Are you considering a holiday/vacation in magical Marloth Park, South Africa?…Check out this house!…

What a beautiful veranda at Tarentaal Cottage!
Braai seating area.
The pool is larger than most splash pools in Marloth Park.

Yesterday at noon, Louise took us to see a lovely home, Tarentaal Cottage, that Danie built about three years ago for a couple in Germany who visit periodically.

FOR MORE PHOTOS, VISIT LOUISE’S WEBSITE HERE FOR THIS LOVELY HOUSE AND OTHER PROPERTIES IN MARLOTH PARK.

The lovely and inviting lounge room overlooks the exceptional pool, veranda, and wildlife-visiting areas.
Alternate seating area in the lounge room.
Dining area.
Well-stocked and appointed kitchen with separate scullery.

It’s always interesting for us to see the holiday rentals Louise owns and manages in Marloth Park since we’d never consider renting from anyone but her. As we’ve mentioned many times in the past, no one we’ve ever met is as attentive, kind, and helpful to all of her holiday/vacation rental clients.

Primary bedroom.
Soaking tub in the ensuite bathroom.

She is truly the queen of hospitality. With her diligence and her husband Danie’s building skills as a professional builder, there’s no waiting to get things done when something unanticipated goes wrong.

Her houses are impeccable and well-appointed with every possible amenity, and many have alternate power sources to supplement during load-shedding (power outages).

The second bedroom has an ensuite bathroom and outdoor shower.

Her prices are reasonably priced for holidaymakers and include optional reasonably priced cleaning services, utilities, laundry service as needed, Wi-Fi, and purified water.

Here is Louise’s description of  the Tarentaal Cottage on her website here:

“Tarentaal Cottage

Tarentaal Cottage is a brand new, lovely, and modern cottage with two bedrooms en suite and air conditioning in both rooms.

The kitchen is fully equipped for self-catering, and there is a lovely indoor relaxing area with a huge glass window that looks outside for animal visitors. 

Outside is a vast furnished veranda with a pool and braai area.

All linen and towels are provided. Please bring your own swimming towels. Daily cleaning services are available on request and it cost extra.

The cottage offers free Wi-Fi and backup power to make your life easier during load shedding.”

Outdoor shower of ensuite bathroom in second bedroom.

The nightly rate for Tarentaal Cottage in ZAR 2000 is US $109.84, which is undoubtedly reasonable for the exceptional experiences travelers can anticipate in the unique surroundings of the exquisite Marloth Park Conservancy. If you are a nature lover and decide to visit Marloth Park, we’d be happy to assist you in answering any questions, even on a free WhatsApp call.

Outdoor dining area.

We’ve done this many times for countless readers who’ve decided to come here for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Of course, one must possess a passion for wildlife and nature. Kruger National Park is a 20-minute drive from the property, where you can see the Big Five and much more.

It’s a cozy spot for morning coffee.

Make Marloth Park your next holiday adventure!

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, March 21, 2015:

Oh, sun, what you do to us in our perpetual pursuit of the perfect sunset. This photo was taken in Kauai, Hawaii. For more photos, please click here.

The vernal equinox…Fantastic evening with friends…A five year anniversary of a memorable event…

Bossy was looking for me through the kitchen window while I was cutting carrots and apples.

Fall is finally here in the Southern Hemisphere. As we enter the season, the temperatures will drop and be cool and comfortable in about a month. Over the next five days, the weather is expected to be as high as a hot 96F, 36C. Regardless of the weather, we’ll still sit outdoors all day and part of the evening.

“The March equinox marks the beginning of autumn – and a shift toward winter – in the Southern Hemisphere. When is it? The sun crosses the celestial equator – a line directly above Earth’s equator – at 9:01 UTC on March 20, 2025 (4:01 a.m. CDT).”

A few nights ago, the garden was filled with over 20 animals, including seven species.

Last evening, we joined friends Roz and Les for dinner at their lovely home a few kilometers from us. We arrived at 5:00 pm and didn’t return to our house until after 10:00 pm. We had a fantastic time with this lovely couple. Seeing their house’s beautiful decor and design with modern attention to detail was fun.

We cooked delicious filet mignons on the braai and had salads on the side. Tom expertly made my thick cut of the meat perfectly, as rare as possible, after searing the exterior. It was fantastic. I can’t wait to have it again. Surely, we’ll buy more filets next time we go to the Butchery in the Bush Center. The 800-gram, 28-ounce chunk of tenderloin we’d brought and shared between us was only ZAR 186, only US $10.24. Unreal.

