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The neighborhood in Marloth Park is even more charming than imagined…Our visit to Daisy’s Den…

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The bird feeder with two sections, into which we placed the two different seeds. So far, no birds. But as they say with bird feeders, one must be patient. 
“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”
We visited Gail and Mark on Sunday to discuss a story we’ll be posting later this Friday about the stunning and heartwarming book Gail wrote, “Her Name is Missy,” of their time in Liberia during the worst of the Ebola epidemic and her heroic rescue of a chimpanzee named Missy.  Please check back on Friday for the story.  We loved seeing the birds they feed at their home and holiday lodges across a small river road.  The visit prompted us to purchase a bird feeder and seeds.
Yesterday afternoon, we decided to purchase a bird feeder after our Sunday afternoon visit to Gail and Mark Fox at their holiday lodge and a lovely home overlooking the Crocodile River in Marloth Park, as we flipped over all the birds that visited their property.
 
After our exceptional experience with birds at our holiday home in Costa Rica many months ago, we were thrilled with the idea of attracting birds to our Marloth Park holiday home.
This decorative fountain is outside the door of Daisy’s Den, a feed store in Marloth where we purchased the bird feeder and seeds.  The owner told us that some patrons would try to shut off the water!  Hahaha.
Once Josiah arrived to wash the veranda and clean the pool, during which we always get out of the way, it was a good time to hop in the little car to head to Daisy’s Den, where Mark and Gail purchase their seeds and supplies.
Daisy’s Den and Wildlife Centre carries a wide array of animal feed and outdoor and indoor products appropriate for life in Marloth Park.
Our lives aren’t always about the “big things.” We often find great interest and joy in the “small things,” such as in our visit to Daisy’s Den. Tucked away at the end of one of a few shopping areas in Marloth Park, we remembered this shop from four years ago where we purchased pellets during our three-month stay, which at the time had different owners.
 
Now with Mark (not Mark Fox) having purchased the property a few years ago, we were delighted to make purchases in the well-stocked and organized shop in an attempt to support local businesses. This is always very important to us.
Another Mark has owned the popular shop for the past few years with his son John working with him.
Sure, at times, prices may be higher in local shops than those in the bigger cities and towns. Still, when considering time, fuel and convenience is often a priority to us to play whatever small role we can in not only buying products from local shops but also in writing a little about them in the process, as in today’s story.
 
Marloth Park is a small town, a Conservancy, distinct in its wildlife, people, and politics. We chatted with owner Mark and his son John, both of whom we’d met at the snake handling course on March 10th. At the time, we had no idea they owned Daisy’s Den and were delighted to see them again.
Daisy’s Den also carried handmade crafts, many made by locals.  We spotted Gail’s book, “Her Name in Missy,” also for sale in the charming shop.

Yes, even in this remote natural setting, politics becomes a factor among many of the locals.  Opinions vary on how this unique environment should be managed and handled, and at times, like most townships, not everyone agrees.

The shop carries a few items found in a pharmacy (including a few souvenirs) since it’s a long drive to the pharmacy in Komatipoort.
However, during our overall year in the park, we choose to stay out of local government and its highly charged politics. We’re here to learn about the wildlife, enjoy the companionship of the local people and immerse ourselves in other areas of Africa we’ll visit from time to time.
There are household goods and a variety of lawn and garden chemicals and products.
We thoroughly enjoyed our time at Daisy’s Den but w we were anxious to get back to our holiday home to hang the bird feeder. Although there’s a ladder here, I discouraged Tom from using it.  Instead, he used a long pole he’s been using to scare off the baboons and gingerly placed the feeder on a branch, as shown in the above photo.
We purchased two types of seeds hoping to attract a variety of birds.
In no time at all, the feeder was situated on a tree close to the veranda with easy viewing from our usual spots at the big table. We won’t miss a thing. Hopefully, soon, we’ll be able to enjoy more bird visitors than we’ve seen flying through the bush thus far. We’ll see how it goes.
We purchased the wooden bird feeder and two bags of seed at the cost of ZAR 215 (US $17.94). We couldn’t wait to get back to set it up.
Sharing our stories and photos along with way enhances our experiences in a way no words can describe. We only hope our readers continue to enjoy the less-than-astounding aspects of life in the bush, the small stories, and the simple pleasures that we encounter almost every day.
Located immediately next door to Daisy’s Den is Mark’s wife Tracy’s sewing and embroidery shop.
May your day’s simple pleasures bring you much joy.

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

Painted performers at Circular Quay in Sydney, Australia. For more photos, please click here.

Health update…Figuring out solutions…

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A kudu was nursing her baby in our yard.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

A White Helmetstrike perching near an unknown species of a blackbird.

Since we settled in South Africa, we’ve had many of our readers inquiring as to how I’ve been feeling after the awful knee injury in Buenos Aires and my continuing gastrointestinal issues. We both appreciate the inquiries and concern, constantly feeling our readers are so kind and in touch with what’s going on with us.

First off, I don’t particularly appreciate sounding like a medical mess. Who does? We all prefer to present a degree of health and wellness when we’ve made a concerted effort to be healthy, taking a certain amount of pride in good results.

One of many in the area, this termite mound s over 2 meters (6 feet) tall.  A variety of animals eat the termites from the mound.

In a perfect world, we can waft into “old age” with a modicum of good health. However, due to heredity, history and past injuries, many of us are plagued with certain conditions that, regardless of how hard we may try, continue to be a presence in our lives. Most of these “conditions” so to speak, only worsen as we age.

Since we began our travels almost 5½ years ago, I’ve been subject to three health situations, that regardless of how hard I tried, had to be dealt with the best way I could:  one, the problem with my gastrointestinal health from eating octopus in Fiji on Christmas Day, 2015; two, the injury to my spine in the pool in Bali which took five months to fully heal (no recurring problems); and three, the injury and subsequent infection in my knee from a fall in Buenos Aires in January, 2018, (since fully healed).

Ms. Warthog rolling around in the hay pile.

The only remaining issue has been gastrointestinal which initially became a case of H. Pylori (Helicobacter Pylori), gastritis and eventually ulcers which have plagued me consistently for over two years.   

The H. Pylori resolved after having had a blood test in Tasmania and being prescribed the usual “triple therapy” of significant doses of two types of antibiotics and a proton pump inhibitor (PPI).  In many cases, even after this extensive treatment, one can end up with ulcers, which may require the continuation of a PPI indefinitely.

A  single mongoose gets an egg.  We purchased a container of 60 eggs for this purpose.

As a result, when I stopped taking the PPIs (omeprazole) while we were in Costa Rica I still was experiencing ulcer pain and knew I had to continue them for an extended period which is now over six months ago. 

After reading about serious side effects of taking PPIs long term, I’ve been determined to stop taking them when I wasn’t explicitly feeling any ulcer pain although I still had bouts of bloating, discomfort and other symptoms you can well imagine which can be a result of side effects of the pills. 

