There’s nothing like a good laugh, a good meal and another night in the bush…Photos and a video today…

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A first glance, these could be a fashion-forward pair of women’s black boots. Nope. They’re the hind legs of a Warthog. Actually, all four legs have these spiky heels. This made us laugh.
 We took this video a few minutes ago. Every time that we run water into the pool, due to a slow leak, the nocturnal bushbabies make lots of noise, making us laugh.
We laugh easily. Tom, over corny jokes and puns, befitting a situation and me, over the irony of daily life. Put us together and one will incite the other into a good chuckle many times a day. 
Warthogs are always on the lookout for a morsel.  Notice how they get on their front knees when discovering a morsel. We howled over this when on safari in the Masai Mara and now, again here.
Baby butts up on the air, on their knees, eating the vegetation around this tree.

Living in the bush, in a constant state of awe of our surroundings, we find humor in the most mundane of events or in the interesting activities of the wildlife surrounding us. 

Butting heads while the third baby stands by, awaiting a turn.
Moments later, he got his turn to butt heads while the former participant wandered away.
The determination of a dung beetle is laugh-worthy as its female counterpart stays atop the ball of dung, running feverishly as he anxiously moves it along using his back legs to push and his front legs to gain a foothold on the ground. Or, the face of a zebra that stands at our railing with what appears to be a smile on his face, inciting a comment and chuckle out of us.
When we first arrived, we noticed a baby warthog lying still on the driveway. Several of the others stopped by, sniffing it and walking away. The mother sniffed it and walked away. We panicked thinking the baby was dead. Suddenly, it jumped up, engaging in play with the others. Now, we observe this as a common occurrence, perhaps a behavior of dominance.
These two kissed and sniffed each other while lying down.

The vegetation stuffed cheeks of the giraffe when he takes a break from his treetop munching to check us out, making eye contact, not only warms our hearts but makes us laugh. Mother Nature has a sense of humor.  Surely us humans, are funny with our rituals, habits and, actions. 

This baby did the same as the others as if playing dead.
This mother stopped to look at me.  The way warthogs make eye contact and listen to my voice, makes me laugh every day.

We’re not laughing at them and, I won’t use the standard phrase that they are “laughing with us.” They aren’t.  But, why we’re laughing is due to the fact that they are like us in so many ways: stomping their feet when they want attention, snorting when dissatisfied or annoyed, reacting sexually when visually stimulated, constantly thinking about food, needing warmth, comfort, and love and for many, the desire for companionship with their family and friends.

The standing baby was trying to nurse the lying baby.

God, a Higher Power, or Mother Nature, whatever your beliefs, made us alike in many ways so that we cohabit in this world together. And, at times, that likeness, combined with our differences, can incite a bout of laughter, a smile on our faces, or merely a twinkle in our eye leaving us feeling a sense of happiness and fulfillment. 

Without cause, they’d finally had enough of us and began to take off onto one of the many animal worn paths at varying points in the yard.

How fortunate we are to embrace this? Whether we laugh from the antics of our dogs or cats which is one of the main motivators in including pets in our lives or, the playful shenanigans of an animal in the wild, it is the same warm, fuzzy feeling that brings us laughter, pleasure and a sense of belonging, if only for a moment, in their world.

Goodbye, warthog family of nine with a few yet to catch up. We’ll see you again soon. 

Today, we share with our readers, some laugh provoking moments with one of my favorites, the maligned warthog, whom by now many of our readers may say, “Enough already, with the Warthogs.” Humor me. They, by far, have made us laugh more than any creature in the bush, especially when these events shown in the included photos occurred a few days ago.

Some say that their ugliness is off-putting. Certainly, they are no more ugly than Elwood, the Chinese Crested Chihuahua, who warmed the hearts of millions as the World’s Ugliest Dog in 2007. We enjoyed Elwood because he was ugly. Thus, we enjoy warthogs for a similar reason. Add their playfulness, their intensity, their determination, their curiosity and they easily become a favorite.

We ended the delightful day with this meal. My plate is on the right with the Brussels Sprouts which, of course, Tom would never eat. At least he’ll eat the green beans and coleslaw.

After their lengthy visit, freely allowing us to take photos of their most intimate family fun, the heat of 100F, 38C weather drove us indoors to the AC, another delicious homemade meal, a movie, a good night’s sleep.This morning we awoke to a live bat in the kitchen sink.

Life in the bush is hot and humid, filled with unbelievable insects and critters (we’re adapting). But we find it to be exciting and often humorous. 

Do you know what is really funny? That two senior citizens, former homebodies, conservative and cautious, are sitting here in the bush to tell about it!  

Most extraordinary day yet…Is this really happening?…

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On Thursday morning as I stepped outside onto the veranda, camera in hand, this was the first thing I saw. Quietly alerting Tom, who was still inside the house, he rushed out to witness this same sight. And then, in minutes they were everywhere. No words can describe our elation.
At first, we thought there may only be a few when we saw only this one. Giraffes hang out in groups, often changing to a new group every few hours with no special loyalty to any grouping, other than moms and a baby of which only one is born at a time.
Walking out onto our driveway we were able to see the others arriving.

It won’t always be this exciting. After a while, we’ll have shared more and more new photos of visitors that have already visited us in the past. But for us, this is only the beginning of our adventures in South Africa. 

As they entered the yard, they scattered about, making it impossible to take photos of more than a few at a time. 
They enjoyed nibbling on our untouched tree touch, full and flavorful from recent rains.  On December 21st, summer begins in South Africa. In the winter, the leaves will be gone, and everything turns parched and brown, leaving less food for the wildlife.
Scratching an itch.

In six days, we’ll pick up a rental car to use for our remaining days in Marloth Park. With many plans on the horizon over our remaining over two months, we’ll have much to share.

They often stopped dining to look at us. We kept our distance, not wanting to disturb and as an inducement for them to return another day with little intrusion from us.
Nice pose with the right leg bent.
Tom with three giraffes behind him.

We’ve found it’s best not to get into “what we’re considering doing” as opposed  to “what we have locked in, via dates and reservations.” Doing so prevents us from feeling pressure to follow through on the possibilities as opposed to the realities. This is low-stress living, right?

Adding a frame of reference in the driveway.
Reaching for a low lying morsel.

A lone warthog wanted in on the excitement. No problem. You’re in!

Tentatively, we present these photos today knowing full well that it will be a tough act to follow. Living in the bush anything exciting can happen at any moment, as we’ve already witnessed. We sit back in watchful anticipation, welcoming magical moments our way. 

