Oh, What a Night!…Welcoming friends to the bush!…
Buying a bale of lucerne was a great idea when Karen and Rich first walked into the house and saw a forkl of kudus standing at the veranda, especially an impressive Big Daddy, the size of which we hadn’t seen lately.
Their journey was long and exhausting, as we’d warned them, but they managed to get four hours of sleep on the second red-eye flight from London to Johannesburg after the unbearable ten-hour layover. Sheer exhaustion helped them to sleep sitting up in the uncomfortable airplane seats.
We’d expected them to need a nap and time to recover before dinner. Still, they were both so enthused about being here and enjoying the wildlife, and our lively conversation, that we all stayed up until midnight, sitting outdoors at the table on the veranda, bundled up in hooded sweatshirts and jackets in the cool 55°F, 13 °C weather.
We’d had a fantastic night commiserating about the events in our lives over the past few years, since we’d last seen each other in The Villages, Florida, in 2023. Of course, Karen and I stayed in close touch regularly, over the almost 13 years since we began traveling the world.
When the driver drove them through the park on the way to our vacation home, they saw many animals, including giraffes, along the road. Then, when they arrived at our house, a bevy of various species graced us with their presence throughout the remainder of the afternoon and the evening.
No words can describe how exciting it is to share the wonders of Marloth Park with friends or family, especially those who have never been to Africa before. It’s a never-ending thrill ride of sheer awe and appreciation for the magical world around us, seen face-to-face like never before.
One can certainly see photos and watch videos of wildlife that take one’s breath away. However, nothing compares to seeing the animal’s attentive gaze into our eyes, creating an indescribable connection that is never expected.
It’s almost 10:00 am, and they are both still sleeping. When they awake, I plan to make mushroom, cheese, and onion omelets for all of us for a late breakfast, after which we will plan our day and evening. Neither of them is interested in embarking on any tours.
We’ll go to the river, visit Kruger National Park, and take a guided night game drive with dinner in the bush. This will allow them to experience many of the local restaurants we enjoy, especially Jabula on Friday and Saturday nights. They’d prefer to do whatever we enjoy doing while living in the bush, perhaps even joining us at Quiz Night on Tuesday.
No doubt, we’ll all have a great time as we share this magical place with friends we’ve loved and enjoyed for many years.
Be well.
Photo from ten years ago today, June 29, 2015:
Today, our friends arrive!…Excited to see them and share this wonderland with them…
Over the past 36 hours, I’ve been texting back and forth with Karen, providing support as they’ve had layovers on their way to South Africa. They had an over ten-hour layover in London, more than we had with nine hours almost two weeks ago when we returned to South Africa from the US.
They have just arrived in Joburg with a three-hour layover and will then fly on Airlink to Mpumalanga/Nelspruit/Kruger Airport. They should arrive here in about five hours.
Given that it takes almost two full days to travel from the US to South Africa and back, we’ve often discussed how few Americans we’ve met in the bush over the years. Considering that travelers from the US spend almost four days traveling to and from South Africa, it’s no wonder that we rarely encounter Americans in Marloth Park.
Often, Americans book their flights and accommodations through a travel company; they rarely know about Marloth Park and thus promote it. On rare occasions when we meet Americans, we often ask them how they discovered Marloth Park. In most cases, it was through someone they knew who had been here.
Additionally, when Americans visit this general area, they typically end up booking one of the tented camps in Kruger National Park, which offer a range of accommodations from luxury to basic, with options in between. Typically, they spend three to five days in Kruger and then take off for tours in and around Johannesburg or Cape Town.
Alternatively, if they have time constraints, such as returning home for work or other obligations, they may stay for a total of ten days and then return to the US.
Of course, many of our readers and friends who have come to Marloth Park after reading our posts have stayed for extended periods, like us. However, we’ve never known anyone who has spent as much time in Marloth Park as we’ve, other than those who have purchased homes here and become permanent residents, including South Africans from various locations and citizens of different countries who have come here and fallen in love with it.