These tall cone-shaped structures act as scarecrows to keep birds away from banana trees.

Recently, I decided to stop the PPIs and see what happens. Now, that we’re settled here in South Africa and not traveling until May, this was a good time as any. 

As it turns out, stopping long-term (or short-term) treatment with PPIs causes a “rebound effect.”  The gastrointestinal tract has been signaled by the drugs to stop producing stomach acid. Without adequate stomach acid (hydrochloric acid, HCl) food is difficult to digest, causing bloating, pain and diarrhea,  constipation or both. It’s a catch 22.

With the grounds of our rental consisting mainly of low-lying bush, we don’t expect giraffes to come into the yard unless they wander down the dirt driveway. Giraffes prefer to graze where they don’t have to be continually ducking trees and branches. Subsequently, we drive around Marloth Park to find them.

Two weeks ago yesterday, on March 4th I abruptly stopped the pills. A week passed, no pain, no issues. During the second week, the burning started which I must admit has been almost unbearable. The reason for this is, without the drug, the stomach begins pumping excessive amounts of HCL to compensate for the lack of the drug. With the way the pills are made, there’s no way to taper the dose.  

Eventually, the amazing body will generally correct itself and a normal and adequate amount of acid will be produced, sufficient enough to handle the assimilation and digestion of food. Via comments on many medical sites, this process can take from two to six months to fully resolve.  I’m two weeks in.

Francolins often visit us.  They are shy, run very fast, fly very little and make lots of noise during the day and early evening.

It hasn’t been easy but I have to stick with this. After seeing three doctors for these issues in Tasmania, all with varying opinions and treatment options, I felt getting off this drug is of utmost importance, especially since I no longer feel any specific ulcer pain. 

The burning sensation of the excess acid my body is pumping to compensate for no longer shutting down acid production from the medication, comes and goes throughout the day and night. In the past week, I haven’t slept more than five hours at night and often find myself pacing in an attempt to stop the discomfort.

We may not see them each time we take a drive but we’re always thrilled when we do.

Nothing I eat or drink makes any difference although I am trying a low acid, bland diet within the framework of my usual way of eating. Last night, I had mildly seasoned sauteed liver, onions, mushrooms and steamed vegetables for dinner while Tom enjoyed homemade low carb pizza.  We’ll have leftovers tonight.

Hopefully each day it will become a little easier. I’m hoping it won’t require the two or more months to work itself out. In the interim, we’re staying upbeat and busy with many social events and activities, all of which are a good distraction. 

We’ve only had one wildebeest visitor to date but have seen others in Marloth and Kruger.

No words can describe how much I’m looking forward to being free of this. But there’s no better place to be during this time…loving life in Marloth Park, among our animal and human friends, all of whom provide a plethora of “feel good” hormones that certainly aid in the recovery.

So, there it is dear readers, the answer to the thoughtful inquiries many of you have kindly sent our way, the answers in one fell swoop. Tom, as usual, is lovingly supportive and has the uncanny ability to keep me laughing, living in the moment and looking optimistically to the future.

Vervet monkey are prolific in Marloth Park and are considerably less destructive than baboons.

May each of you enjoy good health and a sense of well-being. As we all know, above all else, nothing is more important than making every effort to maintain good health.

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

Cloudy night at the Sydney Opera House when we attended an opera we’d booked well in advance for excellent seats. For more photos, please click here.

Part 1…Harrowing, exciting and frustrating day in Kruger National Park…A staple gun dictated “safari luck!”

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Upon approaching this scene, we weren’t quite sure what was going on.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

Vultures in a tree in Kruger are on the lookout for a meal.
Vultures were relaxing after a meal in Kruger.
After working on yesterday’s post for only a short while and, with the sun shining on a cooler day, we said, “What the heck! Let’s head out to Kruger for a few hours and see what we can find! We’ll finish the post when we return by 1:00 pm or so.”
By 10:00 am, we were on the road. On our past entries into Kruger, we found two to three hours was plenty of time to see some wildlife, take photos, and return to our entrance point, known as the Crocodile Bridge Gate.
Upon closer inspection, it was apparent; the boat trailer couldn’t fit across the Crocodile Bridge, our means of exit after a day in the park.

There are nine entrance gates to Kruger, each of which is many kilometers from one another. If one enters one location, unless they have plans for another area, they generally exit from the same gates. 

However, like us four years ago, on our way to the Blyde River Canyon, we exited from a gate considerably further north than our entry point at the Crocodile River, which is close to Marloth Park. 

Lots of lookie-loos stopped to view and comment on the situation. Based on this scenario, there was no way anyone was getting in or out of Kruger via this bridge.

Based on our current location, it takes approximately eight minutes from Marloth Park and another 12 minutes to reach the Crocodile River gate. This 20-minute drive seems to pass quickly while we chatter with enthusiasm over entering Kruger once again.

Since we recently purchased an annual pass that pays for itself after six uses, we have no doubt it will have been a worthwhile purchase during our remaining 12 months (off and on) in Marloth Park.

This was the first of over 30 elephants we watched cross the road.  In the distance, difficult to see, was the most enormous matriarch we’d ever seen. Had we been 10 minutes earlier, we may have seen her. 

Why would we go to Kruger instead of staying in Marloth Park when we have so much wildlife right before our eyes?  If you’re one of our many newer readers, we’ll explain. In Marloth, generally, we don’t have the big five; elephant, lion, cape buffalo, leopard, and rhino.

Had we been 10 minutes later, we’d have missed the entire parade of elephants crossing the road.
However, from time to time, lions enter Marloth Park as they have most recently, so all residents must keep an eye and ear out to ensure their safety. There’s always been a ban on walking in Marloth after dark, which is particularly important right now. 
There were numerous babies of varying ages in the “parade” of elephants. We were so close, little to no zoom was required to capture these photos.

Based on the lion attack story we posted this past week on March 11th, about Jonas, who was attacked by a lion years ago, one can never be too cautious. Click here if you missed that post.

By 10:20, we presented our “documents” at the Crocodile entrance gate. After the usual five-minute processing time, including inspecting the trunk for guns, alcohol, or harmful substances, the bar was lifted, and we gained access to the park.

At first, we thought there might be a dozen, but they kept coming and coming.

There are many roads one can choose in the park, but there are only a few paved roads, which to complete in a full circle may require a full day of driving to end up back at the entrance. As a result, like many others, we choose to embark upon some of the bumpy dirt roads.

Is the viewing better on the dirt roads?  Not necessarily. The wildlife may be close to the paved road or any of the myriad bumpy dirt roads. It’s not as if the animals prefer one road or another when they are often on the roads for only a short period, preferring to head back into the bush for food, shelter, and safety.

Only one other car enjoyed the experience with us.  We were on a very bumpy dirt road many visitors to the park might have avoided.

