Early morning visitors come by to celebrate our anniversary…Not the humankind…

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This enormous male kudu visited last night.  Check out this 
video to appreciate his size.
“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”
This morning’s first-time visitor to the yard, a wildebeest. Never once did he look at us or pick up his head for a face photo. But, we were happy to see him anyway!
No more than minutes after we awoke this morning, we had visitors galore on this day of our 23rd wedding anniversary. First, we had a herd of kudu consisting of two males and six females.  Then, shortly afterward, we had another herd stop by consisting of one male and six females.

A short time later, the solitary wildebeest  appeared as shown above in the “Sighting of the Day in the Bush.” Unfortunately, he never looked up at us, keeping his head down during his entire visit of about 10 minutes. He ate a few pellets and was on his way.

Yesterday, we had no less than a total of five species of visitors in the yard, one batch after another. Every time we sat down at the table, someone was there, and we jumped up again with camera and pellets in hand. 
There are two types of kudus, the “Lesser” with 4 to 12 white stripes running down its the torso and the “Greater” with 10 stripes running down its torso. This massive kudu appears to be a “Greater.” Otherwise, it’s difficult to tell the difference.
The various species included mongoose, vervet monkey, kudu, warthogs, bushbuck. It was quite a busy day. Midday, we headed to Komatipoort for a few items, including purchasing another massive bag of pellets, 40kg (88 pounds), at a farm store. The cost of the huge bag is ZAR 188 (US $15.90), which will last about two to three weeks.

We try not to be gone long when we shop in town, fearful we’ll miss something back at the house. But, it’s good to be out and about in the town steeping in culture and diversity. As much as we’d like to take photos of the people, we hesitate to avoid making anyone feel uncomfortable.

Here we are, white people in a primarily black town, shopping in many markets and shops they frequent. How intrusive it would be for us to be taking photos of its citizens. 
Got milk?  The intense look from a kudu appears to come from interest and curiosity and less from fear or intimidation.
Instead, we comfortably blend in, as we have all over the world instead, focusing on our tasks at hand. Yesterday’s outing included a trip to the Spar Supermarket for a few items, the pharmacy for repellent and saline, the liquor store for Castle beer, a can “huggie” for Tom, along with a few bottles of wine for me.
Then, we headed to the Butchery for chicken breasts and Boerwars; sausages described as follows from this site:
“Boerewors ([ˈbuːrəvors]), a type of sausage which originated in South Africa, is an important part of South African cuisine and is popular across Southern Africa. The name is derived from the Afrikaans words boer (“farmer”) and wors (“sausage”).
Boerewors must contain at least 90 percent meat and always include beef and lamb, pork, or a mixture of lamb and pork. Not more than 30% of the meat content may be fat. The other 10% is made up of spices and other ingredients. Boerewors may not contain any “mechanically recovered” meat (meat derived through a process where meat and bone are mechanically separated).”
He meandered through the yard, interested in the pellets but seemed more interested in strutting his big “rack” and stature.

As for the beer and wine, some evenings around 5:00 pm, we have “happy hour.” I usually have a maximum of two small glasses of dry white or red wine, and Tom will have a few beers.

By the time we have dinner around 6:30, we no longer imbibe, instead of loading our insulated mugs with iced tea for the remainder of the evening. This ritual is new for us since I hadn’t consumed any alcohol for over 20 years.

As mentioned before, I’ve found that I can consume a small amount of wine with no ill effects. Lately, we’re thoroughly enjoying hanging out on the veranda, without our laptops or phones nearby, chatting and watching nature unfold before our eyes.

To avoid mosquito bites and the fact that we aren’t taking malaria pills this time, we’ve dined indoors in the past weeks. But now, after dining outdoors (a tradition most locals prefer), when company came for dinner, we’ve found the local repellent good enough to keep from getting bit, and we’ve had our dinner outdoors even after dark, loving every moment.

As he walked to the side yard, where he stayed for some time, he seemed relaxed and at ease.

We’ve found we’re more easily adapting this time around than four years ago.  Today, the temperature is expected to be around 100F (38C), and still, we’ll be outdoors all day.  There’s no point in running AC when we prefer to be outside anyway.

Also, we’ve both become even more tolerant of insects and give little thought to them, other than avoiding bees and wasps, which we’re both allergic to. Last night, during night, I awoke to a bug in the bed. Yep, I turned on the light, waking Tom so I can shoo it away. 

There’s no degree of adaptation that would make a person comfortable with a bug in the bed. But, I suppose it’s how one reacts to the inconvenience which determines their degree of adaptability.

Four years ago, we’d seen a larger kudu than this, but so far this time, he’s the biggest we’ve spotted.

Tonight, on our 23rd wedding anniversary (we’ve been together almost 27 years), we plan to dine at Ngwenya, a restaurant located about 10 minutes from here situated on the Crocodile River with opportunities to see stunning wildlife sunsets.

