Attention guests and visitors, like us, to Marloth Park….

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Yesterday, as we drove along the Crocodile River in Marloth Park, we spotted this parade of nearly 30 elephants enjoying their time in the river. Notice the littlest one!

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

Our resident francolin, aptly named Frank, stopped by the pond contemplating taking a drink.
Moments later, he bent down and took a long drink. We love Frank and the Mrs. who spend their days and nights in our garden, loudly squawking at sunrise and sunset,

We are visitors, renters, tourists, or whatever you’d like to call us to this magical place, Marloth Park, South Africa. We have no specific rights or privileges beyond what our rental agreement provided to us through the landlord, property manager, or owner. 

We pay an agreed-upon rate, and with it comes specific amenities, often including the use of household goods, utilities, cable TV, Internet, appliances, and in many cases, housekeeping services in varying degrees.

It is a privilege for us to be here. It never does one day pass without us realizing and appreciating the opportunity to partake of this unique, enriching, and charming environment.
It’s always enjoyable watching the young calves playing in the water, discovering the wonders of their trunks.

Over these past few days, the summer holidays (it’s winter here now) for visitors from the northern hemisphere have begun, and we see an influx of visitors and cars in astounding numbers.

As we drove through the park yesterday afternoon on our usual almost daily drive to spot wildlife, we saw more walkers, bikers, and vehicles near the Crocodile River than we’ve ever seen in the total of over seven months we’ve spent in Marloth Park in the past four-plus years.

One can easily look online to read the “rules of Marloth Park” at several websites, some that apply to all occupants, whether owners or holidaymakers and many that specifically apply to ownership of property in Marloth Park.

We felt so fortunate to see this, which only enhances our love of Marloth Park.

However, today, we won’t list those rules, and if you’d like, you can look for them here at this link. Instead, we’d like to post our perspective from a “renters point of view” as to the responsibility we all have in maintaining the integrity of what this outstanding conservancy is all about, a harmonious and thrilling environment where wild animals freely roam the gardens of houses, parklands, and roads throughout the area.

It’s truly a privilege to be here. As we’ve traveled the world over these almost past six years: homeless, no car, no storage, and with minimal possessions in our few pieces of luggage, we’ve never heard of nor seen anyplace in the world like Marloth Park, nor do we ever expect to do so.

Back to yesterday afternoon, as we drove on Seekoei Street that runs along the Crocodile River, we encountered dozens of tourists walking, jogging, and riding bicycles. In one instance, we were shocked to see a man riding a bike while his two young children were riding bikes at a distance behind him.  

We couldn’t take our eyes off of them as they basked in the river.

He seemed oblivious of cars coming up behind them or the fact that there’s a lioness loose in the park. Only months ago, we wrote the story of Jonas, who was attacked by a lion while riding a bike (see that story here) here in Marloth Park.

Often, people feel they are invincible. It simply won’t “happen to them.”  But one only needs to spend a few minutes watching videos on YouTube to see lions in Kruger National Park attacking tourists “in their vehicle” while their windows were open to taking photos. These are wild animals, and unpredictably is a part of their demeanor.

All the animals in Marloth Park are wild and generally are safe “at a distance.”  But, unintentionally (or otherwise), a male kudu with massive antlers can easily injure or permanently maim an unsuspecting tourist attempting to hand feed these gigantic animals. A mere nod of his head can poke out an eye or cause a fatal injury.

Not all of the elephants nearby are shown in these photos.  We counted almost 30.

Some of the animals in Marloth Park carry diseases such as Bovine Tuberculosis (not necessarily transmittable to humans) and rabies. Why hand feed when it’s so easy to drop the “approved” pellets onto the ground? These animals are used to “eating dirt” and also dead plant matter when they forage. They don’t mind eating off the ground.

Also, we don’t use any trough or large containers to feed the animals.  Diseases such as TB are transmitted through their saliva dropping by the use of such containers. Would you want to eat from the same bowl others from which others had eaten (who possibly have a disease)?

Sure, it’s fun for kids to hand feed an animal. But, it’s common to see a wild animal in the park licking their own behinds or the behinds of their young to make one not so interested in hand feeding. Fecal matter can contain salmonella and an endless array of medical conditions, many of which may be life-threatening. 

With the electric fence between Kruger and Marloth Park, taking photos requires carefully getting the shots between the barbed wire strands in the fence.

Simply telling a child to “go wash your hands” after hand feeding is almost pointless. Have you ever watched your child wash their hands, especially when they’re anxious to get back outside and see the animals? Even adults can be lax in this area.

As for the wildlife feeding, we’ve heard stories of tourists (and some locals) feeding the wildlife potato chips, corn (which can be fatal), popcorn, leftover bread, sweets, and their leftovers from the restaurants or home-cooked meals. Most wildlife cannot digest these types of foods, and feeding them may result in illness or death.

Most of the animals in Marloth Park are either omnivores (plants and small animals) or herbivores (plants only), where they consume the leaves of plants, trees, and some roots (warthogs) and a variety of creatures such as insects and rodents. The few carnivores in the park may include mongooses, civets, genets, wild dogs, birds of prey, and more.

They stood in this same area for quite some time.

These carnivores (meat eaters) don’t need to eat (and shouldn’t eat) our leftover cooked, sauce-covered, seasoned braai chicken, pork, or beef. It is not natural for wildlife to eat cooked or spiced foods.

The two types of monkeys most prevalent in Marloth Park are the Vervet monkeys and baboons. These monkeys are very destructive and will do anything for food. They even eat the birdseed from our birdfeeder. We have to make a special effort to ensure no food is left on the ground or elsewhere for them when feeding other wildlife.

A few weeks ago, I left the door to the house open while I was cutting apples and carrots. A Vervet monkey ran inside onto the kitchen counter and grabbed a whole apple, and ran. I learned my lesson…keep the door shut when monkeys are around and never leave the door open unattended.

Well, some may think this is cute, but a monkey (or baboon) or more can wreak havoc in a house tearing everything apart while defecating everywhere while inside or even outside on the veranda. We never leave food on any plates or bowls anywhere which the monkeys may be able to access.

Often, when we experience such a sighting, a few people are observing along with us. Yesterday, there were dozens of holidaymakers taking photos as well.

A rule that has been disrespected by some has been bringing pets or other animals into the park. The animals in this special place can easily be contaminated by diseases carried by non-indigenous animals. 

Speaking of non-indigenous, one of the most prevalent concerns in Marloth Park right now is alien invasive plants, some from natural occurring means and others brought in by homeowners or visitors “decorating” the house or gardens.  

