Summer is coming…Evident in many ways due to heat…Excellent Quiz Night!…

Summer is on its way in Marloth Park, officially beginning on December 21, and it brings many challenges, including heat, snakes, and insects. Although we love living in this unique part of South Africa, where wildlife visits us daily and the Crocodile River and Kruger National Park are only minutes away, we also know that the changing seasons bring adjustments to our daily lives. Recently, with the heat, I’ve started exercising in the morning in the bedroom while it’s still cool from the nighttime air con.

After spending so much time here over the years, we have learned that each season has its own beauty, along with a few inconveniences that require our attention.

As October progresses, the temperatures continue to rise, and we know that the hot summer months are just around the corner. While spring has been pleasant in many respects, we can already feel the change as the days warm up.  We enjoy sitting at our veranda table and watching the wildlife come and go, but when temperatures soar, the animals seek shade wherever they can find it.

One of our biggest concerns during the warmer months is the possibility of encountering snakes, which has happened to us several times. Marloth Park is a wildlife conservancy, and we share this natural environment with many species, including some that require respect and caution. As temperatures rise, snakes become more active, so we must stay alert when walking around the property, opening doors, or stepping outside, especially after dark.

We never forget that we live in the animals’ natural habitat, not a typical residential neighborhood. That is part of what makes our lives here so fascinating, but it also means we must be mindful of our surroundings. We watch where we step, use lights when moving around outside at night, and avoid reaching into areas where we cannot see clearly. If we encounter a snake, we know the best approach is to keep our distance and let it move away rather than interfere.

Then there are the insects, which seem to multiply as the weather warms. Flies can be particularly troublesome when we are eating outdoors. Recently, we noticed how quickly they gathered around our food during dinner on the veranda. There is nothing quite as annoying as trying to enjoy a meal while constantly shooing flies away from the table. We love eating outside, especially when wildlife wanders nearby, but we have to make adjustments to keep our meals as pleasant as possible. Lately, we’ve been covering our food between bites to keep flies from joining us.

Mosquitoes and other biting insects are another consideration during the warmer, wetter months. We take precautions to protect ourselves, especially in the early morning and evening when some insects are more active. As part of our seasonal routine, we keep doors and windows closed, use appropriate insect repellents, and stay aware of standing water around the property.

Summer rains also change the landscape. After dry periods, the bush can become greener, and the vegetation begins to flourish. The wildlife benefits from these changes, although the timing and amount of rainfall can make a considerable difference in what food is available in the surrounding bush. We look forward to watching the landscape transform, even though the rain can sometimes bring power interruptions and other inconveniences. Often, during hot weather, power goes out when residents and visitors use air con too much.

Of course, warmer weather doesn’t mean we will stop enjoying our time outdoors. We will keep watching our regular wildlife visitors, feeding them pellets and birdseed, and looking forward to seeing which animals appear each day. We have learned to adjust our expectations and activities to the weather rather than trying to follow the same routine year-round.

One wonderful aspect of spending so much time in Marloth Park is that we are continually reminded to adapt to our environment. We cannot control the weather, prevent every insect from appearing, or guarantee that we will never encounter a snake. We can remain observant, take sensible precautions, and appreciate the extraordinary surroundings we are fortunate enough to live in.

Despite the challenges summer brings, we wouldn’t trade our time here for anything. Watching wildlife from our veranda, enjoying the changing bush, and experiencing the seasons in this remarkable part of South Africa remains a privilege. We know there will be hot days, as there are right now, bothersome insects, and moments when we must be especially cautious, but these are all part of the experience of living so close to nature.

As summer approaches, we prepare for whatever lies ahead, one warm day at a time. After all, living in Marloth Park has taught us that flexibility, patience, and a healthy respect for the natural world go a long way toward making this lifestyle as rewarding as we have always hoped.

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Last night at Quiz Night, the five of us did exceptionally well and came in third place! We were thrilled with our results, especially since we were only a few points behind the teams that took first and second place. It’s always fun to get together, test our knowledge, and see how we do against the other teams. Of course, we’d love to win first place, but finishing third among some very competitive players was a wonderful accomplishment. We enjoyed the evening, shared plenty of laughs, and were pleased with how well we worked together. Perhaps next time we’ll take home the top prize!

Tonight and tomorrow night, we will dine at home and enjoy some quiet time on the veranda with our beloved wildlife visitors. We always appreciate these opportunities to stay in, prepare our meals, and relax while watching the animals come and go. There is something so special about sitting outdoors in the evening, enjoying a glass of wine, and seeing which of our familiar visitors might stop by for a snack. These simple pleasures are part of what we love about living in Marloth Park. Sometimes, the best evenings are those spent right here at home, surrounded by nature.

Be well.

Photos from ten years ago today, October 14, 2016: