Health updates…Doctor appointment in Komatipoort, South Africa…

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A giraffe against a blue sky in Kruger National Park.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

A goose looking up at the sky while sitting on a tree stump in the Crocodile River.

Some mornings, when I sit down at the big table on the veranda to begin to prepare the day’s post, I’m at a loss for a few minutes. What can I say and show today that will retain the interest of our readers all over the world?

Many of our readers are from countries where life is very different from our lives and from what they know. That fact in itself is sufficient to hold their attention for a while but, over the long haul? We hope so!

The marshes along the shore of the Crocodile River.

We never want our readers to grow tired of our stories and photos, especially while we’re here during this extended period in Africa. At the very least, every 90 days, we’ll be off to other African countries to ensure we can return to South Africa, which we’re using as a base. 

In only 24 days, we’ll be leaving South Africa for Zambia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe as we begin to round out our African experiences while complying with immigration laws.

Rapids on the Crocodile River.  No boats are allowed on this dangerous river, a habitat for crocs.

There’s no guaranty we’ll be allowed to leave and re-enter so many times in these remaining 10 months, but we’re hoping to accomplish this lofty plan we set out from the get-go.

In the interim, these 90-day stints in between our travels are filled with such purpose and pleasure that we’re beside ourselves with sheer joy. This morning as I write this at 8:15 am, we’ve already had two zebras, four bushbucks, four kudus, and dozens of Helmeted Guinea Fowl hanging out in the dirt yard in our clear view from the veranda.

Had this branch not been obstructing this elephant, she may have charged us when we suddenly came upon her while driving on the paved road in Kruger.

What a spectacular way to start the day! The first thing I see after heading outdoors after showering and dressing for the day is the wide grin on Tom’s face as he looks back at me from his steady stance at the edge of the veranda with the yellow pellet container in his hand, happy, fulfilled and excited to share what he’s seen so far. 

He gets outdoors well before me each morning. I tend to lounge in bed until 7:00 am or so, reading the world news on my phone. Once I’m up, I can get ready for the day in no time at all, highly motivated to see what’s going on.

Every night, we attempt to take photos of the bushbabies eating from the cup of yogurt we place on their little stand in a tree.

As you long-time readers so well know, we incorporate snippets of a more personal nature in our posts.  Some have asked, “Why post such personal matters?”

The answer to this is simple. There are literally millions of travel-related sites on the web, most extolling the virtues and downfalls of various tourist sites to visit throughout the world often while providing valuable information for travelers.

Tom took this photo that makes me laugh…Mutton Chops on the left and Scar-Face on the right, already on his knees in prime position for eating pellets. Of course, we complied. We love it when these two stop by, often twice a day.

We’re a little different. We include information about places we’ve seen and our experiences, good and bad.  However, we include the realities of who we are, good and bad, what we think and feel, and how we relate to each other and the world around us. 

At times, that information is highly personal; information people don’t necessarily share even when in a group of close friends.  And, here we are, sharing it with the world.

This bushbuck seems a little large to be nursing.  No doubt, mom will send her on her way to fend for herself.

For example, yesterday, we both had doctor appointments with Dr. Theo in Komatipoort, as mentioned in yesterday’s post here. We intended to review our immunization records, which we had with us, and begin updating some vaccinations sooner rather than later.

Also, I wanted to discuss my gastrointestinal issues with Dr. Theo further since the problems had recently returned after a short-term reprieve. I was so hopeful during the two-week period where the discomfort was minimal, thinking that perhaps, now that I was off the PPIs (proton pump inhibitors), which have many side effects, things would improve.

These two male zebras are now regulars, visiting every few days.

Alas, they did not. Over the past few weeks, I’ve been in terrible discomfort, dreading the prospect of having to go to Nelspruit for invasive medical tests. I’m one of those people who totally freak out having to have invasive tests. I suppose most people feel the same way but are braver than I am.

Dr. Theo examined me again and felt confident that I didn’t need invasive tests when he suggested I try another H2 blocker (i.e., Pepcid, Tagamet), which has considerably fewer side effects and may be beneficial for me what he considers to be gastritis. My blood tests results were perfect, much to our relief.

Zebra drinking from the pond after eating pellets.