These plants are destroying the natural food sources for wildlife which ultimately could result in the loss of life for the precious animals we so love. Its imperative no visitors, owners, or renters bring any plants into the park. This is a “wild” habitat. Decorative plants defy the true meaning of the “bush.”

Also, a significant area of concern is the alien invasive plants presenting a substantial risk of fire. Invasive trees and plants can burn hotter, higher, and faster than any native vegetation. 

Care must be exercised in making and putting out fires for the braai.  We heard recently that a tragic fire could have destroyed Marloth Park when hot embers from a braai were dumped into a dry side garden. This place could incinerate in a matter of minutes, not hours, with all the dry brush and invasive plants and trees.

In the past week, it has been reported that several wild animals have been killed on the road by fast-moving vehicles. Yes, it’s possible a driver following the speed limit could accidentally hit an animal that darts out onto the road at night. Visibility is lacking on the tar and dirt roads throughout the park.

But, we all must take the responsibility of driving as if a child could dart out into the road at any moment, slowly and with the utmost of caution. Plus, driving slowly both during the day and at night is an excellent opportunity to spot more wildlife. Nothing is more exciting than stopping for a “traffic jam” of several giraffes (or other animals) crossing the road.

The wildlife is more likely to visit when noise is kept at a minimum. We make every effort to speak in normal tones and avoid loud bursts of sound to prevent frightening the wildlife. Of course, loud music or loud partying is prohibited in the park.

Please forgive us if we sound as if we’re “preaching.” That’s not our intent.  Instead, we want to ensure Marloth Park is as excellent in the future as it is today. We plan to make regular visits in years to come as we continue in our world journey.

Marloth Park is the only place in the world we’ve returned to visit in all these years of world travel. In many ways visiting this magical place has shaped us, changed us, and made us grow in our desire and passion for protecting and preserving wildlife and our surroundings wherever we may go.

Please join us in this mission while you visit, along with us, cherishing the gift Mother Nature has bestowed upon us humans…the joy and beauty of wildlife and our surroundings.

Enjoy your holiday time, as we will, in this extraordinary place.

Photo from one year ago today, June 25, 2017:

Margie, Tom’s sister, with one of her two birthday cakes. This photo was taken by nephew Joe’s wife Donna before our arrival around 4:30 pm. The party had started at 2:00 pm, and by the time we arrived the cake was cut.  Thanks for the excellent photo, Donna!  For more photos, please click here.

A delicious and entertaining dinner in Marloth Park…See “Sighting of the Day in the Bush”…Language barriers and adapting…

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For the first time, last night at Jabula Restaurant, we saw a Thick-Tailed Bushbaby. These are huge compared to the tiny bushbabies, the “Lesser Bushbaby,” which we see each night on the little stand where we place the little cup of fruity yogurt.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

From this site: “Thick-tailed Bushbabies have caused alarm for many visitors to the wilderness areas of Africa with their child-like screams during the night with some visitors complaining of child abuse among staff members at lodges. The Afrikaans name for bushbabies is nagapies which mean small night apes.”

Last night’s dinner at Jabula Lodge and Restaurant couldn’t have been more fun.  Sitting at the bar, Tom having his usual brandy and Sprite Zero on the rocks while I had my new favorite low alcohol red wine I’ve been enjoying lately (South Africa’s Four Cousins Skinny Red).

The environment at Jabula Restaurant is comfortable and inviting. We usually dine outdoors on the veranda, but we had fun with owners Dawn and Leon last night. We ate sitting at the bar for the first time.

This wine tastes great (now that I’ve acquired a taste for it), and with its low alcohol, low carb content with reduced tannins, it doesn’t cause the potential for aftereffects some of us suffer from when consuming a few glasses of red wine in an evening.

We both perused Jabula‘s expansive menu for quite a while as we sat at the bar, chatting back and forth with Dawn, Leon, and their assistant Lyn. The bar was packed when we arrived, while the locals enthusiastically watched a rugby game on the flat-screen TV, which ended, unfortunately, with South Africa losing to moans and groans in the audience.

The bar at Jabula Restaurant where Dawn and Leon chat with their guests.  It was an enjoyable evening.

Suddenly, we heard a commotion on the veranda. Guests dining outdoors had spotted a Thick-Tailed Bushbaby on the thatched roof. We’d heard a lot about these huge bushbabies but had yet to see one in our “garden” at night. I couldn’t grab the camera quickly enough and was thrilled to get these photos in the dark of night.

Speaking of “garden,” I will stop using the word “yard” in our posts. Here in Marloth Park and South Africa, they don’t use the word “yard” or “backyard” about their lot included with their home. Also, in South Africa, they don’t call a piece of land a “lot.” It’s called a “stand.”

Tom ordered Eisbein, a fried pork knuckle that is unbelievably delicious (I always take a few bites of this monstrous item).  We brought the bone home for the warthogs. They don’t like the meat, just the bone. Tom splurged and ordered the “chips.” The food and ambiance were exceptional as always.

Henceforth, when writing our posts and in speaking with others locally, we’ll use the local verbiage as a “garden” instead of a “yard” and of a “stand” instead of a “lot.”  We try to fit in. 

It’s bad enough that the locals have to speak English when around us when most native Caucasian South Africans speak the Afrikaans language. It amazes us how well they speak English as a second language, even in conjugating verbs and understanding slang and euphemisms.

But then, he splurged further and ordered a giant plate of fried onion rings. I didn’t complain. He eats healthy meals when I cook and splurges when we dine out.

As a result, we need to make every effort to blend in, not only in our behavior and interests but also in our acceptance of words they’ve incorporated in their use of the English language.

When we return to the US for a visit in nine and a half months, we can re-do our language to fit into the expectations of conversing in our native language.  There are always adjustments such as these when we live in a country for several months.

My grilled chicken breast, steamed spinach, and carrots.

And such was the case last night at Jabula. The bar, filled with locals, chatting to other locals in their Afrikaans language, never made us feel “left out” of the conversation. On a dime, any one of them would quickly revert to speaking English for our benefit.

But, this is how it is here in Marloth Park, friendly, open, and easy to make friends with. I should qualify this and state that not all locals in Marloth Park are from South Africa. Many homeowners here in the park are from many other parts of the world, including the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, and other parts of Europe.

Tom gave me his salad which we ordered without the feta cheese when I no longer eat dairy products.

The only Americans we’ve met in Marloth are friends Kathy and Don.  Kathy grew up in California like me, and Don was born and raised in Kenya. They have homes in other parts of the world, including Hawaii and South Africa, spending part of the year here. Other than the two of them, we’ve yet to meet anyone here from the US.