After sunset, we’ll dine, surely reveling in how fortunate we’ve been to not only experience the joys of being together all of these years but also these past almost five and a half years of living this dream lifestyle.
We’ll be back with photos from tonight’s visit to Ngwenya, hopefully with many more photos.
Have a blissful day!  
Photo from one year ago today, March 7, 2017:
During the “silent disco” aboard the ship, we both had messy hair from taking the headsets on and off throughout the night. Tom was incredibly confused from sweating. His shirt was soaked by the end of the evening.  We had a blast.  For more photos, please click here.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photo from one year ago, March 6, 2017:

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

Reasonable cost of living in South Africa…Could we have forgotten our upcoming wedding anniversary?…

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This female bushbuck flipped into the air after something bit her!

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

A grey heron in Kruger National Park.

We arrived at Jabula for dinner last night at 6:00 pm. We’d hoped to mingle with other customers who may be sitting at the inviting bar in the restaurant.

With only one other patron in the restaurant, we found ourselves engaged in pleasant conversation with Lyn, a friend of owners Dawn and Leon, who recently started working in the popular local establishment.

This time, little Ms. Bushbuck had Helmeted Guinea Fowl join her for a visit. They also like the pellets but have to break them up to fit in their beaks.

It’s the low season now in Marloth Park, but soon, when Spring Break begins, many tourists will arrive for one or two week holidays. Few stay as long as we do. At that point, the few restaurants in MP will be busier. But, last night’s quiet experience at Jabula on a Saturday night was an isolated case.  

There was only one other couple dining while we dined at around 7:30. We moved from the bar to sit outside on the veranda, enjoying another delicious meal. Tom ordered the mixed grill with chips (fries) while I had my usual peri-peri chicken livers and a Greek salad.

Tossing pellets to three females kudus who stopped by.

Our total bill was ZAR 478 (US $40.09), which included tax and tips. Instead of ordering a glass of wine, I accidentally ordered an entire bottle of Pinot Grigio while Tom had a few bottles of Castle beer. 

Knowing I’d never drink an entire bottle of wine, I ended up taking half of it “home,” which I’ll finish tonight when our friends Lynne and Mick come for dinner. Where in the world can one go out to dinner, order an entire bottle of wine and several bottles of beer, order meals and, tender a tip for this amount?  

Female kudu eating pellets out of my hand.  They’re very gentle, but any sudden movements send them on their way.

We decided to return to Africa for a few reasons: primarily to fulfill my dream of returning to Marloth Park, my favorite place in the world, and two, to “lick our wounds” after the expensive Antarctica cruise. Our mission is fully being realized. 

The cost of living here is more reasonable than anywhere we’ve lived in the world. By the time we leave Africa next March, we’ll have recovered the entire cost of the Antarctica cruise by spending so much less on our monthly expenses.

She stopped eating from my hand and decided to go after the container!

There will be the added expenses of the tours we’re planning in the next few months when we’ll visit a few other countries on the continent, after which we’ll return to Marloth on each occasion.

Last night, as we chatted in the bar, we remembered that our wedding anniversary is coming up on March 7th. We’ve been having such fun. Lately, we could easily have forgotten the anniversary! Ironically, this anniversary is less critical than the October 31st anniversary we celebrate with enthusiasm each year. 

We adore this large full-grown male who stops by every few days.  He likes eating the pellets off the edge of the veranda, which prevents him from having to bend down with his heavy “rack.”

It was on that date in 2012 that we began our journey…a day of liberation from “stuff” and “work” and a day to celebrate our “stepping outside the box” to live our retirement years to the fullest. But, this coming Wednesday, March 7th, we will celebrate our wedding anniversary with plans we made this morning and will share on Thursday with photos.

Having placed less emphasis on our wedding anniversary doesn’t necessarily mean it’s not essential to us. All of our readers know we are a very happy couple and love every moment we spend together. But, the full realization of the depth, magnitude, and meaning of our relationship didn’t fully come to fruition until we began to travel the world.

When he finishes the pellets, we put them down, and he stares at us for more.  It’s impossible to resist his request.  He’s so handsome.

It’s been through this process during the past 5 1/3  years that we’ve come to fully appreciate how compatible and loving we are as a couple. It was easy to put aside our needs as a couple in the hustle and bustle of our past lives, loaded with responsibility and stress. 

In this magical life, sharing every morsel of our day-to-day lives, our level of admiration and appreciation for one another has catapulted to a level we never dreamed possible. So, yes, we will celebrate on March 7th, as we hope and pray for many more such years to come.

Tom, coming back up the steps after he lay down a raw egg for the mongooses.

Be well.  Be happy. 

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

We had a great time with new friends, Christina and Harold, with whom we enjoyed dinner in their Penthouse Suite the previous night. For more details, please click here.

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

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

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

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

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

May you have a great weekend as well!

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

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

Final Kruger photos for now…What is the plural names for groups of African animals?…Rather humorous

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A herd of impalas at the river.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

A female kudu in the background isn’t happy that Mr. Kudu is getting all of the attention.

It’s not so hot today, with the sky primarily overcast with patches of blue peeking through from time to time. By 6:00 am, we were outdoors on the veranda after we’d heard the sound of hoofs on the dry, dusty driveway in front of our vacation home.

This is a Magpie Shrike.  Thanks to friends Lynne and Mick for aiding in identifying today’s birds.

There stood Mr. Kudu, who’s become a regular in these parts, stopping by a few times each day to see what’s on the agenda. Yesterday, upon returning in the afternoon after our shopping trip to Komatipoort, there were no less than eight kudus in our yard, seemingly awaiting our return.