He also suggested some dietary restrictions, including high in acid, such as coffee, tea, chocolate (don’t eat these anyway), and anything carbonated (there go my sparkling water and diet tonic). I’m busy checking online for highly acidic foods to ensure I avoid them, along with all the other foods and drinks I avoid anyway.

After reviewing our records, he insisted we follow through on several vaccines but only had one available in his office, the rabies vaccine, which he injected in both of us. He wanted us to wait three weeks and return for those that need to be updated, such as typhoid, hepatitis, and a few others he’s going to research for us. I love a doctor who does research rather than sticks to the “old ways’ he already knows!

This morning in the bright sunlight, two females and two babies, regular visitors stopped by for pellets.  In the background is Wart Face, who can be very bossy around the pellets.  Even the aggressive and territorial guinea fowl are scared of him.

Dr. Theo is expecting improvement for my condition within four to five days. Once again, I’m hopeful. I took the first pill last night at bedtime and actually had a great night’s sleep. Whether I can attribute this to the medication or not is questionable at this point.

Today, we’re heading out to lunch with our new neighbors Rina and Cees from The Netherlands to the same restaurant Louise and Danie had taken us to at the Border Country Inn on Easter Sunday. No doubt, we’ll have a pleasant afternoon with our next-door neighbors.

May you have a pleasing day with those near you!

Photo from one year ago today, April 17, 2017:

With the sun shining in Fairlight, Australia, we opened the sliding glass door only to have a visitor come to see what I was cooking. Carnivorous scavengers Magpies are always on the hunt for a tidbit of meat. Three Magpies visit every day to see what morsels we have for the day. Please click here for more.

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.

Scar Face and Mutton Chops…A busy morning in the bush…

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This morning Tom took photos of this injured or malformed warthog.  Empathizing with him, Tom gave him an abundance of pellets which he happily gobbled up. Whatever may have caused this anomaly retained the wart in its usual position, although it’s smaller. Hence his new name, “Scar Face.”

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

Waterbucks are found near the river. Each has “target-like” markings on its hind ends.

Over these past few days, we’ve been busier with visitors coming by more than any other time since we arrived on February 11th or when we were here four years ago.

Side view of Scar Face. 

Whether we’re chopping carrots or apples, restocking the small yellow pellet container from the huge trash can container we keep in the living room, or filling the red plastic measuring cup with bird seeds we keep in the freezer, now that the tourists have wafted away, we’re practically busy all day long.

Scar Face visited with his friend whom we aptly named “Mutton Chops” for those of us who recall the expression  From this site:  “Sideburns, sideboards, or side whiskers are patches of facial hair grown on the sides of the face, extending from the hairline to run parallel to or beyond the ears. The term sideburns is a 19th-century corruption of the original burnsides, named after American Civil War general Ambrose Burnside, a man known for his unusual facial hairstyle that connected thick sideburns by way of a mustache, but left the chin clean-shaven.”

Then, of course, there is the process of taking photos we feel may be worthy of sharing here.  Not all we take fit into that category. But as all you amateur photographers like us so well know, one can take dozens of shots to get the one worthy of sharing. (Tom took many of today’s photos).

Ms. Kudu munching on some tasty leaves on a tree closest to the veranda.

Add the daily meal prep, a little bit of cleaning (Marta does the bulk of it), and our almost daily drives in the park. Our days are packed with activity. One might assume our days sitting on the veranda are uneventful other than the occasional visit by animals or people. 

After Tom gave them many pellets, they both needed some moisture; one drank from the pond while the other munched on vegetation.

But, that’s not the case. The days fly by so quickly with the flurry of activity coupled with our intense enjoyment of our environment. It is almost as if we didn’t have enough time to embrace them thoroughly.

This uneven dirt road with ruts and bumps is typically found in Marloth Park. When we explore, most roads create a very bumpy ride.

In our own way, we take a breath and stop to capture the moment, not just with the camera but in our minds, hoping to recall every day to memory as the days march on in rapid succession,

Luckily, we have our past posts to fill us in when we can’t recall a date or specific event. Uploading our daily posts is not only well-worth sharing our stories and photos with all of you, but it provides us with easy and handy references to every single day of our lives.

Two male zebras didn’t seem to mind Marta walking out to the clothesline.