Today is another perfect weather day, sunny, comfortably warm. After we upload the post, we’ll head out to see what we can find, again, hoping to spot the lioness. It will undoubtedly be a good day.

May you have a good day as well.

Photo from one year ago today, June 24, 2017:

Last year on this date, Tom and son TJ hung out together at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, where TJ had his 1954 Buick Special on display next to his canopy set-up at the “Back to the 50’s” annual event.  For more photos, please click here.

Lion on the loose in Marloth Park…Hippo Day!…

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A lion photo was taken by a local across the Crocodile River, but not the lion spotted on Leeu Street.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

We’d never seen this warthog until last night when he stopped by.  The left wart appeared injured and infested with maggots.  Since warthogs are so abundant in Marloth Park, nothing is done when they are injured. Veterinary care is expensive. Nature takes its course.

Yesterday when we received a notice from Louise that a lioness was on the loose in Marloth Park, a chill ran up our spines. Not only were we excited about this event, but we went on a mission to see if safari luck would prevail, and we’d spot it and have an opportunity to take a photo.

Hippos lounging in the Sabie River in Kruger.

The likelihood of finding her in this vast expanse of 3000 hectares (7413 acres, 11.5 square miles) is comparable to finding a needle in a haystack. Once the post was uploaded, we headed out with extra fully charged batteries. I wanted to have to camera turned on at all times, just in case.

“The name hippopotamus comes from the Ancient Greek ‘river horse.'”

We followed the roads where she was last seen on the street called Leeu, weaving in and out of all possible routes hoping for a glimpse. Well, we didn’t expect to get lucky, and we weren’t. 

“An adult hippo needs to resurface every 3 to 5 minutes to breathe.”

We saw elephants on the river, giraffes on the savanna, and an ostrich under a carport, but we stopped for nothing, fearing that one minute’s change of plans could cause us to miss her. Of course, this concept can go either way…stop for something else, and then…we’d see her. 

“Hippos bask on the shoreline and secrete an oily red substance, which gave rise to the myth that they sweat blood. The liquid is a skin moistener and sunblock that may also protect against germs.”

After two hours, we gave up and stopped at Daisy’s Den for birdseed when Mark, the shop owner, told us his mother-in-law saw the lioness chasing a young kudu across the tar road. Nature can be cruel, but that’s the reality of life in these parts.

“Despite its stocky shape and short legs, it can easily outrun most humans. Hippos have been clocked at 30 km (19 km) over short distances.”

Everyone in this little holiday village is alert based on warnings to avoid walking, especially at night. One must pay special attention, getting into and out of cars, shops, restaurants, and their own homes. One cannot assume that walking from a restaurant to their vehicle is safe at night or during the day.

Thanks, Louise Barnfield in Kauai, for identifying this bird…a reed cormorant.

Are we scared? Not at all. Nor does it affect our sitting on the veranda day and night. The veranda is six steps up from ground level. It’s unlikely a lion would climb the steps to get to us when there’s usually much more readily accessible wildlife nearby. 

A giraffe’s neck contains huge amounts of muscle. But that is not what is holding its neck so high. It is a band of elastic tissue, a ligament that runs from the top of the neck to the start of tail vertebrae.

We do not doubt that a few of our visitors may already have fallen prey to the lion’s appetite.  Even with few predators in Marloth Park itself, most of the wildlife’s instincts will drive them to run as fast as they can if they hear or spot a lion. 

“Gnus, or wildebeests, are large African antelopes. Wildebeest is an Afrikaans name that means “wild beast.” Gnu is a derivation of the name used by native Africans. The names are used interchangeably. A gathering of gnus is called a herd.’

The acuity of the hearing of wildlife in the park is incomprehensible to us, but outrunning a lion would be difficult when bush homes and other man-made structures impede their ability to run at their top speeds.

Calf nursing in Kruger National Park.

This afternoon, we’ll head out once again with hope, albeit foolhardy, of spotting the lioness and taking our photo to share here with all of our readers.

“African fish eagles are very efficient hunters and only hunt for about 10 minutes each day. Besides fish, they also eat young birds, monkeys, baby crocodiles, and frogs.”

Thanks for stopping by, dear readers. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Photo from one year ago today, June 23, 2017:

After the boat ride on Father’s Day, we drove past the new Minnesota Vikings US Bank Stadium (football) for this shot. For more photos, please click here.

The winter solstice and holiday season begins again in the bush…Taking care in Marloth park

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This male was “standing watch” so the others could relax and nod off.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

Playful warthog antics always make us laugh.

Yesterday was the winter solstice in the southern hemisphere. It’s hard to believe it’s winter here when the temperature is in the 30C (86F) range most days. Henceforth, the days will be getting longer.

We’ve had a handful of very cool days but overall, few requiring extra warm clothing. Mornings and nights are very cool, often requiring we bundle up. But, once the sun begins to shine almost every day, it warms up sufficiently for shorts and short sleeves.

Last night, shortly before dark, we encountered this “confusion” (yep, that’s right!) of wildebeest in front of the property along the river. 

When summer arrives on December 21st here in the southern hemisphere, it’s an entirely different story. The thoughts one conjures up about heat, humidity, and dust flying through the air will be exactly what we’ll expect.

We remember these difficult conditions when we were here over four years ago during December, January, and February. There were more insects, more dust, and more sweaty days and nights. Thank goodness for air con in the bedrooms. 

We haven’t had many wildebeest visitors at our house, making it especially enjoyable to see these last night.

We’ll do the same as we do now during the days, spending our days and nights on the veranda regardless of weather conditions. The only conditions that drive us indoors will be rain with wind. Otherwise, we’ve learned to tolerate temps in the 40Cs (104F) while being outdoors under the protection of the veranda roof from the scorching sun.

For now, we’ll enjoy the cooler days and nights as we continue to spend our days and nights observing the world around us, which never disappoints, as evidenced by our daily photos.

We always stop to observe these magnificent animals.

Now that it’s summer in the northern hemisphere, we’ll begin seeing more and more tourists in Marloth Park, particularly tourists from Europe who find this environment ideal for their summer family holidays. 

Before too long, perhaps beginning this weekend, we’ll see families with children in their rented four-wheel-drive vehicles driving through Marloth Park and Kruger National Park. 

Often, we spot one lone elephant, often a young male, off to the side away from the rest of the “parade.”

The number of vehicles on the roads definitely has an impact on the number of visiting animals.  We’ve noticed this each time it’s been holiday time. They seem to stay undercover or are preoccupied with tourists feeding them, hopefully, the healthful pellets, fruit and vegetables, and not biscuits, cookies, and potato chips.

