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium Bovis. The lesions seen in these animals were similar to those previously reported in kudus and included severe tuberculous lymphadenitis of the nodes of the head and neck (that resulted in noticeable uni- or bilateral swelling beneath the ear), thorax, and the mesentery. All the animals also suffered from severe granulomatous pneumonia. The lesions in the lungs were more severe cranially and had a miliary distribution elsewhere in the lungs. Based on the DNA patterns of the M. Bovis isolates, at least some of these kudus were infected with strains commonly present in tuberculous buffaloes, lions, cheetahs, and baboons in the Park. In contrast, other strains from these kudus were quite different and may reflect another source of infection. The presence of tuberculous kudus in the Park is expected to complicate control measures that may be instituted to contain or eradicate the disease in the Park.

Here is another scientific report to review:
https://repository.up.ac.za/bitstream/handle/2263/18952/35keet2001.pdf?sequence=1

When we took the above main photo of this kudu with Bovine Tuberculosis, we immediately contacted Evan with the Marloth Park Honorary Rangers to notify the rangers of this kudu with TB. Sadly, this infectious animal had to be euthanized.

Most likely, in contact with other kudus, many other kudus will have become infected through saliva and other bodily fluids. There is no known vaccine or treatment available to treat or cure Bovine Tuberculosis, a dreadful and painful condition affecting animals in Kruger National Park and here in Marloth Park.

According to local medical professionals, the kudu we spotted is only one isolated case of many already infected in the park. Eventually, the death toll could be staggering. Also, other wildlife carries the disease, which may or may not exhibit symptoms.

There’s no means, at this point, of eradicating TB other than removing all kudus from Marloth Park and starting over with an entirely new healthy generation of kudus. From our understanding, even newborn kudus from an infected mother will have the disease.

We look at all the beautiful kudus here in the park and can’t imagine many are sick. Perhaps, we all can take it upon ourselves to look for signs of TB in our visiting and grazing kudus throughout the park and immediately report the time and location of the sighting. 

Here are some of the more obvious indicators that we may be able to detect in visiting kudus:
1.  Tumors on the head, face, and neck
2.  Excessive salivation
3.  Curly hair on otherwise straight-haired antelope
4.   Sores on the hooves

Of course, we asked, “What can be done to abate the spread of this disease?  Is there anything homeowners, holiday renters, and property managers can do to reduce the risk?”

Although the disease cannot be eradicated by any of our efforts, it can be controlled to a degree by residents implementing the following steps:

1.  First and foremost, it is to stop feeding wildlife in troughs. This is the quickest way TB is contracted between infected and healthy animals. 
2.  Regularly and consistently clean out waterholes, remove all the water, wash the foundation in hot soapy water, rinsing thoroughly, and replacing with fresh, clean water. This should be done at least once a week. No doubt there are waterholes no one in particular controls, but the goal is to “reduce” the risk of infections, if at all possible.
3.  If you feed wildlife in bowls or other small containers, wash them daily with hot soapy water.
4.  Regularly and consistently wash bird feeders in the same manner as above.  As we all are aware, kudus will eat from bird feeders if they can reach them.

Currently, there is no surefire test for tuberculosis in kudu. Deidre of Wild & Free Rehabilitation and Dr. Dawid Rudolph is developing an accurate test for TB in kudu. Still, funding and research must be satisfied to accomplish this monumental feat.

Deidre Joubert-Huyse (no relation to the property owners) is a kind, dedicated and hardworking individual committed to rescuing and releasing injured and ill wildlife that fit within the guidelines of a safe future release. Her primary concern is tuberculosis in kudu while she continues to aid in the recovery of many wild animals at her facility in Hectorspruit. Deidre explained that she often has to make tough decisions but always with the animal’s best interests as a top priority. Her Facebook page is found here.

There are no easy answers here. And, with all the best intentions in the world, residents in Marloth Park can only do so much. The love of the majestic kudus and other wildlife in the park has become a way of life for many, not only from a caring and emotional place but also from the reality of generating interest in attracting tourists to holiday homes and small businesses located in the park.

We share this message today with a sense of sorrow. We hope that if all residents band together to aid in the reduction of the risks and spread of Bovine TB for the kudu and other wildlife, change may eventually come to fruition.