That, in itself, would be enough inspiration to keep us posting indefinitely. Do you recall each day of a holiday/vacation if it weren’t for your photos and observations posted on various social media sites? 

During the mating season, in full bloom now, the kudu’s necks and glans near his neck swell to enormous proportions. Kudus are also very muscular, year-round.

Most of us would not recall each day. Those memories would meld into a single instance of “taking a trip” while spending the time to relax and rejuvenate. One may recall specific activities, but idle time is what’s most difficult to remember and, it’s often during those times that we rejuvenate and refresh the most.

Big Daddy always appreciates early morning pick-me-up pellets. 

Does our busy life allow us time to unwind? We’ve made certain of that, especially now that we’ve incorporated a hectic social life into our routine. Quiet time is sacred to us and always has been.

Frank (our resident francolin) always stops by to see “what’s cooking.”

After completing the day’s post, it’s often 1:00 pm, occasionally later, such as yesterday’s late posting when we’d gone to Komatipoort to shop for a few items. Monday morning, we’ll do the same.

Early this morning, two male impalas checked out Tom, seated at the big table on the veranda around 6:15 am. A blue garbage bag flew into the yard overnight, which we tossed.

Today will be a quiet day. I’m dragging from a poor night’s sleep for whatever reason, hoping to get in a short nap later in the day. Sometimes it’s hard to shut off my brain. Do you know the feeling?

May your day be pleasant and quiet if you so chose.

Photo from one year ago today, April 12, 2017:

Sailing is popular in the Sydney area when conditions are right. For more photos, please click here.

Marloth Park…No dogs allowed…Remembering…

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During his last 17 days of life, Willie is resting on our bed with his favorite toys; Tiger Woods (in the forefront) and Fred Flinstone behind his head. At night, he’d always use his pet steps while carrying these toys up onto the bed with him.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

Treefrog sitting atop the vacuum hose to our plunge pool. Could this be one of the frogs hatched from the nest almost two months ago?

Anniversary dates seem to matter more to us as we’ve aged, whether it’s regarding our relationship, places we’ve been, and experiences we’ve had over the years.

Today, one special anniversary is challenging to pass, the day our last dog, WorldWideWillie, made his way to doggie heaven. It was a sorrowful day.

On his last day of life, Willie was standing on the seat of a picnic table in our yard, looking for moving critters to chase.  He’d been awake all night coughing terribly while we stayed awake with him, comforting him.

For those who’ve never had a dog or other pet, wanted a dog or other pet, or understand the degree of love we can have for our furry friends, surely today’s post will be of little interest.

But, oddly, there’s a huge connection with our love and remembrance of Willie with being in Marloth Park, one that is so obvious to us, as we cherish every animal that stops by to visit, whether it’s as unassuming as the above-mentioned tree frog in today’s “Sighting of the Day in the Bush” or as fascinating as “forkl” of 20 kudus such as visited us over the weekend.

Willie would sit staring at my laptop for hours, hoping I’d Skype my sister Julie when he and I were visiting son Richard in Las Vegas. He’d get so excited when he’d hear her voice.

It’s the profound love of animals that some, not all, of us possess that drives us, motivates us, and inspires us to have dogs as pets, lavishing an often over-abundant lifestyle to ensure the quality of joy they bring us and ultimately them in our excesses.

Such was the case with Willie and our two prior Australian Terriers over 18 years. Bart was run over by the mailman on our private road at five years of age, and Ben passed from the effects of Cushing’s Disease at 12 years of age, two years before the heartbreak of losing Willie.

On his last trip to Petco after his diagnosis, Willie decided if he’d like anything which generally, he’d choose from these reachable bins. This time, he didn’t choose a thing.

It was through the love of these dogs and ultimately with Willie when we arrived at a magical place within our hearts that clearly defined our passion for animals had come to fruition.

Willie passed away on April 9, 2011. We began our worldwide journey on October 31, 2012, 18 months later.  However, during the planning stages in 2012, while we were still living in Minnesota, we booked plans to come to Africa, first to Diani Beach, Kenya, to go on safari in the Maasai Mara and then make plans to go here to Marloth Park, South Africa. Why? To see the animals, plain and simple. 

Shortly before, the vet came to the house to send Willie to doggie heaven.