It was delightful to see so many animals visiting the garden.

The conversation was engaging as we discussed world affairs, travel, politics, and life in the bush. They are leaving soon for the UK, where their daughter is graduating from chiropractic school, and will return about the same time as we return to Marloth Park after our granddaughter Maise’s graduation.

Back at the house, we stayed up until after 11:00 pm and finally drifted off. I am still waking up in the middle of the night but able to go back to sleep within 30 minutes or so.

We couldn’t keep up with feeding them pellets. There were too many, and we didn’t want to see them head-butting one another.

Much to my relief, the medication Doc Theo prescribed is working. The side effects have abated, and I can breathe easily; the hay fever is under control, and my eyes aren’t itching. No words can describe how relieved I am. I will continue to take low-dose Prednisone for about ten more days and then reduce the dose further to stop it entirely. We’ll see how it goes, but I am hopeful.

Today is the fifth anniversary of the night in Mumbai, India, when we went to the airport at 3:00 am to board a plane to South Africa to escape COVID-19. While waiting to check in for the flight, after waiting for over an hour, we were informed that South Africa’s airports were closing. Here is our link to the post about when the ten-month stretch in a hotel room during lockdown in Mumbai began. What an experience!

The various herds stayed together while they grazed.

Louise will pick us up in about an hour to show us a house Danie built a few years ago. We will take photos to share tomorrow and include the rental fees should any more of our readers like to visit Marloth Park, based on the extraordinary experience we’ve continued to enjoy over the years.

Two wildebeests at the railing with Mac in the distance.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, March 20, 2015:

The sun attempted to peek out between the cloud cover in Princeville Kauai. For more photos, please click here.

It’s a beautiful morning in the bush…We’re busy with bookings!…

Note: Due to WiFi issues, we are having spacing problems we cannot repair..

Crooked Face returned to see us! He had a little trouble grabbing this carrot.

It couldn’t be a more perfect day. The weather is comfortable at 74F 23C, the sky is overcast, and the wildlife is abundant. We couldn’t ask for more, especially when Norman arrived again this morning. He stayed for over an hour, enjoying carrots, apples, and pellets. Annoyed with all the Big Daddies hovering, he finally took off.

The only thing annoying us is the sound of someone in the area using a generator as the sound wafts through the bush. We love the quiet sounds of the animals and the birds. Hopefully, soon, the noise will end.

Zebras don’t try to get too close to us. They need to get close to humans only for food, while many other animals seek to enjoy human interactions.

Living in the bush, one’s senses are acute. Every moment and every sound attracts our attention, and we never know what to expect when we hear new sounds. It’s terrific that Tom now wears hearing aids and can listen to the magical sounds of nature.

Zebras visit every day.

This morning, we had to get to work booking all the rental cars we’ll need while here, when we arrive in Minnesota at the end of May, and when we return to Marloth Park in June. We have locked in some fantastic pricing in South Africa, as low as US $400, ZAR 7308 a month, which is at least four times higher in the US.

Not Big Daddy, but whom we call “Medium Daddy,” who has some growing up to do to reach Big Daddy status.

Also, we arranged the picking up and dropping off time when our friend Lasa arrives on April 2 and leaves on May 1—booking three cars and coordinating the pickup and return dates is time-consuming, especially when we only book them for a maximum of 30 days with our credit card, covering the insurance for only the first 30 days.

Big Daddy kudu.

After all, we don’t have a car and subsequent insurance as an adjunct to renting rental vehicles. We figured out this workaround, but it requires returning the cars every 30 days and a long round-trip drive to the airport.

Also, today, Tom is booking cars for our final three months here, from June to September. We’ve yet to book a place to stay in Spain in September before our four cruises, but we have plenty of time. We’ll get to work on that sometime in the next 60 days.

Checking out the birdseed on the hanging rack.

We are going to a braai at friends Roz and Les’s home, a few kilometers from here. Soon, I’ll make a salad to bring and prepare our filet mignon to cook at their home. They offered to provide all the food, but we suggested bringing our meat and a salad. Few people eat such good-sized portions of meat or use homemade salad dressing as we do.

It’s too much work to ask the hosts to prepare anything special for us. In South Africa, it’s not uncommon for guests to bring their meat to a braai and a side dish to share. As always, guests bring their drinks, whether alcoholic or not. Tom will bring Lion beer, and I’ll bring a bottle of my low-alcohol red wine and some pre-made Crystal Light lemonade. I only drink two 5 oz glasses of the light wine and then switch to Crystal Light.