Yes, we know. We’re only here in Marloth Park for a short time, one year total, as a part of our continuing non-stop world travels, which is nothing compared to the many years most of you have cared for, loved, and nourished these fine animals. 

However, as outlined in yesterday’s and today’s stories, these current circumstances made us feel compelled to share this message and support your efforts, big and small, in effecting a change in reducing the potential for tuberculosis among the kudus (and other wildlife) in Marloth Park.

Photo from one year ago today, June 6, 2017:

Daphne Islet in Victoria, British Columbia. For more photos, please click here.

Part 1…An important message for residents and tourists in Marloth Park…

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One of two barn owls in an outdoor cage. Deidre released this own into the wild last night. Here is the video from the release.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

This is the more colorful male of the snake-eating peacocks, happily visiting Wild & Free Rehabilitation grounds.

We met Deidre Joubert-Huyse at “movie night in the bush” on February 25th, shortly after we’d arrived in Marloth Park, which was hosted as a fundraiser for Wild & Free Wildlife Rehabilitation. That post may be found here.

We were interested in the event and the intent of the rehab facility, with its focus on rescuing ill and injured wildlife in Marloth Park and surrounding areas. A few days after the event, we met with Lisa, one of Deidre’s assistants, who’d hosted the event at her home here in the park and who’d rescued several bushbabies with the plan to return them to the wild, which has since been accomplished. That post may be found here.

We drove through a beautiful orange grove to arrive at the Wild & Free Rescue, Rehabilitate, and Release facility in Hectorspruit, located about 30 minutes from Marloth Park.

When we think of rescue centers, we often recall visiting various rescue facilities we’ve seen throughout our world travels. Although many of these facilities rescued animals from rehabilitating and releasing them into the wild, many did so only to present them as “zoo” animals. The owners and managers would generate revenue from tourists. 

Although not accurate in many cases, this discovery has been disheartening over these past years of world travel.  We couldn’t avoid feeling that the animals were exploited by leading the public to believe the facility owners’ ultimate intentions were to aid in wildlife conservation when in fact, it was not.

Deidre Joubert Huyse, who developed and ran the rescue facility, met us at a local petrol station, and we followed her to the center. We’d had a hard time finding it without her assistance. For Wild & Free’s Facebook page, please click here.

Thus, when we attended “movie night in the bush” some months ago, we took it with a grain of salt. Was this another case of a few people who love animals, caring for them for their gain and altruistic reasons? How wrong we were! In this case, we loved being wrong!

As the months passed and we’ve become more knowledgeable about the health and well-being of wildlife in Marloth and Kruger National Park and, as we listened to endless conversations revolving around varying opinions on how wildlife health should be handled, Deidre’s name came up over and over again, always with the utmost of regard for her work, skill, and dedication.

We were impressed by the organization, cleanliness, and commitment evidenced in the facility.

Most recently, as mentioned in an earlier post that may be found here, we were inspired by Marloth Park Honorary Rangers Ushie and Evan to write a story on alien invasive plants that impact not only the park but also areas throughout the world.  That post may be found here.

After an orientation of the impact of alien invasive plants, Uschie and Evan gave us an entirely new perspective of plant life and wildlife, particularly here in Marloth Park. For us, it changed everything.

Wild & Free is supported through donations for the facility, medical care, and the feeding of the various wildlife rescued by Deidre and her staff.

Sure, it’s enticing and easy to get caught up in the magic of the visiting wildlife in the park and the “fun” of self-driving through Kruger National Park, sharing photos and receiving “oohs, aahs, and likes” from our worldwide readers when we post photos that appeal to their tastes.

But there’s so much more than that. And, with our vast local and worldwide audience, we are entrenched in the perfect arena to “get a message out” about the protection and preservation of that which surrounds us here in Marloth Park and throughout the world.

The ground surrounding Wild & Free is located on the Crocodile River at the ultimately most exquisite river view we’ve seen anywhere in the world, a perfect environment for rescuing and recovering wildlife by Deidre’s dedication and commitment.