Sure, I could go into the details of why we loved Willie so much and the heartbreak we both felt over losing him on this date seven years ago. But, you’ve heard it all before, from us, from others, on losing their beloved pets and the sorrow that hovers in one’s heart, days, weeks, months, and even years later.

So, today, and other days, we remember Willie who presented from his perspective through the first blog I’d ever written about the last days of his life. If you haven’t read his blog and would like to, please click here. 

Willie climbed this tree on command.  After he developed a cataract, he was afraid to do it. We’d scheduled eye surgery with a specialist, but he refused to allow us to put the initial drops into his eye, which was required before and after the surgery. He spent the remaining years of his life only able to see with one eye but was perfectly content.

If you’d like to read Willie’s blog from the beginning (the first post was on March 20, 2011), please scroll down to the archives on the right side of the main page and start with the first entry. Many of you who’ve lost beloved pets will undoubtedly relate to his story.

Here it is, seven years later, and we still celebrate you Willie, and always will. You taught us, focused us, and lead us to the heavenly environment giving us the will, the desire, and the opportunity to look into the eyes of a visiting animal and see them and…see you. 

He saw the vet pull into the driveway, wondering who was coming to visit.

No dogs or other pets are allowed in Marloth Park for the peace, harmony, and unity of the humans and wandering wildlife. Being here is a gift, as was the infinite joy of loving our dogs, and now, we’re blissfully able to spread the love among many who grace us with their presence every day.

May you find the love of an animal to fill your heart with a profound connection providing you with an eternal ray of light and hope in your life. Rescue.

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

While walking on the Manly Scenic Walk, we enjoyed an excellent view of boats in North Harbour Reef Bay. Please click here for more details.

Our upcoming bookings for Zambia…Photos of scenery and culture…

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Had Louise and Danie not taken us here, we’d have no idea this beautiful spot existed.

“Sightings of the Day on the Bush”

Full moon in the bush.

In 34 days, our South Africa 90-day visas expire. It’s not as easy as jumping across the border to get our visas re-stamped upon our return. As mentioned in an earlier post, it is now illegal to “border hop” to any of the countries bordering South Africa, as shown on the map below:

Image result for map of african countries
We cannot “border hop” (to re-do our visas for South Africa) to Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Swaziland. There are many other countries in Africa, but we aren’t interested in visiting at this time.

Over the next 11½ months, we are required to leave South Africa four times, possibly leaving earlier in March if necessary. This all depends on how long we stay out each time we leave. We aren’t booking any plans during this remaining period, other than the upcoming trip to Zambia, to ensure we won’t have any issues upon re-entry.

It’s entirely possible, immigration will refuse our re-entry on May 18th and will give us only one week to leave the country entirely. We can only wait and hold our breath to see how it goes on May 18th.

Rapids run through this area, although it doesn’t appear to be navigable by rafting enthusiasts.

During this period, our second 90-day holiday home rental renews, but after addressing this possibility with dear friends Louise and Danie, they assured us we don’t have to worry. We won’t be charged if we have to leave. We’ll only pay for the extra nights we used from May 11th on.

Fortunately, we have this house where we can leave the bulk of our luggage, making the trip to Livingstone, Zambia, a lot easier. Also, the flight is only two hours long. That makes travel days so much easier. 

Rock formations in the Komati River close to the road.

On May 11th, our nonstop flight is at 11:35 am, and on our departure from Livingstone, Zambia, on May 18th, we leave at 1:35 pm, again another easy travel day for a two-hour nonstop flight. Yesterday, we booked the round-trip flight and also a hotel in Livingstone through Expedia on our website at this link.

Sure we’d have liked staying in a luxury tent at one of a few locations on the Zambia side of Victoria Falls. Still, most of the tented camps are located on the Zimbabwe side, where we cannot stay to accommodate the visa requirements as shown on the above map. Such camps in Zambia were already booked during the time slot we needed.

Living conditions such as these are commonly found in many parts of the world.

We should have booked this months ago, but we waited as we further researched immigration laws for American citizens in South Africa. When we were here four years ago, we could have gone across the border in any of the surrounding countries and reentered for a new stamp.

It wasn’t until we started doing research a few weeks ago that our perception of renewing our visas was entirely wrong after the laws changed a few years ago.  Most tourists don’t stay as long as 90 days, or more so there was no point in “asking around.” Everyone had a different perception as to what is acceptable under our circumstances.