Drinking from the birdbath.

Today is the first day since I reduced the dose of Prednisone from 20 mg to 10 mg; after adding the new medication, I can breathe a little better. Last night was challenging. Hopefully, the new drug, Mont-Air, is kicking in and will prevent me from having asthma.

That’s our day, folks. We’ll be back with more tomorrow.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, March 19, 2015:

Tom and our dear friend Richard, who’s since passed away, toasting on St. Patrick’s Day in Kauai, Hawaii. For more photos, please click here.

It happened!…

After a fitful night’s sleep, Tom woke me up at 6:15 am when Norman arrived in the garden. I couldn’t get up quickly enough to see him.

What a morning. Last night, after taking the new asthma medication Doc Theo prescribed yesterday (see details below), I hadn’t slept more than a few hours, tossing around. Today will be a good day for a mid-afternoon nap.

When I walked outdoors in my pajamas after slipping on my shoes, I was thrilled to see him at our vacation/holiday home for the first time since we arrived 15 days ago. We’d seen him in Louise and Danie’s garden on Saturday, but it wasn’t the same. Now I know he’ll return frequently when he responds so animatedly to my voice and our iced cold apples and carrots.

Could he be any more regal?

His ears flipped back and forth, listening to me even when pellets were on the ground. Of course, once I cut up a plateful of carrots and apples, he knew he was in the right place.

So be it if carrots and apples are needed to entice him to visit. I can live with that reality. After all, he’s a wild animal, always searching for sustenance. Although there is plenty of green vegetation, the plants and trees the animals eat have been stripped bare after a dry season. Rain is badly needed.

I took many more photos but decided on the few shown today.

While Norman was here, warthogs, kudus, impalas, mongooses, bushbucks, zebras, and wildebeests were present simultaneously—seven species in totalHowever, I was preoccupied with Norman and couldn’t take my eyes off him.

He stayed for over an hour and finally headed out. We didn’t see Nina and the kids, but we surely will one day soon. He often grazes with his family. We’ll keep you posted.

He started fluffing his mane when a Bog Daddy jumped the fence.

As for what transpired at Doc Theo’s office yesterday, I am hopeful his asthma/allergy treatment plan will be successful and that I can get off Prednisone within a week or two. He prescribed a drug called Mont-Air, which has many side effects but can eliminate asthma, hay fever, and itchy eyes caused by allergens in the environment.

I took the first dose last night, which is recommended since It can cause sleepiness but also can cause restlessness and anxiety in some patients. I ended up with restlessness, feeling like I had a motor running in my body. I hardly slept all night. However, as the morning wore on, I felt better.

His ears flipped back and forth when I spoke to him.

Theo told me to take the new drug, use my regular inhaler and nasal spray, and continue the low-dose Prednisone for one week. After a week, I’ll cut the Prednisone in half and continue that for another week, all the while continuing with the new drug. Hopefully, when the Prednisone is out of my system, I’ll have the full effect of the new drug and be asthma-free.

Having severe asthma attacks is dangerous at any age, but even more so for heart patients and the elderly. I guess at 77, I am considered elderly. Good grief.

Notice his left ear flipped back when I talked to him.

With this new plan, I am my usual cheerful self and continue enjoying the wildlife, surroundings, and wonderful people we know.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, March 18, 2015:

A visitor was killed on this beach at the end of Anina Beach, in Kauai, a desirable beach only 15 minutes from Princeville. This was sad to see. For more photos, please click here.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day to those who celebrate…Off to Komati to see Doc Theo for the first time in two years…

What a beautiful animal!

Ah, it’s a beautiful morning. The sun is shining. There’s no breeze and the temperature at 10:00 am is 78F, 26C with an expected high today of 85F, 29C. The humidity is always high here, but it’s at a meager 60% with a dew point of 63, which is quite tolerable.

Wildebeest Hal and friends.

The wildlife is visiting, and often I am up and down, filling the 4-cup plastic measuring cup to the brim to feed them pellets. To keep the animals off the grass, which Louise is trying to grow inside the little fence, we’re trying to feed the animals at the railing/bench, as shown in the photos.

There are several calves in his herd of 12 who visit often.

