Kruger National Park posted our video on their YouTube!!!…The reality of “haters” in social media…

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Male kudu attempting to reach the seeds in the bird feeder.  He wasn’t successful.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

Greater Blue-eared Starling.

Last week, after returning from Kruger, we posted the following video from our YouTube site of two cape buffalos whose horns became entangled during an altercation which may be found at this link. Fine and good. 

We didn’t think much more about it until after we’d searched YouTube and hadn’t found much in the way of a similar situation. We giggled at the prospect of getting lots of hits on the video and how fun it would be to track.

As mentioned in an earlier post, we don’t make any money on the video since we hadn’t “monetized it.” As we’ve often said, we share what we find worldwide with whoever would like to see or read it. That way, we prevent feeling like doing “this” is a job that would create stress and a sense of urgency we’d prefer to avoid in this amazing life we lead.

There are two hornbills in this photo.  The one was waiting her turn while the other was busy eating the seeds in the feeder. They may have been a mating pair but refused to share.

When Kruger National Park, SANParks (South Africa National Parks), contacted us asking if we’d allow them to post the unique video on their website, we agreed. We hoped we’d acquire more readers with whom we were going can share our world travels. However, we didn’t have a lot of expectations as to any particular outcome.

Before we continue, I must add that we’ve been blessed over the past six years since we began posting (start date, March 14, 2012) with very few negative comments or “haters,” those who look for opportunities to criticize anything they see online. 

Why don’t we get haters for our site? The only reason we can imagine is that we “tell it as we see it,” and we’re vulnerable, revealing our flaws and foibles. It’s hard to critique someone who’s critiquing themselves.  Avoiding haters was never intended to be “open,” but somehow, we believe this may have been instrumental.

Female kudus waste no time in letting us know what they want.

In our early days, a hateful commenter wrote, “How dare you spend OUR money traveling the world.” Duh, YOUR money? It was Tom’s 42.5 years of working on the railroad making contributions, along with the company, for his years of dedicated hard work. It was never “taken” from anyone else. 

After that isolated hater, we haven’t felt any comments or questions posed our way have been from “haters.”  We’ve loved and continue to love the interaction with our worldwide readers, which we receive every day. 

Once we agreed with Kruger National Park to post the video on their YouTube site (click here to see), we never gave it much more of a thought. Yesterday, we received an email that the video had been posted and is ready for viewing.

Last night, as darkness fell, these three zebras stopped by for carrots, apples, and pellets. Of course, there was a warthog in the background waiting for the leftovers.

We always reply to comments within 24 hours, except on travel days which may delay a response by a day or two. Thank you to all of you out there who write to us and also to those of you who lurk at their leisure without comments.

This morning we decided to check and see how many hits the video had. Less than 24 hours after posting it, it’s received over 2000 hits. It’s not millions and most likely won’t be, but it’s been fun for us.

Yep, the haters have arrived. A select few are knocking our video, and for the first time in over six years (except for the above-isolated case), we’re feeling the brunt of how impactful negative online comments can be. 

Kudus seem to be intimated by zebras due to their powerful kicks and, thus, won’t join in on the snacks.

Generally, we have thick skins. We have to live this unusual life on the move, especially after so much time has passed. But, like so many others who are subject to haters on various social media platforms, it stings a bit to read negative comments and see “thumbs down” on something we’ve done without an ulterior motive and for the love and passion for wildlife.

Of course, we won’t let this impact the joy in our lives, nor will it stop us from taking videos of situations we find exciting and unique. If you’ve never seen our YouTube page, please click here. 

We have dozens of fun, funny and unique videos with almost no negative comments or reactions. I can’t tell you how often people write to us when they see a video they find interesting, and always, we’re pleased and flattered by the positive response.

The zebras are aggressive with one another while snacking, often kicking and head-butting one another.

This is not unlike all the negative press worldwide about South Africa. Haters are impacting tourism in this beautiful country. Sure, there is a lot of crime in some big cities, but there was a horrific crime only 30 minutes from where we lived in Minnesota, which continues today. 

In evaluating crime in big cities throughout the world, one can evaluate the crime rates in big cities in their own country.  As Tom always says, “Where there are tall buildings and lots of people, there is criminal activity.” This is so true.

South Africa has so much to offer, and the negative comments one can read at many news outlets if often an exaggeration of a few unique situations. Let’s face it; we can’t believe the news anymore when the newsmonger’s goals are centered on sensationalism to make more and more money.

Little Wart Face was exhausted after chasing a female around the yard for about an hour, unfortunately for him, without any luck.

Well, anyway, I always promise not to get involved here in controversial topics, and today, as usual, I’ll back off on this topic. South Africa is a great country to visit, with most areas safe for tourists, especially if they stay away from the more crime-ridden areas. But this is true in London, Paris, Auckland, Lisbon, and New York. The list could go on and on. 

We all must do our research to discover what is best for our safety as we travel. Some of the best resources are other travelers who’ve visited these countries and have enjoyed exciting and worthwhile visits to lands they never imagined they’d get to see.

If you go to Kruger’s link to our site here, you may or may not agree with the negative comments about our video.  Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. But behind every wildlife video is a human being who chose to share something they found worthy of sharing in one way or another, whether motivated by money, notoriety, or for the pure joy of it (as in our case).

We’ve loved to hear your comments on this topic. You may choose to post a comment at the end of today’s post or any post or write to us via email. We appreciate every one of YOU! Thank you for “stopping by” and sharing yet another little piece of our lives.

Photo from one year ago today, May 31, 2017:

This was my favorite photo from Butchart Gardens in Victoria, British Columbia. For more photos, please click here.

