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.

An Easter egg hunt for grown-ups…Last night’s fun and games at Kathy and Don’s home in the bush…

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Tom’s other prize for winning the trivia game, this gorgeous giant chocolate Easter egg filled with more chocolate treats (see below). He’ll be eating this on his own.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

When the party was getting started, a wildebeest stopped by for a bite to eat.

I don’t recall we’ve ever had such a consistently busy social life. In our old lives, it was typical for us to socialize with friends once every one or two weeks. But, here in Marloth Park, we’re having such a great time with our variety of friends, at least a few times each week.

Don was explaining, in his usual articulate way, how the “game” will be played.
We’re yet to turn down invitations when we know we’ll always have a great time not only with the special friends that have included us but with their other friends who are also in attendance. Each week, we meet more and more people. 
There were 12 of us at the party.  At this point, Don was explaining the details about the Easter Egg hunt and the after-dinner Easter-related trivia game.

No doubt, traveling to other countries in the future won’t be as easy when we’re missing these meaningful interactions. Although, this time here in Africa will undoubtedly inspire us to reach out more to make friends wherever we go.

Kathy, Jill, and Sandy listened as Don explained the rules.

Oftentimes, we meet people who are on a holiday/vacation who seldom reach out to make new friends with a busy agenda of things to do and places to see. The exception to this is on cruises when we’ve made some outstanding friendships that will always be close to our hearts.

One egg was hidden in this floating hippo in the pool.

Unfortunately, it’s unlikely we’ll see many of the friends we’ve made on cruises in person, with busy work lives, retirement functions and activities they’ve generated in their home states, cities and countries. 

We found only eight of the 60 eggs hidden in the yard.  Others found much more than us. It was the first time either of us had ever participated in a hunt. IWewere always hiding them for our kids and grandkids to discover, in our old lives not finding them ourselves.

We’ve been blessed to stay in touch with many of the friends we’ve made along the way. In the past day, we’ve heard from several friends we’ve met on cruises with whom we’ve often stayed in touch for years. How magical is that?

A small section of Kathy and Don’s beautiful yard.

Then, of course, there are our friends from our old lives with whom we stay in touch on Facebook, Messenger and Skype whom we hope to see again in person when we return to Minnesota in 2019 for another family visit, (in about one year from now).

We love this kudu statue in their yard, appearing to be munching on the leaves of a tree.

As for last night’s party, it couldn’t have been more enjoyable. Kathy and Don certainly know how to throw a dinner party, often surrounding some type of theme, with great food, drinks, decor, and ambiance. We feel so fortunate to be included and look forward to reciprocating with dinner at our place soon.

One of the guests found all of these!

Upon the prompt arrival of their 10 guests, we immediately got to the business at hand of Don explaining the “rules” who shortly after, sent us on a frenzy in the yard, searching for eggs. Don had to cut his instructions short when Kathy noticed that Vervet monkeys were finding the eggs and eating them! What a hoot it was seeing the monkeys in the tree eating the candy eggs!

With the camera in hand, looking for photo ops I managed to find half of the eight eggs we collectively gathered though not nearly as many as others. It was such fun!

Adorable decorations were placed throughout their home.

After counting and recording our finds, to be used in the tally of the score of a trivia game after dinner, we all made our drinks and made our way up the two flights of stairs to their third floor veranda to what Kathy calls “Pu Pu’s” an expression used in Hawaii (they have homes in Oahu) which refers to pre-dinner appetizers or starters.

The huge dining table on their third-floor veranda was beautifully set for the occasion.

The evening flowed with ease and by dark, we were all seated at their enormous dining table, plates filled with great food, wine glasses topped off and delightful, humorous dinner table conversation.

View of the Crocodile River (we need more rain!) from Kathy and Don’s third-floor veranda.

After dinner, we played Don’s clever Easter themed game and wouldn’t you know, Tom won with the highest accumulated points for the hunt and the answers to the questions. He’s always been good at trivia type games, often beating me and everyone else at the table.

He won the bottle of champagne (for me) and the candy (for him). He’s already dug into some chocolates this morning, mentioning he got somewhat of a “high” from eating candy on an empty stomach after all these years of low carb, sugar-free way of eating. Hmmm…what does that say? I’ll be glad when it’s gone.

I guess Tom will be on a chocolate frenzy for days.  He loves this stuff.  Then back to healthy eating!

Today, we’re heading out for a drive in the park and to stop at the little market in Marlothi center for mushrooms for tonight’s dinner. Oddly, with a limited supply of produce at the tiny market, they usually have fresh mushrooms after their mid-day delivery of produce.

Up at 6:00 am, I started cooking chicken and sausages and chopping and dicing for tonight’s Low Carb Chicken Sausage Casserole, one of our many favorite meals. It takes a bit of work to make this dish but I make enough to last three nights. We always savor it to the very last bite along with fresh green beans with onions and bacon and cabbage salad.