Many locals sell wood, used merchandise and handmade wares, and a variety of other products.

Many of our local friends from other countries (outside Africa) own homes here and have “resident’s visas.” We can’t apply for such a visa since we don’t own a home.

Fortunately, we were able to book flights and a hotel. Although the traditional hotel, the Protea by Marriott, is highly rated and packed with modern conveniences, we’d have been happy to stay in a tented camp.

Life is not easy for all citizens of South Africa, living under challenging conditions.

Then, of course, there’s the cost for these four outings we must make in the upcoming year. For one week, many more excellent tented camps were ZAR 60,161.23 to 90,242 (US $5,000 to $7,500).  Our total cost for the highly-rated hotel, including air, is ZAR 31,633 (US $2,629). 

Staying at the Protea by Marriott, we’ll be on our own for tours but have located a highly rated tour company that can fulfill all of our expectations at reasonable prices we’ll post later. Some tours were included in the higher-rated camps, but many were al la carte. Breakfast is included, and we’re on our own for dinners.

A village on the side of the road.

Today, we sent the tour company an email with our flight info (to have them handle our transfers to and from the airport) and four tours they offer that we’d like to attend during that week.

Our old philosophy of booking everything well in advance will become prevalent as we move into the future. We are waiting until the last minute seldom works to our advantage. 

 After the rain, everything was a lush green.

However, we cannot book the remaining three trips in Africa until we know the 90-day visa was renewed upon our reentry into South Africa on May 18th. At this point, we wait to discover how immigration chooses to handle this.

We’re not worrying or panicking in any manner. We continue to enjoy every day to the fullest, imagining that we’ll be able to stay until next March by taking similar one-week trips to our preferred locations.

The Crocodile River flows into the Komati River.

Tonight we’re off to Jabula for dinner for six of us. Tomorrow at 10:00 am, we’re heading to a “bush brunch” in Lionspruit (Louise will drive us since the little blue car doesn’t have enough clearance for the rough roads).  Tomorrow night we are invited to dinner at Sandra and Paul’s home, who live only two doors from us. It’s a busy, fun-filled weekend!

We hope your weekend is filled with activities you enjoy as well!

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

View from the dining room balcony of the lovely house next door to us in Fairlight, Australia, was scheduled to be auctioned on April 22nd. For more photos, please click here.

Exciting night in the park…Immigration concerns for South Africa…

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With a story of around 3.048 meters (10 feet), this bull giraffe is two stories
tall. Their legs are taller than the average adult male.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

Bushbabies are loving the little cups of peach-flavored yogurt we put out for them every night at dusk.  They fly through the air so quickly it’s not easy to get a good photo in the dark.

Each night we spend outdoors, which is when it hasn’t been windy and raining, we experience something new and unique. Two nights ago, it was 30-minutes of screeching by the bush babies in the tree in front of our veranda. 

From this site:  “The cattle egret feeds on a wide range of prey, particularly insects, especially grasshoppers, crickets, flies (adults and larvae), and moths, as well as spiders, frogs, and earthworms. Cattle egrets often hang around large mammals such as this hippo, feeding off their scraps. In a rare instance, they have been observed foraging along the branches of a banyan tree for ripe figs. The species is usually found with cattle and other large grazing and browsing animals and catches small creatures disturbed by the mammals. Studies have shown that cattle egret foraging success is much higher when foraging near a large animal than feeding singly.”

Last night, bone-chilling sounds were leaving us bewildered and curious as to what it could be. Louise and I texted back and forth, trying to access what we were each hearing. Our properties are only a few blocks apart, and she and Danie could hear what we were hearing. They have many years of experience in determining these sounds, and it was fun to go back and forth with them via text.

Louise suggested at one point that it was hippos. We’re a good seven or eight-minute drive to the Crocodile River, but that’s over rocky dirt roads. As the crow flies, we may only be one or two kilometers from the river. Hippo sounds may be heard as far away as eight kilometers (five miles), so that might be what we were hearing.

Hippos spend most of their days foraging and lounging in the river.

Within about 10 minutes, the sounds changed while our ears were tuned to the curious sounds we were hearing. With his impaired hearing after years on the railroad, Tom could easily hear all these sounds along with me.

