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| Here is a younger wildebeest who visits on occasion with what appears to be his dad. We call them “Dad & Son.” |
“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”
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| Little’s stopped by a few times today, including during the pouring rain. |
We love this house in the bush. We love living in the bush, the wildlife, the people; it’s all beyond our greatest aspirations of spending time in Africa. But, with it, there are some challenges, for which we’re making every effort to stay upbeat.
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| Big Daddy was eating pellets off the veranda’s edge. |
We each took cold showers twice during the past two nights, but even the water temperature wasn’t cool enough to do any good. Within minutes, we were soaking wet in sweat once again. I don’t recall any time in my entire life that I sweated so much.
After each shower, I had to load up again on insect repellent that works great without DEET but is sticky and smells awful. It almost wasn’t worth taking the showers.
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| It’s easier for male kudus to eat this way instead of bending down with those giant horns. Wildebeest Willie waits in the background for his turn. |
I’d considered the possibility of our leaving to stay at a hotel until the crowds in Marloth Park thin out, and less power is needed to accommodate the additional power usage.
Tom wasn’t enthused about the costs of spending on two rental properties simultaneously when we have huge payments upcoming in the next two weeks for future cruises and the final balance on the Kenya tour. I got that and didn’t press the issue.
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| Finally, Willie inches his way into the pellets on the ground. |
For the heck of it, I checked online, and there wasn’t a single room available outside Marloth Park during the next week or two. After all, it’s still the holiday season that doesn’t officially end here in South Africa until well into January. My research was pointless.
The aircon in our main floor bedroom has officially died. No matter what we do, it won’t turn on – new batteries in the remote – resetting the electric switch when the power is back on temporarily – nothing works.
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| At times, there are scuffles over dominance. |
If we have power tonight and it’s still so hot, we’ll have to sleep upstairs for a working aircon. But that’s not the problem. Most likely, we won’t have power. As soon as everyone in Marloth Park turns on their aircon, the power goes out. There are just too many people here.
We’ve heard that some holidaymakers have left due to the power outages and the heat. Whether or not their landlords/property managers have given them any refund or credit remains to be seen.
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| It rained for a few hours today bit not long enough. |
I suppose all Marloth Park rental agreements should have a clause stating, “It is possible, if not likely, that during your occupancy, the power, WiFi services, and water services may be interrupted from time to time. No refunds will be provided in the event of such occurrences.”
After all, this is Africa (known as TIA), and stuff happens here which may rarely occur in one’s home country. It’s the price one pays to partake of the many wonders this continent offers, experiences that dreams are made of.
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| Each time it rains, the bush gets greener with life-saving vegetation for the wildlife. |
And, as hard as it is right now to sleep and bear the heat during the days, we have the time to look forward to when the holidaymakers leave, and everything is right with the world once again.
Instead of counting the days until we leave, I’m counting the days until they leave. If predictions are accurate, this should be around January 9th – 12 days and counting.
Be well.
Photo from one year ago today, December 28, 2017:
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| This is exactly what we posted one year ago today: “The entrance to our new vacation/holiday home we’ll be renting in Marloth Park beginning on February 11th, aptly named “Orange…More Than Just a Colour.” For the link to this listing, please click here.” For the entire post, please click here. |