But, they are persistent and used to walking right up to us on the veranda. They are bright and they will learn. The exception is the mongoose who seems to persist in coming up close and personal to ask for paloney. But they don’t eat grass since they are carnivores, and most animals are herbivores, only consuming vegetation.

Big Daddy kudu.

In about 90 minutes, we’ll leave for my appointment with Doc Theo to address my allergy issues. I’m still on a low dose of Prednisone to get me through until I see him. I will report what he’s suggested in tomorrow’s post. It will also be wonderful to see this dear man we’ve become close to over the years. He’s the only primary care physician we’ve had in 12½ years.

They are constantly scouring their surroundings for danger or food. Kudua are herbivores, only eating vegetation.

The Cleveland Clinic doctors suggested we get a primary care physician in the US, but now that we’re on the move again, it makes no sense when we’ll only spend a few weeks in the US every year. Neither of us cares to go to a doctor unless we need immediate treatment.

Wildebeest drinking from the pool after eating pellets.

After the appointment, we’ll go to the pharmacy to fill prescriptions while we shop for some odds and ends at the Spar market. The new SaveMor market here is good, but they don’t have many products we regularly use, such as sour cream, cream cheese, and various hard cheeses.

Today, we’ll purchase more carrots and some apples, hoping that Norman and his family will stop by. If he doesn’t, we’ll dole them out to the other animals, who love the ice-cold carrots and apples. We use a small amount of carrots in our salads, but neither eats apples or fruit other than occasional berries.

Mr. Bushbuck jumped the little fence to let us know he was hungry.

With our weight loss goals in mind, we avoid fruit, grains, and starches, except for a bit of almond or coconut flour required in specific recipes. Tom gave up eating rice for the time being since it prevented him from losing weight. Since he stopped eating it several days ago, he’s lost several pounds/kilos.

When Vusi washed many of our clothes we’d left behind, neatly folding each item, I was shocked to see how much more clothing we each left behind. Many of these items fit me since I gained weight after heart surgery in 2019. I’ve tried losing it many times but I’d lose a little and gain more, mainly due to medications I no longer take.

A mating pair of duikers. It’s that time of year.

I don’t overeat, snack, or eat unhealthy foods. It has been so frustrating not to fit into my clothes. Less than two weeks later, I am fitting into jeans I’ve never worn from the batch Vusi washed and dried. It’s as if I have a new wardrobe. Over the years of world travel, I’ve paid little attention to clothing besides trying to look put-together. Now, I have a renewed interest.

Once we get to the US in June, we’ll need to purchase some items for the upcoming four cruises. Who knew we’d ever have the opportunity to think about clothes for cruises. We are very grateful.

Our first sighting of a cute little male duiker.

Thanks to our many readers who write to us regularly, including Nicole, Thelma May, Gini, and many more. Your communication means the world to us. It’s always comforting to have friends from afar.

That’s my news for today.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, March 17, 2015:

Plumeria growing on the sparse tree in Kauai. Spring is in the air. For more photos, please click here.

Seeing an old friend!…A quiet Sunday…Wildlife in hiding with many weekend tourists…

It was hard to see Norman at first, but when I called his name, he turned his head to look at me. My heart skipped a beat! His youngest son is in the front of the photo.

Last night, we dropped off the keto cheesecake I baked for Louise and Donnie before heading to Jabula for dinner. Usually, I’d make a pie for myself, but I am doing great on my diet (so is Tom), and I didn’t want to sidetrack my progress. It was fun to sit and gab with them both for a while.

But no sooner had we walked into the door of their house/office, Louise grabbed me and said she had to show me something immediately. I followed her outside to their veranda and garden, and she said, “Look, there’s your boyfriend!”

And there he was with his wife Nina and two of their latest kids, whom I’ve yet to see and name. I called out to him in my high-pitched voice and he immediately snapped his head my way.

He stared at me for a few minutes and then turned to Nina, whom he was pursuing. It’s mating season again. They had two kids since we’d been gone for 23 months.

I can’t wait until he and his family make their way to our garden, which could happen at any time. I’m keeping a watchful eye on the bush.

It’s a tranquil day today, with only a few animals lingering in the garden. At this point, I see three bushbucks, one unknown warthog and a male kudu at a distance. On Monday, when the weekend holidaymakers return to their respective homes, the bush will be abundant with wildlife again.

It was so wonderful to see Norman once again.