No, we’re not going to become banner-wielding enthusiasts to distract us from the primary intent of our site, living as homeless nomads as we travel the world for as long as we physically can. Our daily posts encompassing the joys we derive from the wildlife we encounter and the scenery we behold will never change.

When Uschi and Evan explained the symptoms and horrors of bovine tuberculosis and how it’s impacting kudus in Marloth Park, we were both heartsick with this information. What could anyone do? Was there something we could do? This story over the next few days will explain everything.

Deidre had to amputate the foot of this Egyptian goose who suffered a severe injury after being tangled in a fishing line. It’s only been three weeks since his surgery, but he’s adapting well and will eventually be able to return to the wild.  For now, he happily stays on the grounds of the facility. 

We left their home with this bit of knowledge, unsure of where to take it from there.  Ironically, the next day, while on our usual almost-daily two-hour drive through the park searching for the unusual, we spotted a kudu with the obvious signs of tuberculosis on her face for the first time. These large bulbous tumors can manifest all over their bodies. (Photos we took of this kudu will follow in tomorrow’s post, Part 2).

Had we not met with Uschie and Evan the previous day, we’d have dismissed these tumor-like structures on her face as some congenital disability or physical anomaly. Instead, we forwarded the photos to Evan, and he reported it to the rangers, who’d have no choice but to find and euthanize the diseased kudu. Bovine TB is highly contagious to other kudus and wildlife (not necessarily spread to humans).

These two genets were soon to be released into the wild.  These two were at the facility due to the urbanization of their natural habitat, and they were separated from their mothers.

From there, in our discussions with others, Deidre’s name kept coming up along with the government vet, Dr. Dawid, who is working with Deidre in an attempt to discover ways to possibly control the spread of this life-taking disease among kudus (and potentially other animals as well) via adequate testing which is in its infancy.

So, here we are, especially after meeting with Deidre yesterday at her amazing facility in Hectorspruit, finding ourselves committed and dedicated to sharing this newfound information with those who may be able to play a role in saving lives of many kudus.

The scenery surrounding the rescue center is so astounding it took our breath away.  It bespeaks a “healing” environment.

Thanks to Deidre and all her hard work and unbridled dedication in aiding in the real and dedicated rescue and release of many species that surround us in magnificent South Africa and in her research and intent to impact Bovine TB. 

A special thanks to  MP Honorary Rangers Ushie and Evan for contributing their time to educating us on these critical issues in Marloth Park. We still have a lot to learn and will continue to seek information from those who teach us so much.

These peacocks are known to kill snakes with the utmost expertise and precision.  Each day, they hang around the rescue center, pecking off seeds and various treats they find on the grounds. These are the females.

Tomorrow, we’ll share how each can play a vital role in reducing the spread of this horrible disease affecting the gorgeous wildlife in Marloth Park. Please check back for more.

Wild & Free Rehabilitation may be reached here for donations.

Photo from one year ago today, June 5, 2017:

Buildings on the grounds of the Butchart’s Gardens. For more photos, please click here.

OMG!…It doesn’t get any better than this!…Quite a “Sighting of the Day in the Bush!”…

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Soon, there were nine until the tenth arrived.  At this point, the three warthogs were on the scene, a mom, an auntie, and a tiny baby.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

Today’s sighting of the day in the bush couldn’t be more befitting of what life is like in Marloth Park. Please check out this video when ten zebras, three warthogs, and two kudus came to call.

There are fewer visitors over the weekends when tourists flock to Marloth Park, staying in holiday homes or one of many lodges in the park. They too feed the wildlife that visits their surroundings, and often with the extra cars and added weekend noise, many of the nature take cover and don’t come around as much.

They don’t waste any time letting us know they’d like some pellets.

Usually, by Monday or Tuesday morning, we begin seeing them again. Besides humankind, on both Saturday and Sunday, that’s not to say we don’t have visitors over the weekend. Many animals visit us on weekends, just not as many as during the weekdays.

We tossed out a few handfuls, and they were all over it.

Based on the fact we spend 14 to 15 hours a day on the veranda, less our almost daily drives in the park, visits to Kruger (upcoming again this week), trips into town for shopping and appointments. Time spent socializing. The wildlife has come to realize. We’re an easy mark for pellets, apples, and carrots most of the time.

