Getting outside of our heads in this chaotic world we live in…Distractions…More lions..Giant lizard!…More, more, more!…

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Traffic jam on the way to the river.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

Monitor lizard breezing through the garden yesterday afternoon.

For those of our readers who may have missed yesterday’s post please click here regarding our goof-up on the arrival date of our friends who actually will be here tomorrow around 1300 HOURS (1:00 PM) not today as we’d originally thought.

Then there were two more, both youngsters.

We certainly do become distracted from time to time. It’s hard to avoid becoming doing so when there are so many distractions around us at any given moment. 

A bloat of hippos.

Last evening while still light, Tom spotted a monitor lizard in the garden and we both went into action taking the above photo we’re sharing here today. Whether it’s a lizard, a frog, a wildebeest, or a pair of duikers, it’s all worthy of our undivided attention.

 As I prepared this post there were four bushbucks, two duikers, eight helmeted guineafowls, dozens of birds hovering by the birdfeeder waiting their turn, and a handful of mongooses wondering if they’ll get eggs. They will. They always do.

A hippo plowing through the vegetation in the river.

Much to our relief, yesterday we heard both Frank and the Mrs. making their noise. She’s been incognito for the past week and we were worried something had happened to her. Alas, she’s been off with her eggs, soon to be hatched into adorable little francolin chicks. And yes, we do get attached to birds.

Lately, there have been countless cape buffalo on the river.

Before too long the chicks will magically appear and we’ll have to keep a close watch each day to make sure the mongooses don’t go after their eggs or eventually the little chicks. This could be challenging. Talk about distractions.

 Yesterday afternoon after getting many tasks completed, we jumped in the little car and once again headed to the Crocodile River. To get there, we choose a fairly long route that takes us through areas on or near the river that often results in some spectacular sightings. Yesterday was certainly no exception!

What a face!

We saw it all; elephants, hippos, cape buffalos, giraffes, zebras, warthogs, and lions. What an adventure! What a fantastic distraction from thoughts that occasionally flutter through our minds on the horrible news we read online about what’s transpiring in our own country, here in South Africa, and many other countries throughout the world.

Female lion checking out the territory.  Earlier in the day, two females killed a warthog, the males took it from them but eventually, they all feasted.

Did we run away to escape it? In part yes, we did. Unfortunately, with the internet before our eyes, several times a day, there is no escaping the harsh reality. We’d love to be able to ignore it but it doesn’t seem possible when it’s smack-dab in our faces everywhere we turn.

 Marloth Park and Kruger National Park have become our ideal distractions pumping our bodies and our minds with feel-good hormones released each time we see something that piques our interest. 

Two males with full bellies.

Whether it’s that same frog that comes to call every night, sitting atop the outdoor light fixture snapping at insects, a monitor lizard slowly wandering through the garden, or lions at a distance in Kruger Park, we love it all and, indeed it does take us outside the noise inside our heads.

Contemplating a nap after a big meal.

And soon more distractions will come our way when our friends come to visit for three weeks, where we’ll surely have some great times together.

 Tonight, to make it easy, we’re heading to Aamazing (yes, spelled correctly) River View Restuarant located on the Crocodile River where we’ll have more distractions, along with sundowners and a good meal.

Yep, a nap definitely is in order.  Lions tend to hunt during the mornings and late afternoons after it cools down.

Have a fantastic day and evening, finding distractions that take you away to a wonderful place.

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

Sinkhole as a result of flooding from Hurricane Nate, courtesy of the Costa Rica Post.  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!!!…Package problem…Persistence paid…

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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.

Giraffes came to call!…Preparing for our house guests…Six days and counting…

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This morning when feeding this Ms. Bushbuck (one of many Ms. Bushbucks), we noticed a giraffe in the garden.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

Many cape buffalos resting near the river’s edge during yesterdays 39C (102F) scorcher.

Last night, after we’d prepared the veranda for the evening with the big bowl of freshly cut vegetables filled to the brim; the container of pellets; two different types of insect repellents including one lit coil and one lit oil lantern; various lights turned on; the table set for dinner; bushbaby yogurt placed on the little stand and beverages ready for 1700 hours (5:00 pm) we noticed two giraffes in the garden.