By about noon, after we’d seen only a bit of wildlife, mostly impala, of which we have many in Marloth Park, we felt that our usual “safari luck” may not be present. We accepted this fact, acknowledging that sooner or later, such a day would occur. For once, we were about to experience less than a successful day.

With a map in hand, we planned our route to make a complete circle leading us back to the Crocodile Bridge gate with a plan to get back “home” in plenty of time to complete the day’s post and head to Jabula in time for happy hour and dinner. 

We practically held our breath as they made their way across the dirt road.

Little did we know what lay ahead. First off, the bumpy dirt road we’d chosen for the route was in poor shape with what Tom referred to as a “washboard” surface. Oh, good grief! It was bumpy indeed.

The little car rattled more than I’d ever heard a car rattle, at a few points, even amid Tom’s careful driving, sounded as it was ready to fall apart and leave itself on the road in a pile of cheap metal. 

This elephant to the left turned to look at us, wondering if we were a threat.  We were prepared to back up at any moment.

But, oh, this wasn’t the worst of it. The fact we hadn’t seen much in the way of wildlife to fuel our enthusiasm, the car’s five-speed transmission, coupled with the outrageous road, made for one unpleasant drive. Wait, more is yet to come.

Finally, once we exited the gate and neared the bridge, we couldn’t believe the scene before our eyes. The narrow one-way bridge was blocked by a car hauling a boat. The trailer became stuck between the low support posts, intended to keep vehicles from driving off the bridge into the dangerous Crocodile River (hence, its name). The trailer’s wheels were wider than the bridge itself.

After several had passed, she turned to look at us directly. Had she started moving toward us, we’d have high-tailed out of there.  Elephants have been known to topple over cars, crushing them in the process.

When we arrived at the scene, we were one of maybe three vehicles hoping to cross. Within about 10 minutes, 12 to 15 vehicles lined up with drivers and passengers getting out to check out the situation and perhaps, offer their two cents worth of advice, none of which would be effective without some major equipment coming to the scene.

We waited, waited, and waited. There was no way any of us would be getting across this bridge anytime soon. We had a decision to make…sit here and wait for what certainly would be hours or attempt to get out of the park via another route, the closest gate being Malelane Gate, 60 kilometers (37 miles) from our current location. 

She kept watching as more came across the road.

On the slow unpaved roads, we expected the drive would take an extra 90 minutes. Plus, when we exited through the Malelane Gate, we’d have another 49 kilometers (30.5 miles) to return to Marloth Park. Most likely, we’d be back at our place by 2:00 pm or so. We decided to leave rather than sit for hours at the blocked Crocodile Bridge.

Then, of course, we had to regain entrance into the park. The person handling documents didn’t speak English well and had trouble understanding why we needed to get back into the park to exit via Malelane. 

Although not the matriarch, she may have been second-in-command. When she saw this tiny elephant and another baby crossing, she focused even more.

Finally, the gate agent figured it out, and he dug out our original documents but needed to staple the paperwork together. There were no staples in his staple gun, nor the next booth, nor in the next booth, and after about five or six minutes, he rousted up some staples. It was this delay…staples…that influenced an upcoming next experience.

Little did we know or anticipate that the dirt roads we had to take to get to the Malelane Gate were considerably worse than the bumpy dirt roads we’d experienced earlier. I can honestly say we’ve never traveled on a “washboard” road to this extent. If I thought the car was falling apart earlier, this wasn’t good. We couldn’t wait for the long ride to end.

Once she saw they were safe, she backed off, joining the others on the left side of the road. We’d practically held our breath during the entire crossing, thrilled and excited for the experience.

But then…amid our frustration (no, Tom didn’t get overly grumpy, but then, I wasn’t necessarily “overly bubbly” although we both were staying on an even keel), safari luck kicked in. Before our eyes, a scene we’d experienced four years ago and had dreamed of seeing once again lie before our eyes…the dozens of elephants crossing the road as shown in today’s photos.

Had it not been for the delay in finding the staples, we would have missed it.  We couldn’t stop smiling while rapidly taking photos as we watched this magical scene transpire before us. Of course, the first thing we said was, “Safari luck” rewarded us for the harrowing drive and the delays at the Crocodile Bridge.”

Mom and baby wildebeest were walking along the road.

The story doesn’t end here. But tomorrow, we’ll share the balance, a story of making mistakes, taking wrong roads, and choosing a ridiculous shortcut that only cost us more time and frustration, all of which, we must admit, was softened by this scene of the elephants, all due to a staple gun’s missing staples. 

We never made it to Jabula for dinner last night. We’ll go tonight instead. After all, I’m married to an Irishman and today is St. Patrick’s Day (also son Richard‘s birthday. Happy b’day Richard!), and indeed we’ll have some fun at Jabula tonight!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all who celebrate and be safe in the process!

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

This cockatoo stopped by for a visit, alighting atop Bob’s medicinal Papaw tree in the yard. For more photos, please click here.

The miracle of life in the bush…What a wonder!…

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And, there she was, Ms. Bushbuck, on the bottom step of our veranda with her precious newborn, proudly showing her off.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

This newspaper article appeared in yesterday’s local paper, definitely befitting a “Sighting of the Day in the Bush!

It’s 4:30 pm, and we just returned from Kruger National Park after an exciting and harrowing day which we’ll share in tomorrow’s post. WoW! All I can say is…