My boys…What can I say?…It’s a glorious day in the bush!”…A few more Kruger photos…

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We waited patiently as the giraffe made her way across the dirt road in Kruger.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

There he is…Scar Face has returned after a three-week hiatus. 

With Louise, Danie, and her parents coming for dinner tomorrow night, I decided to work on a bit of food prep this morning. I had a late start after actually sleeping until 7:30 am, a rarity for me. Tom was up at 5:30, as usual, unable to sleep any longer.

Greeting the balmy day couldn’t have been more perfect. The sun was shining, the temperature was ideal, and a slight breeze wafted through the air every so often. Now, at noon, the perfect weather continues.

It’s looking better, but it may take a while longer for his injury to completely heal.

Of course, our day has been brightened further by the arrival of one group of visitors after another; Miss Kudu and baby; Mrs. Warthog, auntie, and two babies; a couple of dozen helmeted guinea fowl; and then…pure delight.

Mornings are hectic. At around 9:30 am, Tom called out to me while I was busy in the kitchen to immediately come outside. I was anxious to get out anyway to begin working on today’s overdue post, which I always do sitting at the big table on the veranda enjoying the sights and sounds of nature along with whatever visitors come to grace us with their presence.

Often, when animals in the wild are injured, they seem to know how to take care of themselves without intervention from humans.
I wiped my wet hands on the legs of my jeans as I rushed outdoors, unsure of what to expect, anticipating that Tom was summoning me to see birds at the old bushbaby stand which we’re now using as a bird feeder since we purchased a new bushbaby stand a few days ago from Daisy’s Den.

My heart stopped in my chest when there stood Scar Face, as Tom said, “Your boy is back!” I squealed like a pig myself when I saw him. He and I made our usual penetrating eye contact. Oh, how I’d love to know what he’s thinking.

It’s always a joy to see zebras, whether here in Marloth Park or in Kruger.

Most likely, he was hungry and was looking for apples, pellets, and perhaps a few carrots. (Warthogs are finicky about carrots. Some like them, others do not). Scar-Face will eat a few. 

Luckily, yesterday after a shopping trip to Komatipoort and Lebombo (where there’s a market with the best carrots anywhere), we purchased plenty of carrots and apples, some of which I’d already cut up. (Thanks, Louise, for your help in the carrot matter). I grabbed the bowl from the refrigerator, anxious to get back out to him.

A face only a mother could love!

Tom and I stood on the veranda tossing handfuls of apples and pellets to Scar-Face while he voraciously devoured them as quickly as we could toss them out. With the holiday season over for now and many homeowners off to other lands, it could have been days since he’d had much food other than his usual foraging.

With winter approaching and little rain, the pickings are slim for many animals, and they surely appreciate a hand out of pellets, fruits, and veggies from whoever happens to be around.

Each time we enter Kruger, we see at least one elephant, frequently many more. We never tire of seeing the magnificent beasts or other wildlife, for that matter.

Why we hadn’t seen him since a week before we left for Zambia (we were gone one week) and now back a whole week as of today, we’ll never know. Maybe he came by while we were gone and gave up when we weren’t here.

It’s impossible to read the minds of wildlife. Although they’re “creatures of habit” like us humans, their patterns may be inconsistent as they wander through the 3000 hectares (11.58 square miles) that consist of this unique and magical conservancy where animals roam free.

A cape buffalo was resting in the vegetation in Kruger.

He looked better, although it will take many more months for his injury to heal fully. He seemed otherwise healthy, and when he was done eating and heard a noise in the bush, he took off at a fantastic pace. (Warthogs can run at a rate of 55 km, 35 miles per hour when chased by a lion).

Hopefully, now that he sees we’re here, he’ll return as regularly as he had the first months we were here. Gosh, it’s so easy to become attached to these animals even when we don’t touch them or interact with them as we would a pet in our home. 

This is a female giraffe based on the hair on her ossicones which males do not have.

These are not pets. They’re wild animals, and although some have become used to humans in “their” territory, they still behave like wild animals. It would be unwise and unfair to them to attempt to “domestic them.” Doing so could ultimately result in their eventual demise.

Some disagree with feeding the wildlife. We understand this concept. However, many residents of Marloth Park have been providing pellets and vegetables, and fruit to them for decades, and they’ve continued to thrive.  We’ve followed suit, especially when we see the vegetation drying up as winter rolls in.

Tom’s hair had become unruly, prompting him to get another haircut sooner than usual.

On Wednesday, Tom had his hair cut and is thrilled with the result. Yesterday, as mentioned above, we headed to Lebombo and Komatipoort to shop for groceries, buy pellets at Obaro, stop at the pharmacy for a few items, and see Dr. Theo for our appointment for more vaccinations. More on this in tomorrow’s post.

He had it cut right here in Marloth Park at a busy salon near Daisy’s Den where we buy birdseed and other items.

Today, we’ll stay put while we continue to prep for tomorrow evening’s dinner party. It will be fun to meet Louise’s parents and share great conversation and good food and wine!

May your day be filled with happy surprises!

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

The sun filtered through the tall trees at Butchart Gardens in Victoria, British Columbia. For more photos, please click here.

First time visitor stuns…Gentle musings on a busy morning in the bush…Two must-watch videos…

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Notice the train-like mating noise Wart Face makes when approaching
this female, one of two moms that stop by each day.
The interaction with wildlife is not only educational but also humorous.
Each day, we spend hours watching their behavior.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

As shown in this photo (not ours), a genet appeared last night while we were packing to go inside for the night. Unfortunately, I’d already put away the camera. By the time I went back inside to get it, the genet was long gone. Now, I suppose, we’ll be hell-bent on seeing this lovely cat again and taking our photos.