Since generally giraffes aren’t fed by humans, they are very skittish.

Since arriving in Marloth Park many moons ago, we hadn’t seen many giraffes in the garden, spotting more when on our daily drives in Marloth Park or on self-drives in Kruger National Park.

 It was getting dark, and taking photos of the giraffes was challenging especially when we didn’t dare get too close. Giraffes can be very dangerous if they feel threatened. We kept our distance, thinking this might be one of the very few opportunities to see them in the garden.

As I attempted to get better shots, he moved back, concerned about my presence.

Alas, this morning, while feeding one of many bushbucks that stop by, the two giraffes were back. With our friends Tom and Lois arriving in six days, we’re hoping the giraffes will return during the three weeks they’ll be staying with us beginning next Tuesday, October 9th.

We’d seen this large male at other locations in the park.

We’re busy getting ready for our guests to arrive. On Monday, Louise has arranged for Zef and Vusi to do yet another “spring cleaning.” With the constant stream of dust kicked up by wildlife, the house and veranda must be cleaned daily. But even so, there’s so must dust it’s difficult to attend to each day.

 The spring cleaning on both the main floor where our bedroom is located and the second story where Tom & Lois will sleep is imperative, primarily when the upstairs hasn’t been attended to for months. Overnight, insects and cobwebs accumulate in every nook and cranny. After all, this is Africa.

A female joined the male in munching on the treetops.

We’re busy planning the first week’s meals and activities, realizing that anything can be changed if our guests prefer another plan. But we anticipate they’ll be excited with our planning, including dinners out, sundowner wildlife river watching, self-drive safaris in Kruger, and dinners on the veranda, all of which will provide them with the whole African experience.

He stood there for quite some time.

Oddly, this will be the first time any friends from the US have come to visit us.  Let’s face it. This is far from the US and has nearly a 24-hour travel time that many vacationers prefer to avoid. 

 Plus, many people prefer to stay in resorts and hotels while on holiday and not stay in a house.  In essence, staying in a resort is considerably easier with no concern over meals, transportation, activity planning, etc.

Soon, they began to wander off toward the nearby parklands.

They are a hectic and well-traveled couple who spend a lot of time on a motorcycle traveling the USA. We plan to make this visit as relaxing and enjoyable as possible for them. Of course, continually searching for wildlife sightings can be very active and time-consuming, which we have no doubt they’ll love.

 Also, we feel confident they’ll be OK with the heat, insects, and dust. They aren’t as delicate as some may be under these conditions. I can think of many of our friends who’d find these conditions uncomfortable and subsequently avoid visiting us in Africa and certain other countries where conditions may be a little rough.

About a dozen bushbabies stop by the little stand for yogurt, which we purchase weekly for the nightly feedings.

We’ve asked Tom and Lois about their favorite beverage options and are already well-stocked for their arrival. They’ve generously offered to share in the cost of food and beverages while here since they’re staying for three weeks. But, we’re not accepting any money for rent.  

 They are our guests, and we’re grateful they’re taking the time and expense to visit. Our goal is to make this time as memorable and enjoyable for them as possible. We’re leaving plans flexible and wide open if they’d prefer to head off on their own for safaris, dinners out, or any other events.

 On the other hand, if they’d like us to join them in any activities, we’ll surely be happy to do so.

 Today is much more relaxed than yesterday. Later on, we’ll head down to the river to see if we can spot the lions we hear have been working on a recent kill. We’ll be back with more soon.

 May you have a fantastic day!

Photo from one year ago today, October 3, 2017:

The pretty little hummingbird was stunned after hitting the glass wall in Costa Rica and landed on a chaise lounge.  A short while later, she recovered and flew away, much to our relief. For more photos, please click here.

Summer’s coming…hot, hot, hot!…Humans and animals feeling the heat…How do we manage in over 40C, (104F) temps with no AC?…Giraffe traffic…

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It’s essential always to stop and wait patiently when wildlife is crossing the road. No honking necessary! They’ll move on.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

After eating a good-sized share of pellets, Baby Bushbuck needed a drink from his mom. Soon, she’ll wean him since, most likely, she will be pregnant again. Bushbucks can give birth twice in one year.