Here’s an updated overview of how many Americans travel to various countries each year, including South Africa:
U.S. International Travel Statistics
🔹 Overall U.S. Outbound Travel
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Nearly 100 million Americans traveled abroad in 2023, similar to pre-pandemic levels (~98 million in 2019).
🔹 Popular Destinations (U.S. Visitors per Year)
| Destination | Annual U.S. Arrivals |
|---|---|
| Mexico | ~39 million (2023) |
| Canada | ~10 million (2023) estimated from monthly ~2M |
| United Kingdom | ~5 million |
| France | ~5 million |
| Germany | ~4 million |
| Italy | ~4 million |
| Spain | ~3.8 million |
| Japan | ~3 million (2024) |
| South Korea | ~1 million |
| Dominican Republic | ~3 million (pre‑COVID estimates) |
South Africa
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In 2023, 353,975 Americans visited South Africa (Jan–Dec) — a 35–40% increase from 2022 news24.com+14sanews.gov.za+14www-statista-com.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au+14.
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In 2024, the U.S. remained South Africa’s top overseas market, with 372,362 arrivals, up 5.2% from 2023. (Source: sanews.gov.za, +4gov. za, +4travelandtourworld. com)
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Little birds pecking at seeds that fell from the birdfeeder.
Regional Summary
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North America (Mexico + Canada): ~50 million U.S. tourists annually.
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Europe (UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain): ~20 million.
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Asia (Japan, South Korea, others): ~4 million.
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South Africa: ~0.37 million in 2024, ranking among the top long-haul destinations from the U.S.
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Caribbean & Central America (Dominican Republic, etc.): ~3 million.
Key Insights
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Nearly 100 million Americans travel internationally each year.
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Mexico and Canada are the dominant destinations, with approximately 50 million U.S. visitors combined.
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Europe draws around 20 million, led by the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain.
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Asia is gaining, with ~4 million, including around 3 million to Japan.
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South Africa, as a long-haul destination, welcomed ~370,000 Americans in 2024.
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Dominican Republic attracts around 3 million U.S. tourists annually.
We’ll be back tomorrow with more and will continue to post while Karen and Rich are visiting.
Be well.
Photo from ten years ago today, June 28, 2015:
We’re back…Busy days and nights…
Not only have we had dinner guests and been out two of the last three nights, but our days have also been busy preparing everything for our dear friends Karen and Rich’s arrival tomorrow afternoon. After all the years we have talked about them visiting us in Africa, it is finally coming to fruition.
Tuesday evening, we participated in Quiz Night at Giraffe Pub & Grill and had a fantastic time as usual. The questions were tough, and with Tom not feeling well, he couldn’t contribute as much as he usually did. (Thank goodness he is fully recovered now and has had plenty of sleep.)
Thrilled I didn’t catch whatever he had, I am energized and ready for our upcoming guests. They are in the air now and will chat with us along the way. We expect them to arrive in Marloth Park around 4:00 pm tomorrow, Saturday.
On Wednesday evening, our dear friends who live in Marloth Park joined us for dinner and a delightful evening spent chatting outdoors, first at the bar and later at the table. Surprisingly, it wasn’t too cold in the evening, and we all stayed comfortable without hoodies or jackets.
Now that June 21st has passed, we are entirely into winter here, and cold mornings and evenings are to be expected. By the time we fly to Spain in September, it will start warming up again. In the meantime, the daytime weather is perfect, mild, not humid, and comfortable.
Last night, we joined Louise and Danie for dinner at Bos Restaurant in the Bush Centre, located across the parking lot from The Butchery. There were only a few options for me on their menu, so I ordered grilled calamari and a side salad, which was fine.
Today, we’re doing a pile of laundry that accumulated over the past week. It’s a sunny day, so it should dry quickly. We wanted to complete all our household tasks before our guests arrive. We still have a few more chores to complete around the house before their arrival.