In a matter of moments, more zebras arrived in the yard.  Check out the young one in the back center of the photo.

On a day like today, we’ll be gone from 12:30 to 7:00 pm for two planned events, both of which we’ll share with photos in tomorrow’s post. Our dinners are already prepared, ready to be reheated, and by 7:15 this evening, we’ll be back on the veranda prepared to begin “watching and waiting” once again.

This zebra came up to the veranda, licked my bare toe to let me know she wanted more.  I complied, cutting up several apples for her and the others.

For us, avid wildlife observers and prominent commentators in one form or another, we never seem to become bored with this interminable hobby that is a way of life as we live in what we’ll always refer to as “this magical place.”

Their stiff upright manes are an indicator of good health.

We’d love to hear if any of our readers have been to or heard of such a place anywhere on this earth, where one could live for a few months at a time, socializing with beautiful people and embracing daily life surrounding by visiting wildlife.

There was plenty of kicking taking place as they competed for the pellets and apples.

If you know of such a place, please let us know. We’ll want to go there! But, as the well-traveled residents of Marloth Park always say, “There is no place on earth quite like this place.”

The three warthogs held their ground, refusing to let the feisty zebras intimidate them. Tom made sure to toss plenty of pellets toward them.

Sure, many locations throughout the world offer sightings of bears, moose, antelope, whales, endless varieties of birds, farm animals, and on and on. But, as we perused this world so far (not even the “tip of the iceberg” so far), we haven’t encountered anything comparable to Marloth Park.

The youngest of the dazzle of zebras (yep, dazzle) got in on the action without hesitation.

In a way, it reminds me of when I was a child, and we visited Disneyland, only about 35 minutes (much longer now with more traffic) from where I grew up in Long Beach, California. There was one exciting moment after another, and as a kid, it was easy to feel I’d never get enough.

The cement pond is a favorite spot from which to drink after eating the dry pellets.

And, although this place isn’t “manufactured or artificial” (except for the homes, lodges, and few shops), this wildlife environment was here long before the people. For me, it feels like Disneyland every day, one wonder after another.

The young zebra rarely moved from the others to allow for a good photo.

For Tom, who’s a little more reserved in his outward display of enthusiasm, he too is caught up in the wonder of it all, especially when a few days ago, he was responsible for discovering and booking the upcoming cruise back to Africa in November/December 2020. Click here for the details if you missed the post describing that cruise.

Tom mentioned these three had been by earlier in the morning while I was getting dressed. I was thrilled to see them return to check out the little one.

On February 11, 2018, coming back here this time was a gift from Tom for my 70th birthday on February 20th, knowing how anxious I was to return. But, now returning in 2020 is not only for me. He, too, is fully engaged and loving the life we live here.

Two female kudus came prancing into the yard to check out the activity. When the zebras wouldn’t allow them in on the pellets, they left.  No doubt, they’ll return later.

No, we won’t eventually move here as many have asked. We have no plans to permanently “live” anywhere. Nor will we stay so long next time. We’ll stay the 90 days allowed by a South African visa and be on our way. 

This time, we wanted to see Victoria Falls on both sides from Zambia and Zimbabwe, safari in Chobe National Park, the Chobe River and, cruise on the Zambezi River. Mission accomplished.  

When we book plans for our next 90-day required exit in August, we’ll share all the details at the time of booking and while we’re on that next adventure. However, we don’t need to travel from Marloth Park, South Africa, for an experience. 

The kudus left, deciding a few pellets weren’t worth a kick from a zebra.

We need only open the giant wooden doors to our lovely holiday bush home on a morning like this to behold a scene such as this morning’s and, the adventure has just begun.

Thank you to all of our readers for sharing this particular time with us. All of you have given us such purpose as we document all of these magical moments. Without YOU, we may have smiled, laughed, and taken a few photos along the way. 

With YOU, it’s immemorial, as we feel dedicated and determined to document this life we lead 365 days a year.

Have a pleasant Monday!

Photo from one year ago today, June 4, 2017:

As we continued to have quality time in Minnesota with family and friends, we added more photos of Butchart Gardens in Victoria, British Columbia.  We didn’t want those we love to feel every get-together was a photo op posted online. For more garden photos, please click here.