First, let me clarify the “Orange” house (see link here for the listing). There are wall air conditioners in each of the three bedrooms and two units in the living room high up the wall on the massive vaulted ceiling.

If we move forward gently, they’ll usually move on. This giraffe had no intention of getting out of the way. We waited patiently and finally. She moved along. 

When we first arrived here last February 11th, it was still summer, ending around March 21st. It was sweltering, comparable to August heat in the northern hemisphere.  

She joined her “tower” of giraffes on the other side of the road.

During the first few nights after we arrived, we tried using the air con in the living room after sitting outdoors, usually around 9:00 pm. The inside of the house felt like an oven. The air con was no help whatsoever. The massive room and high ceilings made it impossible to cool down at all. We haven’t used it since.  

They went about their business eating leaves from the treetops.

When we go to bed, we use the high-on-the-wall air con unit, and it works well regardless of the temperature to keep us cool while sleeping. This is all we need. During the days, we tough it out.

Right now, at 10:45 am, it is 34C (92.3F). It’s expected to be a high of 39C (102F) today, peaking at around 1500 hours (3:00 PM). Since it’s not summered yet, we’re still experiencing many relaxed and comfortable days of perfect weather.

Cape buffalo were cooling off on a hot day.

Once summer arrives and the rains come, we’ll experience both heat and humidity. Now, the humidity is very low, with no rain in many months. Thus sitting all day outdoors on these high temp days is somewhat tolerable.

When we were here in 2013/2014 (December through February), it was during the peak of summer, and it was sweltering and humid every day with hardly a day’s relief. We managed then. We’ll manage now.

Elephants gathered at a waterhole by the river.

I’m not attempting to allude that this heat is easy. Even in desert climates such as Nevada, our state of residency, anything over 39C (102F) is hot and uncomfortable.  

Elephants were digging holes for fresh, clean water.

When we were in Henderson, Nevada, in July 2017, the temperature reached as much as 47C (117F), if not more. We still managed to use son Richard’s pool and sit outdoors for a few hours each day, mainly in the shade. At most, we each spent 20 minutes in the sun for vitamin D.

The sun is so hot here we haven’t been sitting in the sun at all, although we do quite a bit of walking in the sun when we visit the fence at the Crocodile River.  To purposely sit in the sun here is highly uncomfortable, especially right now.

As hot as it’s been lately, it still springs here, and birds are preparing their nests. A pair of blue African starlings have taken over the formerly unoccupied bushbaby house from a couple of hornbills. 

Regardless of how hot it gets, we always know, if we need a 10-minute break, we can go into the bedroom, turn on the AC and get relaxed. A better alternative is jumping in the little car and going for our usual drive in the park during the high-temperature peak mid-afternoon.   

Each day the female and male bring bits of dried brush and other vegetation to build their nest inside this house.

Tom’s already washed the little car’s windows which he must do each day before we head out when the windows are covered with dust, like every surface around us both inside and outside the house. Everything must be dusted daily to feel some semblance of cleanliness.

No, it’s not easy living in the bush, but the fantastic aspects are well-worth the inconveniences. Last night was exceptional when wildebeests Dad & Son stopped by, warthogs Tusker and his girlfriend, Seigfried, and RoyLoud frogged Mouth, francolins Frank and the Misses. and, Mr. Frog (who visits the light fixture on the veranda every night).

“Incubation: lasts about 12 days. It begins with the next or next to last (penultimate) egg. We expect to hear the chicks before too long. Both sexes develop an incubation patch and brood the eggs, but incubation is mostly by the female (70% during the day and all night long).”

Two kudus visited before we went inside, which we hadn’t seen in days since the school holidays began. By this Sunday, the school holidays will end, and we can expect to see many more visitors and, once again, enjoy the peace in the park.

Also, one week from today, our friends Tom and Lois will be arriving from the USA to spend three weeks with us. How exciting! Tomorrow, we’ll share some of the preparations we’ve begun for their arrival.

May your days be peaceful and fulfilling!

Photo from one year ago today, October 2, 2017:

It was one year ago today we posted about the horrific shootings in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more on this sorrowful event, 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.