Tonight’s dinner is prepped. Tom has bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin cooked on the braai, and I am having prawns and mussels in garlic wine broth. On the side, we’ll have a dish I prepped this morning: a keto mushroom, onion, egg, and cheese flan, along with a big cabbage and lettuce salad with tomatoes, carrot, celery, and homemade dressing.

We’ve been doing laundry this morning, half of which is done now. Every few weeks, I wash everything white in a tub with bleach. With all the dust in the air here, whites can lose their brightness and bleach can resolve this. When we take off our socks at night, we notice a line of demarcation between the white in the shoe and the tinge of brown in the exposed part.

Tomorrow, I have an appointment with Doc Theo to get something for my bad allergies. It’s disappointing that I’m having to deal with more health issues but hereditary inflammatory conditions such as heart disease, pre-diabetes and allergies have plagued me all my life.

My boy Norman is quite handsome.

No sooner than four days after we arrived, I started sneezing with itchy eyes and having asthma, I had no choice but to start a short course of Prednisone, as recommended by Doc Theo to treat the asthma when my usual medications didn’t work. In my 30s I had a seven-year course of allergy immunization injections which worked until 30 years later. But, their efficacy can wear off in one’s later years.

Hopefully, he’ll have some options for me besides Prednisone, which is not recommended for extended periods. We shall see. After the appointment, we’ll head to the pharmacy and Spar Merket for veggies and a few odd items.

That’s it for today folks.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, March 16, 2015:

Not wanting to awaken the sleeping monk seal, I kept my distance, although I’d have loved to see more, in Kauai at Napali Beach. “Known to native Hawaiians as ʻIlio-holo-i-ka-uaua, or “dog that runs in rough water”, its scientific name is from Hugo Hermann Schauinsland, a German scientist who discovered a skull on Laysan Island in 1899. Its common name comes from short hairs on its head, and it is said to resemble a monk. The Hawaiian monk seals are adopted to be Hawaii’s state mammal.” For more photos, please click here.

It’s a special day in our lives of travel…Last night, eight guys and me at the “Cheers-type” bar at Jabula…What a blast!…

My first ever attachment to an impala. This is Mac. He hangs around our garden throughout the day and night. Most often, impalas graze in herds. Max is the exception. He’s learning his name and the sound of my voice.

We uploaded our first post on March 15, 2012, 13 years ago as of today. You can read the first post here.

It was an exciting day to upload that first post. Although our site wasn’t entirely designed then, I did my best to make it readable. We made many errors, many more than we make today, but I genuinely believe our readers understand that posting as often as we do, a certain number of errors are to be expected, although we both proofread each day.

Today’s post will be number 4172. It is not exactly one post per day; there have been times when we couldn’t post or took a day off during the 13 years since we began sharing our story.

Although we posted on March 15, 2012, we didn’t begin our travels until October 31, 2012, 231 days later. But, we thought we needed to share the process of unloading everything we owned and the emotions associated with letting go of so much we knew and love, including family and friends.

Mongeese drinking from the bird bath after eating paloney..

In the beginning, we included a few photos—for many days, there were no photos. However, as time marched on and our experiences grew, we purchased a cheap little automatic camera at a Walmart in Mexico, with virtually no expertise in photography.

Over the years, our interest in sharing photos increased exponentially but my interest in photography never increased. Thus, as much as we’d like our photos to be perfect, we spend little time editing photos while gaining little knowledge about how to take great pictures.

Tom’s dinner at Jabula last night was 300 gr. rump steak, baked potato, sour cream (which I used), and green beans. He said it was delicious.

After spending so much time preparing posts and photos, once I am done for the day, I have little interest in using my laptop or learning about photography to a greater degree. It is what it is, and I do my best with my limited ability. We hope you all understand.

We’ve found we like to spend the balance of our days experiencing the world around us instead of being educated on a topic for which I have little interest and skill. As long as I can upload photos for our readers to see, I am content and experience no frustration or angst for this topic.

We have thoroughly enjoyed sharing our stories and photos over these past 13 years and hope you will continue to enjoy them with us. Without all of you, I’d have had little motivation to spend every morning of my life sitting at my laptop documenting almost every detail of our lives. For this, I thank everyone of you.

This grilled chicken salad will be a regular for me. It consisted of a Greek salad topped with tender grilled chicken.

On another note, last night we had another fantastic time at Jabula, the South Africa equivalent of the Cheers Bar from the TV series from 1982-1993, about a bar, “where everyone knew your name.” I felt like a prima donna surrounded by eight men sitting at the bar with us, commiserating over our love of the bush, nature and travel. Dawn, the lovely owner, stood behind the bar and joined in with all of us.