Pizza night in the bush…Finding ingredients isn’t easy…

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We were thrilled to have spotted these elephants on the Crocodile River from the Marloth Park side of the fence separating us from Kruger.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

Our goal is to take a photo of increasing numbers of bushbabies on the platform at night as they gently share the little cup of yogurt.  We’ve seen as many as a dozen flying through the trees, and this photo of four on the platform is our record so far. We’ll continue to try for more.

As much as dinner guests enjoy eating traditional South Africa food, we’ve found our guests like experiencing something new and different. As a result of most of our dinner parties, we tend to make more traditional American dishes. 

Last night’s guests of Kathy, Don, Linda, and Ken especially found the prospect of eating Americanized pizza appealing. Although we still made it low carb, grain, sugar, and starch free, we made our usual pizzas with a bit of a twist which including three pizzas:

We counted 30 to 35 elephants.

1.  Sausage, mushrooms, olives, onions, and cheese – Tom’s favorite
2.  Pepperoni, mushroom, onions, olives, and cheese
3.  Chicken Thai pizza, a copycat recipe from California Pizza Kitchen, a favorite of mine and Kathy’s.

 We made three large pizzas, enough for everyone to try some of each if they so chose. The first problem we had was a lack of the proper type of a third pan. The second problem was,  where would we find pepperoni? The third problem was, where would we find the necessary ingredients to make the copycat recipe located here? 

It’s interesting to watch their interactions.

Keep in mind. I made a loose version of the above recipe to make it suitable for gluten-free for several of us in the group.  Plus, the sugary additions as shown in the recipe were modified to suit the wheat-free, sugar-free, and starch-free options. It was a bit complicated. But, somehow, I figured it out.

As for the pan, we headed to Marlothi Center yesterday morning and found an excellent pan at the hardware store that even included a rack for future use. That was quite a find.  

 As for the pepperoni, we headed to the Butchery in the same little shopping center and found salami that tasted somewhat like pepperoni, although the sliced rounds were much larger.

There were numerous babies in the parade.

Surprisingly, I found a combination of four ingredients at the Bush Center mini-mart to compensate for making the sauce. After tasting proved to be perfect, tasting precise as spicy peanut sauce should taste. I couldn’t have been more thrilled.

The chopping and dicing and cheese grating all by hand took almost all day. In my old life, I had a food processor and could have shredded the imported mozzarella cheese and vegetables in a matter of minutes, not hours. But that was then, and this is now.

 Tom grated all the cheeses while I cut the vegetables, cooked and diced the chicken, and sliced the three different types of sausages. Then, I cut everything for the side salad. 

Had we arrived a short while earlier, most likely we’d have seen them enter the Crocodile River.

On Friday, I made the dessert.  Knowing none of our guests were into big desserts after a big meal, I made low carb fudge and low carb almond bark, a nice little treat after a big dinner with coffee or a glass of wine. 

As it turned out, recently, I’d given up dairy in an attempt to improve my gastrointestinal issue. After three days without any form of dairy, I’m greatly improved. We’ll see if this continues to improve. Wouldn’t that be something if, all along, my issue was exacerbated by a dairy intolerance?

After a while, they began moving back up the hill in Kruger National Park and out of sight.

As a result, last night, I ate no pizza. Instead, I made myself a plate with all the toppings on the Thai pizza with only a tiny portion of that tasty sauce on a bed of steamed cauliflower and green beans. Wow! That was almost as good as the pizza would have been.

We had a wonderful evening as expected. Tomorrow, Monday, we’re meeting up with the four of them for what Don describes as a “special surprise in the bush.” It will be fun to see what he has in store for all of us! We’ll all bring our favorite “happy hour” beverages when we meet before dark.

A lone elephant grazing in the bush.

This morning, our new friend Kerstine (pronounced cast-teen) stopped by for an enjoyable visit, having walked on this beautiful day from her home many blocks away. It was nice to see her again.

 Marta returned from her one-week holiday, and we welcomed her with many hugs and warm welcomes. It was nice to have her back. She lives on the property in a little house in the side yard. 

The ages of many of the elephants varied from months-old infants to decades-old matriarchs.