We recognized this mom based on her “dots” formation and how readily she approached us. She’s been visiting us every day over the past several weeks.
As for today’s story, I wished I’d have prepared and posted it before leaving for Kruger since now, as the evening wafts in, I’m a little bit off-kilter by writing this late in the day. 
We opted for the latter when Tom and I discussed whether we’d go to Jabula for dinner tonight or stay in, get the post done, and cook something easy for dinner. After sitting in the car for hours, the thought of getting ready to go out after I finish here isn’t particularly appealing.
The baby wasn’t quite sure what to do when she had never seen a pellet before.   She didn’t partake, only watching her mom take them from my hand.
As we’re sitting on the veranda, lightning, and thunder filling the skies above us, after it finally cooled after days of excessive heat, we’re content, especially after we came “home” to nine kudus, four warthogs, and one male bushbuck all waiting for us. 
Now, for today’s little story…a story of love and a wonderment…a story of nature at its finest for us humble animal lovers who can’t miss an opportunity to share a tender story of a birth, a life, and devotion.
She was curious as to what was transpiring and showed no fear.
It all began about three weeks ago (we’ve been here almost five weeks) when the most beautiful and friendly female bushbuck came into the yard to introduce herself. Keeping in mind, most of the animals in Marloth Park of a species are hard to differentiate when they often have almost identical markings and features.
But, this lovely young lady has some specific “polka dots” on her body that has made it easy for us to know it was her each time she’s come to visit over these many weeks.
Another special aspect to “Ms. Bushbuck” has been her willingness and eagerness to eat the pellets from my hand even more readily than taking those we’ve tossed onto the ground, as we do for most species. She lifts her head and makes eye contact with me as if asking, “Will you feed me?” How can I possibly turn her down?
When we fed mom the pellets, the baby hung around but soon lost interest and wandered a few meters away.
Unlike some female animals, she welcomes Tom equally and doesn’t skitter away when he comes close. She relates to him feeding her pellets as well but not quite as up close and personal as I do. 
Several times each day, she’s stopped by, and each time, we’ve both smiles at one another, happy to see her return. About a week ago, we noticed she’s stopped by around the same time each early evening while we sit on the veranda winding down for the day with a glass of iced tea, wine, or beer (for Tom).
Mom stopped eating to check on the whereabouts of her infant.
I fed her a few pellets, which she accepted gingerly, but without the usual enthusiasm she exhibits during daylight hours. After a few handfuls, she moseys off to the same spot in the bush in our yard where she settles in for the night, nestling into what appears to be the same spot each night, almost as if she’s built a comfy spot to sleep.
Once darkness falls, we could no longer see her there, but we’ve sensed she still is. We haven’t wanted to startle her by taking a light out there to check. In the morning, when we’re finally outdoors by 6:00 and 6:30 am, she’s been standing near the veranda waiting for us to come out.
By 9:00 or 10:00 am, she returns to see us, enthused for more pellets and a sip of water from the cement pond in the yard, not far from where she nestles at night.
We were thrilled and surprised to see Ms. Bushbuck returned with her tiny newborn.
One morning, while I was getting ready for the day, Tom was outside with her, feeding her pellets.  The warthogs tried to drive her away. She nestled in, close to Tom’s legs while he sat on the edge of the veranda, looking for protection from the aggressiveness of the warthogs. He didn’t hesitate to make her feel safe.
Often, she returns a few more times during the day, only to repeat this same pattern in the evening over the past week. We assumed she’s become comfortable with us and sleeps nearby, most likely up and about in the mornings long before us.
We never saw her return for the night on Wednesday night but assumed we’d see her again soon. Last night, after a 24-hour absence, she returned, but this time…she wasn’t alone…our hearts melted…at her side was the tiniest and I mean tiniest…little bushbuck we’ve ever seen.
At first, as they approached, the baby was a little hesitant.  But, mom, knowing she needed to nurse, wanted all the sustenance she could get.  She ate her fair share of pellets.
Sure, we can make all the assumptions we’d like about wildlife and their patterns and behavior.  And most times, we’d be wrong. But, somehow, this time, we feel confident we are right. Ms. Bushbuck returned to show us her precious tiny newborn.
Of course, we oohed and aahed over her shy baby, which undoubtedly she’d given birth to in that 24-hour time span we hadn’t seen her and her response was to enthusiastically accept countless handfuls of pellets from me, all the while keeping a watchful eye on her little bundle of joy.
Periodically, the baby would wander a few meters away, but mom never failed to take note and gather her baby back into the fold. Together, they stayed with us for hours, mom nibbling, baby suckling, and us smiling from ear to ear.
She’s a proud and happy mom, very young herself.
Tonight, it’s blissfully raining in buckets, and we don’t expect to see them in this downpour. But I assure you, we have no doubt they’ll return while we have the joyous opportunity to watch this little one grow and this loving mom nurture her along the way. 

Safari luck? Perhaps. Or, maybe we happen to be in the right place at the right time. However, in our heart of hearts, we’d like to believe that somehow, just somehow, our love of nature has put us in these divine situations because we belong here.

Thank you, dear readers, for sharing this magical place with us. We couldn’t be more appreciative and humbled.

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

The Esplanade, a walkway along the shore in Circular Quay in Sydney, Australia. For more photos, please click here.

The Crocodile River rarely disappoints spectators but, may disappoint wildlife…

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Four waterbucks are sunning on sandbars.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

Big Daddy Kudu was resting in the shade on a hot day.

Every few days, we jump into the little car to drive to the Crocodile River. Along Seekoei Street ( I dare you to try to pronounce that street name), several stopping points offer views of the Crocodile River, which separates Marloth Park from Kruger National Park.

The river is a lifeline for wildlife that needs to drink and cool off in the often low water riverless rainy. Now, still in the rainy season, it isn’t nearly as prolific as we’d seen when we were here for years ago.

Here’s a photo we took yesterday of the Crocodile River (below). It’s been scorched these past few weeks:

In a good rainy season, these sandbars may be covered and the river may be flowing. We took this photo yesterday from a sheltered brick overlook on Seekeoi Street. Now it stands almost entirely still awaiting the next rains.

Here’s a photo we took four years ago of the Crocodile River from a similar location shown on our link here:

 We took this photo on December 28, 2012. Note how much more water there was in the Crocodile River than in yesterday’s picture above.

From this site: “The Crocodile river is 1000km long and it spans over 4 provinces and through Botswana & Mozambique. It originates north of Dullstroom, Mpumalanga, in the Steenkampsberg Mountains Downstream of Kwena Dam, the Crocodile River winds through the Schoemanskloof and down the Montrose Falls. It then flows eastwards past Nelspruit and joins the Komati River at Komatipoort.The Crocodile River in Mpumalanga has a catchment area of 10,446 km2. Upstream it is a popular trout fishing place. It flows through the Nelspruit industrial area, the Lowveld agricultural area and borders the Kruger National Park. The decrease in the flow of the river is probably due to water abstractions for irrigated fruit farming.”

One male and two female waterbucks resting on a sandbar.
Before we know it we’ll be rolling into fall and winter here when it rains even less than in the current-soon-to-be-ending summer months. We can only pray for rain to keep the wildlife thriving and in good health. That’s why, here in Marloth Park and Kruger National Park (and other parts of Africa) locals rejoice when it rains.
Of course, tourists may be disappointed when they come here in the summer months for a mere three or four days to discover it raining almost every day. Fortunately, for us, we jump for joy along with the locals during a fruitful soaking rain.
Several oxpeckers are nearby as she lounges on the sandbar.

With the rains, comes the most valuable benefit of all…the growth and proliferation of green grasses, plants, and trees that many animals in this environment require for the sustenance of life itself.

For the first time, we’ll be in Marloth Park during the dry season which we hear can be devastating for the wildlife. Many homeowners in the area make a point of trying to feed the wildlife as much as possible during this period.  This is both good and bad.

A lone elephant at quite a distance.

Many homeowners in Marloth Park have homes in other parts of South Africa or other parts of the world. If they come for a few week holiday, feed the animals and then are gone for many months to come, the wildlife who’ve become accustomed to their generosity while they’re here, are left confused and deprived when their “supply” is no longer available.

With the best of intentions, we’ll be gone a year from now and hope there will have been plenty of rain for those dear creatures we also favored with food while we were here. There’s no perfect solution.

The elephant is eating the lush green vegetation on the sandbar.

Most animals here in the park are omnivores thriving on the vegetation of one sort or another. It’s with this knowledge that all of us provide some nourishment when we can. But, sadly its never enough and culling becomes a disheartening reality when there isn’t enough to go around.