Perhaps a bit of romance brewing? Check out the eyelashes on the female on the right, definitely involved in the flirting process.
The “togetherness” continued.
“Stop with photos already.  I have to fill up the right cheek with these tasty greens.”

We call it our “safari luck” that began when we went on safari in the Masai Mara in early October and saw the “Big Five” in the first ten hours in the vehicle with Anderson. Even he commented on how lucky we were. On the little plane when upon departure, many other travelers commented that they’d only be able to see four of the Big Five and their subsequent disappointment. Yes, we were lucky. 

This male was sitting in the yard taking a break from being so tall.

That same “safari luck” has been with us since arriving in Marloth Park only two weeks ago. This is evidenced by today’s photos. From the day we arrived, we longed for the Giraffes to visit, the visit Louise and Danie assured us would definitely transpire over a period of three months. And they did come. All 12 of them on Thursday morning, a day we’ll never forget.

“Please,” says Mr. Warthog, “one more photo of me and the tall ones. I’m always camera ready”

If this was a typical two-week vacation/holiday as most travelers plan when visiting Marloth Park, we would have had a rich and memorable experience. But for us, the fact that we have the opportunity to reach out and grab more of this magic leaves us humble and grateful.

We counted 12 giraffes as they gathered for their joint exit after their hour-long visit.

This morning when once again, the family of nine Warthogs appeared, standing in the bush partially hidden by low lying brush as if waiting for us to come outside. As we stepped to the railing to our veranda, they freely marched toward us, all nine of them, two moms and seven babies ready to make us laugh, ready to entertain us, and ready to respond to my goofy high pitched voice welcoming them. 

Thanks for the visit giraffes!
But somehow, we knew they’d return.

Not for one second, did we ever feel we’d had enough of them or that we’ll ever tire of their visits. If we have “safari luck” and the giraffes to visit another time, we’ll be in as much awe as we were this first time.

Your visit meant the world to us!

There is no doubt in my mind that when these three months come to a close, it will be difficult to leave all of this behind. It will be difficult to no longer constantly scan our surroundings for a hint of movement, the sound of hooves, a snort, a growl, or a gentle call. 

For now, we let those thoughts waft away to allow ourselves to live in the moment, knowing in our hearts that this, dear readers, is “Why,I always dreamed of Africa.”

“Small Things”…a world of miniature wildlife and vegetation…Finally we found a Dung Beetle with his “dung ball”…plus the biggest insect ever!

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Zef, our houseman, held this monstrous insect Tom had fished out of the pool with the net.

It would be easy to sit back waiting for wildlife to visit us as we lounge on the veranda. But “easy” doesn’t always ensure the excitement and adventure of discovery. With our curiosity and passion to explore we’ve found a world of small things as intriguing as the big things.

It’s difficult from the photo to determine the enormous size of this insect swimming for its life. We may have saved its life getting it out of the water. It took a full day of hanging upside down on the tree limb to finally fly away. We might have thought it was a bird if we’d seen it in flight.

It all started with this photo of the most enormous insect we’d ever imagined possible that apparently fell into the pool after Tuesday night’s rain.

After Zef gently placed the monstrous insect on a limb on the tree, it grabbed hold of the branch, hanging on for nearly a full day.

Tom tapped me on the shoulder, saying, “Don’t be scared. I have to show you something.”  It was still in the pool, swimming feverishly for its life. Much to my surprise, when I saw it, I wasn’t scared, just curious, and anxious to take a photo.

A frog on the outside of a window.  Most frogs are active at night. We frequently heard them, but seldom saw them.

Zef, our hard-working houseman was here cleaning, prompting us to ask him what this huge thing was and if it was poisonous. He assured us it wasn’t poisonous, just huge. Tom then fished it out of the pool with the net. 

Not all small things are alive. Thank goodness, this Scorpion expired in the pool during the storm.

Without giving it a thought, Zef picked it out of the net, holding it up for these photos. After we’d taken a few photos, Zef placed it on a tree, where it hung for a full day (see above photo), perhaps recovering from its lengthy swim in the pool. We kept an eye on it, but 24 hours later it was gone. We haven’t seen it since. 

This blue flower, a less common color in the wild, caught our eye in our yard.

We must have spent hours researching information about this giant insect to no avail.  Perhaps, one of our worldwide readers will be familiar with it. If so, please post a comment at the end of today’s post.  We’d love to know more.

These tiny birds, the Red-billed Oxpecker (Tick Birds) eat insects off of the giraffes warning them of potential dangers. 

It was this discovery that prompted us to begin the process of finding “Small Things.” One could easily spend a lifetime, as some do, finding the many small curious creatures and plants in this wildlife and vegetation rich tropical climate. All we ever need to do in most cases is simply take the time to look.

Geckos are everywhere, both inside and outdoors.  Louise showed us how to identify their poop which contains a small white bead in the center, often found on stone floors, on countertops, and on furniture throughout the house.

Last night, we got this shot of the underside of a gecko as it crawled on the outside of the sliding glass door in one of the living rooms. (Gosh, in Diani Beach, Kenya we had no living room. In Marloth Park, South Africa we have two living rooms and we spend all day outside. 


We borrowed this photo (the remainder of the photos here are our own) from this website to illustrate the sticky nature of the gecko’s feet.

As the search for “Small Things” began, we were surprised to find many more interesting plants and creatures. 

This was our first photo of a dung beetle, yet to create his dung ball. 

My mission, since arriving in Africa, has been to find the dung beetle, an objective now fulfilled, as evidenced by these photos. They are everywhere. One need only look along the driveway where the animals enter our property where there’s plenty of dung and subsequently, plenty of dung beetles, such interesting creatures.

This was our first photo of the dung beetle in action. The female often sits atop the ball of dung while the male moves it along using his back feet while his front feet grasp the ground for stability. The female lays eggs in the ball so she tags along as he rolls as they search for an adequate hole in which to bury the ball. The ball is used as sustenance for both of them as well as the maturing larvae.
“Ah!” he says, “Let’s get this dung ball into this hole before someone decides to steal it from us.” Dung beetles have been studied and they are known to steal the dung balls from one another.

I know this is hard to believe but Dung Beetle navigate using the Milky Way. Here are some interesting facts about dung beetles. In addition, there’s this amazing fact about the dung beetle:  

“The individual strength record goes to a male onthphagus taurus dung beetle, which pulled a load equivalent to 1,141 times its own body weight. In human terms, that would be comparable a 150 lb. person pulling 80 tons!” 

Another dung beetle couple aiming for a hole for their growing family.

In our research regarding the dung beetle, we discovered a fact that made us howl with laughter.  While in Italy and Kenya, we ran and hid whenever an enormous black hornet buzzed us, assuming it was in the hornet/wasp/bee family. With both of us allergic to bees, wasps, and hornets, we were terrified of being stung.

With no specific landscaping in our yard, it’s interesting to see an occasional flower. In Marloth Park, the homeowners are to keep the natural bush environment to ensure abundant vegetation for wildlife.

It’s loud buzzing noise alerted us several times a day that it was in the vicinity. We’d quickly take action to get out of its way. We’d researched without luck trying to find information about what we’d assumed to be an enormous black wasp.  

Millipedes are commonly seen in this area which are harmless to humans although they emit a poisonous secretion that when coming in contact with human skin may cause an itchy rash. For the various insects it eats, this venom proves deadly.

Last week, while visiting with Louise and Dani, they explained that the loud black buzzing thing is in fact a dung beetle in flight (without its dung ball in tow). What do we know? We’ve only been traveling the world for over a year. Now, when we hear that loud buzzing sound, we look and laugh, no longer fearful (although we’ll continue to keep a watchful eye for hornets, wasps, and bees).

These mushrooms are growing in our yard.  Of course, we won’t eat them without knowing if they’re safe for consumption.

With over two and a half months left for us to live in this wildlife and vegetation rich location, we’ll continue to gather information and photos of the “Small Things,” which we’ll share with our readers from time to time. We need only to remember to look down or around us for the “Small Things” that God/Mother Nature created, all with the purpose of nourishing the earth and its inhabitants.

As Tom would say, “At least we’re no longer like the dung beetles hauling all their sh_ _ with them everywhere we go!”

Tomorrow, we’ll be back with our most extraordinary day yet in Marloth Park with visitors we’d find only in our dreams. Then again, every day has been magical.

Visitors and more visitors…Eight sets in one day…Astounding!…

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The following photos were all taken in our yard on Monday, December 9, 2013, between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm, during which we counted eight separate groups, none repeats, on that same day from what we could tell. The eight groupings are separated by paragraphs of text for easy viewing.
Various groups of kudu males came to call throughout the day. 
Notice the impalas in the background to the right.
The female kudu’s big pinkish ears perk up to full attention when we moved about taking the photos. We walked softly and whispered to avoid scaring them off.
This shot was taken while we were sitting at the table on the veranda. They were so close to the railing that we didn’t want to scare them off by standing up as they gingerly approached.
Their huge horns are a sight to behold.
She says, “What’s with all the photos?”  Notice the hair standing up on her back.

How can this be? How can we walk out onto the veranda each morning, coffee in hand, to not only find evidence of visitors in the rain-soaked driveway, but a wide array of visitors themselves coming and going throughout the day, often looking directly at us with curiosity? Of course, we return the look without fear in an effort to let them know they have nothing to fear from us, welcoming them to stay for as long as they’d like. After all, this is their home, not ours.

The impalas appear to be the most skittish of all the larger wildlife we’ve seen so far. We hardly breathed, taking this photo.
Blurry and distant, but none the less, in the yard.
We hoped they’d have moved closer to us. We were thrilled to see them.

Most often, they stay for an hour or more nibbling on trees or grass, to finally make their way to “greener pastures,” or, perhaps they are like us humans, making our way through the buffet line, anticipating the best morsel yet to come.

These zebras appeared to be a different group from those that had visited in the past. It’s not easy to memorize the stripe patterns, all different, but we’ve tried.
Many tourists have been known to hand feed the wildlife. As much as we’d enjoy this, we refrain for their safety and ours. Hand feeding them may make it difficult for them to forage for food and become too domestic. We chose to enjoy them in their natural habitat.
It felt as if these zebras were waiting for us to hand feed them, as they patiently stood at our railing. We don’t doubt they’ll return anyway.
They’d pushed the gate open!
Neither of these two zebras seemed to mind being in this photo with me.

How did we find our way to Marloth Park? How did we find this magical location? How was it that it popped up about 20 months ago on my computer screen to leave me anxious for Tom to return from work that evening anxious to tell him what my day of searching had revealed. 

Having gone inside for a moment, we missed the remainder of the mongoose family that ran off the moment we came back outside. Can’t leave for a moment!

At the time he said, “Oh, boy. What are we getting ourselves into?” Now, he says, “Oh, boy! This is unbelievable!” He loves it as much as I do.

This mom warthog is always staring at us with the babies in tow. If we move quickly, she’ll quickly jump away.
Our resident warthog family of two moms and seven babies, never fail to stop by and we never fail to welcome them.
Many visitors enjoy the shade under the carport.

We’d booked Kenya first, from photos we’d found on Homeaway. Once the booking for Kenya was cemented, we agreed, “If we’re going to be all the way to Africa, let’s extend our time there by visiting other countries.”

Later in the day, more impalas arrived to partake of the abundant greenery in the yard.
This impala posing made me jump for joy!

It was only a week or two later that I literally stumbled across Marloth Park. At the time, I felt that choosing Marloth Park was one step down from Kruger Park, a short distance away, which has hardly proved the case. This is definitely paradise. The price and private house with its many amenities was appealing. But, above all the lure of the wildlife roaming free around the house cinched the deal for both of us.

This appeared to be a separate grouping of males that visited later in the afternoon.
The kudu’s markings are consistent on the face; a white chevron on the bridge of the nose as well as an adorable white mustache.
Using a gentle voice they move closer to us.
Their spindly legs are well-formed and strong.
This amply horned male stood proud for us. No zoom was used in this photo.
We’ve developed a special affinity for these majestic animals weighing as much as 760 pounds, 366 kg. The biggest known kudu in Marloth Park, which we’ve seen once so far, is “Kevin” as named by the locals. We posted Kevin’s photo on the December 6, (click here to see) when we’d gone on a local game drive with Leon, the owner of Jabula Lodge.
One of the kudus is always on watch as the others nibble on bits of vegetation. They seem to love the greens at the base of this grouping of a few trees.
These young males practicing for next spring’s dominance to impregnate females. Sadly, on occasion, the male’s antlers may become locked. Unable to separate, they eventually die of starvation.

Now, having been to Kruger Park with its many lodges and resorts we know we’ve made the right choice for us. It was unaffordable to stay in a lodge for three months. We don’t care for camping. And, Marloth Park has proved to be beyond our wildest dreams. 