This is a Southern Ground Hornbill in the grass.

Oddly, a group of kudu is called a “forkl” of kudu as opposed to a herd.  Here’s a list of plural nouns of African animals from this site:

An armoury of aardvarks
A shrewdness of apes
An army of ants
A troop of baboons
A cete of badgers
A cloud of bats
A herd of buffalo
A coalition of cheetahs
A cartload of chimpanzees
A quiver of cobras
A bask of crocodiles
A murder of crows
A pack of wild dogs
A convocation of eagles
A herd/parade/memory of elephants
A leash of foxes
A flamboyance of flamingos
A tower/journey of giraffes
A band of gorillas
A cast of hawks (general)
A kettle of hawks (in flight)
A boil of hawks (spiraling)
A bloat of hippos
A cackle of hyenas
A leap of leopards
A conspiracy of lemurs
A pride of lions
A troop/barrel of monkeys
A band of mongooses
A parliament of owls
A pandemonium of parrots
A prickle of porcupines
An unkindness of ravens
A crash of rhinos
A venue of vultures
An implausibility of wildebeest
A dazzle of zebras

This is a Burchell’s Starling.

I saved this list on my desktop and hopefully will use these nouns to correctly identify groups of animals we post. If any of our readers know of additional plural nouns for other African animals, please post a comment at the bottom of today’s post or send me an email.

A tower of giraffes at a distance.

Well, anyway, back to our forkl of kudu…they seemed happy to see us as they freely approached the veranda. Now, don’t get me wrong. We make no assumptions that animals come to visit “because they like us.”

An implausibility of wildebeest resting under a tree.

Undoubtedly, the fact we have plenty of pellets along with the opportunity to satisfy their curiosity about humans may be the main reason they come to call. Also, most wild animals have specific paths they regularly follow as they forage for food.

Danie explained that when giraffes graze off the treetops in an area for an extended period, the trees eventually emit a toxic taste, nature’s attempt to send them off to another area to allow the trees to replenish. Isn’t nature amazing?

Mom and baby zebra.

It’s these little morsels of information that are of particular interest to us. It’s not always about the wildlife we see and photograph. There’s so much more to this magical place.

This is an African Fish Eagle.

Today, we’re staying in, preparing a great dinner, one of our favorites, the “unwich,” lettuce wrapped sandwich (no bread) with fresh ham, chicken, roast beef, tomatoes, purple onion, cooked streaky bacon, mayonnaise, and for me, sliced avocado. On the side, we’ll have a lettuce salad with onions, bits of carrot, celery, and diced tomato tossed with our homemade dressing.

The one-lane bridge over the Crocodile River. Swimming and boating are not allowed on the Crocodile River due to dangers from crocs and hippos (the animals responsible for more human fatalities than any other in Africa).

At the moment, it’s quiet with no visitors insight. Indeed, sometime in the next hour or two, we may see a “band of mongooses” running around the yard, looking at us with an expression that says, “You got any of those raw eggs?”

“Yes,” we’ll say, “for you, we do!”

Happy day!

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

One year ago, our cabin on Celebrity Solstice was comfortable and roomier than on some ships at 194 square feet (18 square meters).  The balcony is 54 square feet (5 square meters). We have plenty of storage space for our clothing and supplies when able to store our luggage under the bed, leaving ample walking space. For more photos, please click here.

Visiting the bushbaby rehab centre here in Marloth Park…The cutest little creatures in the world…

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What a face!  Lisa and Doc, the tiniest of the rescue bushbabies.

 “Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

Sweet Ms. Bushbuck stops by every day for a warm welcome and pellets eaten from my hand.  Its a treat for her and a bigger treat for us.

This morning awakening by 4:30 am, we were determined to get up and out the door early to head to Kruger National Park where we’d purchase an annual pass, called a “Wild Card” allowing us access at any time for a one-time annual fee.

Although we’d been to Kruger many times in the past, each occasion presented us with a wide array of new and unique experiences we’ve both longed to see once again; elephants on the road, crocs in the river; rhinos grazing in the savanna, giraffes lumbering through the trees, herds of cape buffalo and of course, the much sought after lion or leopard sighting and so much more.

Lisa makes little plates of food for the bushbabies which they nibble on for hours.  One of the less-well babies must be fed every three hours including during the night which Lisa doesn’t hesitate to do with unselfish love and concern.

A sighting of any one of the above and any others would provide for a highly successful day and we don’t hesitate in our desire to see these majestic animals in the wild.  But, after getting up and dressed and throwing open the massive wooden doors to the veranda, we found ourselves in a quandary…there were countless wild animals in our yard.  Should we stay or go?

Bushbabies like worms as well as soft foods.

Quickly, we loaded the yellow plastic container with pellets and grabbed a camera, finding ourselves entrenched in the scene before our eyes, we decided to wait until another day to visit Kruger National Park.

After taking countless photos and tossing and hand-feeding pellets to the many visitors that gradually wandered off to their next stop, we grabbed our coffee and tea sitting down at the big table on the veranda, ready to begin telling the story of last night’s visit to Lisa’s home a few kilometers from here.