She offered to clean today, but we’d done a great job cleaning up after last night. She insisted on making the bed which, with the busy morning, I hadn’t yet tackled.

 Today will be a low-key day. Tom will have his leftover sausage pizza while I make chicken liver and onion stuffed portabella mushrooms with roasted vegetables on the side for my dinner. Of course, on this perfect weather day, we’ll be on the veranda, well into the evening.

Soon, they began their ascent up the hill.

In our old lives, we have headed to Costco to purchase a new laptop. Tom is still having trouble with his monitor but has figured out a workaround, for now, a vice grip at the edge of the monitor, which makes it stay on. We’ll see how that goes over the long haul.

 But, like making the pizza, particular adaptations must be made in this life.

May your day be uncomplicated!

Photo from one year ago today, June 3, 2017:

One year ago, we celebrated grandson Vincent’s grade school graduation at Benihana, a popular local Asian Teppanyaki restaurant in Minneapolis. It was a fun day. More photos coming will follow with our other grandchildren as we spent six weeks in Minnesota last year at this time. For more details, please click here.

Tall and tan and young and lovely…Great night out with friends…

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What could be more fun than stopping on the way to dinner to let these magnificent beasts cross the road? Most likely, this was a mom and growing youngster.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

We never fail to stop to observe an ostrich. What a fantastic bird!

Today is a busy day! We’ve been up and prepping since 7:00 am with company coming for homemade pizza, salad, and dessert. Soon, we’ll take off for a quick trip to the mini-mart here in the park to see if they have a few odds and ends we discovered we needed.

However, even on these busy days, regardless of what’s on the agenda, we ensure there’s ample time to upload somewhat of a post for the day. Although mundane and a mere representation of quiet days “at home,” the words come quickly.

They always seem mindful of observing oncoming traffic,  But then again, we’re cognizant of giving them the right-of-way.

Photos may be a challenge when we’re aren’t always out and about searching for new and unique photo ops. Yesterday, we embarked on our usual two-hour drive here in Marloth Park and encountered several situations we’ll share over the next few days as we wind down the weekend.

On Monday, we’re off to see Deidre, the director of Wild & Free, Rescue, Rehabilitate and Release, to discuss her and her center’s research on Bovine TB, mainly how it affects its animals in the antelope family of which there are many in Marloth Park.

Such beautiful and graceful animals.

Also, while there, we’ll have an opportunity to take photos of many species currently being rehabbed at the facility and discuss the great work for wildlife. Everyone in the park knows about Deidre’s devotion and dedication.  

Although we met her before under more social circumstances, we’re enthused to see her again in her outstanding role as a conservationist and caregiver for wildlife. We’ll be posting the story with photos via a series over several days, beginning on Tuesday. We’re so looking forward to this opportunity.

All the cars in front of us also stopped to watch the giraffes.  That’s why people live in and visit Marloth Park.

Last night, we joined friends Linda and Ken for dinner at Phumula. Although the food isn’t as outstanding as at Jabula Lodge, we had a nice dinner and enjoyed the lively conversation. They had been traveling non-stop for the past almost three months and shared some spectacular experiences, some we’ve had in these past years and others that inspire us.

That’s what is so special about making friends with other world travelers. We learn so much about places we’d like to visit in the future. The world is a huge place. We’ll never run out of enthusiasm to see more and more as time marches on.

This giraffe was way more interesting in dining than paying attention to the motorists.

It is exciting to share our recent travels to Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Botswana, locations which they’d already visited in the past. It’s the commonality of most of our friends here in Marloth Park that certainly adds flair to conversations, where we’ve been, where we plan to go in the future. The myriad experiences we have each day engaging with the wildlife while living in this magical place.

Those conversations were so unlike discussions with friends in our old lives that were spectacularly over-the-top, mentally stimulating, and often filled with loud laughter.  The talks are equally mentally stimulating, filled with loud laughter, but the topics are very different.

Stopping to check out the passing cars.

Now, we focus on sharing a plethora of world travel-related topics, wildlife, and nature.  Wow! This experience certainly has rounded out our interests as opposed to what may have been had we “stayed put” in the US in our retirement years.