Tom is such a good trivia player he ended up winning the game we played at the dinner table. The prizes included the giant candy-filled Easter Egg shown in the above photos and this bottle of Champagne which we’ll save to drink when Kathy and Don come to dinner in the near future.

Tonight, we’ll put out the yogurt for the bush babies, set up the spotlight, the camera, and tripod and settle into another fabulous evening in the bush.

May you have a fabulous day and evening as well!

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

While we were living in Fairlight, Australia our new friend, a kookaburra stopped by for bits of meat he’d eat from my hand and was already responding to my voice.  For more photos, please click here.

Happy Easter to all!…Happy April Fool’s Day to those who like to fool!…An Easter fair in the bush…

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Here’s our adorable Louise (always the successful entrepreneur) selling her inventory of colorful Himalayan clothing at the Marlothi Easter Fair, which is comparable to a mini-state fair. I purchased two dresses to wear here at a combined cost of ZAR 200 (US $16.90). 

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

To the left (in our yard) is a hornbill.  To the right is our resident francolin, who hangs out for any morsels of food.  When we took this shot, the francolin took a dirt bath while the hornbill looked on in amazement.

We’ve always enjoyed attending fairs, farmers markets and local events in any country in which we may be living in the world. To see the local people at work proudly presenting their handmade crafts, foods, and services gives us an inside peek as to who these people may be.

With all the visitors coming and going, we had no trouble finding a good parking spot on Oliphant Road, the main paved road in Marloth.

In Marloth Park where the majority of citizens are white, we aren’t getting a realistic peek at the people of South Africa in general when the majority of citizens of South Africa are black as shown in the partial chart below from this site (the chart posted here is incomplete). Please click the link for more details:

Some visitors were able to park inside the tiny mall’s parking lot but we were content to walk from the main paved road.
Age group All races % of All Black African % of Blacks Coloured % of Col’d White % of Whites Indian or other Asian % of Asians
0–14 16,612,043 30.23% 14,244,663 32.21% 1,288,601 26.66% 789,492 17.41% 289,285 21.24%
15–64 35,465,499 64.53% 28,170,797 63.69% 3,299,771 68.28% 3,026,475 66.75% 968,649 71.12%
65-plus 2,879,378 5.24% 1,812,535 4.10% 244,544 5.06% 718,041 15.84% 104.068 7.64%
All ages 54,956,920 100% 44,227,995 (100%) 4,832,916 (100%) 4,534,008 (100%) 1,362,002 (100%)
% of SA 100% 80.48% 8.79% 8.25% 2.48%
The paper plates on this booth each had listed products and prices for various items for sale.

With only 8.25% of the country’s population white, such an event in Marloth Park gives us little cultural knowledge for the majority of the country. In its unique way, Marloth Park has become somewhat populated over the past 41 years since its inception, developing a persona of its own.

 This colorful booth was offering honey and other homemade products.

However, the Afrikaans speaking citizens in Marloth Park and others from a variety of countries (primarily Dutch and British), without a doubt, have a powerful cultural presence in their home country and, in this community, one we’re embracing each and every day.

This vendor was selling his locally made liquors.

Of course, we’ve only been here for a short period; three months, four years ago and a mere seven weeks, so far this time. We still have a lot to learn about South Africa’s culture which we’ll share as circumstances present themselves.

Various styles of artwork are on display.

With this in mind, we had a great experience at the fair. As mentioned in the above photo of Louise, I purchased two dresses from her, which I’ll wear while here and donate when we depart next March. They are too heavy for my luggage.

Antiques were offered in this booth.

We didn’t partake in any of the food or drinks at the fair. Tom had eaten and wasn’t hungry and I don’t usually eat anything until later in the day. Besides, most fair-type foods seldom are appropriate for my way of eating. The smells were intoxicating!

The Marloth Park Honorary Rangers were represented there as well.

As for Easter, we have no big plans today. We’ll have a nice dinner at home and will stay on the veranda as always, enjoying more of the daytime and nocturnal activities we’re blessed to continue to experience in the bush. 

Homemade food products are always popular at these events worldwide.

Tomorrow at 5:00 pm, we’re off to friends Kathy and Don’s river view bush home for an adult Easter egg hunt with a dinner to follow. They’ve been gone this past month, and it will be wonderful to see them both again and meet even more of their friends who’ll also be attending.

There were several jewelry booths.

I offered to bring something, but Kathy insists on letting her guests be “guests'” and come for the food and activities they so masterfully plan at their lovely home.

Many booths consisted of locally made products using locally acquired materials.

No doubt, we’ll reciprocate before too long and invite them to our place for dinner. As is the tradition in Marloth Park, guests bring their beverages when visiting friend’s homes, whatever those beverages happen to be. 

Even Tupperware was represented at the fair.

With South Africa known worldwide for its wine production, many of which I’ve tried and enjoyed, many locals drink wine. The balance tends to drink the local Castle beer (and others), which Tom seems to like. We’ve seldom seen anyone drinking other forms of alcohol, such as whiskey, vodka, gin, etc. 