The four bushbabies spend their quiet time together (they are nocturnal) inside this flannel bags in Lisa’s closet.  When we arrived, all four were awake and ready to see who’d arrived for a visit.

We’d heard so much about the tiny bushbabies Lisa’s been nursing to health as a part of hers and Deidre’s non-profit organization, Wild & Free Rehabilitation Centre based in Marloth Park and Hoedspruit.  We were anxious to see Lisa’s rescued bushbabies that she handles with the ultimate of love and care until they’re ready to be released into the wild.

This up close and personal experience was a treat!

Well, wouldn’t you know, no more than 10 minutes after we finally sat down to begin today’s post, the Internet went down.  After waiting 15 minutes, the message was clear, this would be a perfect time to head to Kruger, sign up for the Wild Card and spend a few hours driving through the park. 

Tomorrow, we’ll share our totally unexpected “safari luck” experience with some amazing photos we can hardly wait to post.  Who knew that late morning and midday self-drive photo safari would prove to be so exciting?  Perhaps, this purported morning window of opportunity doesn’t hold much water after all.

They are shy and yet curious little animals.

Anyway, back to the heartwarming visit to see the bushbabies and spend time with Lisa who graciously welcomed us into their home, serving snacks and wine. (Wow!  We’re always impressed with the hospitality of South Africans!!!)

They love for Lisa to massage and tickle them, moving around to accommodate her gentle touch.

As soon as we arrived at Lisa’s home (the same site where the bush movie and fundraiser for Wild & Free was held on Saturday night) she escorted us to her bedroom where she cares for four bushbabies who happen to reside in her bedroom closet, which by the way, was meticulously clean and tidy.

We simply could not believe our eyes!  We’ve seen bushbabies in both Kenya and South Africa, usually adults but never quite so close up.  With their big eyes, adorable faces and fluffy hair, they are quite a sight to behold.

The tiniest of the four needs a special tonic several times a day.

Watching Lisa interact with them while caring for their needs with special foods and medicines was indeed precious.  The dedication she has to this four little creatures is beyond reproach. 

Unfortunately, one of the bushbabies, aptly named, Special Needs,” suffers from a brain injury he received when negligently kept as a “pet” and later rescued by Lisa.  Sadly, he isn’t expected to survive much longer but Lisa is making his quality of life meaningful and loving in the interim.

Lisa shared a photo of this baby when he was the size of the end of her finger which may be found here on their Facebook page.

But, the remaining three are thriving and growing and, when fully prepared they will gradually be returned to the wild. There are few people who could so lovingly care for these tiny and magical creatures and Lisa, undoubtedly fits the bill.

They enjoy maneuvering around the various clothes in the closet.

After I fed Doc, the smallest of the three remaining (along with Apple and Bubba) I felt a unique affinity for these little creatures and plan to buy some bananas and yogurt for those that live in the trees near our veranda.

I had the opportunity to feed tiny Doc who slowly nibbled on the teaspoon.

Deidre, from Wild & Free whom we also met on Saturday night, stopped by last night while we all sipped on wine and snacked on biltong and chips while savoring the steady stream of visitors that freely come to their yard.  It was indeed magical.  Thanks to both Lisa and Deidre for making these past few evenings extra special for both of us.

We look forward to seeing them again in the near future and hearing when those precious bushbabies are able to fulfill their innate goals of living free in the wild in fabulous Marloth Park.  Who knows?  Maybe we’ll all see them again peeking out from their den in a tree on a warm and balmy night.

What a special experience!

Please stop back tomorrow for more breathtaking photos and our visit to Kruger National Park!

 _________________________________________________________

Photo from one year ago today, February 27, 2017:

Could it be more beautiful in Tasmania?  For more favorite photos of Tasmania as we wound down to our last day, please click here.

More exciting discoveries in the yard…Each day in the bush delivers…Boredom is out of the question…

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We made this video four years ago when we had the unique opportunity to see the males fertilizing the white foam nest filled with thousands of eggs laid by the female tree frog. But, we missed the fertilization by the male, which must have occurred overnight. A few days ago, we saw a new white foam nest made overnight by the female above the pond in the yard., 

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

A foam tree frog nest, made overnight by the female frog awaiting up to one dozen males to fertilize it.  We’ve been watching for the males but have yet to see them.  In this post, four years ago, we had the opportunity to see the males fertilizing the nest. After an incubation period of a few weeks, the tadpoles will drop into the pool of water to complete their growth cycle.

It’s so easy to become caught up in the simple and yet outrageously entertaining life in the bush.   Both the human and animal friends provide a steady stream of exciting and somewhat unusual activities we never imagined in our old lives.

Each day brings new and exciting opportunities to learn more about nature. Even after the seminars and classes aboard the Antarctica cruise, where we expanded our knowledge about unique scenery and wildlife, we weren’t quite as challenged as we are here.

This morning upon close inspection, we realized the mating process had transpired during the night while we were sleeping. Our post from four years ago and the above video we made, show the process. Today, tiny frog footprints on the foam nest indicate the males had already been here. Fascinating!  Who’d ever think of this?