Unfortunately, a handful of tourists aren’t respectful of the wildlife, feeding them foods they cannot digest, which may result in illness or even death. Also, Marloth Park is a highly flammable environment with a lack of rain and dry brush surrounding us. 

Elephants grazing on the bank of Crocodile River, as seen from Marloth Park. There’s always a few cattle egret nearby.

We can only pray that visitors will be mindful of the high risk of fire due to the vast amount of alien invasive plants that exacerbate fires in an incomprehensible and ultimately terrifying manner. (More on this later).

The moment I said to Tom, “We often see giraffes on this road.” Just like that, we spotted this giraffe.

Ensuring that no hot coals, embers, or fires are dumped into any areas within the park and all braai fires or bonfires are completely out before retiring for the evening is of the utmost importance for the preservation of human and animal life in this magical place.

Originally Marloth Park was intended as a holiday destination. Over the years, many holidaymakers found it irresistible to be here, deciding to build a retirement or seasonal home here. This building continues within the park, causing quite a bit of controversy as more and more wildlife habitat is lost to construction. It’s quite a debate we won’t get into here. 

A “forkl” of kudu, boys, and girls, also referred to as a harem.

After all, we’re only visitors ourselves making every effort to leave as light a “footprint” as possible in hopes that in years to come, Marloth Park will continue to thrive and welcome our return as our schedule allows.

A happy band of mongoose lapping up raw scrambled eggs we put down for them in a flat bowl.

Today, we’ll embark upon one of our usual drives before the roads become too crowded over the weekend as we continue to search, appreciate and admire the nature surrounding us.

Have a lovely weekend as your summer or winter has begun…

Photo from one year ago today, June 22, 2017:

Southeast Steam Plant, aka Twin City Rapid Transit Company Steam Power Plant. For more photos along the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, please click here.

Our new itinerary!!!…With a few gaps…In time, we’ll fill them!…

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Upcoming Itinerary – June 21, 2018, to March 1, 2021
 Marloth Park, South Africa  56 6/21/2018 – 8/16/2018
 Zambia – Chobe National Park – Chobe River  7 8/16/2018 – 8/23/2018
 Marloth Park, South Africa  89 8/23/2018 – 11/20/2018 
 Leave South Africa for visa – not booked 7  11/20/2018-11/27/2018 
 Marloth Park, South Africa  89  11/27/18 – 2/21/2019 
 Marloth Park SA to Kenya – tour booked 15  2/21/19 – 3/8/2019 
 Valparaiso, Chile- hotel stay – not booked  15  3/9/2019 – 3/24/2019 
 Cruise – San Antonio, Chile – San Diego  14  3/24/2019 – 4/8/2019 
 San Diego – fly to Minnesota – hotel stay 17  4/8/2019 – 4/25/2019 
 Cruise – Fort Lauderdale to Copenhagen  16  4/26/2019 – 5/12/2019 
 Ireland – Connemara – house rented 90  5/12/2019 – 8/9/2019 
 Amsterdam – hotel stay – not booked 2  8/9/2019 – 8/11/2019 
 Cruise – Baltic – Amsterdam to Amsterdam  12  8/11/2019 – 8/23/2019 
 England – rent countryside house – not booked 62  8/23/2019 -10/24/2019 
 Cruise – Southampton to Fort Lauderdale  15  10/24/2019-11/8/2019 
 Las Vegas, NV – Los Angeles, CA – Scottsdale, AZ  22  11/8/2019 – 12/3/2019 
 Ecuador – Galapagos – rent a vacation home – not booked 89  12/3/2019 – 3/01/2020 
 Peru – Machu Picchu – rent vacation home, visit site  30  3/01/2020 –  3/31/2020 
 The Pantanal/Amazon River Cruise – Brazil (2 cruises)  30  3/31/2020 – 4/30/2020 
 Gap – to be booked  134  4/30/2020 – 9/11/2020 
 Minnesota – family visit – not booked 14  9/11/2020 – 9/25/2020 
 Gap – to be booked  46  9/25/2020 -11/10/2020 
 Cruise – Lisbon to Cape Town  22  11/10/2020 -12/2/2020 
 Cape Town/Marloth Park   90  12/2/2020 – 3/1/2021 
 Number of days   983

 *Cruises are indicated turquoise shading

“Photo of the Day in the Bush”

At night, Little Wart Face lies down for a nap, exhausted from eating pellets and his busy day.

A few days ago, when we mentioned we’d be updating our itinerary and posting it in the next few months, we became motivated to get it updated now rather than wait. 

We attempt to post a recent itinerary every six months, but it doesn’t always work out that way when plans are still up in the air.  Although we have several gaps and un-booked events listed in the above itinerary, we aren’t concerned about booking these now, especially those out more than a year or two.

Lots of zebras in the yard after dark.

It’s possible but tricky to book anything two years out, other than a few cruises here and there, as indicated above. Most owners of holiday/vacation homes prefer not to commit to a booking so far out, mainly when we often request discounts based on two factors: one, our long term stays and…two, the frequent online exposure of their property, which may result in more bookings for them from our worldwide readers.

We fully understand the hesitancy. When we find a possible holiday/vacation home, we’re interested in renting, if the owner says, “Check back in a year,” we seldom check back. When we’re ready to book, we’re ready to book and prefer not to spend time “checking back.”

The same goes for cruises. When we find a cruise we’d like, we usually book it within 48 hours of discovering it to ensure the choice of our preferred cabin and to take advantage of any early booking promotions that may be offered at the time.

After the zebras left, female kudus and youngsters arrived.

The good thing about working with Vacations to Go is they offer the lowest possible price (with perks) up until the final payment date, which is usually 75 to 90 days before the “sail date.”

As we’ve mentioned in prior posts, Tom checks prices for any cruises we’ve already booked almost daily. If he finds a cruise we’ve booked at a lower cost and with better “perks,” he’ll contact Vacations to Go to request the price adjustments. Once completed, we’ll receive an entirely new “cruise confirmation” document with the latest pricing and perks.

Cute young kudu.  Note the bushbabies knocked over their cup of yogurt on the stand above.

This process has served us well. Over the years, we’ve saved thousands of dollars on cruises making the almost-daily extra effort worthwhile.  But many cruise passengers don’t bother to check (or their agency doesn’t offer this feature), and the cruise line will not do the checking for you.

Contact your travel agency or however you’ve booked the cruise for the price reductions. Again, many travelers don’t take the time to check frequently enough for “daily specials.” Once the special offering is gone, one may not benefit from its price changes.

This morning, baby zebra nursing.

Fortunately, price increases do not have any bearing on existing reservations. As for the six/seven cruises, as shown above, we have not yet booked the Amazon River and Pantanal cruises which we’ll book within a year.

