Winding down time with friends…Two days until their departure…The activities will continue to the last minute…

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A cattle egret standing in shallow water in the Crocodile River.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

The monitor lizard in our garden came out from her burrow for a refreshing drink of water from the cement pond.

As Tom and Lois’s time here comes to a close on Thursday when they depart to return to the US, we’re packing in every moment with quality time, not only together as friends but also in taking advantage of every opportunity for them to experience more wildlife.

The monitor lizard took off back into the bush.

This afternoon at 1515 hours (3:15 pm) a safari vehicle will arrive to pick us up for an evening at Kruger National Park which includes an afternoon game drive, a bush braai (dinner out in the open in the park in the dark), followed by another game drive in the dark.

Elephant we spotted close to the fence between Marloth and Kruger Parks.

With a spotlight to help us see, we’ll have an opportunity to see those special nocturnal animals that are elusive during daylight hours including many of which are never seen during daylight.

The sausage tree at the hippo pool and bird blind is bursting with these giant pods which will eventually bloom into bright red flowers.  From this site: “The sausage tree of sub-Saharan Africa is beautiful in flower. The blood-red to maroon flowers hang in long panicles. The fragrance of the flower is not pleasing to humans but attracts the Dwarf Epauletted Fruitbat (Micropteropus pusillus), its pollinator. As the flowers drop from the tree, animals come to feed on the nectar-rich blooms. Impala, duiker, baboons, bush pigs, and lovebirds all feed on the flowers of the Sausage tree. Grey fruits grow out of these flowers. These grey fruits resemble sausages and can grow for months to become over a foot long and weigh over 10 pounds.”

We may have safari luck or we may not but in either case, it will be fun to dine in the bush, an experience we had a few times when we were here five years ago. 

Both Toms splurging on strawberry milkshakes at Aamazing (spelling is correct) River View restaurant when we took a break from our usual drive in Marloth to stop for cool drinks.

Those five-year-ago exceptional occasions were hosted by Louise and Danie, an experience we cannot expect to match in elegance tonight although based on very positive reviews we’re anticipating a wonderful experience. For details and amazing photos for our former Valentine’s Day bush braai may be found here at this link.

Lois, the two Toms and I had a great break in the action.

Of course, tomorrow, we’ll post photos of tonight’s bush braai and game drives, hoping to share some unique wildlife sightings. Tonight’s event is hosted by another company, Royal Safari Bush Braai dinner since Louise and Danie no longer conduct these events in Kruger.  

A warthog stops for a sip.

The ease of booking with Royal Safari Bush Braai makes us feel confident this will be an excellent experience for the four of us and any other participants who will also be included.  

A female bushbuck standing in the water on the Crocodile River in Kruger.

Last night we returned to Ngwenya Lodge and Restaurant for Crocodile River viewing and dinner. Ordering off the menu wasn’t nearly as good as Thursday night’s buffet dinner. There’s wasn’t much in the way of wildlife viewing but we took many photos of a stunning sunset (photos to follow soon).

Cape buffalo aren’t the most handsome of wildlife but we’re always thrilled to see them. They are one of the Big Five.

Back at the house early, we prepared the veranda for our usual nighttime viewing but had missed the primetime viewing which is usually before and after dusk.

Two male cape buffalos on the river’s edge.

This morning was quite a treat when 15 kudus stopped by including one “Big Daddy,” four warthogs including “Little and the Girls”, a plethora of helmeted guineafowl, and of course, Frank and The Misses. who’ve yet to produce any chicks.

 As I write here now, Vusi and Zef are here cleaning the house and the veranda. Its been fantastic to have the two of them coming in each day and eliminating the massive amounts of dust that enters the house from the action in the dirt garden when the animals come to call.

Lois feeding a large number of kudus who stopped by. She puts the pellets on the veranda’s edge to keep the helmeted guineafowl from taking them all.

For the next few hours, we’ll relax on the veranda until it’s time to head out for our exciting upcoming afternoon and evening.

 Be well.  Be happy. 

Photo from one year ago today, October 30, 2017:

On Saturday night, after dinner, in Managua, Nicaragua, we wandered through the pool area of our hotel.  For food photos from the dinner, please click here.

A giraffe story unfolds before our eyes…Frikkie’s Dam bush braai…

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When we turned onto Swartwitpens Road, we spotted this giraffe with a dilemma when returning from the river. She wanted to cross the road to join her tower of giraffes but could not cross this deep trench.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

A young male kudu learns how to be so cute it’s impossible to resist giving him pellets.

It was an excellent Sunday in the bush. We began our day, as always, with coffee and tea on the veranda. I’d gotten up early to start cooking the crustless cheesy sausage and egg quiche to bring to the bush braai at Frikkie’s Dam and made a pan of well-seasoned chicken wings, both of which we shared at the gathering.

The trench was dug to make way for power lines and had yet to be completed from what we understand.

Lois sliced cheddar cheese sticks and brought along crackers for the two of them. We packed the cooler with ice, beverages including beer, wine, gin and tonics, and vodka and Sprite Zero for some options during the day-long event. The two Toms drank Lion brand beer while Lois and I had a few lightweight gin and tonic cocktails and vodka and Sprite.

Her “friends” or family members on the opposite side of the road noticed her dilemma between nibbles on treetops.