We heard sounds similar to the howling of wolves or wild dogs. We listened in awe for every loud outcry, uncertain as to precisely what it may be.  After about 15 minutes, those sounds ended, and different sounds commenced.

When driving through Kruger National Park, visitors seldom see hippos if they stay on the main paved roads.  One would need to venture off onto the dirt roads leading to the river. We took these photos from the fence between the Crocodile River and Marloth Park.

Lions have recently been sighted in Marloth Park. Of course, we’d be thrilled to be able to spot one, let alone take a photo. The new sound was clear and definitive…the roar of a lion. 

And yes, we know to be ultra-careful if a lion is nearby. There are several steps to reach the veranda, and it’s unlikely a lion would climb steps to get to us. Nonetheless, we’d most likely go indoors taking photos through the window. 

Often, when we spot giraffes, they are foraging in tall trees, obstructing a clear view for a photo.

However, many year-long residents of Marloth Park have never spotted a lion in the park, other than in Kruger. Over the years, numerous sightings have been observed and documented, including recently before and after our arrival on February 11th.

Many have ventured into Lionspruit, another reserve located within the confines of Marloth Park, and have never seen the two resident lions that remain inside.  A month ago, we visited Lionspruit, but the little rental car couldn’t handle the rough road, and we exited as soon as possible.

These leaves must have been delicious for this giraffe to be willing to bend “down” to eat when most often they stay at eye level or reach “up.”  They will bend down to drink.

Finally, the loudest of the nighttime sounds in the bush changed to the usual hum of crickets, frogs, and birds, and we wandered off to bed. Although few visitors stopped by in the dark last night, we thoroughly enjoyed the bush babies and the various sounds of the night.

This morning, at 5:40, am (of course I was awake), Louise texted me to let me know that seven hyenas were sighted in Marloth Park by Field Security (the rangers) at Oliphant (the main tarred road) and Wild Dog Road, quite a distance from us.

From this site: About Giraffes: The giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) is the largest rudiment and the tallest land mammal. We waited for an extended period in an attempt to get a full-body photo of this huge male bull. This giraffe is known to be the largest in Marloth Park. This is not due to its long neck alone. The adult giraffe’s legs are taller than the average human. The average height of a giraffe differs between males and females. Male giraffes (or ‘bulls’) can be up to 18 feet (5.5 meters) tall.”

Of course, we can’t help ourselves; we’ll be postponing today’s planned trip to Komatipoort tomorrow for grocery shopping to drive around the park to see if we can spot the hyenas. It’s doubtful we’ll see them, but it’s fun to go searching.  We do this almost every day anyway as if we’re on a daily treasure hunt…and treasure it is indeed!

This male bull is well-equipped for the current mating season if the size of his testicles is any indication.

As for immigration, a few years ago, one could drive less than an hour to the border to Mozambique, spend the day and re-enter South Africa for a new 90-day visa which is now illegal based on immigration law changes. As a result, we must leave South Africa by May 10 and cannot visit any bordering countries to get our visas stamped for another 90 days.

We have to leave for a bonafide trip, not just one or two days and spend time in another country in Africa beyond the bordering countries. We’re working on this now and hope to wrap something up in the next few days. Once we do, we’ll certainly post the details of where we’re going and what we’ll be doing. Please stay tuned.

Have a spectacular day!

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

When they miss the bit of meat, it doesn’t hurt at all if the kookaburras pecked at me instead. For more photos, please click here.

Marvelous, majestic, magical Marloth Park…Keeps on giving…

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Such a big scary world out there!

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

This is a Dark-Capped Bulbul, thanks to friends Lynne and Mick.

It seems that never a day passes without us seeing something new and unique.  It’s nearly a full-time job seeking the unusual, the heartwarming, and the exceptional sighting that evokes emotions we can hardly describe.

At times, we also seek the simple beauty of nature at its finest in photos taken to the best of our ability. Recently, I’ve considered taking some online photography lessons, hoping to improve the quality of our photos.

Mongoose regularly visit.  Each time we give them a bowl of raw eggs mixed with a bit of sour cream. Their little faces get dirty, resulting in them cleaning each other after the feast.