Although this photo is similar to another we posted a few days ago, this was from our eight group sightings on Monday, December 9th when later in the day the second group of zebras visited. The attendance of this young male prompted us to determine that these were new visitors.
This zebra was pushy, making light taps on the railing to get our attention.
Two heads are better than one.
“We love it under the carport! My turn!”
Zebras seem to be the most curious and fearless.
Unprompted by any noise or distraction by us, they decided it was time to leave our yard. As we’ve seen with other wildlife, the biggest male seems to “hold up the rear.”

Each new day brings an entirely new day of wonderful surprises that we’ll never tire of in our three months in Marloth Park, a much longer stay than most travelers.  But, it’s a pittance compared to the many homeowners that live here full-time or have made this area their second home which they visit several times each year.

Thank you, Louise and Danie, for providing for the comforts while we’re here, and thank you, wildlife, for gracing us with your presence. We’ll never forget.

An elephant ritual on the Crocodile River…A rainy morning in Marloth Park…

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The following elephant photos were taken as we stood at the Crocodile River overlook area on the Marloth Park side of the river.  These photos are presented in order of their occurrence over a period of approximately 40 minutes.  Our knowledgeable guide Chase, was at my side explaining the elephant behavior as it transpired. 
The first Elephant was waiting on the Kruger Park side of the Crocodile River.

Early this morning we checked the veranda to see if the weather would allow us to sit outdoors on the veranda all day. After seven cloudy days in a row with cool weather, we have few complaints.  But today’s rain will be the impetus for the first day we won’t  be able to spend the day outside since September 2, 2013.

This elephant began his trek across the river from the Marloth Park side in order to get close
to the awaiting elephant.  The river is loaded with Crocodiles who seldom attack adult elephants.  Boating on the river is strictly prohibited. 

Back out on the veranda, we looked around deciding if we will be “in” or “out,” preferably “out.”  There in the driveway stood two adult warthogs staring at us, as if waiting to see what we’d decide.  

He’s getting closer. (Chase explain this was definitely a male).

A pang of sadness washed over me watching them stand there soaking wet, their goofy sideburns flat against their homely faces.  “Sorry, Mr. & Mrs. Warthog,”  I said aloud, “Today you’re on your own.”  They turned and walked away as if they’d known what I’d said. 

Almost there.

It’s the rainy season now.  The lush greenery gets greener with the rain providing food for most of the animals in Marloth Park. Plus with too much shade from the trees and vegetation on the grounds, there’s no way for us to lay in the sun here, for our former one hour a day Vitamin D sessions.  Cloudy days are fine with us. 


Closer yet, after a few minutes of standing in place.

The multitudes of visitors we’ve had so far indicates that the clouds have little bearing on their desire to stop by, although today’s rain may be a deterrent.  We shall see.

Oh, oh.  What’s going to happen next?

Last night, we cooked dinner, after dining out three nights in a row.  When Louise had grocery shopped for us (thank you again, Louise) before we arrived, she’d purchased a slab of sirloin steak that required trimming and cutting.  I’d never bought such a slab, instead buying the “already cut’ steaks, ready to cook. 

The elephant on the shore is sniffing the arriving elephant.  Both males, this could result
in a scuffle.

Yesterday, I trimmed the fat and cut the meat into enough steaks to last for three nights.  The entire slab cost ZAR $179, US $17.54, which translates to ZAR $59.57, US $5.85 per night for both of our sizable servings.  Not too bad.

Finally, the Elephant on the shore walks away, satisfied that the approaching Elephant is no threat to him.

The steaks were flavorful and tender after leaving them in a marinade for a few hours. Adding a good sized bowl of our homemade coleslaw, Brussels sprouts, green beans and sautéed whole mushrooms, we had a delicious meal which we’ll repeat again tonight and tomorrow, using the remaining steaks to avoid re-freezing.  Three nights of steak and repeat sides?  No problem for us.  Simple is good.  Simple is easy.

Moments later, a third Elephant begins it’s trek across the river arriving from the Marloth Park
side, once again, to the Kruger Park side.  Is he a threat to the others?

After dinner, we watched a few shows, the most recent episodes of Homeland and Hostages and, episode four of The Amazing Race (we’re catching up).  Commercial free from Graboid, each hour long show lasts approximately 43 minutes.  Whether we dine in or out, we equally love the time we spend together. 

The three lephants get into a scuffle, determining who will be the dominating male.

Today, we share the remaining photos of Monday night’s visit to the Crocodile River.  Far from the wildlife, we did out best to get good shots but we apologize if they aren’t as clear as we’d like. With the limitations of our camera, we can only shoot from so far away.  Hopefully, these will prove to be worthwhile.

Alas, the decision was made and the three elephants proceeded up the hill in harmony, (Sorry for the blur.  My shoulder was killing me and I could no longer hold the camera steady for these long distance shots).

Tomorrow, we’ll be back with the photos of our eight batches of visitors in one day, an exciting day, we’ll always remember.  If we never went on another safari (which we will, of course), we’re content living in Marloth Park with Mother Nature’s wonderland surrounding us.

A hippo finally made an appearance above the water.
Two Cape Buffalos on the Kruger Park side of the Crocodile River.  Most likely, these are Retired Generals, banned for life from the herd when they couldn’t gain dominance over another male.  They hang out together due to “safety in numbers.”

Another extraordinary evening…Royal Kruger Lodge…a Marloth Park game drive…The discovery of the Crocodile River lookout…

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Our view of  the Crocodile River from the overlook building located in Marloth Park while on the game drive with owners, guide and guests from Royal Kruger Lodge.   With the river’s massive numbers of crocs, navigation on this river by boat is strictly prohibited.

How did we get so lucky? The opportunities that continue to present themselves leaves us in awe of the people we meet, the properties we visit and the vegetation and wildlife as the backdrop to such magnificence and wonder.

The expansive grounds of the Royal Kruger Lodge offers an inviting arena for wildlife to stop by for a visit.

Having taken an interest in touring lodges/resorts since our time in Kenya, our curiosity has peaked to include lodges in Marloth Park. After a rewarding game drive with Leon last week, who along with his wife Dawn, own the Jabula Lodge, we’ve discovered yet another excellent lodge located here in Marloth Park, owned by Leon’s good friend, Vic, the Royal Kruger Lodge.

In the dark after dinner, this pond was home to the most entertaining frog sounds we’ve heard anywhere.  In an attempt to make a video in order to share the sounds with our readers, we couldn’t get close enough to do so.  As soon as we approached, albeit quietly, they stopped croaking in fear for their lives.  The tree to the right has a platform for bananas for the Bush Babies.

After a few email messages, promptly returned by Vic, our visit to Royal Kruger Lodge was set, invited as guests with the intent of touring the private four star game lodge, complete with a tour of his intimate romantic lodge and a cocktail game drive in Marloth Park.  