We’ve had few quiet mornings in Marloth Park since we arrived two and a half months ago. Whether it’s the four dozen helmeted guinea fowl that live in the bush surrounding our house, a single kudu or a forkl of kudu, a sounder of warthogs or Frank (the francolin) and his wife, it’s always a busy morning.

A good-sized turtle was crossing the road.

Often, they begin to appear once we’re up and about, but on a rare occasion, as soon as we open the giant wooden doors to the house, a variety may be awaiting us. “What’s for breakfast,” their eyes ask as they stare at us. Wildlife in Marloth Park is used to being fed.

A part of this outrageous adventure are the sounds in the bush both day and night, including an indescribable variety of bird calls, cricket chirps, impala barks, hog snorts, frogs croaks (only the males’ croak), and the frequent sounds at a distance, often hard for us novices to decipher. In time we will learn.

Three young monkeys were playing in the dirt in front of the veranda.

For now, we sit back in a perpetual state of wonder, rarely ever missing a beat. The rustling in the bush is often a good indicator that an animal is approaching. My finely-tuned hearing is quick to pick up on a pending arrival, for which I quietly alert Tom while we both wait in anticipation as to who will grace our presence in the next minute or two.

They are highly social and spend considerable time playing with their troop-mates.

With Tom’s years of hearing loss from “working on the railroad,” with difficulty hearing certain tones, he’s often dependent on me to let him know someone is approaching.  But, then, his keen eye often spots action in the bush long before I see it. We’re a good team as observers of wildlife in the bush (along with other things).

Monkeys use rocks and boulders as tools to open nuts and fruit.

One may ask, “What do we have to gain from this?” Other than the joy of knowing we’re providing some sustenance for the wildlife who often suffer during droughts, why do we have this peculiar passion that we and many homeowners and visitors to Marloth Park and nature reserves throughout the world also possess?

As wildlife populations diminish worldwide due to human intervention and a natural cycle of life, death, and extinction, we’ve added the experience of seeing and being entrenched in the beauty of nature and wildlife, which our great-grandchildren may never be able to see.

Monkeys such as this Vervet come by in troops, swinging through the trees and carrying on in our side yard.  Vervet monkeys are smaller and less destructive than baboons.

Perhaps our stories and photos here will provide them with a peek into “what it was like” decades ago to help them have a better understanding of cyclic changes in nature precipitated by myriad forces often beyond our control.

This monkey picked up this pellet off the ground and wiped off the dirt before eating it.

Did “humankind” wipe out the dinosaurs? No. Nature did.  And maybe, just maybe, nature naturally has played such a role over the millennium. Once, humans weren’t on this earth. Will one day we be gone as well? We don’t know, nor can we accurately surmise or assume we can change what is yet to come in our destiny.

This is a blue-tailed day gecko we often see close to the river.

Meanwhile, many of us are allowed to play a role, however small and seemingly insignificant in the realm of things, that may or may not impact the future. If doing so brings us peace and purpose, then the effort and dedication were valuable and meaningful.

Our cute little bushbuck baby with her mom on the left is growing up quickly.

Some may say, everything we do is for our pleasure. And, we’d be foolhardy to deny that reality. But, if somehow, through our daily stories and photos, we can provide a moment of pleasure to others throughout the world who may be reading our posts, then this daily commitment was all worthwhile. For this, dear readers, we glean our greatest joy.  For this, dear readers, we thank all of YOU. 

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

The coral reef in the Isle of Pines was exquisite. For more details, please click here.

Unexpected visit to Kruger National Park…Never disappoints…

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No more than 10 minutes into Kruger we spotted elephants.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

Kudu sticks out her tongue in anticipation of being hand fed pellets.  We don’t feed the males by hand due to the risk of an unintended injury by their massive and dangerous antlers.

When we miraculously uploaded yesterday’s post by around 11:45 am and the sun was shining on a beautiful day, impulsively I said to Tom, “Let’s go to Kruger now!”

We assumed the dark brown color was due to rolling around in a muddy waterhole.

Although midday may not be the perfect time to find wildlife out and about in the heat of the sun, we decided “why not?”  We’d never entered the park this late in the day but it wasn’t as if we had any other pressing matters on the agenda…the wildlife “at home” could wait for our return if they happened to stop by and we weren’t around.

There were a few giraffes a distance from the road.  Unfortunately, in Kruger visitors must stay on the roads.  Returning to the Masai Mara (in February) on our Greg Harvey Wildlife Photography Tour we’ll have a guide driving the safari vehicle and they are able to drive off-road

Since we were both showered and dressed for the day it took us only a few minutes to get ready to head out the door; gather our passports, park entrance documents, camera and extra batteries, binoculars, and drinks in our mugs (water for me and iced tea for Tom).

When we’d given up hope of seeing a parade of elephants, safari luck kicked in and once again, we were gifted with these elephants crossing the road.  We couldn’t believe the baby’s determined stride!

By noon, we were out the door to head to the petrol station to put air in the little blue car’s tires.  We have to do this every few days but refuse to pay for tire repairs on the rental car, especially since we’ll only have it for another 17 days. 

If we’d been a few minutes earlier we’d have seen the entire parade but we were thrilled with what we did get an opportunity to witness.

Hopefully, the vehicle we’ve rented for the next three more months, which we’ll pick up in Nelspruit after we return from Zambia on May 18th, won’t have similar problems as the past few rentals in South Africa.

Check out the size of this newborn calf which probably was born in the past week.

Once we crossed the Crocodile Bridge and reached the entrance to the park, when we showed our Wild Card (annual pass to the park) we were told we’d have to go inside in order to be allowed to enter the park.

There were dozens more than we could capture in a single photo.