Yesterday, as mentioned above, we made our usual jaunt to the Crocodile Rive every other day, always hopeful we’ll get a glimpse of the magnificent visitors to this scenic environment.

We always feel fortunate to see one of these stunning animals.

We stopped along the Seekeoi Street many times ending up at the brick lookout and for the first time since our return to Marloth, there were tourists there enjoying the scenery. It isn’t long before most visitors hear of this particular spot, and we’ve been surprised not to see others there before us, most recently.

A group of perhaps a total of 12 people, with iPads, tablets, phones, and binoculars in hand, busily took photos of the scenic surroundings which included a lone elephant and several waterbucks, who seem to frequent the river more regularly than many other species.

A female waterbuck stands to check her surroundings.

We stayed for awhile, chatting with the others people while taking several photos of our own. No doubt, we were at quite a distance from the wildlife but made every effort to keep a steady hand while shooting the images.

Back on the road, we spotted more wildlife, surprisingly out from under-cover on the extremely hot and humid day. Overall, as usual, it was a good outing in Marloth Park. 

A type of goose we spotted, too far to identify.  Any comments from our bird enthusiast friends?

Soon, we’ll be heading to Kruger again but we’re hoping to do so after this extreme heat passes. The AC in the little car isn’t that good and we’re more likely to see more wildlife on a day with more moderate temperatures.

Soon, we’re off to Komatipoort to shop which will require five stops at various shops; the Spar Market, the pharmacy, the biltong shop, the meat market and the liquor store. 

May YOU have a stupendous day!

Photo from one year ago today, March 15, 2017:One

e year ago today, we got together with dear friends Linda and Ken, from the UK and whom we met four years ago in Marloth Park. We’ve since seen them here again, much to our delight and will see them again when they return from a cruise and other travel. For more details, please click here.

Part 1… It’s a flexible life…

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Whoa!  Dad has quite an adorable head, doesn’t he? Can you tell from this photo what type of bird this is?

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

This is one of our frequent visitors, Ms. Bushbuck, who stops by several times a day, never failing to let us know a few pellets would be in order.

With our interview scheduled for yesterday at 9:00 am, we awoke and were situated on the veranda a little earlier than usual to have the post uploaded before our guest arrived with Danie.

Mom and baby were staying close to one another.

Both Louise and Danie had warned us that a 9:00 am scheduled meeting doesn’t necessarily mean a 9:00 am meeting in these parts of the world. In our usual easy-going manner, we weren’t concerned a bit when they hadn’t arrived by 10:30.

Mom and Baby, both with their mouths agape, a reaction that may indicate protectiveness.  We were pretty far away, but they have good vision with the most enormous eyes of any land animal on the planet.

Louise sent a text alerting us that it may be closer to 2:00 pm, which was fine. We had no specific plans for the day other than leaving for sunset views, river views, and dinner at Ngwenya around 5:00 pm.

Baby hiding behind mom’s fluffiness.

With the post uploaded earlier and after the notification from Louise, by 10:30 am, we decided to take off in the little car to drive around Marloth Park and see what we could find. The temperature was in the 100F’s (38C) with excessive humidity. 

Ostriches are the largest and tallest bird on the planet.  Due to their size:  females weigh up to 232 pounds (110 kg) and males up to 287 pounds (130 kg). They don’t fly due to their massive size.  Females’ height may be up to 6’2″ (1.9 meters) while males can reach 6’9″ (2.7 meters).

As mentioned in a prior post, the little car’s AC system is somewhat primitive based on the car’s small engine and operating system. But, that fact wasn’t about to keep us from heading out to see what we could find.

Mom and the baby tend to hide behind her feathers.

Besides, while we’re “searching,” we often have the car’s windows wide open to avoid taking photos through the glass.  We’re usually so preoccupied with the scenes before our eyes. We pay little attention to the heat and the insects that have managed to fly into the car. This car, not unlike others we’ve rented in many countries, doesn’t have power windows. (Nor does it have power locks)

Dad stood off to the side, guarding against any possible predators.

With few expectations, as usual, we drove around for hours, ending up enthralled by the sights we discovered along the way.  Who knew that on this hot and humid day, we’d stumble across the variety of wildlife we were fortunate enough to encounter?

The baby appears bowlegged at this point but won’t after the feathers fill in as they mature.

We keep a map of Marloth Park in the glove box that we frequently refer to. Our goal is to scour as many roads as possible in the park to become as familiar with our surroundings as possible. 

Dad kept a keen eye on the road. We were in a secluded area near the Crocodile River with few cars passing while parked in front of this house.

This doesn’t provide any assurances we’ll spot wildlife, but it’s interesting to get to know this unique area inside and out.  We’re continually surprised by what we find.

By 1:00 pm, we were back at the house, and by 2:15, Danie and our guest Jonas (pronounced Yan-us) arrived, with whom we spent a few valuable hours, hearing an unbelievable story we’ll be sharing (with photos) in two days. Please check back for that astounding story!

They moved a bit, enabling us to get a few photos of the three of them together.

Today and tomorrow, we’ll be sharing all new photos of what we discovered on Thursday’s local road trip.  Today, we’ll be preparing tomorrow’s post in advance since we’ll be gone all day tomorrow, experiencing an event we never expected we’d ever considered, way outside of our “comfort zone.” But, we’re on an “adventure” and “adventuresome” we will be! We’ll post that incredible (hopefully) story with photos in three days on Monday.

Shortly after our guests left, the power went out for the second evening in a row. We decided to change our plans once again and stay in when most likely, the power would be out at local restaurants. In a short time, the power outage was resolved, and we proceeded to prepare a great dinner, again dining outdoors on the veranda.

The final photo of the family of three as we drove away.

Many visitors came to call during the early evening and after the short downpour. We even had an opportunity to see the tiniest bushbuck baby (with mom and dad) we’ve seen to date. Photos will follow soon.

May you have an incredible day!

Photo from one year ago today, March 9, 2017:

Freighter beyond a peninsula while docked in Lautoka, Fiji, one year ago today. For more details, please click here.

Perseverance and passion determine good photo ops…We’ve got plenty of both!…

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This was a “tower” or “journey” of the eight giraffes who made their way to the only paved road in Marloth. Note the eighth giraffe is to the far right in this photo.
“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”
This little mongoose was the lucky one of many and got to eat the raw eggs. Notice egg dripping off their mouth. 

Based on the number of new photos we post each day, it may appear all we have to do is sit back and wait for wildlife to come to us. Sometimes, it’s that easy for many of us in Marloth Park and visiting wildlife-rich national parks.

This was the scene that frightened Ms. Kudu while standing in our yard, causing her to thunder off.

However, photos such as those we’ve recently posted from Kruger National Park and through the electrified fence between Marloth Park and Kruger required an eagle’s eye and the patience to wait for the exact right moment. It’s not as if the wildlife is waiting there for our arrival. 