By the end of today, we should be all set. Tomorrow, I’ll work on prepping for dinner. We are serving filet mignon steaks with sautéed mushrooms, baked potatoes, and Greek salad, accompanied by bread and muffins. Karen is gluten-free, which will be easy for us to ensure.
Tom just brought in the first big load of laundry, which I will now hang outside on the portable clothes rack. We should be done with laundry by noon. Afterward, I will head over to Louise’s office, the Marloth Park Info Centre, to help her set up her new laptop while she’s busy with tourists stopping by with lots of questions.
Tonight, we’ll return to Jabula for dinner, but we won’t be back for our usual Saturday night dinner, as Karen and Rich will be arriving and most likely will be too tired to go out.
Be well.
Photo from ten years ago today, June 27, 2015:
No post today… Busy preparing for guests…
Practical tips for saving money when booking international flights…
Note: Due to a local WiFi issue at the moment, I can’t access the link, and some of our usual editing isn’t possible at this time.
As we mentioned in the past, we most often book flights, both domestic and international, using the link to Expedia on our site, located on the right side of the page, where we typically receive the best pricing, especially when booking a hotel and rental car, as a package.
Here are practical tips to save money when booking international flights, whether you’re a seasoned traveler or planning your first big trip:
1. Be Flexible With Dates and Destinations
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Fly mid-week: Tuesdays and Wednesdays tend to have lower fares.
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Avoid peak seasons: Summer holidays, Christmas/New Year, and local school breaks hike up prices.
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Use tools like Google Flights or Skyscanner to explore the cheapest dates and destinations using the “Flexible Dates” or “Everywhere” search.
More giraffes have come for a visit.
2. Book at the Right Time
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Best booking window: 2–6 months in advance for international travel.
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Use fare alert tools (e.g., Kayak, Hopper, Google Flights) to track price drops.
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Avoid booking too early (more than 8 months ahead) or too late (less than 2 weeks before).
3. Consider Alternative Airports
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Fly into a nearby city: For example, fly to Brussels instead of Paris, or Milan instead of Venice.
- Depart from different airports: If you’re near multiple major hubs, check them all (e.g., JFK vs. Newark, LAX vs. San Diego).
4. Use Regional Carriers or Budget Airlines
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Book a cheap international flight to a central hub, then use a regional budget airline for onward travel (e.g., Ryanair in Europe, AirAsia in Asia).
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Be mindful of baggage fees and tight layovers with low-cost carriers.
5. Mix & Match Airlines
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Don’t limit yourself to round-trip tickets from one airline. Use tools like Skiplagged, Kiwi.com, or Momondo to find cheaper combinations of one-way tickets or multi-city itineraries.
6. Use Miles or Travel Rewards
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Use points/miles earned from travel credit cards (e.g., Chase Sapphire, Amex, Capital One) to book or offset international flights.
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Sign up for frequent flyer programs even if you don’t fly often—it adds up.
7. Know the Luggage Rules
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Low-cost international flights may not include checked baggage, seat selection, or meals.
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Avoid surprise costs by reading the fine print and flying light when possible.
8. Clear Your Browser or Use Incognito
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Fare prices can increase with repeated searches—clear cookies or search in Incognito mode to avoid dynamic pricing.
9. Consider “Open-Jaw” or Stopover Flights
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An open-jaw ticket lets you fly into one city and return from another, often cheaper, and enables you to see more.
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We’ve had countless animals in the garden over the past several days. Some airlines offer free or cheap stopovers in their hub cities (e.g., Icelandair in Reykjavik, Emirates in Dubai).
10. Use Aggregators but Book Direct When Possible
Start with aggregators like:
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Google Flights
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Skyscanner
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Kayak
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Momondo
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Then check the airline’s website for the same fare—sometimes it’s cheaper, and it’s easier to change or cancel later.
We have found that we can spend several hours researching for the best possible pricing. For us, it’s worth the extra time we spend to accomplish this.