We aren’t sure where the time goes. Somehow, right now, there doesn’t seem to be enough hours in the day to spend time taking a course. Once we’re up and on the veranda, getting the post done and uploaded by noon or 1:00 pm, half the day is gone.

Lately, we’ve been hearing stories of ostriches attacking humans. There are many more here in the park now than there were four years ago. We always proceed with caution around any wildlife.

Then, we hop in the little blue car to head out in search of more, usually returning by 2:00 or 3:00 pm. There’s dinner to be prepared, email to respond to, financial matters to attend to, and before we know it, the day has come to a close.

Yesterday, we spotted these two hippos by the river.

On occasion, we take a short nap since neither seems to get enough sleep most nights. I guess it’s an “old age” thing when many of our friends our age seem to suffer from the same affliction, awakening in the middle of the night for no reason at all.

I’ve never been a napper, although I’ve tried off and on over the years. Realizing a short nap is most beneficial, I’ve recently discovered I may get in a 20-minute doze now and then, which perks me up. Tom doesn’t do so well, but he too tries for a short siesta. 

Some of the rest of the family took Marta’s broom and decided to play with it. 

If the nap is too long, it seems to impede the ability to sleep that night. If too short, it doesn’t seem to offer much added benefit. That perfect 20 to 30-minute window always appears to do the trick. 

Our housekeeper Marta lives in a guest cottage on the property. A few days ago, we noticed this Vervet monkey sleeping near her house.

Thus, sometimes in the afternoon, when time allows, and we feel a little sleepy, we wander off to the bedroom, turn on the AC, pull on a light blanket, and try to wander off.

I suppose most retirees’ daily lives are filled similarly to ours; busy planned activities, “taking care of business,” almost daily outings to “here and there,” and responding to social media in one manner or another.

The kudus love munching on this tree in front of our veranda.

The fact that we get dozens of email messages from our worldwide readers each day, which we usually answer in the afternoon, always attempting to reply within 24 hours at most, adds to the time spent filling up our day. 

Regardless of how annoying monkeys are in the park, this tiny baby is irresistible.

Tom also receives many email messages, Facebook, and Cruise Critic inquiries to which he always responds promptly. Also, he spends a certain period each day gathering more data for his Ancestry.com file, a genuine and enthusiastic passion.

Throw in the time necessary to continue to research future travels; our days are jam-packed. By the time we set up the veranda for our nighttime viewing, we’re finally able to relax and enjoy a glass of wine or beer; it’s time for the final prep for dinner. 

View of the Crocodile River from the overlook in Marloth Park.

It’s usually dark when we dine since we’ve changed our eating time closer to 7:00 pm than our last 5:00 pm in other locations. Somehow, the later dining time seems to work better for us while here. We eat while we “watch” for wildlife and the playful antics of the bush babies who only make an appearance after dusk.

We used to watch episodes of Shark Tank, Master Chef, Hell’s Kitchen, etc., during dinner; Now, in this extraordinary life in Marloth Park, instead we’ll watch for wildlife which has ultimately proven to be more entertaining than any show imaginable.

Another view of the Crocodile River.

Once we’re off to bed, we bring my laptop into the bedroom and usually watch one episode of a favorite show. At that point, I have trouble keeping my eyes open, during which Tom constantly awakens me. He knows if I fall asleep too early, I’ll be up a long time during the night. At the time, it annoys me that he awakens me, but his intentions are spot on, so I don’t protest too much.

Ah, our lives sound so mundane and straightforward when I read this back to myself, checking for errors. We have difficulty wiping the smiles off our faces in the depth and meaning of these daily activities in this magical place.

A mongoose was resting on a root after an egg-feeding frenzy.

Oops, I hear Frank, our resident francolin, making some noise in the bush. I’d better go fill up a cup of birdseed to toss his way, and soon, he’ll be making contented little sounds as he pecks at one seed after another. 

Is birdseed for one bird? Doesn’t sound like much in the realm of things. But, for us, it’s all a part of the awe and wonder that washes over us, day after day in majestic Marloth Park.

May the simplicities of daily life bring a smile to your face.

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

These houses are all valued well over AU $3,000,000, US $2,269,500. As we’ve mentioned in prior posts, home prices are high in Australia, more than we’ve seen in any country. We lived in the house on the far left with views of the bay. For more photos, please click here.