After paying the required ZAR 100 (US $6.87) per carload at the entrance gate to Lionspruit, a game reserve within Marloth Park, we were on our way to Frikkie’s Dam down a series of bumpy dirt roads, hoping to see a few of the wildlife that lived therein.

It didn’t appear there was any way they could help, so they went back to eating.

We arrived at the braai area in Frikkie’s Dam to find Louise and Danie had everything set up as usual.  It was a pleasure to have Tom and Lois along with us for yet another fine African experience, unlike anything they’ve ever done in their lives.  

She continued to contemplate a solution.

Who has the opportunity to enjoy lunch among the wildlife in a game reserve in Africa?  It’s truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. And for us, we’re grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in social events in this magical place, Marloth Park.

The giraffe on the far left seemed more concerned than the giraffe in the forefront.

As for today’s giraffe photos, these were taken on Saturday when we embarked on the usual two-hour drive in the park searching for unique and unusual sightings, along with all the typical sightings we’ve encountered in Marloth Park.

Again, she considered her options. Surely, the crossing could easily lead to a severe injury.

After several excellent sightings, we decided to head back to the house for some relaxation time and shower and dress for our upcoming evening and dinner at Jabula.

Finally, she gave up, considering crossing, and walked along the trench to its end.

Little did we know, we’d encounter the giraffe situation represented today in our photos. Yes, it was a simple situation; a giraffe unable and unwilling to cross a deep trench that had been made in preparation for laying new electrical lines.

The one giraffe continued to follow her with his eyes.

Had she tried to cross the trench, she could easily have been injured, perhaps even breaking a leg or worse.  She knew this was a precarious situation and didn’t want to risk life or limb. She looked at her friends/family members from time to time seeking help, and one of them responded in contemplating what could be done.

He desperately wanted to help.

Realistically, her only safe option was to walk all the way to the end of the trench, cross the road and double back to meet up with her tower of giraffes.

Watching her indecisiveness along with her desire to get across was tender and elicited considerable emotion from all of us.  We were in awe of her determination and innate sense of caution at the same time.

Finally, he took off down to road to see where she went.

Finally, she gave up and decided to walk the length of the road on her side of the trench. When she reached the end, she made her way to the road and surely met up with the remainder of her group. It was a special sighting, one we’ll all always remember.

He was stymied as to where she may have gone.

This morning we drove to Komatipoort from breakfast at Stoep Cafe, which we hope to return to one more time before Tom and Lois depart on Thursday to return to the US.

As soon as we upload this post, we’re on our way for the final time for the four of us to Ngwenya for river viewing and dinner. There’s no buffet tonight, but we’ll all order off the menu after spending time on the veranda perusing the Crocodile River for whatever Mother Nature wants to present to us tonight.

Finally, she made it to the open road and waited for her friends to arrive.  Happy ending. Happy giraffe. Happy us for witnessing this event.

May your day and evening present you with those unique things that make your heart flutter.

Photo from one year ago today, October 29, 2017:

A massive bull on his way to…who knows what? For more photos from Managua, Nicaragua, please click here.

Fabulous time with friends…

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Ms. Warthog’s pose #1.

“Sighting of the Day in Bush”

The hornbills are trying to reclaim the use of the bushbaby house from the blue starlings who’ve already built a nest inside.

It must admit I’m having trouble preparing today’s post due to the fact that Tom and Lois are here. Having guests at our temporary bush home is indescribably wonderful.  

Ms. Warthog’s pose #2..

The lively conversation, the laughter, the interactions, the wildlife watching, and delicious mealtimes together are beyond all of our expectations. To see how much they’re enjoying seeing our wildlife friends is such a joy as we describe what we’ve learned along the way.

Egyptian geese on the river at sunset.

We asked if they wanted us to give commentary on the wildlife as we see them and they enthusiastically encouraged us to do so. They want to absorb everything they can during the three weeks they’ll spend with us.

Their visit here is ending on November 1st when they fly back to the US to continue on their extensive touring of the USA on a Harley Davidson motorcycle.  Such adventurers!

View of the Crocodile River from the veranda at Aamazing River View restaurant.

After traveling for over 29 hours from the time you left their home in New Jersey, they finally arrived here at almost 1400 hours (2:00 pm). Of course, they were exhausted but have since recovered after a good night’s rest.

Egyptian geese preening by the river.

This morning we gathered around the big table on the veranda with coffee and tea and again, the lively conversation ensued. A few minutes ago we finished breakfast which included a flourless quiche, leftover slices of filet mignon (from last night’s dinner), and our popular broccoli salad. 

Once our food settles we’re taking off for the Crocodile River where we’ll spend a few hours watching for wildlife. Louise loaned us four portable chairs we’ll keep in the car so we can stop and relax while focusing on searching for good sightings along the way.

Cattle egret standing on a rock in the river.

Need I say, we’re confident we’ll have plenty of fun with Tom and Lois over these next three weeks, ensuring they have an opportunity to experience many of the wonders in this part of the country.

Pretty little bird on the river.

Between the time I wrote the above and this moment, we went out and did our usual drive in Marloth Park. At first, we were concerned we wouldn’t see much and they’d be disappointed.

Sunset over the Crocodile River.

But “safari luck” prevailed once again and we saw more than we ever anticipated. If nothing else, Tom and Lois added some of their own first-time safari luck and we had a fantastic time.