The mere 16 nights in the magnificent Antarctic wasn’t quite as comprehensive as the education we’re deriving now as we continue to discover new species, new scenarios, and animal behavior we never dreamed would roll out before our eyes.

We’ll post photos of the tadpoles and frogs as they mature. 

Sure, we witnessed exciting scenarios four years ago, but as we mentioned a few days ago, we do so now with new eyes and a new perspective. This week, we’ll head over to Kruger to discover its added wonders, much of which we may not experience here in Marloth Park.

A bushbuck in the yard considering a drink from the pond.

Is it possible we’ll ever be bored while we’re here? Sure, wherever we may live, there are always a few occasions where boredom may set in for short periods. But, our journey has never been about constantly being entertained. Its always been about the magnitude of our experiences superseding any insignificant moments of boredom.

The action became rather rambunctious while the baby held his own.

During the “movie in the bush” night, Louise was sitting next to me while Tom and Danie sat behind us before the movie started. Constantly thinking about the comfort and ease of others (Danie is this way, too), she turned to me and asked, “Are you bored? Are you comfortable?”

I giggled at her question, answering, “No, I’m not bored. I’m easily entertained!”

Could this be mom teaching the young warthog how to protect herself?

Later, when I reflected upon her question and my answer, I realized it’s much more than being entertained. One is not always considered when engaged in quiet contemplation.

One is not always entertained at any event or at “home,” and conversation quiets for a few minutes. The entertainment factor can dissipate to a low hum, hardly detectable in the realm of things. But boredom is a rare thing, for me, for Tom.

This Angulate tortoise that stopped by yesterday afternoon is one of many species of ground tortoises. We offered it some cabbage and carrots, but it was too fearful and wandered off.

Of course, when the power or Wi-Fi is out, which frequently occurs in most countries, we may experience a period of boredom while we wait for it to return. We don’t carry paper books with us when we travel, nor would we want to. 

During outages, we don’t use our phones or laptops to read if the power doesn’t return by dark. However, picking up a paper book during those periods of power outages might be helpful. By saving the batteries until dark, we are assured we’ll be able to read or watch a movie in the dark, should the need arise.

We were surprised by how quickly it moved away.

Otherwise, we’ll play cards or a board game to keep our minds occupied. We noticed there’s a giant puzzle here and, of course, a dartboard and pool table, all of which will keep us busy during outages. 

Although we don’t typically drink alcoholic beverages when it’s just the two of us, it’s not a bad idea to have a beer (for Tom) and a glass of wine (for me) during an outage, turning it into a “party for two.” At the same time, we play pool or darts, providing our form of entertainment. 

The tortoise had little interest in our veggie offerings.

Other than those scenarios, we don’t think about being bored, nor do we experience boredom.  There’s always a future booking to research, a country we’d like to see, a place we’ve longed to visit, providing us with a steady stream of conversation, thought, and research. Essentially, what could be more fun than that…making our dreams a reality?

May your dreams be realized, and you find yourself free of boredom, worry, or strife. Happy day to all! 

Photo from one year ago today, February 26, 2017:

Exterior view of the house on the Huon River in the Huon Valley in Tasmania. For more photos, please click here.

Movie night in the bush!!!…Many visitors wanted in on the action…

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“Hmmm…” says Clive to Clove, “I wonder what these humans are up to now.  Are we invited?”

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

An apparently happy oxpecker on the hide of a kudu we spotted on yesterday afternoon’s drive in Marloth.  From this site: “Oxpeckers graze exclusively on the bodies of large mammals. Certain species are seemingly preferred, whereas others, like the Lichtenstein’s hartebeest or Topi are generally avoided. Smaller antelope such as lechwe, duikers, and reedbuck are also avoided; the smallest regularly used species is the Impala, probably because of the heavy tick load and social nature of that species. In many parts of their range, they now feed on cattle but avoid camels. They feed on ectoparasites, particularly ticks, as well as insects infecting wounds and the flesh and blood of some wounds as well. They are sometimes classified as parasites because they open wounds on the animals’ backs.”

When Lousie and Danie invited us to a fundraiser, they did so with the thought in mind that our attending this might be ideal for a post for our worldwide readers.  The intent was clearly not in having us donate lots of money.

About 25 guests had arrived in the bush area for the wildlife rescue event, Wild & Free Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre.  Within minutes there were about 50 guests who stayed for the meal, the presentation, the auction and eventually the movie, Out of Africa.

With the food hosted by local shop owners and the meat market, the US $8.66 (ZAR 100) per person donation for attendance was a mere pittance for the quality of the experience bestowed on the 50 attendees, most homeowners in Marloth Park or nearby surrounding areas.

We may have looked like idiots wearing our bug resistant “Africa” clothes while everyone else was wearing shorts, tee shirts, and flipflops. But, this time we aren’t taking malaria pills and feel it’s diligent to be careful especially with my weakened immune system after taking so many antibiotics.  The mozzies love me.

Louise and Danie showed up at 5:45 pm so we could follow them to the site.  They also brought chairs for us and sat with us for the entire event, although they were acquainted with almost everyone in attendance.  We had a great time at the entire event! Thanks, Louise and Danie!!!

The locals are used to applying repellent especially when out at dusk and into the evening when the mosquitos can be downright annoying and also, carrying many types of diseases besides malaria. 