The indoor dining area for guests for those rainy nights.

The lodge is beautifully maintained with an aesthetically appealing environment satisfying the most discriminating traveler.  Nothing was spared in making a guest feel welcomed and revered. 

This lounge area overlooking the grounds had ample seating for guests, located with easy access to beverages and requested cocktails.  The service was impeccable.  A daily menu is posted (to the right) for guests to peruse.

Easy to plan activities create a seamless transition from power lounging and relaxation to the indescribable excitement of a safari in nearby Kruger Park in an open vehicle or on a casual game walk in Marloth Park, abundant with wildlife sightings, up close and personal.


Most prolific in both Marloth and Kruger Parks, the shy Impalas are fun to watch, especially now in the final days of spring with the babies in tow.
A dark and cloudy day didn’t prevent us from joining in the game drive.  The cautious kudu watched us drive by.



 A lizard we encountered on the Marloth Park game drive last night.

Vic and his lovely wife, Magz and daughter Amber, joined us and their other delightful guests in the ample open vehicle as we made our way to what proved to be one of our most enjoyable game drives since arriving in Marloth Park a little over a week ago.  We’ve already participated in three game drives in a mere eight days with many more to come.



Magz and Vic, owners of Royal Kruger Lodge couldn’t do enough to ensure a memorable experience for all of their guests.

The game drive, executed by Guide Chase, was well arranged offering us a new perspective of Marloth Park (how much better can it get?) as we not only had several sightings but ended the drive spending two hours in a comfortable overlook area to the Crocodile River with ample seating and views one would only imagine in their dreams.

The evening ended with an exquisite dinner with lodge guests in the locally renowned, yet private boma, an enclosed outdoor dining area, somehow magically free of insects.  The thrilling sounds of lions in the adjacent Lionspruit was consistent during our dinner. 

The lighted walkway to the boma for dinner.

Although dining at  Royal Kruger Lodge is open only to lodge guests, we were included in last night’s dinner, graciously served by full-time on-site staff, attending to every guest’s needs.  We couldn’t have felt more included, in my meal specially prepared for me, or Tom’s meal, purely delectable with many accompaniments , all perfectly prepared. 

The place settings for dinner in the boma was pleasing to the eye and, upon dining, the palate.
We had the most tender delicious steak we’ve had in many moons (minus the bread, of course).

Royal Kruger Lodge is without a doubt, an ideal setting for the traveler seeking an intimate environment, an opportunity to live among free roaming wildlife, well equipped meticulous and inviting guest rooms along with the option to choose among a wide array of activities, all of which are arranged and organized with simplicity and ease.

The smells emanating from the braai whetted our appetites.

The smells of the local seasonings prevented this smoky air from bothering us in the slightest as our meat was carefully prepared.

A special thanks to our hosts, Vic and Magz and their kindly and qualified support staff, for what couldn’t have been a more accommodating and entertaining evening which we’ll always remember as one of our favorites in Marloth Park.

Could my hubby look more content?

Please stop by tomorrow for the continuing photos of our visit to the Crocodile River which includes a series of elephant photos as they engaged in a ritualistic
dominance event.

When will we ever be able to share the photos of the eight batches of visitors that stopped by on Monday?  They literally came “in droves” much to our pleasure.  Could it get any better than this?

Sunset game drive in Kruger Park…Dining in the bush…The Big 5 hovering…First loves…

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With mating season essentially ended, our guide said these 2 males were “practicing” dominance for next season.

A phenomenon has occurred in our world travels, first loves, a syndrome hard to avoid when on a path of many new experiences.

Sitting back several rows in the huge open game drive vehicle, it was difficult to take photos of this Kudu as he crossed the road so I took this one through the blue tinted windshield.

On January 3, 2013, Tom and I embarked on our first cruise on the Celebrity Century, an older renovated ship, reminiscent of the “old Hollywood days,” a style we both found appealing. The maximum number of passengers was 1770 with a crew of 858, a fact we especially enjoyed as a smaller ship than most. 

These warthogs appeared to be of a different species than those that have previously visited.

The ship was headed through the Panama Canal, a dream of Tom’s on which I gladly ‘tagged along” knowing he’d be “tagging along” with me in my dreams of Africa. Little did we know at the time, that we’d end up loving each other’s  dreams as well as our own, as we sit on the veranda again this morning after two batches of visitors have already come and gone, leaving us smiling and grateful.

Impala families were hanging out in Kruger National Park.

That cruise on the Celebrity Century was extraordinary, although neither of us had a frame of reference until we sailed on seven more cruises as we moved into the New Year. In the end, our first experience was the best, perhaps never to be outdone.

Bird-watching enthusiasts went wild with the many sightings in Kruger Park at sunset, including viewing this eagle at quite a distance.

This isn’t to say that the cruises that followed were inferior in any way. They were just different. Maybe it is tied to some romantic notion of that first feeling of excitement and adventure. Perhaps is comparable to our own memories of our first loves. 

This vulture was high atop a distant tree, one of several we sighted along the drive-in
Kruger Park.

Appropriately, we have now named this phenomenon “The Celebrity Century Syndrome.” As we find ourselves enthralled each day living in Marloth Park, we imagine we’ll never again find an experience such as this.  Where, I ask you, in the world would one have wildlife, to this degree, to this frequency, wandering around their house?

Another Vulture sighting, again far from the road.

Last night, once again, we fell prey to our “syndrome” in the game drive into Kruger Park, one of the largest game reserves in the world. The ‘first love” in this case, was our safari in the Masai Mara in Kenya, beginning on October 5, 2013, a mere 60 days ago, a tough act to follow.

More impalas.

Kruger Park is huge at over 2 million hectares, 7722 square miles, literally filled with wildlife. It has a rich ancient history and a geological history shared with us by our knowledgeable guide on the over-sized open game vehicle in which we traveled for approximately four hours with sixteen other guests.

Yes, power lines were running through Kruger Park, a necessary reality due to its enormous size and requirement for safety, security, and maintenance.

As explained to us during the sunset drive, Kruger Park doesn’t allow off-road travel into the bush. Thus, we were subject to seeing only the wildlife that appeared within view along the road. This was a limitation we hadn’t experienced in the Masai Mara.

As we entered the bush braai site, Danie was on the left with a raised arm, and Louise was on the right. They worked hard to host this event, cooking, setting up, and cleaning. Everything was to perfection. To top it off, they appeared in our driveway this morning to inquire about anything we may need.  Their hard work and dedication are evidenced in every activity they host and property they manage. This photo and the next were taken before I realized I needed to clean the camera lens.