Hadeda birds make a loud noise as they fly overhead at dusk.

Tomorrow, we’ll be posting many of our exciting photos which we’re looking to posting. We’re wrapping it up here for today since we’re heading out to Ngwenya Lodge and Restaurant for more river viewing and their delicious Thursday night buffet.

Have a memorable evening!

Photo from one year ago today, October 11, 2017:

Pelican resting on a log on a pond at Zoo Ave, the bird sanctuary. For more details, please click here.

Today’s the day!…Our guests arrive this afternoon…Breakfast in town…Tom’s short haircut…

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It was a good idea to set up this bar and get the clutter off of the kitchen counter.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

This dead beetle was lying on her back on the veranda.
We flipped it over for this photo. This is an African Black Beetle. We swept it over the edge of the veranda.  A few minutes later, a band of mongooses stopped by, and one of them immediately started devouring the beetle, savoring it so much, he made funny noises while crunching on its hard shell. Mongooses are carnivores. They don’t sting but have a powerful toxin they release when agitated that can feel like a sting and cause irritation.

A part of the fun of entertaining guests is the preparations to make their stay as pleasant as possible. We ran around the house, organizing and de-cluttering in an attempt to make everything as pleasant as possible. We outfitted their rooms and bath with soaps, towels, insect repellents, toilet paper, and tissues.

Our friend Kathy recommended this quaint café in Komatipoort, which we finally visited for the first yesterday.  We had a fantastic breakfast of bacon, eggs, veggies (Tom splurged on toast and jam, hot tea, and bottled water).  The total bill was a paltry ZAR 170 (US $11.61), including tax and tip.

We loved creating a nice bar area, as shown in today’s main photo, using everything we had on hand and adding some new items Tom and Lois indicated they liked to drink, and the result was quite pleasing.

Tom’s eggs and bacon.  He ate his two pieces of toast and mine also.

It’s not that we drink that much. But, we entertain fairly often. Tom likes a one-shot brandy and Sprite, while I occasionally have a sugar-free gin and tonic. But, more often, I drink low-alcohol wine, which has 30% less alcohol.  

I ordered this spinach omelet only to discover it had creamed spinach inside. I have to learn how to order better for my further restricted lactose-free diet. Next time, I’ll ask for plain spinach. This time I scraped off all of the spinach and ate the egg part. There was no way I would ask them to take it back when I failed to order properly.

Luckily, low alcohol wine is available, made by South African wineries, and is quite good. When we dine out as we did last night for an excellent dinner at Aamazing (spelled correctly) River View overlooking the Crocodile River, I was able to order Four Cousins Skinny White wine. I had two glasses during the evening while Tom had two-one shot glasses of Klipdrift brandy with Sprite Zero.

There is both indoor and outdoor dining at this delightful spot.

I ordered the grilled calamari steaks with salad (no dressing) while Tom had chicken Corden Bleu, rice, and salad. Our total bill, including the drinks, tax, and tip, was ZAR 414 (US $28.36). It’s almost more cost-effective to dine out than cook!

Many lovely gifts can be purchased here.

It was unusual for us to eat out twice in one day, but I didn’t want to make a mess after the house was cleaned so perfectly by Zef and Vusi. This morning I started the food prep for today’s lunch and dinner. 

 A few minutes ago, they were both here, cleaning the floors, making the bed, taking out the trash, and cleaning the veranda, which must be cleaned daily with all the dust kicked up from the wildlife and the soot from the sugar cane fires.

The charming gift shop at the Stoep Café.

Josiah is now emptying, cleaning, and refilling the cement pond so the wildlife can have fresh water to drink. Plus, recently, Little Wart Face sat in the pond.  It is a good idea to keep this clean.

 After breakfast at the Stoep Cafe, we headed to the dentist’s office. As it turned out, they’d moved to the same building as Dr. Theo at the Trio Centre. Tom has a sore spot on his gums that needs to be checked. He couldn’t get an appointment until next Tuesday, so he’s using warm salt water rinses in the interim.  We’ll see how that goes.

Bottles are used decoratively in the stone walkway at the Stoep Café.

At the dentist’s office, which shares the space with an optometrist, I purchased a really nice pair of sunglasses since those I’d purchased in Zambia fell apart a few days ago.  

 From there, we headed to the pharmacy for a few toiletries and then off to Spar for a few more groceries items. We weren’t planning to return to the house until around 1400 hours (2:00 pm), but we’d purchased meat and needed to put it into the freezer. Fortunately, the boys were wrapping up the cleaning, and it all worked out well.

Tom before his haircut.  Scary!

A few hours later, we headed to the Aamazing River View in time to watch the sunset. We enjoyed a leisurely wait until our fresh, hot, and delicious food arrived. The wait was worth it.

Back home by 2100 hours (9:00 pm), we decided to watch the finale of Master Chef on my laptop. I fell asleep on the sofa for almost two hours and missed the finale. Once I got up and was ready for bed, I had an awful time falling back to sleep after the two-hour nap. Today, we’re both a little sluggish, but surely when our guests arrive, we’ll both become energized.

Tom, after his short haircut, is trim and neat.  A great improvement!

Over the next three weeks, our posting times will vary depending on the plans we’ve made with Tom and Lois. However, we will continue to post each day! We’ll keep you updated on the plans and experiences during this busy time for us in Marloth Park with friends! 