The event took place on the grounds of a thoughtful homeowner who kindly cooked the fabulous food and hosted the event.

After contracting this awful gastrointestinal issue in Fiji which still plagues me today, we’d both decided that we can’t be too careful.  Illness is the only thing that will put a fast end to our travels and we’re simply not willing to take the risk.  So we look foolish?  Who cares?  We’re happy and continuing to travel the world.

Even now, as I’m posting from the veranda where we spend all of our days there’s a variety of bees and hornets buzzing us, let alone mozzies that find me, day or night.  A little caution can go a long way in protecting us.

Our first visitor to the event, a lone warthog who was curious and perhaps wondering, “Do you have any pellets?”

Anyway, back to the event…Louise and Danie graciously introduced us to many attendees which easily brought us into many interesting conversations about wildlife and Marloth Park.

She was on her knees eating some greens.

Each person we spoke to freely expressed their unbridled passion for this magical place.  Some had been living here for decades, others frequently visiting family who lives in the park.  All of the people we met are from one part of Africa or another although the majority are from South Africa.

At no point, did we or the other guests feel pressured for added donations.  The auctions provided more needed revenue and although Tom bid on a few items we lost to more enthusiastic bidders interested in various types of alcoholic beverages being offered in pretty baskets.

Deidre from Wild & Free Rescue Center in Marloth Park did a heartwarming presentation.

The food was superb as mentioned here, the movie Out of Africa, which we’d seen many times, was again entertaining. But most of all, the visitors who stopped by to check out the evening’s event, left us all in stitches with cell phone cameras flashing along with my camera.

A lookout tower on the property. Notice the kudu grazing beneath the structure.

Sometimes I could kick myself for not seeking the best possible scenes for taking photos.  I certainly have the ability to do so but in my enthusiasm, I get sidetracked by the scene in front of me and I forget to be more diligent.  I promise to work on this after it became especially evident to me this morning when I looked at last night’s photo.

We watched a heartwarming slide presentation of some of the baby animals rescued by Wild and Free Rehabilitation Centre.

Why in the heck didn’t I get the shots of the visitors with the crowd of humans in the background?  This would have created more humorous photos.  Thus, I must describe to you that the following animals came to call and hovered around the perimeter of our event: warthog, wildebeest, zebra, and ostrich.

Note the tiny bushbaby on the end of a finger.  Soon, we’ll visit the center and do a more comprehensive story on this exceptional facility.

In defense of myself to a small degree, based on the positioning of the wildlife when they hovered around our “camp,” I would have had to get behind them to get such a photo.  All of these animals weight 100’s of kilos (pounds) and doing so may have been risky.  One swift kick by an annoyed visitor could result in a tragedy.

The food was excellent; pulled pork, pulled chicken, homemade pickle slices, coleslaw, and buns.  I ate a little of everything but was concerned about the sugar in the delicious barbecue sauce.  Typically, barbecue sauce has a lot of sugar.

And so, I ask you to use your imagination and picture the animals shown in today’s photos, standing very close to us, smelling, snorting and making a variety of sounds and gestures wondering what we were all about.

I could have easily eaten twice as big a serving of the meat, it was so good but I refrained.  Tom had one bun filled with pork, coleslaw, and pickles on the side.  We noticed the locals putting the pickles in the bun with the meat.  That looked good!

Throughout the movie, we continued to hear the music-to-our-ears sounds us bush-dwellers continually strive to identify.  Tom and I are learning those sounds more this time in Marloth Park as opposed to four years ago. 

This delightful man sang a few times during the evening.  He is Etienne van der Nest also known as the “Cooking Tenor.”  What a voice and special unexpected treat!

Perhaps we’re a little wiser, a little more appreciative, and a little more in awe than we were four years ago.  A reader wrote to us a few days ago asking, “Since you’ve been in Marloth Park before, is it any less interesting and magical this second time around?”

The zebras were hovering around the perimeter of our group curious as to what was going on.

We wrote back to our reader, stating it like this, which we’ve said before, “Being here again is like having an “E” ticket to Disneyland…the anticipation of the “next ride” is almost as exciting as the ride itself.”  Even when “they” don’t visit us, our perpetual state of expectation is indescribable.

Louise explained that wild animals are often attracted to the noise of human activity and of course, like the other visitors at the event, curious as to what’s going on.

For example, the above photo featured in “Sighting of the Day in the Bush” of the oxpecker with its mouth agape while sitting atop a kudu is another of those bonuses we never seek or expect.  It’s sheer joy in the simplest of terms.

Please continue to enjoy the “ride” along with us!

__________________________________________


Photo from one year ago today, February 25, 2017:

Had we arrived a month or two earlier, the hilly countryside in the Huon Valley would have been a lush velvety green.  For more photos, please click here.

Coincidences…Hilarious video interaction…Harrowing visit to Lionspruit game reserve…Busy weekend ahead…

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For a good chuckle, watch this video.  At about halfway through
you see a funny interaction with this warthog and mongoose.
 