Two men were British, two were from Mozambique, and the remainder were South African. What a lively group! The animated conversation, laughter, and interaction amongst the group were palpable. When we left, we received hugs, kisses, and handshakes all around. Surely we’ll see many of them again.

As always, our food was fantastic. We ate sitting at the bar, as usual, never missing a beat in the lively conversations. It was a memorable night. More will follow tonight.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, March 15, 2015::

In Kauai, we watched the life cycle of the Laysan Albatross for months. The beaks of the Albatross are used for preening and signs of greeting. They may also be used aggressively if an intruder threatens them or the nest. For more photos, please click here.

The weekend has begun…Socializing on the menu…New wildlife video…

It’s a lovely day in the bush. The temperature is in the high 70s, and there’s a cooling, overcast sky, a gentle breeze, and less humidity than usual. With the cooler weather, considering there are many weekend holidaymakers, that reduces the number of animals we’ll see, we’ve had a steady stream of wildlife this morning.

We had a dazzle of zebras who seem to have become regulars along with several bushbucks, our now usual band of mongoose, a forkl of kudus, and our favorite impala, Mac, who’s often surrounded by his herd of impala. Impalas are generally shy, but Mac has taken a liking to us and visits us on his own several times daily.

We’ve yet to see my favorite animal, Norman the nyala, but have heard he’s been grazing across Oliphant, the main road in Marloth Park. Hopefully, he’ll eventually work his way back to our bush area soon.

Zebras stop by daily. Right now, there are eight of them in the garden.

A warthog came to visit that looked like Little, my favorite from 2018 when we stayed at the Orange house, probably a half mile from here. Again, we had him with us when we stayed in the Lovebird’s Nest house. When he showed up a few days ago, I could swear it was him, especially when he became animated when I talked to him while we made endearing eye contact.

My favorite female kudu, Bossy, arrived the day we arrived. I am sure she remembers me, my high-pitched voice, and my demeanor. Although wild, most of these animals are intelligent and can relate to humans, each in their own way. No words can describe how precious the relationships we develop with these wild animals are, not much different than humans would relate with their dog, cat, or other pets.

However, these animals are not pets and this is not a petting zoo. We do not touch, hand feed, or invite them into the house, although mongooses stick their heads inside the door to look for me when I cut little bits of paloney, a large roll of chicken, comparable to the texture of braunschweiger.

Today, I gave these zebras, iced cold carrots which they loved.

Each morning, I slice big rounds off the paloney and then cut it both ways into bite-sized pieces, placing them on a paper plate to toss as they wait in the garden. They squeal with delight when the paloney comes their way and this morning we took the above video to share with all of you.

We realize that over the almost six months we’ll be here, there will be considerable redundancy with an endless stream of photos and videos you may have seen in similar media years ago. After all, we’ve spent over four years living in the bush during our 12 years of world travel. We can’t get enough!

Soon, Tom will drop me off at my favorite local spa, Imbewe, where I will have a much-needed pedicure. I haven’t had one since the first week we arrived in Lake Las Vegas in December. I’ve done my best in the interim, but there’s nothing like a professional service. Also, it will be wonderful to see Patience and her husband, Doctor (not a doctor, just his African given name), after over two years since we’ve been gone.

My girl Bossy, remembered us right away.

Tonight, we’ll head to Jabula, our favorite place to spend Friday and Saturday nights. Of course, if other social plans arise, we’re certainly open to doing something else. But, here in Marloth Park, most people are retired, and particular days of the week don’t dictate when they should socialize. We’re invited to Roz and Les’ house on Wednesday for a braai. It will be fun to see them again.

That’s it for today, folks. Of course, we’ll be back with lots more. Tomorrow is a special day. Please check by to see what we’re celebrating!

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, March 14, 2015:

No photos were posted on this date in 2015.

Part 3…Kruger National Park photos…Grocery and egg prices…What are we spending on food?…

This mom elephant and her two youngsters were a delight to see.

The photos from Kruger weren’t as clear as they may have been if the wildlife had been so far away. It was a tough day in the heat when the wildlife tends to stay undercover to stay cool. Surely, we’ll return to Kruger each week as the weather cools and hopefully take better photos.

