Part 2…Kruger National Park with friends from US…Exciting experiences and photos for first time visitors!…

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Kady (Karen’s nickname) took this excellent elephant photo in Kruger National Park.

Today, we continue with photos from our fabulous visit to Kruger National Park on Monday. Since Kady and Rich have only used their iPhones to take photos, I loaded all the images I took with my camera onto a flash drive for them to take home. I will add to it as we go along, so they will have the complete record of everything we saw during their 17-day stay.

Hippo at Sunset Dam in Kruger.

They have MacBooks (Apple products) and don’t have USB ports, and didn’t bring adapters to load photos. That’s one reason we never opted for Apple products. We prefer to have ports directly on our PC for HDMI, photos, flash drives, and USB plug-ins. It’s interesting how users tend to be either attached to Apple or Windows products, reflecting their personal preferences.

Last night, the four of us had a great time at Quiz Night. We didn’t win, but we placed in the middle of the pack among the eleven tables, each with three to six players. Daphne was the moderator and did an excellent job, but her questions were tough, tough, tough! The six of us in our group didn’t have a chance.

Several hippos bask in the sun and water at Sunset Dam.

As it turned out, there was only a spread of four points between first and last place. Nonetheless, Kady and Rich loved it and will join us again next week. They enjoyed the ambiance, the people, the laughter, playing the game, and the food. It’s a great way to share one more fun event with our guests.

A yellow-billed stork at Sunset Dam is a common occurrence.

Today will be a quieter day. We’re staying in for tonight’s dinner, making two well-seasoned flatties (chicken cut down the middle and flattened) with roasted vegetables, baked potatoes, and a huge Greek salad. Most likely, after all of us are done working on our laptops, we’ll play the Five Crowns card game once again.

Elephants were making their way to the river.

This morning we had many wildlife visitors in the garden, including Norman’s second son, Nathan. We made sure to provide him with a variety of delicious vegetables, fruit, and pellets, and we expect he’ll return soon. We haven’t seen Norman since our guests arrived, but we hope to see him soon.

More hippos, enjoying nap time on the bank of the lake at Sunset Dam.

Giraffes walked through the garden very early this morning, according to our trail cam, but unfortunately, none of us was up that early after we stayed outside until 1:30 am. When we finally wandered off to bed, I wasn’t able to fall asleep until around 2:30 and awoke at 7:30. I may try for a little nap of about 20 minutes once I finish and upload today’s post.

It’s such a delight to have our friends here. We are enjoying every moment. The time will surely go too quickly, and then they will be gone, taking with them unforgettable memories of their time in the bush. We are grateful to share this adventure with them.

That’s it for today, folks!

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, July 2, 2015:

There was a wide array of ocean going boats at the marina in Yorkeys Knob, Australia. For more photos, please click here.

Part 1…Kruger National Park with friends from US…Exciting experiences and photos for first time visitors!…

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View of a tower of giraffes as seen from the veranda at the Mugg and Bean.

The joy of sharing this magical place with friends Karen and Rich, especially as first-time visitors, is hard to put into words. With the hope of providing them with a memorable experience in the bush, we are keeping them busy with activities we know they’ll love.

We’ve been friends with them for many years, and our shared interests are easy to tap into, ensuring that what we suggest will appeal to them. So far, they are exhilarated by everything we’ve done, and our days and nights have been full.

Most of all, Karen and Rich love the endless stream of wildlife, actually squealing with child-like wonder every time one of many species steps into our vast garden. Rich has already narrated over 20 videos thus far, bringing expertise to the content, having worked as a part-time actor in TV commercials in the US.

A lone hippo was exiting the river.

Karen, a still-working intellectual property attorney, possesses a mastery of words and an intellect that inspires her to learn as much as she can about every species, making it exciting for us to share what we know and work together to research answers to her many thought-provoking questions.

Additionally, the four of us easily engage in lively conversation, interspersed with roaring laughter. On several occasions, we’ve had to temper our uproariously loud laughter to respect the integrity of the bush. It’s so much fun having them here.

We’d hoped that elephants would cross the road in Kruger, and we were delighted that they did so twice during our five hours in the park.

Yesterday, we had the glorious experience of embarking on a self-game drive/safari into Kruger National Park. Tom drove expertly through the areas we explored, avoiding potholes and treacherous roads to ensure we encountered no issues. Plus, his expert manipulation of the little car allowed them to take good photos from several angles.

Karen and I sat in the backseat with Tom and Rich in the front. Rich is tall, but we all managed to be comfortable during the five hours we spent in the park.

Crossing over the bridge over the Sabie River, we spotted this monitor lizard.

We stopped at Lower Sabie, had a fine lunch at the Mugg & Bean, and they both loved shopping in the best gift shop we’ve seen in the world. Tom and I have been to Lower Sabie countless times in the past, but were happy to wait for them while sitting at a nearby picnic table with no pressure for them to hurry.

After we returned from the park, we continued to enjoy the abundant wildlife in the garden while playing a favorite card game, Five Crowns. I won, and they made fun of me for doing so, which elicited even more laughter. We cooked burgers on the braai, accompanied by a big Greek salad I had made, which they loved. By 10:30, all of us admitted we needed to get some sleep after two nights, since they arrived on Saturday.

A hippo mom and baby on the Sabie River.

Soon, we’re off to Komatipoort for Karen and I to have “girl time” at Stoep Cafe for breakfast while the guys head to the golf course for lunch. Rich is an avid golfer and looks forward to checking out the local course.

Tonight, we’re off to Giraffe Grill and Pub for Quiz Night. I signed us up for our usual team, I & J, and six of us will play tonight.