“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”
These tusks on this female warthog that visited with babies are the largest we’ve seen since our arrival.
Upon entering Lionspruit, we had to sign a waiver stating, “Entering at our own risk.
Our lives are filled with coincidences, dates, people, and things. As we look back at the year-ago posts, we’re always amazed how often we encounter patterns of dates and events. I suppose with the diversity of our experiences. This can happen.

Today is February 23rd which brought to mind the coincidence of the 23rd of the prior several months. For example, on November 23rd, we embarked on the 30-night South America cruise. On December 23rd, Tom’s birthday, the cruise disembarked in Buenos Aires, where we stayed for 31 nights. Then, on January 23rd, we flew from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia, Argentina, and embarked on the cruise to Antarctica. These are pretty coincidental dates filled with considerable adventure.

Today, we’ve posted a video you must watch if you’d like a chuckle. About halfway through (watch carefully), you’ll see interaction with a warthog and mongoose that we watched over and over again, laughing each time.

This sign, written in both Afrikaans and English, warns visitors about entering.  We had no intentions of getting out of the vehicle at any time.

While filming the video, we had no idea this happened. It wasn’t until we watched the video after uploading it to YouTube we realized this funny split-second-long event.

Yesterday morning Louise and Danie stopped by to leave a “cool box” (cooler) with us and a pass to get into Lionspruit Nature Reserve, contained within sprawling Marloth Park.

With very few visitors, it’s a long day for the guard that manages the gate.

With social events tonight and tomorrow night where we bring our beverages, it was thoughtful of them to loan us a cool box for our lengthy stay at “Orange…More Than Just a Color,” the name of this lovely home in the bush. 

Although the house is well-equipped, Louise has rousted up some additional items I needed; sharp knives, measuring spoons and cups (most tourists don’t cook much), mixing bowls, and other odds and ends.  Now, we have everything we need.

There were numerous impalas beyond the entrance gate, but we didn’t see much as we traveled on the dirt road.

As for the pass to Lionspruit…last time we were here, four years ago, we’d considered visiting this small (compared to Kruger National Park) wildlife reserve, but for some reason, we never got around to it. When Louise and Danie offered the pass, we decided to go.

Image result for map lionspruit
Map of Marloth Park and Lionspruit Nature Reserve.

Here’s a map of Lionspruit, located within Marloth Park. Lionspruit is 1500 hectares, equivalent to 3707 acres, or 5.8 square miles. In comparison, Marloth Park is 3000 hectares, equal to 7413 acres, or 11.6 miles.

We’d heard the roads inside Lionspruit were uneven with lots of rocks and potholes but thought we should finally give it a try. If we didn’t find it navigable, we’d turn around and leave.  Not so simple. 

Most of the roads are one-way. It proved to be like a maze, and although we were never lost, we found ourselves in a quagmire of never-ending mud holes, water holes (not knowing how deep they were), and rocky pits and ruts from rain and erosion.

As it turned out, this reserve is not the place for a regular, especially tiny car with small tires, like our rental. Indeed, a four-wheel drive would have been more appropriate.
The dirt road didn’t look bad when we started, but everything changed 10 minutes into it.  It had rained quite a bit lately. We probably should have waited for a drier spell to enter Lionspruit.

Once we got going, there was no turning back. At several points, we certainly anticipated getting stuck in the mud or ruts and having to call for help. Luckily, I’d brought my phone with the number for Field Security in the park that will come to the rescue in an emergency. We hoped “safari luck” would prevail and we’d see a lion but instead, “safari luck” saved us from getting stuck.

There are only two known lions in Lionspruit, but we could have done a number on ourselves, anticipating being stuck and spending the night in there or in attempting to walk back to the single entrance.  Oh, good grief. This could have been quite the story for an episode of 48 Hours, Dateline, or other such sensationalized TV programs in the US.

Luckily, we both stayed calm, even when we approached the scary huge water holes in the narrow dirt and rock road. Although we both were running the possibility of getting stuck in our minds, we avoided mentioning our concerns to one another.

“The southern yellow-billed hornbill (Tockus leucomelas) is a hornbill found in southern Africa. This hornbill species is a widespread resident of dry thornveld and broad-leafed woodlands. Yellow-billed hornbills feed mainly on the ground, forage for seeds, small insects, spiders, and scorpions. They can often be seen along roads and watercourses.”

Tom, a highly competent driver, was a little hesitant at times but maneuvered our way through some of the most challenging roads we’ve navigated in our travels. Each time he made it through another frightening patch, we both sighed in relief.

It was so tense. I failed to take photos of the water and mud holes, which I wished I had done now that it’s over. Just picture a water hole of unknown depth covering an entire dirt roadway…we made our way through many of these.

More impalas tucked away in the bush.

With a manual transmission, Tom used first gear during most of the entire long drive. It took us two hours to return to the entrance gate, after which we returned the plastic-encased map to the guard joyfully waving goodbye.

We never spotted either of the two lions in Lionspruit, nor did we see much wildlife, other than a few, as shown here today. We see more wildlife sitting at the big table on the veranda than we did there. 

Impalas are shy and tend to back off from humans.  Plus, they are huge targets for lions, leopards, and hyenas, so they’re always on the lookout.