On another note, we grocery shopped last Sunday at Spar in Komatipoort and spent a total of ZAR 4867.67, US $264.90 plus another ZAR 1162.94, US $63.29 at The Butchery, the meat market in Marloth Park at the Bush Centre.

Elephant moving further into the bush.

The total for the next two weeks, considering we dine out two nights a week, is ZAR 6030.61, US $328.19, averages ZAR 3015.10, US $164.10 per week, assuming we selected the finest meats, vegetables, and dairy products we consume regularly.

Plus, with dining out at Jabula every Friday and Saturday, our bill is typically ZAR 918.78, US $50 each night. Thus, we spend another US $100 weekly, making our weekly food bill, including dining out twice weekly, ZAR 3934.07, $262.10. When we dined out in Minneapolis or  Lake Las Vegas, typically we spent at least twice as much for dining out.

It wasn’t easy to get good shots of the wildlife when it was a very hot day and the wildlife were readily visible, as they hid under cover in the bush.

When we compared our weekly grocery bills in the US, we paid at least twice as much as we do here. It’s incredible how much less costly it is to live here.

Of course, from time to time, we will go to the local SaveMor market in Marloth Park for fresh veggies for our salads and side dishes. We purchased these when we first arrived for US $12.90.

Spoonbill stork: The African Spoonbill is a long-legged wading bird. Its height is 90 cm (36′). Its body is predominantly white, except for its red legs, face, and bill. Its wings are 365-403 mm long. This bird can be easily identified by its uniquely spoon-shaped bill. At birth, the African Spoonbill’s bill does not resemble a spoon. It is born with a short beak that gradually develops into its spoon-like shape. It usually resembles a spoon right before it is time to leave its nest. Both the male and female birds are similar in appearance.

Yesterday, we had a fantastic time seeing Kathy and Don at their home on the Crocodile River. We arrived at 11:00 and left around 1:30 to allow them to get back to unpacking. It was wonderful to see them when it had been over three years since we dropped them off at the airport in Nelspruit to return to Hawaii for Don’s US medical care. They are thrilled to be back in the bush.

Surely, we’ll see them regularly during the remaining nine weeks until they return to the US. We have lots of plans to see friends while we’re here and then, the arrival of our friend Lisa in the beginning of April. We won’t be short on social activities, much of which transpires when we are at Jabula.

Notice the last item on this list is for a 24-pack of Alzu free-range eggs. They don’t carry pasture-raised eggs, so this was our best option. The price for the 24 jumbo eggs was ZAR 72.99, US $3.97, or almost US $2 a dozen, the same price we paid two years ago.

Last night, we booked our flights, hotel, and car in a good package deal with Expedia on our site. We’ll be leaving South Africa for Minnesota on May 24, arriving on May 25 (considering the seven-hour time difference), and fly back to Marloth Park on June 17, arriving on June 19.

Notice the circular marking on the waterbuck’s rear end. This is seen on both females and males.

We booked the same hotel we stayed in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, a rental car, and our round-trip flights. Fortunately, Maisie’s graduation isn’t until May 29, and the graduation party is on May 31. We’ll have four days to recover from the long flights before the festivities begin.

Waterbuck: This is a large, robust female antelope. Bulls have a shoulder height of 1.4 metres and can weigh up to 260 Kg. Cows are smaller than bulls. Waterbucks have a brownish-grey shaggy coat. The eyes and nose are patched with white, and there is a white collar under the throat. The rump has a characteristic white ring. The large rounded ears are a prominent feature. Only the bulls have long, forward curved horns. Both sexes emit a, not unpleasant, musky smell which typically lingers at resting sites.

With the weekend approaching, we’ll see fewer animals when a new influx of tourists arrives, often feeding them foods they love but are unfit for their health and well-being. This is sad.

That’s it for today, folks. We’ll be back with more tomorrow.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, March 13, 2015:

In Kauai, Tom spotted these two chickens. “Must have been a double yolker,” Tom clucked as I laughed. For more photos, please click here.

Part 2…Kruger National Park photos…Most turbulent flights in the world…

We spotted this Goliath Heron at the Sunset Dam: This enormous heron stands 1.5 meters tall and has a robust, dagger-like bill. The immature has rustier upperwings than the adult. Its flight is ponderous and labored. Goliath Heron inhabits large rivers, marshes, estuaries, and mangroves, hunting for large fish and other animals, stabbing them with an open bill. It has a distinct, barking “kowoork” call that can be heard from up to 2 km away. Purple Heron has similar plumage, but Goliath Heron is twice the size, has a much larger bill, and has a rufous (not blackish) top of the head. 
The photo wasn’t clear enough to determine this type of bird.