As for the other cruises as indicated above, most will stay in place. We’ve yet to cancel a cruise we’ve booked. On a few occasions, the cruise line has canceled a cruise we’d booked, and we had to make other plans with little compensation for the change.

Cruising is an excellent option for us for many reasons. Generally, it’s a cost-effective opportunity to see more of the world, rather than flying from place to place. Plus, it’s a lot more fun to sail between countries than fly on airplanes. Often, we use cruises to get us from one country to another where we may stay for some time.

The zebras also stop by during the day, more frequently in this past week.

As for yesterday, we attended an excellent presentation at the home of friends and Marloth Park Honorary Rangers, Uschi and Evan that we’ll soon share in detail. It will take a few days to prepare the comprehensive post.

Today, we’re off to Komatipoort and Lebombo to the grocery shop. Tom always drives to Lebombo for carrots and apples for the wildlife while I shop at the Spar Supermarket and the meat market in the Spar Centre. This way, he doesn’t have to spend so much time grocery shopping with me, which isn’t fun. I’m a slow and deliberate shopper.  Can you imagine that?

We’ll be back with more tomorrow and wish all of our readers an excellent day and evening, wherever you may be, whatever you may do.

Photo from one year ago today, June 21, 2017:

Grandpa and Vincent at Cardboard Camp in Minnesota. For more photos of the cardboard camp, please click here.

Next trip booked…But, no need to travel far for exciting and heartwarming experiences…

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As we drove along the river while in Marloth Park, we spotted these elephants. Finding a place to park on the road, we walked across the grass and vegetation for a better view.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

We couldn’t stop laughing. Little Wart Face was so warm during yesterday’s 34C (93F) he climbed into the cement pond to cool off! After he exited the pond, he found a shady spot for a nap.

When we realized the safest way to ensure we could stay in South Africa was to travel to Zambia every three months through the small Nelspruit/Mpumulanga airport and thus avoid going through immigration in Johannesburg where re-entry could be complicated, we knew a few more trips to Zambia was on the horizon.

This small “parade” of elephant drank and cooled off in the river for quite some time.

Sure, we’d love to have traveled to more African countries but the bottom line is that we will have visited many African countries by the time we leave after the upcoming Kenya adventure: 
1.  South Africa
2.  Botswana
3.  Zimbabwe
4.  Zambia
5.  Mozambique
6.  Swaziland (will visit soon)
7.  Kenya (re-visiting in February)
8.  Morocco (2014 – stayed for 2½ months)
9.  Egypt (2013)
10. Tanzania (2013)

It’s always a pleasure to see the babies when they manage to get out from under the safe confines of the adults.

Upcoming in the booked cruise embarking from Lisbon, Portugal on November 2020 (Wow, that’s only two year and five months from now) ending in Cape Town on December 2, 2020 (22 nights) will add the following countries to our African experience:
11.  Gambia
12.  Ivory Coast
13.  Ghana
14.  Angola
15.  Namibia

This sighting occurred at 4:15 while in Marloth Park looking toward Kruger National Park.  Visitors to Kruger would be unable to see this from the roads and are unable to get out of their vehicles. 

With 54 countries on the continent of Africa, we still have several we’d like to visit. We haven’t as yet been able to go to Uganda to see the gorilla but plan to do so next time we come to Africa in 2020. We never seem to run out of places we’d love to experience.

Realistically, we’ll never visit many African countries due to high risks of crime and terrorism. There’s no point in taking chances any more than we have. There certainly is plenty of crime here in South Africa, much of which is not too far away. We proceed with the utmost of caution in everything we do.

We also spotted these two hippos napping on the bank of the Crocodile River.

Here’s the link to a website that lists various cities in countries with the highest crime rates in Africa. South Africa is in the top four. As heavily guarded as Marloth Park is, as a  24-hour a day gated conservancy, there is a degree of crime, mainly as a result of burglaries. 

Our property like all others is secured by alarm systems directly linked to a major well-regarded armed security company based here in Marloth Park. We keep the emergency red button close at hand at all times. But, these risks are rampant, even in cities throughout the US. Nowhere on earth is entirely safe, especially in and near the big cities.

It’s always a great joy to be able to watch their interactions with one another.

As for our next upcoming trip back to Zambia on August 16th, we’ve made plans for the following during our one-week stay:

August 16- Fly to Livingstone, Zambia, staying at the Protea Hotel by Marriott Livingstone for a total of six nights except for August 20.
August 20 – Transfer from Livingstone by land and by boat across the Zambezi River to Botswana
August 20 – Spend an entire day in Chobe National Park on safari with a break midday for lunch.  Stay overnight at the Chobe Safari Lodge.
August 21 – Spend a second entire day on safari on the Chobe River.  Transport via land and boat back to Livingstone in the evening.
August 21 to 23 – Stay at Protea Hotel, until the flight back to Nelspruit/Mpumalanga on August 23rd.

This is the spot where we stood watching the elephants, which was at quite a distance.

We’re excited to return to Zambia where we’ll spend several days working on our posts with hopefully exciting new photos, dining at our now favorite Zambian restaurants (we love the Zambezi Café) and touring the city which we didn’t have time to do last time we were there.

It appeared this young male was getting a “lesson” in elephant behavior.

We contacted the same tour operator again, Chris Tours, who’d done an excellent job for us last time and yesterday completed all the details for this upcoming trip. We highly recommend their services should you decide to visit Zambia to see Victoria Falls, Chobe National Park, Chobe River, Zambezi River and a wide array of high adventure experiences.

The cost of the one night at the Chobe Safari Lodge and the two full days of private safaris, both on land and the Chobe River is a total ZAR 12852 (US $939) which includes round-trip transport to the airport. This total doesn’t include air, the Protea Hotel, and meals (breakfasts are included). We’ll post all expenses on the last day of the trip, as usual.

Oops, gecko poop just landed on my hand, falling from the ceiling of the veranda. So it goes.

The scuffle continued for quite some time.

Today, we’re attending a new class with Marloth Park Honorary Rangers Uschie and Evan (who were here for dinner on Friday with HRs Sandra and Paul). We’ll report back on what we’ve learned tomorrow.

May your day be educational and interesting!             

Photo from one year ago today, June 20, 2017:

Greg, Camille, Miles, Madighan, and Maisie on the Jonathan Padelford on the Mississippi River on Father’s Day, one year ago. More family photos will follow. Click here for details.

Giraffe Day!!!…All seen in Marloth Park, not Kruger…Planning our next adventure…

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This lovely girl (determined by the hair on her ossicones) posed for a face shot.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

The adorable bushbabies move so quickly. It’s difficult getting photos in the dark. In this instance, we counted seven on the pedestal at once. Now we’ll try for eight.