They make their way through a path they’d used in the past. There are countless such paths in the bush that many animals use.

Most animals are continually on the move, foraging and hunting for their next meal. They rarely remain in one location for any time as the resources become scarce after a while.  Hunger (and thirst) is a huge motivator for them to move along.

They moved so rapidly we’d never been able to keep up on foot.

Speaking of thirst, we’ve discovered many animals only need water from time to time while others must find water almost daily. Those that consume a considerable portion of their diet from consuming leaves on trees and plants generally receive a good portion of their water needs from that vegetation.

This fact is not unlike humans. We’ve been “told” by the media that we must drink eight glasses of water a day to stay hydrated. But, this doesn’t consider the water we derive from eating vegetables, fruits, and other sources in our diet. The same is true for most wildlife.

With a person walking along the road, this giraffe ran for the safety of the tower and the trees.

Thus, as we sit here each day, waiting for visitors, part of the process is beyond our control…if they come, they come. But, the other part is enticing them to visit by dropping pellets in the yard and, most of all, continually scanning the bush every hour of the day to see if any animals are nearby.

Some will come near with the most gentle of sounds from our voices, while others prefer we stand perfectly still and quiet, allowing them to decide their next move. That move is to walk away at times, and no voice or pellet offering will draw them near.

These two stopped for a few minutes to nibble on the treetops.

As for Kruger and the fence, there’s no enticing we can do.  It’s all a matter of luck (safari luck in our case) that allows the diligent scanning of our eyes, that we see a tail, hear a sound or spot a massive creature at rest.

Last week when we spotted the rhinos sleeping under trees, they easily appeared to be large dark rocks. But, we’ll chase down a rock if there’s even a remote possibility it might be something more interesting, and that’s exactly what we did a week ago when we captured the rhino photos.

A few of the eight giraffes were stragglers, but eventually, all caught up.

As for elephants, they move more quickly than one perceives, as shown here from this site:

LENGTH WEIGHT TOP SPEED (RUNNING) FEELS LIKE
6.9m 8t 40km/h 10.4km/h
Elephants swim well but cannot trot, jump, or gallop. They do have two gaits: a walk; and a faster gait that is similar to running. In walking, the legs act as pendulums, with the hips and shoulders rising and falling while the foot is planted on the ground. With no “aerial phase,” the faster gait does not meet all the running criteria, as elephants always have at least one foot on the ground.
However, an elephant moving fast uses its legs much like a running animal, with the hips and shoulders falling and then rising while the feet are on the ground. In this gait, an elephant will have three feet off the ground at one time. As both of the hind feet and both of the front feet are off the ground simultaneously, this gait has been likened to the hind legs and the front legs taking turns running. Although they start this “run” at only 8 km/h, elephants can reach speeds up to 40 km/h (25 mph), all the while using the same gait. Most other four-legged creatures are well into a gallop at this speed, even accounting for leg length. Spring-like kinetics could explain the difference between the motion of elephants and other animals.”
It’s astounding how these stunning animals came to be with their usual features. The soft tissue horns on the top of their heads are ossicones.

As a result, spotting elephants is one thing…being able to get close enough for decent photos is another. Oh, don’t get me wrong. As I’ve mentioned many times, I am just a mediocre amateur photographer who gets lucky from time to time to capture a near-perfect shot.

In our perseverance and sheer determination, we continually scan our environment, looking for movement in the bush, an unusual shape at a distance, or tails swishing amongst the trees and bush. 

Whenever we take photos of larger wildlife, there’s always a warthog in the photo, as was the case yesterday as we followed the giraffes.
Yesterday, we had the most unusual opportunity for a sighting than we’ve ever had in the past, not in these past 23 days since our arrival, nor in the three months we spent here in 2013/2014.

It was around 11:00 am. As usual, we were seated at the big wooden table on the veranda, fan whirring in the background. It was a very cloudy, hot, and humid day. Tom was researching Ancestry.com while I was busy preparing the day’s post.
They were on the dirt road near our house.
A lovely female kudu, a regular as shown below, had stopped by for her usual visit, often eating out of my hand and staring at us when we stopped offering the pellets. We’ve thoroughly enjoyed her almost daily visits, especially when she’ll hang around for an hour or more, often foraging on nearby vegetation.
Ms. Kudu stops by almost every day.  It was her that alerted us to the nearby giraffes. We’d have missed it without her warning.

Yesterday, after nibbling on the pellets, she sharply turned her attention to the left side of the house, where there are more open spaces that giraffes prefer as opposed to the dense bush. The look in our visiting kudu’s eyes was one of sheer terror. 

In a flash, she took off in the opposite direction at a pace we’d yet to see a kudu run, who can run at 70 km (43 miles) per hour, the sound of her thundering hoofs practically shaking the ground.

This road is very near our house.
Immediately, we both jumped up and headed on foot to that side of the yard to see, at a distance, the long legs of many giraffes.  We had to make a quick decision. Do we run on foot with the camera in hand, hoping to catch up with them or, do we jump in the car and follow them?
They were dashing through the trees to make their way to the open road.
Giraffes can run at 60 km (37 miles) per hour. And, although it was possible they were coming our way, we didn’t want to take a chance. We jumped in the car, knowing we’d never be able to keep up on foot. It proved to be a wise decision.
Once they reached Olifant, the paved road, they stayed together while a few others caught up with the tower.
Over the next 30 minutes, we followed them. They seem oblivious to our presence since we kept our distance and stayed in the car. Once they reached Olifant, the only paved road in Marloth Park, we weren’t the only ones watching them, but none stayed as long as us.

We did our best to get photos, and with considerable enthusiasm, we share them with our readers today. If we hadn’t picked our heads up at the exact moment Ms. Kudu reacted, we’d have never seen them.
Traffic jam on Olifant Road.

Serendipity?  Perhaps. May it also come your way! Toss in a bit of perseverance, patience, and passion, and as always, “safari luck” prevails.

Photo from one year ago, March 6, 2017:

Do you see the rainbow in the background in this shot of New Caledonia? Our ship had spent the day in this port, but we had to tender to the shore.  For more photos, please click here. 