Next week, we’re heading to Kruger National Park (25 minutes to the Crocodile Bridge entrance) on a self-drive on their easy-to-manage paved roads.  In comparison, Kruger is over 2,000,000 hectares, 4,942,108 acres, and 7,722 square miles. Having visited Kruger many times during our last stay, we’re looking forward to returning.

There are many hornbills in this area.

Tonight at 6:00 pm, we’re off to a musical party at friends Kathy and Don’s home here in Marloth, where Don and Ken (of Linda and Ken) have a performance planned, followed by food, drinks, and most certainly more lively chatter. 

What a fabulous social week for us with more excitement upcoming tomorrow night, which we’ll write about tomorrow. 

Have a blissful weekend, whatever you may do!

Photo from one year ago today, February 23, 2017:

Caravans parking in Franklin, Tasmania for summer activities in the Huon Valley. For more photos, please click here.

Herbivores, omnivores and carnivores…More apparent in the wild…Lions in Marloth Park…

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We drove down this bumpy dirt road to find several zebras while they grazed. This one stopped to look at us but didn’t seem to mind our presence.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

Young zebra’s stripes appear more brown than black, and the hair on its neck is fluffier than on an adult.

After a fair amount of rain, it’s good to see the bush has become greener, providing more vegetation for the animals to forage. Most of the wildlife in Marloth Park are herbivores, as described here:

“A herbivore is an animal that gets its energy from eating plants and only plants. Omnivores can also eat parts of plants, but generally only the fruits and vegetables produced by fruit-bearing plants. Many herbivores have special digestive systems that let them digest all kinds of plants, including grasses.”

Zebras are such fascinating animals, especially when considering the uniqueness of their varied stripes. 

There are several omnivores in the park as well, described as follows here:

 “Omnivore /ˈɒmnivɔːr/ is a consumption classification for animals that can obtain chemical energy and nutrients from materials originating from plant and animal origin.”

Zebras often live in “harems” with a male and several females and their offspring.  This appeared to be the case here when we noticed this youngster in the group.

Many species of birds are omnivores, such as the local helmeted guinea fowl, rodents, frogs, and other bird species, known to eat carrion, the rotting flesh of dead animals. Many types of vultures and birds of prey are carnivores.

Of course, as we all know, a carnivore is a creature, both human and animal that consumes meat, of one variety or another. With no particular affinity or opinion as to veganism as a personal choice for diet, especially for those who eat a “clean” vegan diet, they often claim humans weren’t intended to eat the flesh of other animals.

The stripe patterns are fascinating, and there are various opinions on why they developed them. Zebras are herbivores.
For many wild animals hunting for meat are a very natural process and their only means of survival. Perhaps we humans evolved similarly. I won’t get into that controversial topic too much here.
But, being in Africa certainly gives us a different perspective of the “food chain” as opposed to living in a more developed part of the world where we may give less emphasis to the cycle of life for human and animal evolution.
The adult male in the harem.

Indeed, I’m no scientist or expert and our perspective may hinge entirely upon a lifetime of preconceived notions we’ve garnered over decades. Living in the bush opens our eyes to possibilities we’d never considered in the past.

There she is, Ms. Bushbok, climbing the steps looking for pellets.  Of course, we respond to her request, as we do for all visitors.

We do know for sure that whatever we thought we knew about wildlife, even after our prior six months living in Kenya and South Africa was infinitesimal compared to the knowledge that lifetime residents of these parts have gleaned from education, personal encounters, stories passed down from generations. Innate curiosity to understand their country and their environment.

Each day as we discover a new species, a unique encounter or behavior, we find ourselves grasping for knowledge to understand better the magnitude and power of this vast wildlife-rich continent. 

Several male impalas stopped by for a visit.

Fortunately, there’s considerable information online from reliable sources aiding us in our research and, like hungry vultures ourselves, we devour every morsel we can gather to enhance our perspective. Plus, our friends and landlords, Louise and Danie, native South African, are a valuable source in educating us.

There’s no way we can capture it all. This morning a half dozen vervet monkeys visited the marula tree in the yard which daily drops hundreds of the green fruit to the ground. As fast as they constantly moved, it was impossible for me to get a photo I would have loved to share here. 

There wasn’t a single female in the herd.

At times, a photo is just not meant to be although in no way does it diminish the quality of our experience.  We can tell you about it and eventually, we’ll be able to share a photo. It’s all a part of the joy of being here. It’s not always instant gratification. Often, patience and gentle determination will provide the outcome one desires.

Big Boy is on his knees eating pellets on the steps to the veranda.  His friend nibbles off to the side.

And so, we’ve heard from several reliable sources, there are lions that have entered Marloth Park via the fence and the Crocodile River between Kruger National Park and Marloth  Park. One was spotted a few days, only a few blocks from us.

Sure, we’d love to see it and the other lions that apparently have taken up residence in the park and of course, if “safari luck” prevails, we’ll be ultra-careful and never attempt to “push our luck.” 

This pretty young female stops by every few days for some pellets.

Today, as soon as we upload this post, we’re heading out for a drive, hoping to spot more of Mother Nature’s wonders in the veritable paradise for wildlife enthusiasts.

Be well. Be happy.

Photo from one year ago today, February 22, 2017:

Throughout Tasmania and Australian states, there are many wood carvings
In honor of Australians throughout history. For more photos, please click here.