Today, friends Roz and Les are coming for dinner. We’re making bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin with sauerkraut, seasoned rice, Greek salad with homemade dressing, and homemade blueberry muffins. Plus, we’ll put together a platter of biltong, sliced cheeses,
Photo from ten years ago today, June 25, 2015:
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| A lone explorer on the secluded beach in Trinity Beach, Australia. For more photos, please click here. |
More vital travel news…Lots of visitors…
As much as we’d like to drift away from travel warnings, we feel it is imperative, at this time, to alert our readers to potential risks as they embark on travel throughout the world, including in the US. Even if this possible cease-fire is instituted and held, there is still a lot of hate toward Americans and citizens of other countries, which could result in terror attacks at any time.
Avoiding large crowds and venues that attract large groups should be a priority, along with taking personal responsibility to always check one’s surroundings. Please take a moment to read the article below. Doing so may save your life and the lives of those you love, as well as others.
Here’s an article from Travel and Leisure posted yesterday on this site.
“The U.S. Just Issued a Global Travel Warning—What Travelers Should Know About the Worldwide Security Alert
Here’s what you need to know to make your next trip as safe as possible. By Stacey Leasca
- The U.S. Department of State issued a rare worldwide security alert on June 22, urging Americans to exercise increased vigilance while traveling abroad.
- The advisory warns of potential disruptions to travel, regional airspace closures, and demonstrations targeting U.S. citizens.
- Travelers are encouraged to review country-specific advisories, register with the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, and follow the additional safety tips available on the U.S. Department of State’s website.
The U.S. Department of State recently issued a rare security alert for all Americans to exercise caution while traveling abroad.
On Sunday, June 22, just one day after the U.S. bombed three nuclear facilities in Iran, the Department of State posted a notice on its website stating that the “conflict between Israel and Iran has resulted in disruptions to travel and periodic closure of airspace across the Middle East.” It also noted that there’s a potential for demonstrations against U.S. citizens and interests to occur abroad, and that American travelers should exercise “increased caution.”
It then directed travelers to its country-by-country advisory page, which provides in-depth details about destinations and their perceived safety worldwide. However, it’s critical to note that this global advisory differs from the department’s “do not travel” warnings.
As Travel + Leisure previously reported, the Department of State issues advisories for nations around the globe based on four levels to help travelers understand and assess the potential risks involved in visiting specific destinations. The first level means to take standard precautions, Level 2 means to exercise increased caution, Level 3 means to reconsider traveling to that destination, and Level 4 means “do not travel.” There’s a lot of nuance between each of these levels, and determinations are often based on diplomatic and logistical conditions, rather than on-the-ground limitations.
There’s an array of safety information for all kinds of trips available on the Department of State’s “Traveler Information” page, including specific safety tips for women travelers, students studying abroad, those with dual nationality, and cruise ship passengers. It may be a good idea to check it out before you book your next vacation.
However, the Department of State wasn’t the only agency to send out an alert on Sunday. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security also issued a similar bulletin, which isn’t set to expire until September. The notice warned that “low-level cyber attacks against U.S. networks by pro-Iranian hacktivists are likely.” It also added that the likelihood of “violent extremists” organizing and mobilizing in the U.S. could increase if a religious ruling calling for retaliatory violence were issued.
In light of the new global advisory, you might want to take specific steps to mitigate your risk. While abroad, stay vigilant about your surroundings, especially in crowded areas, and always have a contingency plan in place. Before you leave, consider registering with the free Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to get up-to-date health, weather, safety, and security information about the country you’re traveling in. The program also enables the Department of State to contact you quickly in the event of an emergency.
As Gene Petrino, co-owner of the security consulting business Survival Response LLC, previously shared with T+L, a bit of risk could be okay—if you take the proper precautions.
“Travel advisories are just one input,” Petrino said. Monitor local news, talk to hotel staff, and stay flexible. And most importantly, trust your instincts. If something feels off, it probably is.”