When Anderson, our guide in the Masai Mara, saw a point of interest with his eagle eye and powerful binoculars, he took off expertly maneuvering the sturdy open-sided Land Cruiser across the rough terrain of the bush while the maximum of six of us, held on squealing in joyful anticipation of what was yet to come.

The candlelight place settings were befitting an elegant dinner. No paper plates here! All prepared for our group of 17 to perfection. The camera lens was humid, resulting in these blotchy photos.

Last night, with the sun setting on a cloudy evening, the requirement that we couldn’t use a flash, with the limitations of the camera I can manage with the bad shoulder and the limitation of staying on the road, we were disappointed in our photos. For those who have never been on safari, this may have been enough to fulfill their expectations. For us, the Celebrity Century Syndrome kicked in.

In any case, we did have a wonderful time last night. The guide was an over-the-top expert on the wildlife and the history and geological aspects of the park; the guests were lively and animated, and we enjoyed it all.

Not quite the jumbo sized beer in Kenya, Tom had a few of these during dinner.

Louise and Danie, our “hosts extraordinaire” were busy setting up the phenomenal meal, beautifully presented, truly in the bush and not at a campground. The linen napkins, lovely dinnerware and the beautifully set tables created a venue befitting an elegant dinner.

Unfortunately, our new friends from the UK, Lynne and Mick, are returning home on Tuesday. Had they stayed longer we certainly would have shared many more evenings with them.

Much to my delight, there was plenty of items I could eat. They’d made a special point of ensuring that there were several items befitting my way of eating. I so appreciated their delicious efforts.

More new friends from the UK at our table, also seasoned world travelers with considerable experience in many countries in Africa.

But, what they had made that worked for me was flavorful, well seasoned, and cooked to perfection. My plate was piled high with wonderful meats and veggies, some of the likes I’d never seen but hope to see again.I’d expected that the food had been catered by a local restaurant only to discover that Louise and Danie have made everything themselves.

Arriving at the bush dinner, we were surprised and grateful to find a restroom facility roughly put together. This particular site is frequently used as a “bush braai” location. The gate around the toilet area was smashed.  Louise explained that the rhinos were responsible. We laughed.

The entire bush braai dinner was unlike anything we’d ever experienced before, surely putting “bush braai” into the first love category. Seated with the lovely couple we’d met at Jabula Lodge on Wednesday night and good friends of theirs, all of whom were from Jersey, UK, our table of six had an excellent dinner, laughing, talking and educating us on the numerous insects wandering about on our drinks and plates. 

Seasoned travelers to many countries in Africa and as homeowners in Marloth Park, they gave nary a thought to the multitude of walking and flying insects, making every effort to educate us on their purpose and benefit. This did put help us by reframing some of our thoughts about certain insects, putting us more at ease.

Appetizers of grilled prawns (they don’t call them shrimp outside the US) and Boerewors, a frequently served South African sausage. Notice the dinner plates are upside down to keep the bugs off of them. I failed to take more food photos.  We were too busy having fun!

However, during dinner, we notice a crowd gathered around one of the other tables for six to discover they were looking down at the ground at a scorpion. One of the diners had open-toe shoes, and Louise and Danie gave her two empty wine boxes to cover her feet. Oh, dear.

I used my LED flashlight several times during dinner to check the ground beneath me. Of course, the others chuckled over my frequent inspections. I suppose in time, I will become as fearless as they seem to be.

As we dined, several armed guards with spotlights were perusing the area around us. They had used torch lights to set up a perimeter where we were required to stay. Oddly, busy chatting with everyone, we didn’t give the prospect of any intrusions by wildlife a thought.

The only wildlife we’d seen thus far, near the braai area, was a hippo. Hippos have proven to be the most dangerous animal to humans, with the highest incidence of fatalities worldwide. He seemed disinterested in us and took off.

To all of our delight, coupled with a bit of trepidation and with rifles aimed and readied by the guards, a herd of elephants, as many as a dozen, walked past our braai. We all held our breath in the excitement of seeing them within 30 meters of our table, never turning our way or looking at us.

The largest female, the matriarch, appeared to hold up the rear of the line while the moms and babies stayed cocooned in the middle. Unable to take photos with the flash restrictions (rightfully so), it was impossible to get a photo. But, the sight and sounds of the graceful steps of the Elephants in the bush will be illuminated in our minds forever.

The crescent moon in South Africa is positioned differently than we’d seen in Kenya.  How interesting!

It was an amazing evening, responsible for several “Celebrity Century Syndrome” first love moments that we’ll add to our repertoire of memories of adventures that we’ll carry with us wherever we may be.

Tonight, we’re going out on yet another sunset drive, right here in Marloth Park, as guests of Vic, Executive Director of Royal Kruger Lodge, followed up by their popular Boma Dinner.

Of course, we’ll be back tomorrow with more photos and stories to tell.

Plus, we’ve had seven sets of visitors so far this morning. Can’t wait to share.

It was a dark and dreary day…Who knew they would come?

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This is what awaited us when we went back onto the veranda.

The air was thick with humidity.  It sprinkled off and on.  A breeze picked up as we began feeling moisture clinging to our skin. We ventured inside grudgingly, worrying more about our equipment getting wet than ourselves.

They were as curious about us as we were them.

Our daily watch for visitors has become a playful and enticing pursuit, one filled with excitement and anticipation to see who in Mother Nature’s wonderland will grace us with their presence. 

Each zebra’s stripe pattern was as unique as each human’s fingerprint.

Once inside, we played Gin, with eyes peeled to the living room window every other moment in hopes of more visitors. The windows in the kitchen which could provide us with the best view are too high to see out, built to avoid rambunctious monkeys from eyeballing their potential “loot”. 

This guy stood under the carport for quite some time, watching over the other males.
Another zebra decided to try the carport spot while others looked on.

As a result, there isn’t a perfect spot in the house to easily see outside to the area where the wildlife most often gathers. It’s comparable to watching a ballgame while standing atop of one’s car with binoculars.  Not quite the same.

Sharing the vegetation.

Sitting on the main veranda provides the perfect view. Subsequently, we’ve been outside during daylight hours since arriving, a week ago today. Without a doubt, this will be our spot even when the summer heats kicks in, which as of yet hasn’t happened.

This guy decided to check out the garden and braai.
While playing Gin, Tom commented, “The sun is trying to come out and its beating on my back through the window. Let’s go back outside.” In my determination to finally beat Tom (I didn’t), I’d lost track of the outdoors for only a few minutes.
“Nothing like a drink of fresh rainwater from the fire pit.”