Have a spectacular day!

Photo from one year ago today, October 10, 2017:

Tom took this beautiful photo in the early morning in Costa Rica as the moon was setting. Nice job! For more photos, please click here.

Oops, we goofed…Go figure!…Talk about preoccupied!…

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The elephants walk by in single file with many cape buffalos in the background.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”
The lioness picked up her head long enough for us to capture this distant photo.

When friends Tom and Lois gave us their flight information several months ago, somehow it stuck in our brains that they were arriving on October 9th when that was their departure date.  

When we read on Facebook at the Marloth Park Sighting Page that lions had been sighted, we dashed to the river to see if we could get some good photos. Unfortunately, the lions were hard to see when hidden behind a tree.

Dumb us, we didn’t stop to think that they’re coming from the US and won’t arrive until October 10th. You’d think we’d know this by now after all these years of travel. But, in our enthusiasm, October 9th went on our calendar.

We were sitting on a bench watching the cape buffalo, and suddenly these elephants walked past us.

Last night when sending email messages back and forth to confirm their estimated arrival time, we realized they wouldn’t be here until October 10th, most likely reaching Marloth Park by around 1:00 pm.

We were surprised to see so many cape buffalos along the river.

Louise had planned for Zef and Vusi to do the “spring clean” today, but once we realized this, we suggested they come tomorrow, which worked out better for her after all.  

 With school holiday guests leaving many of her rental properties yesterday and today, having the boys available today to clean the houses made lots more sense today than tomorrow.

They were scattered along a one-kilometer stretch of the river bank.

As a result, the boys will be here tomorrow, and we’ve changed our plans to return to Komatipoort for more shopping until tomorrow so we can be gone while they’re here.

In one 45-minute period, we saw three of the Big Five on the Crocodile River.

We can only recall how much work it was preparing for houseguests in our old lives when we wanted everything to be as perfect as possible. Now, with perfectionist Zef and Vusi, there’s little for us to do other than clean up some clutter and coordinate plans and upcoming meals.

As I write this text, the company that provides WiFi is here upgrading something in the system. The WiFi will be down for an hour at most, but we’ve decided to stay put and wait for the work to be completed. In the interim, I’ve completed the post-offline using a special blog posting page in Microsoft Word, a solution I’ve used when we don’t have a working connection.
We were able to zoom in to see a youngster grazing.
With the change in plans and Tom and Lois’s expected arrival time, we’re taking advantage of the extra day to complete some organizing and reduce some of the clutter. Although we’re relatively tidy day-to-day, with limited cupboard space, closets, and drawers, as is typical in many holiday homes, we’ve created some clutter in a few areas and today is the perfect day to address this. 
Most tourists only stay for short periods and often don’t even unpack their bags.  We carry literally “everything we own” with us everywhere we go. We prefer not to “live out of a suitcase” and find space for all of our stuff.  
They aren’t particularly handsome animals, but they are an important part of the animal kingdom.
Keeping in mind, we don’t necessarily have that much stuff, but being here for this extended period, we’ve found ourselves accumulating more than usual. It’s easy to do without realizing it. I guess by nature, we humans really are packrats and have a hard time avoiding collecting “stuff.” 
With only four months (visa extension providing) until we depart South Africa, we need to begin thinking of what we need to donate and clear out before our departure. Since I’ve recently lost a lot of weight (more on that later), most of my clothes no longer fit and will be donated before we leave. Once we arrive in the US in April, I’ll have to replace any items, as will Tom, who’s also losing weight. 
More elephants on the river.
Of course, the reality always remains that our limited wardrobes wear out after washing the same items over and over again. For the first time in years, I actually have holes in my jeans and shirts.  
 
I see that holey jeans are fashionable in the US, but I’m too old to wear that style, although I do see some old-timers at my age wearing them. I don’t get that. But, who cares? To each their own.
Today, we plan to head out for another search for wildlife to see what more we can find. 
Have a fulfilling day!
Photo from one year ago today, October 8, 2017:
In Costa Rica, a pair of Inca Doves landed on the veranda railing and posed. These pretty birds mate for life and spend considerable time preening one another’s gorgeous feathers that appear to be small scales. For more photos, please click here.

Lifestyle changes…Two days and counting…

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Mom and baby are enjoying the river.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

Cape buffalos sure know how to cuddle. Note the bird on his head.

Our friends will arrive in Marloth Park in less than 48 hours. Tomorrow, Vusi and Zef will come and do a central spring cleaning of the entire house, including the upstairs guest area, which will be for Tom and Lois’s exclusive use, two nice sized bedrooms (one to store their clothes and bags), and a good-sized bathroom.  

It looks as if the elephant on the right has been splashing water on herself.

There’s a full-sized sofa in the spacious hallway if either of them prefers some quiet time to nap or read. Closet space and shelves to store toiletries are at a minimum in Africa (from what we’ve seen), but there’s a table they can use in the same hallway for such items.

Cattle egrets are constant companions of the elephant, particularly near water.

Of course, we’ll insist they have full access to enjoy the living areas with us and help themselves to anything their hearts desire in the bar and the kitchen.  Hopefully, they enjoy sitting outdoors with us when they aren’t busy, but we’re not making any “rules” other than to insist they do exactly what suits them and that they have a good time.