Now, after all these posts regarding travel safety, we will return to our usual array of topics in tomorrow’s post unless there are more urgent warnings to heed. No doubt, we have some concerns about airports and travel, but at this point, we aren’t changing any of our plans.
Be well.
Photo from ten years ago today, June 24, 2015:
Should you avoid travel now?…Travel warnings…
Thanks to our readers for their well wishes for Tom and the positive response to yesterday’s post. See here.
Today, we can’t help but feel we must address travel during these challenging times.
Travel advice as of June 2025: Amid the escalating Israel–Iran–U.S. crisis, governments and airlines strongly advise against travel to most of the Middle East.
Government Warnings
- U.S. Department of State has issued a Worldwide Caution and Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory for Israel, Gaza, the West Bank, Iran, Lebanon, Iraq, and Jordan due to war, terrorism, and civil unrest
- Other countries (e.g., Australia, UK) have similarly updated travel advisories to “do not travel” for conflict zones like Israel, Iran, Palestine territories, Iraq, and parts of Lebanon .
Travel Disruptions
- Many Middle Eastern airspaces remain closed, including Iran, Israel, Iraq, and parts of Jordan and Syria. Major carriers like Emirates, Etihad, Flydubai, Air Arabia, Qatar Airways, British Airways, and even Qantas are rerouting or canceling flights.
- Airports such as Ben Gurion in Israel and Tehran’s Khomeini/Mehrabad are grounded or closed, stranding tens of thousands of travelers.
These little birds are eating seeds that a kudu tipped off the feeder.
Regional & Global Risks
- Ongoing missile and drone attacks—with attacks targeting civilian areas—in Israel and Iran increase the risk of sudden escalations.
- Threats to U.S. citizens abroad, including protests, cyberattacks, and extremist activity, have triggered global alerts .
- The Strait of Hormuz remains a concern, with implications for oil prices and shipping routes.
- This bird appears to be an oxpecker.
What Travelers Should Do
Postpone non-essential travel to the region. If already there:
- Stay registered with your embassy (e.g., the U.S. STEP program, the Australian Smartraveller).
- Avoid airports, protests, public gatherings, and border crossings.
- Prepare an emergency exit route (overland routes through Turkey, Armenia, Jordan).
- Monitor official government and airline updates constantly.
Traveling in—or through—the Middle East right now is extremely risky. Most governments officially advise against all travel, and airline and airport closures are widespread. Unless you have a critical reason to be there (e.g., urgent work, personal emergency) and a flexible exit strategy in place, it’s best to stay home or postpone until the situation stabilizes.
Photo from ten years ago today, June 23, 2015:
How insignificant are our endless stories in light of world affairs…
As we listen to news from around the world, we are deeply concerned by current global affairs. It’s terrifying for those in the path of ongoing warfare and dreadful in another way for those of us contemplating what could transpire worldwide.
Our simple daily posts don’t touch upon these horrific topics, and by no means does our lack of addressing these topics diminish the effect on us as we live in countries outside our own.
We strive to stay informed while continuing with our everyday lives, but not discussing it here does not indicate apathy or a lack of concern. Our hearts break for those in the path of destruction and have lost their lives, lost their loved ones, been injured, and lost their homes, sense of well-being, and personal sense of safety.
No words we can write can express the magnitude of what is transpiring in the world. But, our simple posts about our lives of world travel may present a momentary respite for those of our readers who are feeling the terrors of developing situations.
No, we won’t delve into the politics of these devastating scenarios, nor will we discuss our opinions on what our leaders should and shouldn’t do. Doing so is beyond the scope of our intentions in sharing the daily details of our travel lives.
We will continue to post in our typical style. Whether you find it a respite or not, we welcome you to continue visiting us each day, knowing that the love and compassion in our hearts and minds are genuine, especially since we’ve spent so much time coming to know and admire citizens throughout the world.