No words can describe how exciting it is when we take our almost daily drives in Marloth Park, usually in the afternoon. “They,” say that we’re less likely to see much at that time of day, but we rarely go out without spotting some fascinating and magnificent wildlife during the two-hour drive.

The dirt roads are very bumpy, and at times, I hang on as we maneuver our way through deep potholes, crevices, and uneven roads. The tiny rental cars don’t handle these roads that well, and we certainly don’t want to damage the vehicle. Tom, the sound driver that he is, somehow manages to lessen the bumps along the way.
“Giraffe feet are the size of a dinner plate with a diameter of 30cm (almost 12 inches).”

As for the bouncing around, we’re both used to it, as are the residents of Marloth Park. Bumpy roads and wildlife are a way of life here, a small price to pay for what we’re all gifted to see every day.

Giraffes’ necks are surprisingly too short of reaching the ground. As a result, they must awkwardly spread their front legs to drink. Based on their vegetation diet, they derive most water from the leaves they eat and only need to drink every few days.

We don’t see giraffes each time we’re on the drive. Instead, we may spot them approximately 10% of the time. And, when we do, we can barely contain our enthusiasm. 

Unlike some wildlife, they don’t run off when they see humans and vehicles on the roads. Although one surely wouldn’t want to get too close since one swift kick can be fatal to humans and destructive to cars.  We always stay back a reasonable distance to respect their space and always give them the “right of way” when walking down or across the road.

This giraffe had five oxpeckers on its hide.

There’s so much to see right here in the park. We understand why some people we’ve met don’t necessarily go into Kruger often. For us, with our limited time remaining (eight months) in Marloth Park and the fact we purchased a one-year pass to enter Kruger (referred to as a “Wild Card”) as often as we’d like, we love seeing wildlife in both locations.

Driving around and finding giraffes in Marloth Park is indescribable.

On days we don’t go into Kruger, we take advantage of the opportunity to encounter so many marvelous creatures right here in our “garden.” When we were here four years ago, it was hard to get me out the door to go anywhere. 

Those three short months in 2013/2014 flew by quickly, and when we left, we knew it would never be enough. Now, over this extended period, we can freely come and go as we please, never worrying we’re missing out.  We have more stunning photos we took late yesterday that we’d never been able to see if we had been in Kruger. We’ll share those tomorrow.

She turned her head for an alternate view.

Today, we’re busy planning our tours and safaris for our next trip to Zambia and Botswana, for which we’re leaving on August 16th for one week. Due to visa restrictions, we have no choice to travel back to Zambia, as mentioned in earlier posts. 

This way, we can fly in and out of the small international airport in Nelspruit, where visa restrictions are easier than traveling through Johannesburg. Few visitors stay in South Africa for an extended period unless they apply for residency, which we didn’t want to do due to the complicated and time-consuming process that takes many months or even years to acquire.

 We were thrilled when we spotted this “tower” of five giraffes.

Once we firm up the details of these tours, we’ll post the information here. In the interim, we’re enjoying the planning. As for the distant future, we’ve had several inquiries about when we’ll be posting a new itinerary. 

“The giraffe is the tallest mammal in the world, standing at around 4-5m high (13-16 feet), and the tallest giraffes can be recorded up to 5.9m (19 feet). That’s over a meter higher than a double-decker bus.”

The last time we posted an itinerary was on January 7, 2018 (at this link).  But, since that date, we’ve made several changes that we’ll update in the next few months as we add more bookings and re-post an up-to-date and accurate itinerary. The itinerary you’ll see at the above link doesn’t include the Zambia and Botswana trips or the upcoming photo tour in Kenya next February.

“Despite being incredibly tall, giraffes still only have seven vertebrae in their neck – the same number as humans and most other mammals.”

That’s it for today, folks. We want to thank our readers for sticking with us during the somewhat repetitive experience. How many giraffes, warthogs, and kudus can you see? For us? There’s never enough. For many of you?  Not so much. 

Have a spectacular day!

Photo from one year ago today, June 19, 2017:

Wild turkeys are everywhere in the metro area in Minneapolis. Our friend Sue had shared this photo with us that she’d taken the morning before we got together in the evening. It was beautiful seeing our dear friend Sue and this turkey too! For more photos, please click here.

Things we can count on….

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“Zebras are very fast-moving animals and can reach speeds of up to 65 kmph (40 mph) when galloping across the plains. This is just fast enough to outpace predators such as lions. Foals can run with the herd within a few hours of birth.”

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

A sliver of the moon and the planet Jupiter as seen on Saturday night.

Last night, before sunset, while sitting at the big table on the veranda enjoying Father’s Day happy hour, we concluded…there are many scenarios in the bush that we can count on.

It isn’t a daily occurrence, but zebras stop by a few times a week.  It’s always fun to see them.

One by one, we reviewed these factors that are presented to us every day and night as we live in this lovely house, “Orange is More Just a Colour,” where we’ve settled into a comfortable and yet exciting routine.

Each zebra has its unique pattern of stripes. Also, a zebra’s stripy coat is thought to disperse more than 70 percent of incoming heat, preventing the animal from overheating in the African sun.

Whether it’s a social event, a game drive in Kruger, a trip away, or an evening on the veranda, just the two of us, enchanted by our surroundings, it all has become so familiar and meaningful, we keep asking ourselves how we got so lucky to be a part of this always interesting, always entertaining, life in South Africa.

We can always identify this zebra by this odd pattern on her right upper leg.

We giggled over the familiar events that occur each evening as we prepare the veranda for the evening’s activity which includes:
1.  Preparing a little cup of fruity yogurt for the bushbabies and placing it on their stand before 5:15.  They always arrive, jumping through the trees, no later than 5:30 pm.
2.  Plug in the light we purchased to illuminate the yard into the long electric cord reel.
3.  Ensure the fruit and vegetable container is filled to the brim with carrots and apples.
4.  Have the yellow container filled with pellets.
5.  Be dressed in warm clothing, so we don’t have to rush off to change and possibly miss something.

A pretty little sandbar on the Crocodile River.

6.  Prepare drinks, whether a glass of wine for me or a cocktail for Tom, or iced tea for both of us.
7.  Have everything chopped and diced for dinner, including salad and vegetables ready to be cooked and meat for the grill seasoned and marinating.
8.  Light the citronella candle along with using insect repellent on all exposed skin.
9.  Place a fresh battery in the camera after clearing all previously taken photos onto my laptop for future posts.
10.  Turn on a portion of the exterior lights prior and the balance after full darkness.
11.  Set the veranda table with placemats, napkins, plates and forks, and knives.
12.  Fill the birdseed with seed for “Frank and the Misses” should they stop by, which often occurs in the early evening.