Yesterday’s wondrous adventure…In a span of one month…From elephant seals and elephants…Who would have thunk?…

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The lines in this photo are the electrified cables separating Marloth Park Conservancy and Kruger National Park. There were 17 in this photo, but later we counted 20, including a male clearly “told” by the matriarch that he couldn’t stay with the herd. See the photo below as he wanders off.
Part 1 video.
Part 2 video.
“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”
Yesterday, another “band” of mongooses stopped by looking for eggs.  Of course, we complied. This mongoose decided to rest their chin on a log to take a break from the frenzy of activity.
Yesterday afternoon as we stood at the electrified fence in Marloth Park delightfully watching a 20 member “parade” (another word for a herd of elephants) at the Crocodile River, an interesting thought popped into Tom’s head…we went from observing elephant seals in Antarctica to observing elephants in South Africa in a month.
In Antarctica, one month ago, this “arrangement” of elephant seals found comfort sleeping together in a ditch. Now, here in South Africa, we are blessed to see elephants. Here’s the post from that date.
Not only did we ooh and aah over the scene before our eyes when we were out on one of our almost daily drives through the Conservancy, but we were also totally awestruck by “safari luck’s” continuing presence in our lives.
In ones and twos, they meandered down the hill to the Crocodile River.
Tom often mentions how humbled and blessed we are, not only to live this peculiar and amazing life on the move but also in the heart-pounding experiences we encounter along the way that continues to surprise us daily.
Most likely, the majority of the elephants were females.  Males are kicked out of the herd by their 12th birthday when puberty sets in.

Perhaps our enthusiasm is slightly higher than some in our attentiveness as we always strive to get the very most out of every day of our world travels, knowing full-well that someday it will end.

Female elephants stay together for life.
This may prove to be the last period we’ll spend in Africa, and of course, Antarctica was indeed a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Comparing the two experiences is tricky when they each are unique in their particular way. 
Three elephants of varying ages drinking from the river.  Check out the baby in the background!
But the reality remains, they’re very similar in producing a surge in the feel-good hormones that course through our bodies day after day. Perhaps, we’ve both become addicted to this feeling coupled with a sense of adventure we never imagined possible during these senior years of our lives. 
Perhaps, for us, it’s not unlike the surge of adrenalin that those who seek high adventure sports and activities. They don’t do it just because it “sounds fun.” They do it for the “rush.”
A youngster stopped to nurse.
We don’t need to climb Mount Everest or bungee jump for the rush. We need only to stand at the electrified fence between Marloth Park and Kruger National Park, as we did yesterday, fully engaged in the scene before our eye, unable to wipe the smiles off our faces. At the same time, we took distant photos and videos.
As they began to make their way back up the hill. 
No, our photos aren’t as clear as we’d like, but we were no less than 800 meters (2625 feet) from the magnificent animals, and our paltry little camera did its best to capture as much as we could, albeit shakily at times while making the two videos, we’re posting today.
After spending about an hour at the river, they began the trek back up the hill as soon as the matriarch trumpeted a loud sound.  Seeing and hearing this was beyond description.
Sure, it would be great if we had a more sophisticated camera and if I were a better photographer, but we have what we have. We are what we are, content with the small size and weight of our two identical cameras and our abilities as amateur photographers.
For short periods, smaller groups would wander off, only to connect with the more significant herd moment later.
So, today, we share what we captured yesterday with such enthusiasm and joy, hoping those of our readers who embrace wildlife and nature will find this interesting along with us.
This male was pushed aside by the others since most likely the time had come for him to go off on his own, now that he’s reached puberty.  He may find other males he’ll join or may stay alone seeking to mate. Elephant parents typically don’t stay together with their offspring. The babies stay with the moms, sisters, aunts, and matriarch.
If not, bear with us. We’ll have many more stories to tell during our extended period in Africa over this next year, with our plans to leave by next March. During this year, we’ll be moving to other properties in Marloth, visiting other countries in Africa, and continuing to meet new people and see more wildlife.
The others followed suit and make their way back up the hill.

Today, we’ll stay put during the day.  Tonight, we’re off to Jabula for dinner and easy socializing when other patrons are outrageously friendly. Tomorrow night, friends Lynne and Mick are coming for dinner. It will undoubtedly be a great weekend.  

May you have a great weekend as well!

P.S. Today, March 3rd, is World Wildlife Day. For more information, please click here.

Photo from one year ago today, March 3, 2017:
Baby Grand player piano in the living area of the Penthouse Suite on Celebrity Solstice.  The lovely couple who had booked this suite invited the two of us for a private dinner, served by the shop’s “butlers.” It was a sensational evening. Please click here for details.

Elephant day!!!…Safari luck prevails…Kruger National Park…The thought process of wildlife?

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Our first photo of an elephant we spotted on Tuesday in Kruger National Park.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

Often, we see francolins wandering in the bush.

We don’t want our worldwide readers to tire of wildlife photos. Over time, we’ll include other aspects of life in South Africa, but we’re like little kids in a candy shop for now…we can’t get enough.

Each time a visitor stops by, whether a frequent guest or someone new, we jump to attention (quietly, of course) to grab the yellow container of pellets and the camera.

We hoped to see an entire herd, but even one is a treasure when one can enter the park for the whole of a day and never see anything other than impalas and warthogs.

There’s no doubt in our minds that many of the wild animals are getting more comfortable with us, even in many cases, learning the sound of our voices. Gently and lovingly, we speak to them. In that way, they may be no different than engaging with household or farm animals that freely respond to human voices.

Most of the wildlife in Marloth Park are comfortable around one another, with few predators in the park except for an occasional visiting lion. He manages to enter from under the fence at the Crocodile River. Legend has it, that warthogs with their ability to dig with their snouts, leave open areas under the fences where the lions can enter.

We were very far from this elephant and were lucky to have seen it near the river.

As we spend hours each day observing animal behavior, grazing habits, and their interaction with one another, we are more and more amazed by the intellect of many of the wild animals surrounding us each day.

Entering Kruger National Park is an entirely different scenario than being in Marloth Park.  Although the animals in Marloth are on their foraging for food, in Kruger, they are “food” for many carnivorous animals, including lions, leopards, cheetah, hyenas, and others.

It’s a bit of scratching against a tree branch…

In these cases, few animals are safe from becoming today’s breakfast, lunch, or dinner, perhaps except for elephants and crocodiles. We’ve seen videos of lions taking down Cape Buffalo, giraffe, and baby elephants but seldom a full-grown adult elephant. 

An animal’s perception of the size of other animals is mind-boggling. It tells us so much about their ability to think and make decisions, yet many have refused to believe their abilities, referring to it as instinct. 

This is most likely a lone male elephant, as explained here:  “Male or bull elephants have very different social needs than the females. In the wild, males leave or are driven out of the family group as they approach sexual maturity. Males spend as much as 95% of their lives alone or in loose association with other bulls.”

But is it instinct when a lion checks out a full-grown elephant and asks, “Do I want to “go there?” In our perception, however naive it may be from such a short period of observation, they do have the capability of thinking.

A few minutes ago, I stopped to greet two female kudus and three youngsters. Feeding one of them from the palm of my hand while holding the small yellow pellet container in the other hand, she nudged my hand for more, even sticking her nose in the yellow container, all the while making eye contact with me.

Soon, he began to wander toward the river.

There’s something much more profound and meaningful than pure instinct in the above scenario.  And, when we watched this lone elephant standing near the river deciding whether or not to enter, we can only surmise that the thought process is much more profound than we may expect.

Are we humans so superior to the “wild things” that we assume we’re the only creatures on earth that can think, reason, and decide?