Reviewing “the numbers”…How many posts?…How can that be?…

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An impala male who lost a horn, most likely in a fight for dominance.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

An elephant’s feet must carry a lot of weight:  “Elephants are the largest living terrestrial animals. The average male African bush elephant is 3.20 m (10.5 ft) tall at the shoulder and has a body mass of 6,000 kg (13,228 lb), whereas the average female is 2.60 m (8.53 ft) tall at the shoulder and have a mass of 3,000 kg (6,614 lb).”

Today’s post is #2254. Yes, that’s right. Wow! That’s even hard for us to believe! We’ve uploaded two thousand two hundred fifty-four posts since post #1 was uploaded on March 14, 2012 (click here for our first post).

Cape buffalos and elephants seem to get along well in the wild.

When we recall every location we’ve visited over this past almost six years since we left Minnesota on October 31, 2012, we can easily picture ourselves sitting somewhere in a vacation/holiday home, hotel, or cruise ship, preparing each day’s story.

Cape buffalos on the Marloth Park side of the river.

In the beginning, we didn’t include many photos. Still, once we left the US on January 3, 2013 (after a two-month stay in Scottsdale, Arizona, and Henderson, Nevada, while making the final preparations for our departure), we knew photos would become an integral aspect continuing our world journey and subsequent story.

 With technology aligned to make this all possible, we knew we’d selected the right time in our lives to go on this adventure. Little did we know then how long we’d continue, and still today, we can’t predict the future…good health is the highest priority.

This crocodile hide looks different than others.  Any comments?

We started the first post, as mentioned above, in March 2012 and today, September 29, 2018. It’s 2390 days later. How is that possible? Where did the extra 136 posts come from? That adds up to an average of an additional 21 posts per year.

Big elephant cooling off in Sunset Dam in Kruger.

In reviewing the list of the archives its easy to see that some months, some years, we uploaded extra posts when the Wi-Fi signal was weak (a common occurrence in many countries) or the power was going off and on, often long enough for us to post a notice we were having difficulties and would prepare the post once services were restored.

At other times, we posted a short blurb on travel days, unsure if we’d later be able to prepare a full post at an airport while waiting to board a flight. Often, we were able to connect. 

Each giraffe’s face appears to have a unique expression.

Less often, we had situations where we had something to share that required periodic updates, such as inclement weather, earthquakes, hurricanes, and rough days at sea.

Cape buffalos were lounging by the water on a scorching day.

In the first year, we wrote less often. For example, in 2012, we only posted 160 stories, but in 2014, we posted 377 times. One can see the totals for each year at the archives listed on the right side of the homepage, which changes daily with each new post.

Cape buffalo grazing close to the fence in Marloth Park.

Now you may ask, “Haven’t we run out of topics yet?” Not quite. As long as we continue to enhance our days with new sightings, new activities, new cultures, meeting new people, embarking on tours and other adventures, we can’t imagine running out of topics.

After this long dry season, this is all that’s left of the water in Vurhami Dam in Kruger.

I’ll admit at times. Our posts are mundane and less enjoyable. Sorry about that.  But, I ask myself this…if someone told us we’d have to write the equivalent of an essay every single day of our lives, sick days included, I’d say it was impossible. 

Elephant family enjoying the cooling water on a hot day.

Then, we’d have to add new photos to each post every day, always on the search for new photo ops. I’d say it was not something I could discipline myself to do. Yet, here we are today on post #2254 with nary a moment’s consideration of stopping.

Impalas in the background.

What keeps us motivated is all of YOU, our worldwide readers who share their stories with us, who send email regularly, who inquire as to how this life may work for them, or, as in many cases, to say “thank you” for providing this ongoing story. 

An impala and a giraffe under the shade of a large tree.

But, we thank every one of you for following along with us. We never take your readership for granted and are eternally grateful for the opportunity to continue on this journey with you at our side. 

May your day be as unique as you.

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

One year ago, we posted photos of various churches we’d seen to date in our travels, including the busy preparations surrounded the Igreja De Campanario church in Campanario, Madeira, in July 2014 as workers rushed to get the decorations in place for Saturday’s religious festivities.  See our link here.