The moment we stepped outside onto the veranda, cards, scorecard, pen, and camera in hand, there they were, right in front of us, standing at the railing as if waiting for us, all six of them, all boys. A breath caught in my throat. All I could say was, “It’s unbelievable. It’s unbelievable.” Tom couldn’t wipe the smile off of his face. 

“Now, I’ll try this pool water. Nah, not so good. It kind of tastes like bleach.”

In respect for their space, we stayed behind the railing on the veranda letting them wander about without fear.  After all, this is their home. We’re the “visitors.” They stayed for over an hour content to munch on the grass and other vegetation, content to look at us, making eye contact that flipped my heart over in my chest.

Several of them used the tree branches to scratch themselves. 

I used the high pitched voice, gently, lovingly and they responded, ears flicking back and forth, hooves tapping the ground playfully. Had I died and gone to Heaven? This place, these creatures, all of God’s making, here in front of us. Would these gentle creatures suddenly grow wings and take flight?

Moments before this big boy peed, another boy had peed on this same spot. The big boy came over, sniffing the ground and peed on the same spot. This is similar behavior we’d observed in the past among our male dogs. Territorial marking. 

When they decided it was time to move on, the large male leader needed only to begin the hike up the dirt drive and they all followed suit. We weren’t sad to see them go. Certainly, they’ll be back. And, of course, we’ll be waiting for them.

Nothing like a little brotherly love.
“Let’s go for the hug instead of the kiss. It’s more manly!”

A walk in the park…Marloth Park, that is… Results in laughter and awe…

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While on a walk in our neighborhood Tom spotted this Ostrich that had wandered into a homeowner’s yard appeared to be fascinated by looking at himself in the window. 
I stealthily moved closer through the dense bush to get a closer shot without disturbing this Ostrich. Finally, he turned for a full view. The occupants were inside the house. We were able to hear and see them peering out the window with the same enthusiasm as our own.

Going for a walk in Marloth Park is like no other walk. I can’t imagine anywhere in the world, one can go for a neighborhood walk to discover the vast array of wildlife wandering about, nibbling on nature’s summertime bounty in the bush.

Very skittish, we were grateful to get this photo of three Impalas as seen in our yard. Notice the baby, kissing what many have been the mom. It appears the dad was behind them.

Never for a moment in our short time here will we ever take the sights or sounds of any creature for granted, whether it’s the tiniest of birds, an enormous hugely antlered Kudu, the roar of the lion, or the chatter and an occasional glimpse of the elusive nocturnal bushbaby.

These birds, the Helmeted Guinea-fowl were easy to find in the bird book Louise left with us.
I keep pinching myself. How did we get here? Cruise lovers, lie-by-a-pool aficionados, social butterflies, and above all, homebodies? How did we get here? Why are we, creatures of habit, creature comfort fanatics, living in the bush wallowing in the exquisite offerings of Mother Nature on steroids? Wow! Knock me over with an “Ostrich” feather (in Tom’s words)!
There were fewer flowers here than in Kenya (as a result of landscaping in Kenya), the few flowering plants in the bush all serve a unique purpose for the wildlife.

If this alone was all the adventure I was allowed after retirement, I’d be content. But more, is better.  Appreciated. Revered. Remembered. “Please,” I tell myself. “Don’t let everything after this be, a letdown.”  There’s so much world ahead of us. How will anything compare?

A few days ago, Tom had seen a flash of the monitor lizard, also referred to as the Monitor Crocodile.  While playing cards yesterday, one eye constantly scanning the bush, Tom alerted me to grab the camera as he noticed that this large creature had stuck it’s head out of it’s hole in order to look around.  I’d mentioned we’d get a photo this and there it was the next day!
The monitor lizard can grow as long as 15 feet/4.6 meters. As it slithered out of its protective hole, we were anxious to see its full length.

Tom had seen two of these a few days ago, but, they quickly disappeared when they saw him move. He is the smaller of the pair.  Louise told us that these particular monitor lizards enjoy swimming in the pool. We hope to see that!

For now, we chose to let those thoughts waft away to live in the moment cherishing every element of this unbelievable experience, as the fine taste, of the finest wine, that one enjoys only until the glass is empty, always longing for more, knowing nothing else can compare.

This warthog mom wanted a closer view of us as we stood at this railing, looking out over the driveway where the remainder of the family of nine was waiting.
Yesterday, this baby warthog seemed intent on coming onto the veranda for a more personal visit. To avoid upsetting the nearby mom, we gently moved toward it and it skittered off. There’s no lock or latch on this gate allowing any curious animal to wander inside.

Please, dear readers, humor me with the warthog’s photos that will appear here from time to time. These friendly, curious, up to 250-pound beasts (113 kg), are enchanting. Although skittish, running off if our movements are sudden or jerky, they can’t help but make eye contact that is as endearing as the gaze of one’s own beloved pet.

Don’t get me wrong.  We don’t approach them or take any risks around them, their babies, or any other animals for that matter The warthog tusks are razor-like. They could easily inflict a serious injury. They, like us, choose to observe and contemplate our intentions, never letting their guard down. 

I find myself speaking to them in the same high pitched voice I’d always used in speaking to our dogs, often resulting in that adorable head tilt that we all find so adorable. The Warthogs don’t tilt their heads, but their ears flick back and forth as they stare intently at us, making contact, communicating in their own way.

So please, bear with us as we share many more “visitors” photos as they come, never knowing who will grace our day with an appearance as we spend most of each day outdoors on the veranda.

 We were able to get this close up to the largest warthog we’ve seen this week, as he approached us. He’s got some serious bags under his eyes!


Today, it’s very cool and rainy, which may drive us indoors soon. It appears that the number of visitors and sightings are greatly reduced on rainy days. It’s been cloudy almost every day since we’ve arrived almost a week ago. After all, this is the lush rainy season that “restocks” the food supply of the animals. Knowing this gives us much comfort with neither us of annoyed with the clouds and rain.

This is the same huge male warthog above, hanging out with what may be his girlfriend. At the time, it was just the two of them in the yard. As she nibbled on greenery, he stood watching, never once taking a bite for himself. How gallant! Hopefully, they’ll stop by again so we can see how the courtship is progressing.

Tonight, we’re dining out trying yet another restaurant that we’ll report on tomorrow with more photos, as well as any sightings along the ride to dinner.

Mom warthog decided to allow one of her four babies to nurse alongside the braai.

We ordered and paid for a rental car that requires a drive back to the Mpumalanga/Kruger/Nelspruit airport on December 20th which, most likely, we’ll keep until we depart Marloth Park on or about February 28, 2014, when we fly to Morocco. With only 13 days to hire our driver, we’ll venture out, on game drives, bush dinners, dining out, and social activities as they occur.