And thus, we continue…
It’s almost noon here, and I spent the better part of the morning prepping dinner for tonight. Tom is definitely under the weather with the flu or a bad cold and has gone back to bed for more sleep. The long journey took a toll on him, and he hasn’t been himself since we arrived in Marloth Park five days ago.
I have been feeling fine since we arrived and have had plenty of sleep, although I haven’t been able to fall asleep according to my regular schedule. For the past four nights, I’ve stayed awake until 1:00 or 2:00 am, but slept until 8:00 or 9:00 am, which is unusual for me.
Hopefully, Tom will fully recover by the time our friends Karen and Rich arrive in six days, and, of course, I’m hopeful that I won’t catch what he has. Fingers crossed.
Be well.
Photo from ten years ago today, June 22, 2015:
Summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere…WiFi came back this morning…Meat market blast…
“The June 21st date refers to the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, not an equinox. It marks the longest day of the year and the beginning of astronomical summer. The term “equinox” refers to a point where day and night are of equal length, which occurs during the spring and autumn equinoxes.”
Gosh, being without WiFi is a big hassle for us. Not only were we unable to prepare a post, but we also couldn’t look up information that came to mind throughout the day and evening. Fortunately, yesterday, early in the day, there was a weak enough signal for me to post a notice that the WiFi was out.
But that weak signal soon disappeared, and we had no signal at all. The fault was all the way to Komatipoort and included thousands of users. It was tough during the night, as I had trouble falling asleep and didn’t nod off until 2:00 a.m. On the other hand, Tom has been having awful issues getting enough sleep since we returned.
His first night here was good, but Wednesday and Thursday nights were awful. He didn’t sleep more than two or three hours each night and was exhausted. Additionally, he was experiencing symptoms of a cold, including frequent coughing, sneezing, and a runny nose.
Doc Theo had given me a prescription for Ambien to use when we were trying to sleep on the plane. Neither of us took it, but I thought last night would be a perfect time for Tom to take a pill when he went to bed. It worked! He slept through the night and feels more rested today, although he still has cold symptoms.
Hopefully, he’ll be better by next Saturday, when friends Karen and Rich arrive from Florida. Of course, I am staying as far away from him as I can, praying I don’t get it. He’s using a nasal spray, cough medicine, and antihistamines. Having pulmonary fibrosis only exacerbates the coughing. Thank goodness, he quit smoking nine months ago.
A few days ago, we went to The Butchery to purchase a variety of meats, as shown in the photos. As always, we were thrilled with the excellent prices on protein sources in South Africa. The prices are comparable to the prices we paid in the US 30 or 40 years ago.
Now, we have plenty of meat to last while Karen and Rich are here and will only need to make a trip to Komatipoort next week to round out some items they use that we don’t consume, such as orange juice, fruit, milk, and more. We’ll ensure that we have everything they typically eat while here, as long as it’s available at the Spar Market.
Of course, we’ll be dining out often, but typically they eat breakfast and lunch. Today, I made Tom breakfast, hoping he wouldn’t eat so much candy from the remaining 11-pound load, as he had been doing over the past several days. I have returned to my OMAD (one meal a day) eating routine, which consists of a single meal rich in nutrients.
Now I can lose the 5 pounds, 2.3 kg, I gained back while in the US, eating “big” food often twice a day. I even succumbed to eating snacks during the day and evening, all healthy, but way too much food for me. This style of intermittent fasting may not be suitable for everyone, but I feel my best when I eat only once a day. Please check with your medical professional before you embark on such a plan.
Last night, we headed to Jabula for dinner. It was such fun to spend time with Dawn and Leon, owners of the lodge and our dear friends. We had a fantastic evening.
Tonight, we’ll return to Jabula again for dinner. I suggested we stay in tonight since Tom is under the weather, but he insists he’ll be fine going out again. I am feeling good and rested.
That’s it for today, folks. We’ll be back with more tomorrow.
Be well.
Photo from ten years ago today, June 21, 2015