Any visitors arriving after 12:00 pm have to register inside the reception building.  Little did we know it would take 15 minutes to have a rep at the desk check us in.  Next time, we’ll make sure to arrive before noon to avoid this added wait.

We could see, at a distance, where they all were headed.

By 12:45 we were on the main paved road with a plan to drive for an hour or more and then turn around and head back the same way.  With the car’s bad tires, we weren’t about to tackle a washboard dirt road. 

Mating season.  A little hugging perhaps?

One might wonder “Why would you want to return the same way you came?”  The answer it simple.  We can see nothing on the way in and magic happening on the way out.  Wildlife is unpredictable and although they may have favorite watering holes and foraging spots they wander many kilometers on any given day.

Kruger is 19,485 square kilometers (7,523 square miles), the size of the country of Wales.  It’s odd to imagine that driving on any road, paved or dirt, we’d actually encounter any wildlife at all, considering how much space they have to wander.  But, we do.  And it can be on the main paved road or a dirt road with little predictability.

Check out the look on this zebras face!

Once we get a car with better tires, we’ll explore more of the dirt roads in the park, more for a change of scenery than in hopes of seeing more wildlife.  We already know the main road very well recognizing vegetation and watering holes along the way.

It proved to be a good day based on the photos we’re sharing today and will continue to share in the future as we accumulate more and more good shots we’ve been able to take while in the park.

We made it a challenge to see how many bushbabies we can capture in one photo. In this photo, it appears there are four when in fact there were six.  We’ll keep trying.

Today, we’re off to Komatipoort for a dentist appointment for me.  A filling I had repaired in Costa Rica has fallen out and needs to be repaired.  I don’t like going to a dentist but who does?  It’s just a fact of life we all must bear.  Our friend Gail made a recommendation for a good dentist located two doors from Wimpy’s Hamburgers near the Spar Supermarket.  Afterward, we’ll do some grocery shopping. 

So, that’s it for today, folks. We hope you have a fabulous day! Once the dentist appointment is over, my day will be just fine!
__________________________________


Photo from one year ago today, April 24, 2017:

A small uninhabited island off the coast of New Caledonia.  For more photos, please click here.

The saga continues…Doctor visit…Rules for feeding wildlife…

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This flower is blooming from this greyish pod on a tree in the yard.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

A Vervet monkey-eating something rousted up in the trash in the neighborhood. Due to the monkeys, there are caged bins in front of each property to enclose the garbage until the garbage truck arrives.

Soon, we’re heading to the doctor to update some of the vaccinations we’d had in Minnesota six years ago. With several boosters needed, an excellent medical clinic was recommended to us by local friends.

These two zebras stop by occasionally along with Big Daddy Kudu.

We’ve been putting this off for some after failing to follow through with a plan we made to do this in January. We’d changed our minds about going to a local clinic in Buenos Aires, feeling it would make more sense to have these done in Africa, based on potential diseases one may acquire while here.

Yesterday, after the rain, we drove toward the river to find this scene. Adorable baby hippo with mom.

Today, we both have appointments with Dr. Theo, who’s located at the following phone and address: 

Telephone +27 13 793 7306
Address Rissik Medical Centre,
71 Rissik Street,
Komatipoort, 1340

A few weeks ago, I had an appointment to see Dr. Theo when it was time to have some blood tests. Today, I’ll receive the results of those tests and will schedule my vaccinations as needed. Tom will begin his vaccinations today.

As we drove along the Crocodile River, we spotted three more hippos grazing along the shore.

After the noon appointment, we’ll head to the Spar supermarket for more groceries, the Butchery for a few items, and the Obaro hardware store to purchase a few more big bags of pellets. 

Typically, males wander the bush together while females and the young stay together.

It’s been so busy with visitors in our yard that we can barely keep up. Never more than an hour passes that we don’t see any of the dozen or so species that frequently stop by.

Even the evenings are action-packed. As it’s turned out, we have more visitors now than we did four years ago at the Hornbill property, which we loved for that very reason. The house wasn’t ideal, but the flow of visitors was exceptional.

Many local women are adept at carrying heavy loads atop their heads.

Now, we love this house and the steady stream of wildlife, many often returning several times a day, topping our numbers at Hornbill. When they look into our eyes, we feel an affinity with everyone. Sure, they come for the food, not due to their “liking us,” but we can dream, can’t we?

Even the silly mongoose sit in the yard and stare right at us, wondering when we’re getting the big green pie plate ready for them with the raw scrambled eggs. Tom always makes the concoction and lays it in the dirt for them to devour, quickly running back up the veranda as they gather around the dish in the dozens. These funny-looking little creatures have come to know he’s the food source.

In Kruger, male impalas don’t seem concerned about staying close to elephants.

As soon as they see him, they begin watching his every move in anticipation of when the egg platter will be delivered. It’s hilarious. And, the same goes for various groups of animals each of us has come to know more readily.

Some homeowners and renters in Marloth Park don’t feed the wildlife. They feel it domesticates them too much. We understand this philosophy and appreciate their position. We also struggle with this concept.

Bushbabies gently share the cup of strawberry yogurt we place on the stand for them each night. They arrive every night when darkness falls.

But, knowing many of them desperately need nourishment and based on the quality of the vegetables, fruit, and pellets we provide, we feel we’re only supplementing their grazing in the bush.

As the leaves become more sparse as winter approaches, we’re particularly mindful of this dilemma. Also, there’s the concern about who will continue to feed them when we’re off to Zambia for a week next month.

It was almost dark, and these five bushbucks arrive to enjoy some pellets together. The only two we’ve seen together are the mom and baby, who visit frequently.