Sunny midday view of the Crocodile River from the brick overlook.

Does it sound like a lot of work? For us, it isn’t. We both enjoy our roles in making all of the above transpire quickly and seamlessly. By 4:45 each evening, we both get into action, and by 5:00 pm, we can sit down and relax with our beverage of choice in hand and big smiles on our faces.

Here’s what transpires, every single evening that we can always count on, all of which makes us squeal with delight in its dependability as a nightly occurrence:
5:15 pm – Bushbabies fly through the trees toward the perch to the container of fruity yogurt.  For the few hours or so, the dozen or so that dwell in the trees go back and forth, taking little tastes while freely sharing.
5:30 pm – The Hadeda birds, a type of noisy ibis, flies overhead, making their loud ha-de-da sounds as they pass…not once in a while…but every night.
5:45 pm – Frank and the Misses made their loud squawking noises for about 30 seconds as darkness falls.
6:00 pm – Warthogs stop by for an evening snack, not necessarily the same warthogs each time, but warthogs, nonetheless.
7:00 pm – (Give or take a few minutes)…Duiker boy and duiker girl arrive, both very shy and interested in well-tossed pellets when they prefer not to come too close to the veranda.

The scenery on the river seems to change daily based on rain and the opening of the dam to increase water flow.

From there, the remainder of the evening is a mystery. No one may arrive, or dozens may come. It’s unpredictable. And, not unlike fishing, you toss in your line and patiently wait.

It’s during this waiting period that we cook our dinner on the grill, filling our plates with salad and cooked vegetables to be topped off by a great cut of beef, chicken, or pork. We’re never disappointed. Tom does an excellent job of grilling.

We rarely see waterbucks other than along the banks of rivers.

After dinner, we sit for a bit at the table or stay preoccupied with visitors and then quickly gather dishes to be placed in the separate kitchen where Tom will do the words, often to be finished after we come indoors for the remainder of the night. Here again, we don’t want to miss a thing.

Several waterbuck grazing on the fenced Marloth Park side of the river.

Usually, by 9:00 pm, we “call it a day,” pack everything up, finish the cleanup, and head indoors to watch one show on the TV screen using my laptop and our HDMI cord. 

A little tousling between the boys.

By 10:00 pm or so, I’m ready for bed, while Tom usually stays up until 11:00. We’re never bored. We never tire of this routine. And, we continue to find each of the predictable events exciting and exciting. Most weeks, we’re out for two nights for dinner or with friends. This break in our routine makes returning to it all the more enjoyable.

Although not necessarily similar to ours, I’m sure that most people’s routines are not too unlike ours in their familiarity and ability to incite a great degree of comfort and pleasure.

A youngster grazing with the adults.

May today’s and tonight’s routine bring you much joy, especially those “things you can count on.”

Photo from one year ago today, June 18, 2017:

Granddaughters Maisie and Madighan at the community center event while Greg went to find Miles after the parade ended. Other grandchildren photos are upcoming. For more photos from this date, please click here.

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads throughout the world…Crossing the road in Kruger and more…

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Crocs aren’t necessarily pleasing to the eye, but they’re an essential player in the food chain.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

Bushbaby heaven. Six on the pedestal with their nightly cup of fruity yogurt. Next, we’ll try for seven.
I often think of the two dads I lost many years ago; my biological father, who passed away when I was 12 years old from a horrifying accident at work, and my “second” dad, who passed from cancer in 1983. 

Both were remarkable men, husbands, and fathers whom I think of every year at this time and frequently throughout the year. When I realize it’s been 35 years since I’ve had a dad, it’s been a very long time.

One giraffe, crossing the road.

When thinking of dads in my life today, I think of my son Greg, stepson TJ, who are great dads, and of course, my dear husband, Tom. Often it’s assumed spouses don’t celebrate Mother and Father’s Day when they aren’t “their” parent, but somehow I’ve always attempted to make it a special day for Tom, as he’s done for me.

So, today, for all the fathers, grandfathers, and stepdads, we wish every one of you a wonderful day filled with love, and we hope your loved ones take a few minutes to make it memorable.

There’s something special about elephants crossing a road.

Tom reminded me this morning that the most amount of “collect” calls made in years past was on Father’s Day.  From this site:
“More collect telephone calls are made on Fathers Day than on any other day of the year. Fathers Day was the brainchild of Sonora Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington. His father, Civil War veteran William Smart, was a single parent who raised six children after his wife died during childbirth. Listening to a passionate Mother’s Day sermon in 1909, Sonora felt that a day was needed to honor his father and other father’s like his. So, he settled on June 19th (his father’s birthday), and the world’s first official Fathers Day was celebrated on June 19th, 1910.”

Once he reached the other side (yes, please note, it is a “he”), he wasn’t pleased to see us. At an opportune moment, we zoomed past him.

A simple phone call, preferably not collect (and not necessary these days with free calling), is all a dad needs to feel loved, remembered, and appreciated.  

What am I doing to make this day memorable for my husband? We don’t have room in our luggage for gifts and besides, what would I buy for him?  He doesn’t need a power washer, tools, a GPS for his car, or a putter for his golf clubs.  

A parade of elephants grazing in a lush green area.

There was no point in finding him a shirt, swimwear, or pair of shorts here in Africa. Traveling the world as we do, now for almost six years, we have no home, no car, and no sports equipment in this lifestyle. We’re trying to make the clothing we have now last until our next trip to the USA, where we’ll replace many of the few items we possess at that time.

Hmmm…this sounds like a typical day! Instead, I’ll work extra hard to make this day special by fussing over him a little more than usual, making a special romantic dinner for tonight’s time on the veranda, and attending to his every whim. Then again, he does the same for me.

Fish eagles are often spotted in Kruger National Park.

Last night, around 5:00 pm, we had a two-hour power outage. Since we usually start preparing dinner around 6:30, part of which we often cook on the braai (grill), we got out the candles and did as much as we could before dark around 5:45.

We haven’t seen Scar-Face in weeks and look forward to his return. Now, we have a particular affinity for Tusker, who’s very shy but practically swoons when I talk to him in a goofy high pitched voice, you know, the voice some of us use when talking to pets and babies.

Earlier in the day, I’d chopped and diced everything we needed for the meal, which proved to have been a good decision. By 6:00 pm, in the dark, we scrambled around in the dark kitchen with one candle burning, quickly pulling out everything from the refrigerator that we’d need for the meal.