 I chuckled when Tom wrote and asked we had a TV. We have a flatscreen TV, but the channels are not quite what we were used to in our old lives. We’ve yet to watch a single show since we arrived.  

None of the channels are from the US, nor is there any US news.  We watch all of that on our laptops. Many channels are in other languages, and shows are unfamiliar and of little interest to our tastes.  

This little one could be as young as a few days old.

However, we use our HDMI cord to watch Minnesota Vikings football games or other streaming or downloaded shows from our laptops.  We still use the Graboid.com app, where for a monthly fee of ZAR 295 (US $19.95), we can watch many recent US TV shows and movies.


 On average, including the football game, we don’t spend more than an hour a day watching shows. In our old lives, every night, after dinner, we’d park ourselves in front of the TV, and there we’d stay until bedtime, often enjoying a homemade dessert (before my diet change in 2011).  

The youngster was enthralled with swinging his trunk around.  What a fun discovery!

Instead of escaping into a mystery TV series or two each night, we’re entrenched in the mysteries Mother Nature presents every evening in a “live show.” There are no commercials in the bush! That’s no longer our lifestyle, and for us, we’re much happier this way.

 Our friends, although experienced world travelers, have never lived in the bush in Africa. No doubt, there will be a bit of “culture shock” when they arrive on Tuesday, even as they drive in their rental car from the airport through the many small towns along the way.  

It was time to venture back up the embankment, a long hike for this little one.

We’ve sent them excellent directions as to how to get here, and as motorcycles enthusiasts traveling all over the US, we have no doubt they make their way to our front door on Tuesday morning without a problem.

 They’ll undoubtedly be exhausted after traveling for over a day and may need to rest before we bombard them with the wonders of the bush. Most of the holidaymakers (the school holiday ends today) will have left, and once again, the bush will be quiet and more wildlife will visit us. 

When sugar cane is harvested, the leaves are burned, making a mess for miles around. We often find the veranda covered in soot.

This afternoon we’re visiting friends for sundowners (the happy hour in the bush) and will return home by dinnertime for a lovely Sunday dinner I prepared today.  

 Last night, we had another delicious and fun-filled evening at Jabula Lodge and Restaurant. There’s never been a time we haven’t had a fabulous evening in a friendly and appealing environment.  

Four male ostriches were fluffing their feathers. 

Last night was a rugby playoff game between South Africa and New Zealand. It was easy for us to get into the exciting tempo in the bar, enjoying the game along with all the locals. The conversations were lively and animated, the food was over-the-top, and Dawn and Leon, the owners, always make us feel welcomed and included.

 May your day be filled with beautiful surprises!

Photo from one year ago today, October 7, 2017:

This was the first sighting we’ve had of a Toucan in the yard.  Once the downed tree was removed, it opened up an area where Ulysses spotted the two birds and came to tell us. Notice the piece of fruit in their beak.  For more photos, please click here.

Pig on the porch!!!..Pig in a pond!!!…Pig in the parlor!!!…

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If you look carefully, you can see Little Wart Face running from the veranda. It was raining, and he climbed the slippery steps to see if we’d come outside and give him some pellets. Of course, the minute I stepped out to take the photo, he ran down the steps, sliding down.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

Mr. Bushbuck’s injured leg seems to be healing.  He could barely walk a few weeks ago but is limping now. He certainly doesn’t look as if he’s been starving.  When an animal is injured, we residents of Marloth Park tend to feed the wounded animal extra food to aid their recovery.

On May 28, 2018, we ordered a box of supplies to be shipped to Marloth Park. We’d expected it to take a few months, not four months after all was said and done.

We had lots of muddy pig footprints on the veranda after he left. We didn’t scold him for coming up. We were laughing hard.

There was no less than ZAR 17731 (US $1200) in supplies in that box, and based on poor postal service in South Africa, there wasn’t insurance available, as is the case in many countries when packages are sent through the postal service.

He considered coming back onto the porch (veranda) after we placed a few pellets as shown, but he was scared to death after his slippery descent.

The cost to ship the package from the US to Marloth Park via (USPS) postal service was ZAR 2660 (US $180). Had we used UPS, Fed Ex, or DHL, the cost jumped to ZAR 7092 (US $480). At the time, we didn’t want to spend so much on the shipping. Lesson learned.

 Here it is, folks. We’re saying this out loud for the world to see. We will never send another package of supplies from the US unless we can use UPS, Fed Ex, or DHL for fast delivery and insurance. The aggravation over these past months wasn’t worth it.

At first, we spotted Medium Wart Face sitting in the cement pond. By the time I grabbed the camera, he’d already begun to climb out.

According to tracking information, the package arrived in Johanessburg, where it went through customs and was released for transport on June 6th, exactly four months ago today.

He managed to climb out OK, shook off, and came up to the veranda to ask for more pellets.

What transpired from there was a comedy of errors. First, there was a strike in June, and all packages that had arrived in Johannesburg and were sent to Pretoria for processing came to a standstill.

 After dozens of phone calls made by Louise and us, we discovered the box was sitting in a shipping container in Pretoria with thousands of other undelivered packages. Everything was at a standstill even after the strike ended in June.

Four Girls and Dad & Son stopped by at the same time. Overall, they got along fine, although the girls rendered a few kicks their way, and Dad gently prodded with his horns.