A little bit nervous after Mom reprimanded the baby with a few aggressive nudges.

Soon, we’ll decide if it makes sense to purchase a seasonal pass to enter Kruger Park at our leisure, driving ourselves through the park. After this Sunday’s game drive, we’ll have a better feel for how practical this will be without a guide, which many chose to do. 

Duikers are extremely cautious, keeping at a fair distance illustrating how wild the animals in Marloth Park really are. They may be used to seeing humans roaming about, but they are not tame by any means, as one may assume.

We’ll return tomorrow with more photos and updates. Thank you from both of us for stopping by.

A baby impala cautiously checks us out from afar.

Sunset game drive…First dinner out…A social life in the bush!…

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There’s something magical about the skies over Africa from what we’ve seen so far in Kenya and now in South Africa.

Photos and stories of our experiences in the bush are backed up by a few days and as we get closer to the upcoming game drive in Kruger Park this Sunday, ending with a dinner in the bush, in the dark. Each time we go for a walk or drive in the neighborhood, it’s an entirely new experience that we’re anxious to share with our readers.

Sunset over the farm we visited adjoining Marloth Park.

So, folks, I doubt we’ll have many days while living in Marloth Park that we won’t have photos to share. Every day is special in this amazing location.

This Kudu wouldn’t turn around to allow a full face photo.  If possible, please try to decipher the horns from the tree branches in order to see the enormity of his antlers.

For me, I am happier here than at any other of our past vacation homes. As remote as we are, almost a mile from another house, as stranded as we are without a car (yet), as many scary bugs as there are, with heat that could soon climb to 108F, 42C, I feel at peace, as if I belong here. I’ve longed for Africa since I was a child and at last, my dreams are fulfilled.

Oranges grow wild on the farm, totally unattended.
Most of the land in the 3000-acre farm is leased for farming without the use of chemicals. This is field of corn but we also saw sweet corn growing as the land is now leased to local farmers.


We made our way through some dense brush, slapping branches away from our heads and faces, laughing along the way.

For Tom, this is his second favorite location, Belize on the Caribbean Sea , was his first. We both loved the beautiful LaruBeyu; the pool, the short walk to restaurants. For both of us, the friends we made in Belize will remain as friends forever.

The Crocodile River, walking distance from our home, is filled with crocs, making it too dangerous to navigate by boat. On the opposite side of the river is Kruger Park. The fence, lightly electrified in a deterrent in keeping the lions and elephants out of Marloth Park, although a few lions manage to get through from time to time.


The bright glare of the setting sun impeded our photo taking of these elephants across the river. But, we were thrilled to get these. Soon, we’ll see elephants up close when we enter Kruger Park.
This fence also keeps the crocodiles from entering Marloth Park, although Tom saw two, what is referred to as a monitor crocodile near our pool when I had stepped indoors.  It appears they live in our yard.  Louise explained they like to swim in the pool.  I promise to get a photo of this when it occurs.

On Wednesday afternoon, Leon, the owner of Jabula Lodge picked us up at 4:30 for a private sunset game drive with dinner following at his restaurant, the top rated restaurant in Marloth Park, of which there are only a few. He’d decided to take us on a special outing, to a 3000 acre farm that required permission to pass through the security gates.

The sounds of the hippos is enchanting.  They’re most noisy early in the mornings.
Usually hippos hang out together in herds (or referred to as pods, bloats or dales).
This bird caught our eye.  Louise had brought us a bird book but we can’t seem to find this species without a clear view of its head. Please write if you are familiar with this bird, which appears to be a type of stork.

As we approached the guarded gates, Leon made a call to the manager of the huge farm, asking permission to take us inside. He handed the phone to the guard who was informed that it was acceptable for us to pass. Many treasures lie beyond these gates, as you’ll see from many our photos.

Leon and his older vehicle handled the rough terrain quite well. Bouncing around is now easy and familiar to us after our past experiences on rough roads.


Leon put on his shades for the photo we insisted on taking of him.

After our outstanding drive shortly before dark Leon brought us to his resort for what proved to be a fabulous dinner. It took a few explanations to the cook to get my way of eating clarified. Finally, we had a delicious meal, everything made fresh to order, while sitting outside on the deck on cushioned picnic benches with many other diners surrounding us. 

The entrance to Leon and Dawn’s Jabula Lodge.


Jabula Lodge is a friendly casual environment with beautiful grounds, charming buildings and an excellent highly rated restaurant with superb service.  Most likely we’ll visit once a week for dinner and to hang out with Leon and Dawn who are most hospitable.


Jabula Lodge is an appealing holiday property in Marloth Park, South Africa.

Leon made a special effort to ensure everything was to our liking and befitting my way of eating, leaving us feeling pampered and like old friends.  After dinner, we were told a couple sitting at a nearby table, also experienced world travelers, were curious to meet us, as we were curious to meet them.

Check out this fresh crisp salad, as delicious as it looks.
My new favorite dish so far in the world, Peri Peri, a popular item on Jabula’s menu; chicken livers, fresh garlic, a wine and cream reduction. To die for!

After Leon made introductions, having completed our meal, we joined them at their table and the world travel stories begun. We’ve found that others are curious as to how and why we chose to travel the world for years to come, health providing. By the way, the cost for our game drive, drinks, food and tip for two was a total of ZAR $950, US $93.12.

My sautéed cabbage and carrots, bacon and an egg over a bun-less burger.  Delicious! Three plates of food later, I was stuffed.

Lynne and Mic had traveled for an extended period of nine months, eventually making their way to Marloth Park when they now have owned a home for over 12 years, visiting a few times each year over extended periods.

It’s hard to believe that Christmas is here as these lights twinkle behind Tom. As you can see, he too, is having a great time in Marloth Park.

Jabula Lodge owners Leon, his wife Dawn, our hosts Louise and Danie, and Lynne and Mic will be our safari and bush dinner mates on Sunday night. We’re looking forward to an exciting and interesting adventure. Of course, we’ll report back with photos on Monday.

 Tom’s dinner, steak and potatoes, his usual dining out choice.  He doesn’t eat this way when we dine in.  In a effort to be supportive of me, he eats what I cook for all of our meals, splurging when dining out. As long as he’s healthy and not gaining weight, I stay mum.

Tomorrow, Saturday, we’ll be back with a most unusual sighting while on a walk in the neighborhood, and additional delightful visitors in our yard on both Saturday and Sunday.

Nature at its finest at sunset.