These animals are intelligent. If they don’t find food here, they’ll wander off to other homes where it’s available or rely upon the bush for whatever they can find. There’s no easy answer for “to feed or not to feed.”

Here is an excellent article from the Marloth Park Honorary Rangers that reviews the feeding of various grazers in the park. It clearly defines our theory of how and what to feed the wildlife. Please click here for the article.

Scar Face and Mutton Chops now stop by several times a day, most often together.

We’ve heard stories of homeowners feeding the animals their human “leftovers.” In most cases, these are not good for them, mainly when it contains foods they don’t typically consume. Kudus (and others) have died after eating corn and other human products. 

Also, it’s important to note that it’s unacceptable to feed wildlife old or rotting food. Their bodies cannot safely process the bacteria and pathogens found in rotting food. 

A warthog mom and her relatively young piglet, a kudu, and a Vervet monkey are all on the road beyond our driveway.

We will continue to feed the wildlife pellets and fresh cut-up veggies and fruit. We’ll always pay special attention to how long it’s been since we cut up apples, carrots, and vegetables to ensure freshness and safety for our visitors.

That’s it for today, folks. We’ll be back tomorrow with more, including details of our visit to Dr. Theo in Komatipoort.

May you have a healthy and enriching day!  

           Photo from one year ago today, April 16, 2017:
Not as clear as we’d like, we took this photo from quite a distance to avoid scaring this rabbit off—happy Easter to all who celebrate. For more photos, please click here.

Kruger National Park didn’t disappoint…More photos…

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Wildebeest in the bush.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

A mom and her calf.

Today is US income tax filing day, although it’s tomorrow when it fell on a Sunday. Fortunately, our trusty accountant in Nevada completed our taxes, and they’re filed with the IRS (Internal Revenue Service). That’s one less thing to think about. 

A vast expanse of the Crocodile River.

Over the past month or so, I’ve been gathering the data to submit after having forwarded all of our tax documents to him that had been arriving at our mailing service in Nevada since the first of the year. 

Giraffe crossing the paved road in Kruger.

We’re glad that’s behind us now as we begin to review and contemplate our upcoming itinerary. At this point, we’re considering some changes for 2019, which, once completed, we’ll post here. 

Tom says this looks like a “magistrate.”  I say it looks like a type of eagle.  Louise explained it was a Fish Eagle.

The certainty in our itinerary are the times we’ll spend in 2019 visiting family in Minnesota (our kids and grandkids), Nevada (son Richard and sister Susan), Arizona (Tom’s three sisters who spend their winters there), and California (my sister Julie and other relatives). However, the specific dates of our arrival may change slightly. 

Louise explained this is a saddled bulled stork. Thanks, Louise!

However, we’re considering swapping out a cruise for an adventure in Africa. We’ll soon share, providing it all works out. We’ve inquired with several questions and look forward to a response soon. 

Oxpecker eating insects off a giraffe’s neck.

As for the past 24 hours, we spent a glorious day and evening on the veranda. The wildlife visited us all day and evening while we reveled in taking more photos while observing their behavior.

We were excited to see this hippo and her baby. Waiting patiently, we hoped for more.

Each species has its personality traits and behaviors we find fascinating, including distinct characteristics of each animal. The longer we’re here, the more apparent this becomes and the more interested we become in discovering more and more about them.

A short time later, we were able to capture this shot.

At the moment, as we’re situated on the veranda, there’s a troop of baboons racing across the roof of our house. The noise is earsplitting. Tom is carrying an extension pole, used for cleaning the high spaces, and by holding this pole over his head and making some grunting noises, he can usually scare them off.

And then, this shot of her calf.

As much as we love all the wildlife in Marloth Park, the baboons are destructive as they can be. If somehow they manage to get inside a house, they’ll tear it to pieces in no time at all, leaving a poopy fiasco behind. 

This wildebeest was rolling around in the dirt.

We can’t leave anything outside when we leave since they won’t hesitate to destroy anything they find. This has happened once since we arrived, and although we left nothing for them to destroy, they left piles of poop and pools of pee on the veranda we promptly cleaned. Yuck. 

A southern ground hornbill.

The smaller Vervet monkeys aren’t as destructive, but they too can leave a mess behind. We often find them playing with Marta’s brooms and wet mops she leaves outdoors to dry in the side yard.

She was nibbling on vegetation.

Today, we’ll take a drive to see what wonders are awaiting us right here in Marloth Park. It rained for about 10 minutes this morning, but now it appears the sun will be coming out again soon. 

Have a bright sunny day!

Photo from one year ago today, April 15, 2017:

There’s a glitch in our system which doesn’t show a post for this date, one year ago, perhaps due to the International Dateline difference of one day.  We’re not going to try to resolve this issue.  As a result, today’s photo is from April 14, 2017:

A day at Manly Beach for school kids. For more details, please click here.

Capes, crocs and cattle egrets…Kruger National Park didn’t disappoint…Safari luck prevails…

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Seeing a crocodile in the wild is quite exciting. This croc sat there for a very long time with its mouth open. 

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

Often a warthog is seen lurking in our bush photos. They’re smart. If they hang around long enough after they’ve had their fair share of pellets, we’ll throw pellets for other animals, and they can get in on the action. Tom says, “Pigs, what do you expect?” I love them anyway!

It’s 10:30 am, and I just finished loading the photos and writing the captions for the photos we’re posting today. Yesterday, during our foray to Kruger National Park, we managed to take many satisfying shots of a variety of wildlife.

Once we spotted this Cape Buffalo, we were determined to find more to take better photos. Safari luck prevailed, and a few hours later, we got the shots shown here.

Today, once again, it’s a gorgeous sunny day, not too hot, not too humid, with a slight breeze wafting through the bush every so often. As more and more visitors stop by our yard, adding to our enthusiasm, we revel in sharing the photos from Kruger we’re posting today and others we’ll include over the next few days.