Enjoy our Kruger photos, with many more to follow in the next few days.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, July 1, 2015:

We selected a filet from this batch.  Keep in mind that for those of you reading from countries not using the metric system, AUD 32.50 per kilo translates to approximately 2.2 pounds, which would be US $14.77 per pound. This is not too bad for fresh (never frozen) wild-caught fish. We purchased about one pound, of which Tom had 9 ounces and I had approximately 7 ounces. He loved it!. For more photos, please click here.

Oh, What a Night!…Welcoming friends to the bush!…

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A trail cam photo of a genet ready to pounce on the leftover piece of filet mignon from last night’s dinner.

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.

Young kudus are pretty adorable, as are the adults.

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.

Many kudus came to call after Tom spread the lucerne in the garden. They ate the lucerne but also waited at the veranda’s edge for pellets.

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.

Trail cam photo of zebras munching on lucerne.

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:

The sidewalk along the beach in Palm Cove, Australia. For more photos, please click here.

Today, our friends arrive!…Excited to see them and share this wonderland with them…

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Several impalas in the garden.

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.

Three of four giraffes in the garden.

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 was the fourth giraffe looking for anything to eat that may have fallen on the ground.

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

  • 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)

  • 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.

  • 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)

  • Little birds pecking at seeds that fell from the birdfeeder.

Regional Summary

  • North America (Mexico + Canada): ~50 million U.S. tourists annually.

  • Europe (UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain): ~20 million.

  • Asia (Japan, South Korea, others): ~4 million.

  • South Africa: ~0.37 million in 2024, ranking among the top long-haul destinations from the U.S.

  • Caribbean & Central America (Dominican Republic, etc.): ~3 million.

Key Insights

  1. Nearly 100 million Americans travel internationally each year.

  2. Mexico and Canada are the dominant destinations, with approximately 50 million U.S. visitors combined.

  3. Europe draws around 20 million, led by the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain.

  4. Asia is gaining, with ~4 million, including around 3 million to Japan.

  5. South Africa, as a long-haul destination, welcomed ~370,000 Americans in 2024.

  6. 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:

This was one of our favorite spots, located on William Esplanade in Palm Cove Beach, Australia, since the colors reminded us of the village in Placencia, Belize, from so long ago. For more photos, please click here.

We’re back…Busy days and nights…

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Our boy Norman has been stopping by frequently. He loves the sweet potatoes, apples, and carrots, but is less fond of the pellets. He looks healthy and well-fed.

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.)

Here is Nina, Norman’s partner. She either visits with the kids and grandkids or on her own. On occasion, she’ll visit with Norman and the entire family.

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.

Take a look at the tusks on this big warthog, Tusker. We no longer feed warthogs, which is disappointing, but they are very destructive, especially during this drought. We can’t possibly feed them enough.

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.

Hal, our favorite wildebeest, stops by now and then.

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.

Giraffes are always welcome in the garden.

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:

The view of Palm Cove beach, in Australia, from the pier. For more photos, please click here.

Practical tips for saving money when booking international flights…

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Lots of little birds were enjoying the bird feeder.

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

  • Fly mid-week: Tuesdays and Wednesdays tend to have lower fares.

  • Avoid peak seasons: Summer holidays, Christmas/New Year, and local school breaks hike up prices.

  • 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

  • Best booking window: 2–6 months in advance for international travel.

  • Use fare alert tools (e.g., Kayak, Hopper, Google Flights) to track price drops.

  • Avoid booking too early (more than 8 months ahead) or too late (less than 2 weeks before).

3. Consider Alternative Airports

  • 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).
Mac has numerous friends who hang out with him now.

4. Use Regional Carriers or Budget Airlines

  • 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).

  • Be mindful of baggage fees and tight layovers with low-cost carriers.

5. Mix & Match Airlines

  • 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

  • Use points/miles earned from travel credit cards (e.g., Chase Sapphire, Amex, Capital One) to book or offset international flights.

  • Sign up for frequent flyer programs even if you don’t fly often—it adds up.

At one point, there were about 25 kudus in the garden.

7. Know the Luggage Rules

  • Low-cost international flights may not include checked baggage, seat selection, or meals.

  • Avoid surprise costs by reading the fine print and flying light when possible.

8. Clear Your Browser or Use Incognito

  • 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

  • An open-jaw ticket lets you fly into one city and return from another, often cheaper, and enables you to see more.

  • 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:

    • Google Flights

    • Skyscanner

    • Kayak

    • Momondo

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:

A lone explorer on the secluded beach in Trinity Beach, Australia. For more photos, please click here.

More vital travel news…Lots of visitors…

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This morning, three giraffes stopped by: a mom, a dad, and a baby.

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.

We never tire of seeing giraffes in the garden, let alone the many other amazing wildlife that come to the garden.

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

 Published on June 23, 2025
  • 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.

It was early this morning that Tom captured these photos of the three giraffes.

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.

After eating from the taller trees and checking out the surroundings, they wander off.

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.

There were many kudus in the garden this morning, including this female and male.

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.

We counted 30 animals in the garden this morning.

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.

Zebras have been hanging around all morning.

“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:

I stepped out of the car to take this shot. Tom reminded me that passengers on the ship had told him that the ocean is murky at most beaches in Australia, as opposed to the clear, crisp blue waters of Hawaii and other islands. Here’s an article about the murky waters surrounding the Great Barrier Reef. For more photos, please click here.

Should you avoid travel now?…Travel warnings…

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Zebras visit frequently.

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.

A hornbill at the bird feeder.

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:

Aussies we met on the ship suggested we try kangaroo meat. I haven’t convinced myself to try this yet. Tom is not interested. For more photos, please click here.