The exquisite massive beast stood staring at the river and soon wandered off after deciding not to drink or enter.

In our short period in Kruger on Tuesday, our hearts were filled by the wonder of what remains of magnificent animals in the wild in Africa, and we can only pray for a resolution for the senseless slaughter of these treasures of nature for their horns, tusks, hides, and meat. There’s no easy answer.

We shot this photo during a self-drive in Kruger in January 2014. We’ll always remain grateful for this sighting and may never be so lucky again. Click here for that post.

In sighting elephants in Kruger, it’s tricky. One could drive for days and never experience a single sighting.  Then, suddenly there are 30 or more on the road as we blissfully encountered four years ago, as shown in the above photo, from that post.

Having had such safari luck on Tuesday inspires us all the more to return to Kruger many more times, while during the periods in between, we revel in the surroundings in our very yard in Marloth Park.

We observed, hoping to see him drink or enter the river.

Today, we’re off to shop in Komatipoort, although at this point, after many visitors this morning, it’s difficult to leave… 

 Photo from one year ago today, March 1, 2017:

Sydney Harbour Bridge. It was one year ago today we boarded a cruise from Sydney. For more details, please click here.

Rhino day!!!….Safari luck prevails once again…Kruger National Park didn’t disappoint…

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When we first saw this dark mass from afar, sleeping under a tree, we weren’t quite sure what it was.  As we drove closer, we realized it was a rhino.
“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”
Oxpeckers can dig into the flesh of animals to extract parasites, ticks, and other insects that may burrow under their skin, as is the case of this kudu.  We spotted this scenario in our yard.  Sadly once the insect is extracted, the oxpecker may continue to peck at the injured site, making matters worse.

As mentioned in yesterday’s bushbaby post (click here to see it if you missed it), when the Wi-Fi went down in the area and unable to complete the post at that time, we decided to drive to Kruger National Park’s Crocodile Gate entrance.

Kruger is huge, as indicated here: “The largest game reserve in South Africa, the Kruger National Park is larger than Israel. Nearly 2 million hectares of land that stretch for 352 kilometers, 218 miles (20,000 square kilometers, 77 square miles) from north to south along the Mozambique border, is given over to an almost indescribable wildlife experience.”

We’d seen rhino while on safari in the past, but never lying down like this.  Our hearts were racing with excitement. Notice the two cattle egrets sitting atop the rhino.

As mentioned, many have stated it’s necessary to enter the park early in the morning to see much wildlife since many species seek shelter during the day’s heat. That makes a lot of sense.

This may generally be true, but on several occasions during our last self-drives in Kruger, we’d seen plenty of wildlife midday. Also, with the Wi-Fi out in Marloth Park, at least we could go to the entrance gate at the Crocodile River and sign up on-site for a one-year pass to the park, referred to as a Wild Card.

We were hopeful they would stand up.

There is a daily fee of ZAR 318 (US $27.02 per adult per day) for foreigners to enter Kruger National Park. At a combined cost for both of us at ZAR 636 (US $54.04), it would take only six day’s entrance fees to make purchasing the ZAR 3800 (US $322.92) a sensible situation. 

We spotted another big animal at a short distance and drove a little further down the dirt road, hoping she’d be standing when we returned.  Alas, safari luck kicked in and she was on her feet when we returned only five minutes later.

Undoubtedly, during our combined full year in South Africa, we’ll be in and out of the park more than six times, mainly based on yesterday’s incredible experience (not to be expected on each occasion). Also, the pass allows access to dozens of other parks in South Africa, some of which we may visit down the road.

We’d attempted to purchase the Wild Card online, but the website was very confusing. Usually, with patience and perseverance, I can figure out such a site, but it was nearly impossible in this case. 

This view was slightly obstructed by the brush, but we maneuvered the car for better views.

Instead, Louise explained we could buy the Wild Card at the gate which took about 20 minutes, including waiting time for our turn. Of course, it’s required to have passports on hand. Credit cards are accepted for payment. 

Nearby at another tree, we spotted a rhino mom and her baby, born this season and still closely attached to the mother.

Once the Wild Card’s “temporary” pass is issued, it’s required to complete the application online to have the permanent card mailed to the purchaser. Louise gave us her address since mail isn’t delivered to this holiday home.  

Based on what we’ve read online, the permanent card could take a few months to arrive. In the interim, we can use the temporary pass to enter at any time we so desire.

As often is the case, there’s a nearby warthog longing to be in the photo.  Upon closer inspection, it appears two warthogs were standing next to the rhino.

For those who may be attempting to complete the purchase of the Wild Card online (can’t be done in person), be aware that finding the page to enter the mailing address is tricky to find. Here’s the link to complete the purchase of the Wild Card.
 
With our temporary card on hand, we could enter the gate and proceed on our way. But first, we needed to buy a map at the rest stop/souvenir shop near the Crocodile Bridge entrance where there’s a petrol station, restrooms (no restrooms available further in the park) and a few campsites.

Rhino’s mom and baby lay back down in the shade.

We entered the souvenir shop and purchased a recent version of a comprehensive map booklet at the cost of ZAR 120 (US $10.23). While I bought the map, Tom borrowed a squeegee from the petrol station and washed the little car’s dirty windows. Next time, we’ll do this before we leave for the park.

Our expectations for the day were relatively low when we didn’t get on our way until 10:15 am, late for any significant sightings. We figured we’d spend a few hours driving on the paved roads, and if we didn’t see much after an hour or so, we’d turn around and plan to arrive another day, earlier in the morning.

Again, we waited patiently, and mom stood while the baby sat up on their hind end, nose touching mom.

With 150 mammals species and 500 birds in the park, indeed, we’d find a few photos ops to begin sharing with all of our readers. Little did we know, we’d have such a spectacular day that now we’re convinced we can visit Kruger at any time of the day as the mood strikes us and, when possible, go early in the morning.

Young rhinos typically stay with their mom until they’re three years old, after which they venture off on their own.

As we began the over two-hour self-drive in the park, we were stunned by how much we spotted.  We needed to get back before too late to do the day’s post, and by 1:30 pm, we were back at the house on quite a high from our experience and subsequent photos.

By dinner time, I’d uploaded yesterday’s post. After dinner, we reviewed our photos on the flat-screen TV using our new HDMI cord. It was quite a treat to see the images we’d excitedly taken during the relatively short period. Now, we’re anxious to return and may do so once a week in the future.

Back down, they went to finish their nap in the shade. Mom realized we weren’t a threat and relaxed with her beloved offspring.

Tomorrow, we’ll share more photos from our adventure, naming it _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ day. Can you guess what that may be?

Happy day to all!       

        
Photo from one year ago today, February 28, 2017:

This is one of our favorite photos in Tasmania, taken through the glass of the living room window as the sun began to set. Please click here for more photos and final expenses for our six-week stay in the Huon Valley, Tasmania?.