Avid grazers, the Cape Buffalo can have its head in the grass for hours. It takes a lot of vegetation to satisfy the appetite of these monstrous beasts.

Here’s a list of what we found during the three pleasant hours we spent in the park: (not in any particular order)

1.  Giraffe
2.  Elephant
3.  Wildebeest
4.  Impala
5.  Kudu
6.  Duiker
7.  Crocodile
8.  Cape Buffalo
9.  Hippo and baby
10. Southern Ground Hornbill
11. Eagle
12. Vultures
13. Zebra
14. Variety of small birds

When we spotted this croc with an open mouth, we wondered what was inside. We zoomed in for the better shot, as shown in today’s main photo.

We managed to take photos of all of these species, and over the next few days, we’ll share those we found to be most interesting. Today, we decided to focus on the Cape Buffalo and crocodiles we’d yet to see since our arrival in South Africa on February 11th, after several trips into Kruger.

Another croc we saw on the opposite side of the bridge.

Kruger’s paved road runs through the massive 19,485 km² (7,523 square miles). We decided it was best to stay on this road with concern over a slow leak in one of the little blue rental car’s tires.

From this site: “The African buffalo is one of the most successful grazers in Africa. It lives in swamps and floodplains and mopane grasslands and forests of the major mountains of Africa. This buffalo prefers a habitat with dense cover, such as reeds and thickets, but can also be found in open woodland. While not particularly demanding about habitat, they require water daily, so they depend on perennial water sources. Like the plains zebra, the buffalo can live on tall, coarse grasses. Herds of buffalo mow down grasses and make way for more selective grazers. When feeding, the buffalo uses its tongue and wide incisor row to eat grass more quickly than most other African herbivores. Buffaloes do not stay on trampled or depleted areas for long.”

Some assume the only way to see the most wildlife is to get off the main road and onto the dirt roads. But we’ve found no consistency in where wildlife will be. They can be located on or near remote dirt roads, and they can just as well be found on or near the paved road. It’s the same thing here in Marloth Park.

Nor does a sunny or cloudy day seem to be determining factor as to what we’ll see.  Although, we have experienced fewer sightings during rain storms, especially with thunder and lightning. Even wildlife like to stay undercover during inclement weather.

From this site:  “The African buffalo or Cape buffalo (Syncerus caffer) is a large African bovine. It is not closely related to Asia’s slightly larger wild water buffalo, and its ancestry remains unclear. Syncerus caffer caffer, the Cape buffalo, is the typical subspecies and the largest one found in South and East Africa. S. c. nanus (African forest buffalo) is the smallest subspecies, common in Central and West Africa forest areas, while S. c. brachyceros is in West Africa and S. c. aequinoctialis is in the savannas of East Africa. The adult buffalo’s horns are its characteristic feature; they have fused bases, forming a continuous bone shield across the top of the head referred to as a “boss.” They are widely regarded as hazardous animals, as they gore and kill over 200 people every year.”

Yesterday’s beautiful sunny day enabled us to take many good photos, which we’re thrilled to share. We realize that our daily animal stories can be redundant, and some of our readers who may not be animal lovers may become bored with our site.

We attempt to divert from the magic of the wonders surrounding us, and from time to time, we do. In 28 days, we’ll be heading to Zambia and Botswana for more adventures. Although some of that trip will be about wildlife, more of it will include scenery and magnificent places to see in the wild; Victoria Falls, the Zambezi River, and the Okavango Delta.

These Cape Buffalos looked content lounging in the water at the Verhami dam on a sunny day with a few oxpeckers on their hides.

Undoubtedly, one week in that environment will result in weeks of photos and stories we’ll excitedly be sharing with all of you. Please bear with us in the interim as we continue to embrace our immediate surroundings, so rich and filled with the mystery of nature so abundantly provided.

We waited, hoping to be able to get a good photo of the Cape Buffalo’s faces.

For us, it’s a learning process along with the almost constant surge of feel-good hormones surging through our brains while we witness one heart-pounding experience after another. 

Finally, a full face shot of a Cape Buffalo, a “face only a mother could love.”

When we returned in the afternoon, we busied ourselves with a few household tasks (Marta on vacation for a week), including sweeping the veranda, which, once again was covered with soot from the burning in the sugar cane field that seems to cover everything.

On our return drive to the Crocodile Gate exit, we finally were able to get close enough while on a bridge to get some decent views of these majestic animals, one of the “Big Five.”

We invited our new next-door neighbors, Rene and Case (our ages), visiting renters like us (they’re from the Netherlands), for happy hour at 5:00 pm. It was delightful to chat with them to hear of their passion for Marloth Park, which they’ve visited regularly for many years. The commonality that we all share for this place is refreshing and heartwarming. 

We made a plan that the four of us will go to lunch on Tuesday at the Border Country Inn, where we’d gone with Louise and Danie on Easter Sunday. (They are in Cape Town now, returning next Friday. We already miss them!)

Cattle egret in a marshy area at the Crocodile Bridge exit.

That’s it for today, folks! We’ll be back at you tomorrow with more!   

Have a happy and fulfilling day!

Photo from one year ago today, April 14, 2017:

Surfers took advantage of the excellent surf in Manly, Australia. For more, please click here.

We’re off to Kruger National Park today…Exciting sighting from Marloth Park into Kruger…

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There’s nothing as heartwarming as any animal, and it’s young, especially baby elephants.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

Last night Scar Face, Mutton Chops and Wart Face all showed up at the same time. We happily tossed them several cups of pellets.