After writing a highly assertive letter to several postal service officials about a week ago and ultimately connecting with a top official who responded to my assertive letter, a kindly official went into action demanding staff find the box in its specific container and get it to us.

Zebras have such interesting markings as this black and white circle on her back.

We met our kindly contact person at Marloth Park’s Gate 2, who handed over the package this morning. We paid the customs fees of ZAR 385 (US $26) along with a hefty “token of appreciation,” which may have been instrumental in expediting the situation. 

 Regardless of the circumstances and the costs, we’re relieved to have the package. Everything inside the box was intact as we’d expected. We met the helpful driver/postal service employee at the gate and brought the package back to the house.  

As soon as the pellets and veg start thinning out, they start staring at us, asking for more.

There was even a long-expired credit card (April 2018) in the box and our new health insurance cards from Healthcare International. I’d forgotten I had ordered a ton of my favorite tee-shirts I so desperately needed when all that I currently own have holes in them.  

Even Little Miss Bushbuck has learned to use those soulful dark eyes to let us know she wants more.

There were so many items in the box we needed, and we’re thrilled to have it all unpacked and put away. We won’t be purchasing any more supplies until we arrive in the US in five months, where we’ll replenish anything we may need.

 As for today’s photos, we realized we planned not to spend much time on warthogs, my favorite animals in the wild. However, these hilarious characters are worthy of posting photos and sharing stories from time to time.  Bear with us as we laugh out loud over recent antics in the garden.  

Although not all are shown in this photo, we had six bushbucks in the garden simultaneously, a record for us.

Tonight we’re off to Jabula for socialization and great food. Tomorrow, we’ll be back with plenty more.

 Enjoy the day, the evening, and a good night’s rest.

Photo from one year ago today, October 6, 2017:

View from the veranda during the tropical depression in Costa Rica. The clouds were so low they were ground level in the valley.  For more photos, please click here.

Looking forward to sharing this magical place…Four days and counting…

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Most likely, Mom, Dad, and youngster were heading down the dirt road.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

According to our friend Uschi, when we walk through the bush to get close to the fence between Marloth and Kruger Parks, we often encounter these spiky bushes, which is buffalo thorn. I got scratched by one of these a while ago, and it itched for days. Some plants can cause life-threatening responses if scratched.

The concept of sharing this magical place with friends is indescribably exciting.  Isn’t that always the case when you love something special and want to share it with special people?

On our “daily drive,” we spotted these giraffes on their “daily walk.”
People all over the world see our photos and read our stories. But, nothing is more impactful than seeing this magical place in person. To be face to face with this abundance of wildlife is an animal-lovers dream come true.
Giraffes don’t stay in one location long.  They continually are on the move to the next best feeding spot.

For those with little interest in wildlife, this surely would be one long boring time away.  There are no beaches, no nightclubs, no fancy restaurants, and lush botanical gardens to visit. There isn’t a movie theatre within a reasonable enough distance to make it a worthwhile evening event.

Noise, including loud talking and music, must be kept to a minimum at all times.  There are no fast-food restaurants in Marloth Park, but a few, including Wimpy’s and KFC in Komatipoort, are less than a half-hour away.

The Crocodile River was aptly named with many crocs in residence.

Typical tourist-type shopping is limited to commonly seen Africa trinkets.  Although there’s a big mall in Nelspruit (90-minute drive), its products are limited to those that appeal to locals with few easily identifiable brand name shops tourists tend to like to visit. 

Mom (on the right), Dad, and chicks.  How they’ve grown!

For those not interested in wildlife, this is hardly the best place to visit. On top of it all, if you’re terrified of insects, snakes, and rodents, this would be the last place you’d want to visit. At times, we’ve encountered folks who are terrified of birds. The bush is a bird-lovers paradise but hardly suitable for those who take cover when a bird flies in their range of vision.

But, for those who’ve spent a lifetime revels in the wonders of the wildlife kingdom, nowhere in the world can match visiting areas of Africa, especially Marloth Park, which provides an up-close-and-personal experience like none other anywhere else in the world.  

We were excited to see this massive “obstinacy” of cape buffalos.

When we originally booked our first house in 2012 with Louise in Marloth Park for our three-month visit in 2013/2014, I’d scoured the world searching for a place where animals roam free around a long-term rental property.  

Sure, there are resorts inside many national parks, animals reserves, and conservancies. But nothing we found could accommodate our desire to stay three months and be reasonably self-sufficient.  
There must have been over 100 of the massive beasts lounging in one big pile!

Also, we preferred to be in an environment where we’d have an opportunity to make friends further and enhance our experience. Staying in a resort is an improbable scenario for making new friends, although it may happen occasionally.  

Most tourists on holiday tend to stay close to their friends and family members, not mingling much with others. We’ve seen this over and over again in our past six years of world travel.
We tried to do a video and zoom in, but the wind was blowing so hard, I couldn’t hold the camera still.

Without a doubt, Marloth Park has provided us with the most social interaction we’ve had anywhere in the world. Princeville, Kauai, Hawaii was a close second.  We’re looking forward to introducing our visitors to some of the friends we’ve made here, let alone the animal friends we’ve also made along the way.

We have been busy setting up activities and planning for our friends the first week they are here. This way, they’ll have a sample of exciting and enticing “things to do” while here. From there, they can decide what appeals to them the most and include us or go on their own, whichever they prefer.
This is an example of the bush we often walk through to get to the fence between Marloth Park and Kruger National Park.