No doubt, had we never conceived of the idea to travel the world, now in our sixth year, we’d have found a level of contentment enjoyed by many retirees, often moving to warmer climates, making new friends, and staying in touch with old friends.

These two giraffes were on the opposite side of the road munching on greenery.

This “stepping outside the box” premise far exceeded anything we ever imagined for our lives.  Last night, on our way to the restaurant, stopping for giraffes crossing the road, Tom looked at me and said, “Who would have to thunk it?  Did you ever imagine stopping on the road to let giraffes pass?”

I smiled, looking deep into his eyes and, without a word, he knew my answer.

Have a fabulous weekend and be well and happy.

Photo from one year ago today, June 2, 2017:

This pretty flower at Butchart Gardens attracted flying insects, as shown in the upper left. For more photos, please click here.

Here we go again!…Booking and planning for the future…

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Image result for azamara journey photo
Most of the cruise ships we’ve sailed in the past have a capacity from 264 to 4100, although some ships are larger and continue to be built for more and more capacity. The Azamara Journey, smaller than most cruise ships, has a maximum passenger capacity of 690.  Our recent Antarctica cruise on Ponant’s Soleal has a passenger capacity of 264 (only 200 or less allowed to sail in the Antarctic). We prefer smaller ships such as this.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

Frank, our resident Francolin, who’s decided to make our yard his permanent residence. Francolins are highly territorial and extremely noisy when other francolins invade his space, except, of course, for Mrs. Frank. They’ve been building a nest. Francolins are monogamous and mate for life. They nest in grass-lined low-lying shallows.  The incubation period is from 18 to 21 days carried out by the female. Once the eggs hatch, both parents tend to the chicks until their first winter.  We’re looking forward to Frank’s and the Mrs.’ chicks.

Last night, after dinner, while sitting at the big table on the veranda, we called Vacations to Go on Skype and booked the furthest-out cruise we’ve booked to date. With reasonable new-listing pricing only available until June 3rd at midnight in the US, we knew if we wanted to sail on this particular cruise, we’d like the best book in now to ensure we could choose a good cabin.

The cruise embarks on November 10, 2020, almost 2½  years from now, a very long time away. But, in this life of world travel, with our desires for specific itineraries, on occasion, it makes sense to book a cruise, holiday home, or a tour well in advance to ensure a good spot and pricing.

This is the furthest out we’ve booked a cruise since we began booking cruises in early 2012, shortly after we decided to travel the world. We weren’t thrilled about the ZAR 13,874 (US $1,100) deposit required so far in advance, but we had no options if we wanted to secure our preferred cabin. 

This cruise was almost sold out after only being posted online for the past week. It’s a good thing Tom stays on top of what’s transpiring in the cruise world on almost a daily basis. He’s the “cruise booking” enthusiast in this family. I’m too impatient to spend the time researching cruises as Tom does so regularly.

Why was this cruise so important to us? It brings us back to Africa, 22 months after we leave the continent this upcoming February 2019. We’ve finally come to the reality and acceptance of the fact that we can’t get this continent out of our hearts and minds to stay away too long.

The cruise embarks from Lisbon and ends 22 days later in Cape Town, South Africa. Finally, we’ll see Cape Town after Louise and Danie have enthusiastically encouraged us that we “must” see the stunning city and surrounding areas. 

Finally, when the cruise ends, we’ll be able to spend a few days in the sprawling tourist-popular city. We’re planning to meet up with Louise’s parents, Estelle and Jonas, who live in a nearby suburb. We enjoyed meeting them here in Marloth Park during their recent visit and would love to see them again.

After a few days in Cape Town, we’ll fly to Nelspruit, rent a car and once again make our way to Marloth Park, but this time for only a 90-day visit. The visa requirement of leaving South Africa to a non-bordering country can get expensive, and again, we’ll have to consider our budget.

We selected this cruise to return to South Africa and allow us to visit many other countries on the west coast of Africa where fewer tourists are inclined to visit. We’ve never sailed on Azamara in the past.  Owned by the same corporation that owns Royal Caribbean and Celebrity, our loyalty program will carry over to this cruise, enabling us to partake of several perks we’ve enjoyed on past cruises.