Up, dressed, and outside by 6:30 am, we decided to hurry with today’s post and try to get going to Kruger early but got sidetracked doing some household tasks. It appears we won’t be out the door until around 10:30 am.

We were thrilled to see these fantastic scenes while standing at the fence between Marloth Park and Kruger National Park.

Many assume that going into Kruger must be a very early undertaking, yet we’ve seen so much midday that we aren’t concerned about going in a little bit later than some prefer by starting as early as 5:00 am when the park opens.

Some of the young were born this season, while other slightly larger elephants may have been born last year. The young females may stay with their moms and the matriarch for life while males are tossed out by thirteen or fourteen years old.

Now that the holiday crowd is gone, it won’t be too busy in the massive park, although many newcomers will have arrived for the weekend. It won’t matter much to us since often, in a three or four-hour period, we may only see a dozen cars at most, along with a few safari vehicles.

A few days ago, we drove along the Crocodile River while still in Marloth Park to find this “parade” of elephants.

Not all spectators like to do the self-drive, especially those who’ve never been inside the park in the past. There may be a bit of trepidation in driving through this rough and wild terrain for possibly hundred of kilometers surrounded by massive wild animals, some of which could easily tip over a car, especially by elephants.

There were dozens in this sighting, but they were scattered along this lush area of vegetation on the river.

There are many rules posted about doing a self-drive in the park due to the risk of being attacked by wild animals. However, the chances are minimal if one stays in their vehicle and respects a distance when observing animals. For a full list of the safety rules, please click here.

Of course, one wouldn’t want to get a flat tire in the park and have to change it. That would be very scary. In those cases, it’s best to call for help at one of the emergency numbers listed in the map book.

We could see them in every direction, which was on the side of the Crocodile River, closest to us.

This morning Tom took the little blue car to the petrol station to fill the tires with air.  The little car’s tires are small and, for some reason, tend to get low on these bumpy dirt roads.

We were so close we hardly had to use any zoom on the camera.

Louise loaned us a dongle (a Wi-Fi hot spot) we can use during our remaining time in Africa. She loaded one gig of data which should last quite a while for emergency purposes. Plus, it’s excellent to use MAPS on our phones for navigation when in unfamiliar areas.

As for the past 24 hours, we’ve been having the time of our lives. At least once an hour, we have visitors, as many as eight to ten species in a day. We may see many repeat visits throughout the day of those species, enjoying them just as much when they return.

Hearing their sounds was music to our ears.

As time goes on, they’ve come to recognize us as we develop our precious means of communication by looking into each other’s eyes. One female kudu has come to know me as she approaches the veranda, begging me to pay attention to her. 

There were no less than six or eight babies in this sighting.

She’s one of few animals I’ll feed from my hand. She nudges me, insisting on it, preferring my hand to eat pellets, carrots, and apples off the ground. Of course, I scrub my hands afterward, each time. But this level of intimacy between us and nature is what brought us back to this magical place after four years away.

So now, as I quickly wrap up today’s post so we can take off for Kruger on a bright sunny day, after many days of clouds and rain, we’re as excited as if it was the first time. One never knows what one may discover.

This may have been a mom and some aunts watching over the baby. Their hides were dark from being in the muddy water.

And if we come back empty-handed, we need only park our butts in the comfy chairs at the big table and wait patiently. They’ll come. They always do.

Enjoy today’s elephant photos we took while cruising along the Crocodile River from the Marloth Park side of the fence.  See, we don’t even have to leave to have magic happen.

Have a magical day of your own.

Photo from one year ago today, April 13, 2017:
A pier in Manly, Australia busy with beach-goers and diners. For more details, please click here.

Protests in Kruger National Park…Easter and school holiday…Burning sugar cane results in ash everywhere…

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A hornbill in the bush.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

A lizard-like gecko was found on the veranda.

We’d planned to go into Kruger in the next few days, but when we realized it’s Easter break and many tourists will be coming to the area for holiday and the school break (the equivalent of Spring Break but is fall, not spring here now), we decided to wait until the commotion dies down.

The Crocodile River has been rising due to recent rains.

Also, we’d read online that there are protests at various gates in Kruger, which will add to traffic and the very type of commotion we choose to avoid. We’ll be here a year. We don’t have to go now. 

Here’s an article we found regarding the protests in Kruger. Apparently, it’s peaceful at this point, but one never knows. We feel it makes sense to stay away.

These may be European Mergansers along the banks of the Crocodile River. Please comment if you know otherwise.

We didn’t do all of our grocery shopping for the next week since we need to shop on Fridays or Saturdays going forward when off. Late yesterday afternoon, we drove to Komatipoort for a few items we needed at the market. We find they’re out of many items we need, mainly in the produce department. 

A baboon in the bush.

New shipments come in on Thursday but often aren’t on the shelves until late in the day, making Friday the best day to shop. By Monday, most of the produce we use is sold out. Thus, in the future, we’ve chosen Fridays are our preferred shopping day. There’s no doubt this Friday will be packed with shoppers buying food for Easter weekend.

A solitary waterbuck on the river.

When we returned, the veranda was covered in black soot. Tom checked around the neighborhood but couldn’t find any fires. Could a neighbor’s thatched roof catch on fire? We didn’t smell smoke. Tom swept the veranda before dinner, but only minutes later, it was covered in soot again.

Animal footprints in the sand.

Tom had the idea that the soot resulted from the burning of the sugar cane fields, done before the harvest. This morning, as Marta swept piles of soot in the house, she explained it was, in fact, from the burning of the sugar cane.  Once again, (duh) Tom was right.

The sunset on our return from Komatipoort last night.