We have a lovely weekend ahead, including Friday night on the veranda, Saturday night out with friends, and Sunday afternoon was stopping by for sundowners (happy hour) with more friends.

We’ll wrap up a bit of shopping on Monday and Tuesday morning. Tom and Lois will arrive well before noon. Fun…

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Photo from one year ago today, October 5, 2017:

Generally, pools have a system to avoid overflow due to heavy rains, which appeared to be the case of the pool in the villa in Atenas, Costa Rica.  It had been raining non-stop for days!  For more details, please click here.

Today is a special day in the bush…Outstanding lion sightings on yesterday’s drive…

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Casually wandering down the steep rocks, this male sees his buddy at a distance.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

A little blurry, but nonetheless a happy lion with his tail in the air as he makes his way down the rocks near the river’s edge.

The temperature had dropped from a high of 39C (102F) to a cool 14C (57F) in less than 24 hours. We’ve gone from wearing as little clothing as possible to bundling up in sweaters and sweatshirts. I must admit, it feels darn good.

“Ah, here he is. Maybe I’ll join him for a leisurely nap!”
But, the best of it all is the fact that it’s been raining for the past several hours which started after one of the loudest cracks of thunder we’ve ever heard around 5:00 am.  
He’s checking out the perimeter before he gets too comfortable.
This rain is desperately needed here in the bush with vegetation dangerously dry, a prime situation for a lethal flash fire in this densely brush-covered area. The rain, if it continues off and on over the next months, could certainly alleviate the risk of such a frightening prospect.
Everything looks good. Naptime.
We’re indoors today with high winds whipping the wind around and the cool temperature making sitting outdoors uncomfortable. During the rain, it’s unlikely we’ll see any visitors but we keep checking to ensure we don’t fail to feed any passing hungry animals.
His eyes are almost completely closed but not quite.  Instinctively he stays cognizant of his surrounding.
The rain will “green” the vegetation if it continues long enough. This will add much-needed relief for the wildlife, most of which are herbivores, and will thrive with the new season of sprouting leaves, bushes, and trees. Hopefully, it will continue for a few days.
“She is rather attractive.  Besides, she “made” dinner for me.  Perhaps I should show her some appreciation.”

Of course, with our friends coming next week we’re hoping for good weather for all of us, the humans and animals alike. It’s unlikely we’ll go to Kruger when it’s raining since the animals tend to go undercover during downpours. We tried that a few weeks ago without much luck.

Dreaming of his next kill or…that pretty female over there?

As for today’s many lion photos…OMG! It was outstanding. Our expectations, as always were low in seeing much wandering in Marloth Park since the holidaymakers are still here through the upcoming weekend. To our surprise, we did see a few animals wandering about which we’ll share over the next few days.

“Nah, the nap sounds better right now.”

But, seeing several lions across the Crocodile River, out in the open, was the highlight of the day. We made our usual drive which takes about two hours from Olifant Drive to Kudu Road winding our way down to the river.  

Tom captured this female lounging not too far from the males.  She’d done the kill and the males took it from her, a common occurrence.

We always wind through Volstruis Road (which means ostrich in Afrikaans) in search of ostriches and their chicks. Oddly enough, as mentioned in the past, most ostriches seem to stay near their namesake road. We’re seldom disappointed and yesterday was no exception. Again, we’ll share those photos over the next few days.

It was cool and cloudy yesterday so the pride didn’t seem to mind relaxing in the open.

But the lions, a straight shot across the river upstream from Two Trees, we saw a small gathering of humans with cameras and binoculars in hand. It didn’t take long for us to spot the lions across the river. Again, it’s a very long distance from the Marloth Park fence to the opposite side of the Crocodile River so as always we do our best to get good photos.  

Two other males resting after a feast.

The wind was blowing heavily and without a tripod, I had difficulty holding the camera steady. Instead, as I often do, I braced the camera on the thin wire on the fence between the barbs, located a foot from the electrified fence which is far enough away to avoid any likelihood of touching it.

We both struggled to get good shots but once we uploaded them today, we were pleased we’d been able to get a few good shots under the difficult circumstances. No doubt if we had a bigger and better lens we’d be able to do more.  For now, we live with what we have.

Another lounging “leeu” (lion in Afrikaans) on a cool day.

For today, with the rain, we don’t expect to go out. Like the lions in the photos, we’ll lounge, maybe watch a show and make a nice dinner for tonight. Our plan is to be out on the veranda as usual by 1700 hours (5:00 pm) since we can use the outdoor portable heater if it’s cold. We’ll see how it rolls out.

Like many of you, not every day is adventuresome and exciting. Some days are quiet and low key. Yesterday, we saw lions and today we’ll watch another episode of Master Chef. It’s the nature of our lives and we love it this way!

May you have the kind of day that brings you contentment!

Photo from one year ago today, October 4, 2017:

A new visitor to the tree by the veranda. It’s a Rufous-naped Wren, a common bird species in Costa Rica. For more photos, please click here.

What are these elephants doing?…Mysterious behavior…Intelligent beings, beyond belief!…

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 What were these elephants trying to accomplish?  Any ideas?

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

A little affection between the two warthogs in the garden.

For us, the fascinating aspect of living in the bush is the opportunity to observe animal behavior. We’re not animal behavioral experts, but after watching wildlife full-time for over a year based on our current and previous time spent living in the bush and on endless safaris, we’ve been able to learn a little.