As always, we booked a balcony cabin with cabins above and below us to avoid noise from various venues on the ship.  Here are some details about the ship:

Azamara Journey

Ship Rating: 5
The Azamara Journey has all the modern conveniences that the discerning traveler demands. The Journey has an intimate atmosphere with only 690 passengers. With nearly 400 crew members, the staff is always there to offer a drink or a fresh towel. Azamara’s concept of Destination Immersion means that you’ll spend more time in ports, and when you’re on board, you’ll be able to sample the culinary classics of the ports you’re visiting. There’s plenty to do when you’re still on the ship as well, like gambling at the casino, enjoying live entertainment in the Cabaret Lounge, getting a work-out in at the fitness center, or kicking back in any of the ship’s many bars. When you’re ready for some well-deserved pampering, the spa is waiting with several signature treatments. You can visit your own private spa deck, indulge in Facial Glow services, get a massage or even relax in an all-day spa ritual. The cruise may not last forever, but the memories will last a lifetime. Azamara Journey
 Ship Statistics 
Year Built 2000
Refurbished 2016
Tonnage 30,277 tons
Registry Malta
Length 593 feet
Beam 84 feet
Passenger Capacity 690
Crew Size 408
Total Inside Cabins 26
Total Outside Cabins 320
Cabins & Suites w/ verandas 247
Suites 42
Maximum Occupancy per room 4
Age Restrictions One person must be 21 or older
Dinner Seatings 2
Seating Assignments
in Main Dining Room		 Open
Dining Hours Dining
Dining Room Dress Code Dining
Tipping Expected? No
Tipping Guidelines Azamara includes the gratuities in your cruise fare.
Onboard Currency US Dollar
Services & Amenities
Spa Yes
Video Arcade No
Bars/Lounges Yes
Casino Yes
Elevators Yes
Cell Phone Service Yes
Laundromats (self-service) Yes
Movie Theatre No
Outdoor Movie Screen No
Onboard Weddings No
Shops Yes
Showroom Yes
Beauty Salon/Barber Shop Yes
Chapel No
Disco/Dancing No
Hot Tub Yes
Internet Center Yes
Wireless Internet Access Yes
Note: Available throughout the ship
Laundry/Dry Cleaning Yes
Library Yes
Fitness & Sports Facilities
Basketball Court No
Fitness Center Yes
Golf Driving Net No
Golf Simulator No
Ice Skating Rink No
Jogging Track Yes
Mini-Golf Course No
Rock Climbing Wall No
Swimming Pool Yes
Tennis Court No
Water Slide No
Water Sports Platform No
Cabin Features & Amenities
24-Hour Room Service Yes
Hair Dryer Yes
Safe Yes
Telephone Yes
Television Yes
Kids Facilities
Babysitting No
Children’s Playroom No
Kiddie Pool No
Supervised Youth Program No
Teen Center No
Water Playground/Splash Park No
Special Needs & Requests
Adjoining Cabins
(private connecting doors)		 Yes
Kosher Meals Yes
Single Occupancy Cabins No
Single Share Program No
Wheelchair-Accessible Cabins 6

For details on pricing for this 22-night cruise, please click here. Cruises around the African continent are always pricey.  With this much advance notice, we’ll have plenty of time to budget for this higher-priced cruise.

It’s a long way off, but we’re still excited knowing this cruise is on the horizon, along with all of the other plans we have for the future.  We haven’t posted a new itinerary since we were in Buenos Aires, which may be found here.  Please scroll to the bottom of this post to see the itinerary.

We still have many gaps in our schedule to fill in, and we may be changing some other cruises we have booked into the future. But this cruise we booked last night, bringing us back to Africa, will definitely stand in place.

Today, we’re updating our spreadsheets with this new booking, and tonight we’re heading out to dinner with friends Linda and Ken, who returned yesterday to Marloth Park. We’re making “pizza night” for Kathy, Don, Linda, and Ken for another great evening with friends tomorrow evening.

Have a great weekend! 

Photo from one year ago today, June 1, 2017:

Last year at this time, we were in Minnesota for six weeks visiting family. At this point, we continued to share more photos from Butchart Gardens in Victoria, British Columbia, our last stop before departing Canada for the US. For more photos, please click here.