With concerns about flying after several recent crashes worldwide, travelers are more reticent about flying than ever. Educating oneself with statistics about flying can quickly allay some of those fears. Also, as in today’s article, knowing the more high-risk areas, airline ratings, and turbulence-prone flight patterns can put one’s mind at ease when making travel plans.

Small rapids as we drove across the bridge at the Sabie River.

On the other hand, a vacation or holiday is just that—a time to relax and unwind. If you are a terrified flyer, researching your intended route may put your mind at ease. Of course, turbulence can be a factor on any flight route or at any time. Remember that it’s a rarity for a crash or injury during even the worst turbulence. Keeping one’s seat belt on at all times reduces such risks.

Another view of the rapids at the Sabie River at Lower Sabie.
A Cape buffalo lying in the grass on the bank of the Sabie River.

From this article:

“These Are the Most Turbulent Flight Routes in the World—and No. 1 Flies Through Air Notoriously Called ‘Mountain Wave’

  • A turbulence tracking company mined data to identify the most turbulent flights in the world.
  • The most turbulent flight is a one-hour journey from Mendoza, Argentina, to Santiago, Chile.
  • The route passes over the Andes mountain.

A few jolts and bumps during a flight are expected, but specific routes have more than their fair share of stomach-dropping turbulence. A study from turbulence tracking company Turbli, reviewed turbulence forecast data from NOAA and the UK Met Office, to identify the most unstable flight routes in the world.

As always, I perused the offerings at the extraordinary gift shop, the best we’ve seen anywhere in the world. I didn’t buy a thing but it was fun to look around.

At No. 1 is the flight between Mendoza, Argentina, and Santiago, Chile, which has an eddy dissipation rate (EDR)—EDR is a turbulence intensity measurement of 24.684. That’s a full 4 EDR more than the second most turbulent flight route in the world: the flight between Cordoba, Argentina, and Santiago, Chile.

Another view of the shop.
The Mugg and Bean restaurant at Lower Sabie. We didn’t stop to eat due to our diets.
Starlings are often seen at the Mugg & Bean restaurant. They are prolific scavengers.

Turbulence is most often the result of weather or geographical features. The latter is most certainly the cause of the turbulence between Mendoza’s El Plumerillo International Airport (MDZ) and Santiago’s Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport (SCL). The one-hour flight passes directly over the Andes mountain range, which forces air to rise, creating waves and currents that lead to turbulence in the sky. The effect mountains have on the air above them even has an ominous nickname: “mountain wave.”

The sausage tree, scientifically known as Kigelia Africana, is a notable tree species native to tropical Africa, including South Africa. It is known for its large, sausage-shaped fruits and showy, dark red, trumpet-shaped flowers.
“Sausages” that fell from the tree to the ground

Interestingly enough, the top four most turbulent flights originate in Argentina.

A Cape buffalo on the bank of the Sabie River.

Coming in at No. 5 is the flight passing over the Himalayas between Kathmandu, Nepal’s Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) and Lhasa, China’s Lhasa Gonggar Airport (LXA).

Here is the full rundown of the most turbulent flight routes in the world in 2024:
  1. Mendoza (MDZ) – Santiago (SCL)
    EDR: 24.684
  2. Cordoba (COR) – Santiago (SCL)
    EDR: 20.214
  3. Mendoza (MDZ) – Salta (SLA)
    EDR: 19.825
  4. Mendoza (MDZ) – San Carlos de Bariloche (BRC)
    EDR: 19.252
  5. Kathmandu (KTM) – Lhasa (LXA)
    EDR: 18.817
  6. Chengdu (CTU) – Lhasa (LXA)
    EDR: 18.644
  7. Santa Cruz (VVI) – Santiago (SCL)
    EDR: 18.598
  8. Kathmandu (KTM) – Paro (PBH)
    EDR: 18.563
  9. Chengdu (CTU) – Xining (XNN)
    EDR: 18.482
  10. San Carlos de Bariloche (BRC) – Santiago (SCL)
    EDR: 18.475″

Soon, we are leaving to go see Kathy and Don at their house on the river.It will be wonderful to ee them after almost three years!

Be well.
Photo from ten years ago today, March 12, 2015:
It’s exciting to see many more flowers blooming in Kauai as spring nears. For more photos, please click here.