Luckily, we had salad left from the previous night’s dinner party and vegetables, which we wrapped in tinfoil to make “vegetable packs” for the grill. Tom grilled his steak in the dark while I cooked fish on the gas stove.

A few bites of vegetation on a sunny morning in Kruger.

By 6:45, we were situated at the big table on the veranda, enjoying our meal and, of course, wondering if we’d be without power all night. Without light, we couldn’t see the considerable activity in the yard.

Rhinos aren’t the cutest animals globally, but it sure is fun to see them in the wild.

We heard a lot of snorting, rustling around in the dirt and the bush, and a wide array of sounds we didn’t recognize. We laughed out loud.  Here we were in Africa, outside in the dark with wild animals all around us, unable to see a thing yet having the time of our lives. Much to our delight and surprise, a few hours later, the power returned.

That’s life in Africa!

Happy Father’s Day to all!

Photo from one year ago today, June 17, 2017:

Granddaughter Maisie and Tom in front of Cost Cutters in Minnetonka, Minnesota. We arrived at 10:30 am but had to wait for the late-arriving employee. For more photos, please click here.

A fantastic evening with friends…Rhino Day!…

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 This short video illustrates females rhinos “thinking” about their next move.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

Tusker stopped by for a bit of a nap.

It’s Saturday morning, but somehow it feels like Sunday, most likely because we had a dinner party last night.  Everything is all cleaned up.  Last night, after our guests left, Tom washed tons of dishes, and this morning we put them all away. 

We had an exceptional evening filled with lively chatter sharing our mutual love of travel, wildlife, and nature, which seems to be the focus of most conversations between residents of Marloth Park.

Our delightful guests are all Marloth Park Honorary Rangers which added another layer of conversation we found particularly interesting and appealing.  Their dedication to protecting the health and well-being of wildlife, nature, and people is unstoppable.

This morning, I laundered all the placemats and napkins while Tom scraped the wax off the veranda floor that had spilled from a repellent candle when I accidentally bumped it while serving dinner.  All is well. 

Two female rhinos on the trail of a nearby male.

We never leave tasks such as these for Marta, instead of leaving the bed-making, floor-washing, and dusting. With the kicking up dust by wildlife in the “dirt garden,” there’s new dust on all surfaces every day. 

I’ve noticed lately when speaking to South African friends that they refer to their “yard” (an American expression) as a “garden.” However, there may not be anything growing of significance other than trees and the low-lying bush.

Some homeowners in Marloth Park have planted various plants, but if they want them to survive, they must enclose them, or the wildlife will eat them or trample on them.  Instead, many have chosen to go with the “dirt garden” like ours.  It’s more practical in this environment and requires less upkeep and maintenance.

Today, we’re sharing photos and another new video from our recent visits to Kruger National Park.  At this point, we’re both looking forward to our next outing to Kruger, after all the success (safari luck) we’ve had lately, especially in sighting the rhinos in today’s post.

And, here are the girls!  Not much is “girlish” about female rhinos!

Here are some fun facts about rhinos from this site:

“Did you know that the word rhinoceros is a combination of two Greek words: “rhino” meaning nose and “ceros” meaning horn? Various other animals have the word rhinoceros as part of their names because they all have horn-like appendages. For example, the rhinoceros fish or the rhinoceros chameleon!

1. Rhino horns are not bone but made of keratin – this is the same material found in hair and fingernails. The rhino’s horn is a compacted mass of hair that continues to grow throughout the rhino’s lifetime, just the way our hair and fingernails grow. The black rhino has two horns – the foremost is more prominent than the other – while the white rhino has more of a stump for a second horn.

2. Rhinos have thick, sensitive skin that can react to sunburns and insect bites – hence they love the mud as it acts as a sunblock and protects them from insects.

3. Tapirs, horses, and zebras are the closest relatives to the rhinoceros. These animals are the odd-toed ungulates – the rhinoceros has three toes on each foot, and their tracks resemble the Ace of Clubs!

4. The collective word for a group of rhinos is a “crash” of rhinos.”

5. Their horns are not used for defense purposes. They’d instead use their teeth to keep their opponents at bay. Black and white rhinos do not have incisors but rather have three premolars and three molars on each side of their upper and lower jaws.

6. With the consumption of large amounts of plants for nutrition, the rhino has got to get rid of the food somehow – this would be in the form of 23 kilograms of dung in a day! Did you know that each rhino’s smell is unique and can identify its owner? For example, a young rhino’s dung smells different from that of an adult, and a male’s poop smells different from a female’s. Rhinos communicate by using these piles of dung to leave “messages” for other rhinos. This is one way of marking their territory.

Two female rhinos were crossing the road.

7. The difference between the white rhino and the black rhino does not emerge from their color. The white rhino came from the word “weed” in Afrikaans, which means “wide” and describes its mouth. The English settlers in South Africa misinterpreted wyd for the word white and hence the white rhino. The black rhino got its name from the dark wet mud in its wallows that made it look black. But both the black and the white rhinoceros are grey.

8. The black rhino is a browser and gets sustenance from eating trees and bushes. With its wider mouth, the white rhino has a long flat upper lip that is designed to graze grass and prefers to walk with its enormous head and squared lips lowered to the ground.

9. Rhinos have a symbiotic relationship with oxpeckers – in Swahili, they are the “askari wa kifaru” – which means the rhino’s guard. The “askari” eats ticks and other insects that it finds on the rhino and creates a commotion when it feels any danger, alerting the rhino.

10. Most wild rhino calves will never meet their fathers – after mating, the male and female rhinoceros typically separate and move on. Once the calf is born, it will spend a few years with its mother but never meet its father.

11. Females will reproduce every two and a half to five years and remain with the calf for about three years.

12. Black rhinos prefer to eat at night or during dawn or dusk. When it is too hot, they take cover under the shade.”

This was the first time we observed rhinos crossing the road.

Each time we see rhinos in the wild, we are enthralled.  They aren’t always the easiest of wildlife to observe when they may be tucked away in dense bush areas.

While in the Masai Mara in Kenya in 2013 (returning in eight months), we couldn’t get as close to rhinos as we have in Kruger National Park on several occasions since our arrival in South Africa in February.  We feel very fortunate to have been “up close and personal” on several occasions and look forward to many more opportunities.

As for today, we’ll be heading out this afternoon for one of our frequent drives in Marloth Park to see what wonders await us during our usual two-hour drive.
We feel great and, we feel grateful. 

Have a great and grateful day!

Photo from one year ago today, June 16, 2017:

View of a bay of Lake Minnetonka from friends Connie and Jeff veranda when we were invited for a fabulous dinner. Connie’s a professional chef, and we enjoyed every morsel. For more, please click here.