Here is an article regarding the burning of the fields before the harvest. Also, here is a quote from the article for those who prefer not to follow links:

“Sugarcane field burning is carried out before harvesting the cane to make the process easier and require less manual labor. It takes place during the harvest season.  The field is set to fire in the burning process, and the leaves are burned off of the stalks. About 80% of the “trash,” including straw, the tops, and green and dry leaves, are burned off. These components constitute about 25% of the entire sugar cane stalk. The burning kills microorganisms and burns the trash, both of which keep the soil rich when left in the fields. In place of burning the cane, the leaves could be removed and burned to create steam for electricity generation or be converted into fuel themselves.

The river is looking better but now, as we’re approaching the dry season.

Whoever thinks of this stuff? We learn something new every day.  So, between Marta, Josiah, and us, we’ll keep the veranda and house free of soot by sweeping it all away as it comes.

Female waterbuck lounging in the grass along the river.

We have no bigs plans for Easter. We’re going to Kathy and Don’s bush home on the river for Easter fun on Monday. They are returning from their home in Pretoria in a few days, and it will be great to have them back in Marloth Park. We’ll cook one of our favorite recipes as always and enjoy a quiet day in the bush.

Today is a gorgeous day, sunny and not too hot, a perfect day for another hopefully exciting drive in the park.

May your day be gorgeous and sunny! 

 Photo from one year ago today, March 28, 2017:

Surfboard shop in Manly Beach, Australia. For more photos, please click here.

The falling leaves make us sad…Today is the first day of fall in South Africa…Socializing galore!!!…

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I was indoors preparing dinner while Tom noticed this mongoose digging a hole in the yard.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

A grasshopper we found on new friends Janet and Steve’s veranda. Four years ago, we’d written a story with photos of hundreds, if not thousands, of grasshoppers in our yard. For videos and details, please click here.
Today, south of the equator, it’s the first day of fall. This morning, out on the veranda as always, we both noticed leaves falling from the trees and low-lying brush. 

Perhaps we noticed the leaves falling to the ground in the gentle warm breeze simply due to our awareness that fall has arrived. As we mentioned in earlier posts, fall and winter may not be good times for the wildlife in Marloth Park, most of whom are dependent upon the green vegetation on the trees, plants, and bushes.

It appeared they might have found something.

We’ve never been here in the fall. Four years ago, we left on February 28th while summer was in full bloom. February is comparable to August in those countries located north of the equator.

Of course, today is the much revered first day of spring when those living in cold climates jump for joy at the prospect of warmer weather for our family and friends in Minnesota.
More digging.

There’s no shortage of warm weather here. Today is expected to reach 95F (35C), dropping to a high of 79F (26C) tomorrow for a huge weather change. That’s South Africa for you. But, it’s these big weather variations that affect foliage.

In our old lives, we’d never stay all day and evening outdoors with temperatures in the 90’s. But, here it’s the course of life in the African bush. The locals have adapted, and we have as well. The only air con we use is in the car (a must) and while sleeping.
Francolins are commonly found in the bush.  They don’t fly much but are fast walkers and very noisy.
We’ll watch and see how winter in the bush will be for the wildlife, hoping only for the best for them while praying for rain. Winter is the dry season in this part of the world.
This week has been and will continue to be a busy social time for us. Sunday, we visited Gail and Mark (their story will be posted on Friday). Last night, Wednesday, new friends and neighbors Sandra and Paul (two doors down on the right) came for 5:00 pm happy hour and stayed until almost 10:00 pm…we had a blast!
Helmeted Guinea Fowl often hang around the yard.

Today, Wednesday, our dear friends  Louise, and Danie, who happen to be our property managers, come for dinner. On Saturday,  Janet and Steve (whose home we visited for dinner a few weeks ago) and Lynn and Mick are coming for dinner, with both couples leaving Marloth Park at the end of March, who’ll be gone for a few months, later in the year. We’ll see them all again since we’ll be here (in and out for visa purposes) until March 24, 2019.

On April 2nd, we’re attending an Easter party at Kathy and Don’s MP home on the Crocodile River, after they’ll have been staying at one of their other homes located in Pretoria, South Africa, returning to Marloth Park for a while. Surely, we’ll socialize regularly with that wonderful couple as well.
It appears there are more ostriches in Marloth Park than four years ago when we were here. We’re enjoying everyone we encounter.

Friendly, fun, and welcoming people have taken us into the fold of their social lives as many come and go between other homes in other locales, often other countries. We’re looking forward to Linda and Ken returning in a few months for plenty of good times with the two of them.

When we look back at all the countries, we visited where it wasn’t easy to make friends. We’re so grateful to be here among our human and animal friends. Last night, during our fun evening. Big Boy (warthog) stopped by to check out the pellet situation. 
 At “our house,” the pellet situation is good and will remain so regardless of our social activities, the time of the day, and of course, the season of the year.
We spotted these two zebras on the side of the road on our way to the market.

Today’s heading reminded me of Nat King Cole’s song, “The Autumn Leaves,” a favorite song of many of his fans.  Here’s the link to the song on YouTube with the beautiful lyrics below:

“The falling leaves drift by the window
The autumn leaves of red and gold
I see your lips, the summer kisses
The sun-burned hands I used to hold

Since you went away, the days grow long
And soon I’ll hear old winter’s song
But I miss you most of all, my darling
When autumn leaves start to fall

Since you went away, the days grow long
And soon I’ll hear old winter’s song
But I miss you most of all, my darling
When autumn leaves start to fall.”
May you have an exceptional season, whether today is the beginning of spring or fall for you.
Photo from one year ago today, March 21, 2017:
The sun peeked out for a few hours while we were in Manly, Australia making our way to the ferry to head to the immigration office regarding our “illegal” status. For more details, please click here.