We couldn’t help but wonder what was going on here.

At times, we see interactions and behaviors that leave us wondering what could be going on. Such was the case when we spotted elephants on the river engaged in a most peculiar pattern while attempting to break down or dig into an embankment on the Crocodile River.

 We watched for a while before taking the above video, and today’s included photos trying to formalize an opinion as to what was transpiring. We were never able to conclude. 

One lone elephant decided not to participate in the action at the wall.

As we’ve reviewed the photos and video, we’re still at a loss. But we’re willing to leave it at that…we don’t always get to know what’s in the minds of these and other fantastic creatures. Instead, we made the video, took the photos, and watched and waited until they finally wandered off to the river to drink, eat and clean off.

Even the youngsters got in on the activity.

However, these and other animals we’ve observed have left us reeling with excitement to do some further research to see what we can learn. Many online sites offer a wide array of information on elephant behavior, but the one we found most interesting is here.

Trunks were covered in mud.

We realize many of our readers prefer not to click on links and videos, so today, we’re sharing some of the excellent information we discovered on the above website as shown below:

 Elephants continue to fascinate both scientists and general observers alike. They are recognized as being among the most intelligent creatures on earth. Some enthusiasts believe that their intelligence rivals that of human beings.
 Aristotle even said of elephants: “The beast which passeth all others in wit and mind.” 

It appeared they were using their mouths, not as much as their trunks, to dig into the dirt wall.

Proportionally, the elephant’s brain is the most sizeable at a mass of just over 5kg. Although the largest whale is 20 times the body size of an elephant, its brain is just under twice the size. 

The need for such a large and complex organ becomes clear when we consider the behaviors and abilities of these animals. Elephants are capable of a range of emotions, including joy, playfulness, grief, and mourning. In addition, elephants can learn new facts and behaviors, mimic sounds that they hear, self-medicate, play with a sense of humor, perform artistic activities, use tools, and display compassion and self-awareness.
 
Part of the reason that elephants possess such a superior level of intelligence is their brain structure. Their neocortex is highly convoluted, as it is in humans, apes, and some dolphins. This is generally accepted to be an indication of complex intelligence. The cortex is thick and comprises many neurons. The elephant is one of the few creatures (along with human beings) that is not born with survival instincts but needs to learn these during infancy and adolescence. The brain is specially designed to accomplish this sort of life learning. Elephants and humans have a similar lifespan, and plenty of time, approximately ten years, is allowed to learn before they are considered independent adults. 

The insight and intelligence of the elephant are particularly noteworthy in their ability to mourn their dead. This behavior has only previously been noted in humans. Recently deceased elephants will receive a burial ceremony, while those already reduced to a skeleton are still paid respect by passing herds. The burial ceremony is marked by deep rumblings while the dead body is touched and caressed by the herd members’ trunks.

 Intelligence is also manifested in the elephant’s ability to self-medicate. When a pregnant mother is due to give birth, she will chew on the tree’s leaves from the Boraginaceae family to induce labor. 

Every so often, they backed off and took a break.

The ability to mimic sounds is another indication of the impressive intelligence of these beasts. Elephants have been recorded mimicking passing trucks and even the sounds made by their trainers. Often, the elephant manages to articulate certain sounds to bear a strong resemblance to the spoken word. 

Elephants can use tools or implements to accomplish a task they cannot perform on their own. They have been observed digging holes for drinking water, molding bark from a tree into the shape of a ball, placing it on top of the hole, and covering it over with sand to avoid evaporation. They also use sticks to scratch their backs when their trunk cannot reach and have been known to drop rocks on electric fences to damage them. 

The elephant’s problem-solving abilities are another impressive facet of their boundless intelligence. Incredibly, the elephant can change its behavior based on a given situation. Bandula, an Asian elephant in captivity, had learned how to release the complex hook on her shackles and would then assist her fellow “inmates” to escape from theirs. 

Self-awareness is yet another indication of the vast capacity for thinking and intellect that exists in the elephant. They can recognize themselves in a mirror, something that is extremely rare in the animal kingdom. 

These capabilities are merely touching the tip of the iceberg of the elephant’s capacity for insight, thought, and discernment. And it is this capacity that continues to captivate researchers and onlookers alike in their eternal quest to understand the mystery of the elephant psyche.”

Later, they went down to the river to drink, eat and clean off.

No doubt, this information is astounding.  And yet, as we spend so much time watching elephants in the wild, we remain in awe of the depth of their intelligence and emotions. It appears they have many of the good qualities humans possess, leaving the more negative and critical behind.  We have so much to learn from them.

Today, a perfect weather day, cool with temps in the high 20C’s (high 70F’s) range with a few billowy white clouds drifting across a bright blue sky, will keep us on the veranda hoping to see visitors who continue to be at a minimum right now.

This morning, we had a few bushbucks stop by, Frank and The Misses., dozens of helmeted guineafowl, and many birds and hornbills eating the seeds in the birdfeeder. We can always depend on them!

Have a fantastic day filled with wonder.Photo from one year ago today, September 30, 3017:

Tom’s burger and fries at Donde Bocha Antogeria in Atenas.  I ate the little side cup of guacamole when I could eat nothing else on the menu. For more photos, please click here.