Many of the people at the fair were tourists, here over the holiday weekend. But, we encountered many locals also, primarily working the booths with services and locally made products.

Prices for wine and beer in South Africa are very reasonable. But, alcohol, mostly imported, is pricey, often due to high VAT taxes. As of today, the VAT (value-added tax) in South Africa is rising from 14% to 15%, which is low compared to many other African countries. If interested, see this site for details on VAT in Africa.

From Jabula Lodge and Restaurant, Leon was serving fabulous-looking grilled beef sandwiches for only ZAR 40 (US $3.38).  They were selling as fast as they could prepare them.

We’d like to wish all of our friends/readers a very happy Easter and Passover, for those who celebrate. May your day be filled with love, compassion, and joy.

Pretty handmade beaded Africa animal characters.

Photo from one year ago today, April 1, 2017:

Houses along with the Dobroyd Head in Sydney, Australia.  Tom climbed down some steep rocks to get this shot. For more details, please click here.

Safari luck sighting in the yard…Nature at its finest….

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She’d nibble on the pellets, but we never saw him take a single bite. He was more interested in her than he was in snacking.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

A female bushbuck climbs the pile of dirt for next door’s construction project.

Today’s entire post revolves around what could be considered the “Sighting of the Day in the Bush” since the experience is worthy of more than one photo under the daily feature photo. We’re enthralled with the babies of many species of wildlife in the park. And, we gasp in wonder over the enormous antlers of a mature, perhaps senior, kudu who visit from time to time.

Both this female and male bushbuck had been in and out of our yard for days. 

We’ve stumbled across only a few opportunities to witness, first hand, the creation of life when the mating process isn’t necessarily easily observed in the open in front of human onlookers. 

Ironically, we’d mentioned how interesting it would be to see more wildlife mating before our eyes the previous day.

It isn’t as if wildlife prefers privacy during the act, per se. Most likely, it’s just a matter of us humans being at the right place at the right time to see how procreation occurs in the wild.

He made several seeming unsuccessful attempts, but finally, nature took its course.
Anderson, our guide, explained this process could go on for hours.  We’d anticipated he might bite her, growl, or be aggressive in some manner. But, he quietly and gently pursued her, an exquisite sight to behold.

We were amazed to see lions mating while on safari in the Masai Mara, as shown in the photo below. Also, here’s the link for that sighting.

Then, in 2016 while living on an alpaca farm in New Plymouth, New Zealand, for three months, we had the opportunity to witness the supervised mating ritual as shown in this link (with a video) and also the below photo:

Trish and Neil, owners of the alpaca farm, oversee the mating to ensure all is going well. The macho (the male) is wearing a harness used to bring him to the mating pen.

We’d considered including “for adult eyes only” in the heading of today’s post. Most certainly, we prefer not to suggest what is appropriate viewing material for your children or grandchildren who may on occasion see our posts.

He often kept his eyes on us and was very skittish if we stood from our chairs on the veranda.

We find all aspects of nature and the life cycles of wildlife a true miracle. Each of us can learn from all parts of nature from conception to birth, from mammals on the hunt and subsequently eating their prey, or to find the carcass of an elephant in the savanna who died of old age, injury, or illness.

She was still eyeballing the pellets while continued in the act.

Bushbucks are one of the most beautiful creatures in the antelope family that we’ve seen in Africa.  Their unique markings make them stand out amongst the others. Yesterday, we stopped everything we were doing to embrace the relationship and behavior of these two stunning animals.

Graciously, he stopped now and then and let her get back to her pellets and apples we placed on the ground earlier.

After over an hour of observing the handsome couple, they wandered off into the bush to continue the mating process away from our prying eyes. Oddly, the male never once took a bite of the fresh veggies or pellets. He was focused on ensuring their safety, keeping a tense lookout whenever they were apart, and of course, mating with this female.

He was patient but stayed close to her.

In the early evening, we set up the camera on the tripod with a chair nearby to quietly observe; the handheld camera at proximity; the new bright light to illuminate the yard, and; containers of cut apples, vegetables, and pellets for our now nightly ritual of watching for nocturnal visitors.

A while later, they wandered off into the dense bush for more activity. Indeed, it must have been a successful day.

Surprisingly, the bright light doesn’t seem to keep wildlife away. Please check back frequently to see what we’ve discovered in the dark of night. We’re accumulating, sorting, and choosing photos we’ll be sharing here soon.

This is the baby bushbuck we’d shown a few weeks ago who returned with mom (she was nearby eating veggies and pellets we’d put out) who’d grown so much. Please click this link to see the baby only a few weeks ago here.

Tonight is the “blue moon,” the second full moon in March. We hope you have an opportunity to revel in its glory and enjoy the meaning and purpose of this holiday weekend of Easter and Passover. 

The baby bushbuck has yet to show any interest in pellets of vegetables instead of waiting in the bush while mom devoured everything we’d put out.

May God’s blessings (or your chosen higher power or beliefs) grace you this season and always.

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

There are hundreds of sailboats and motorboats in the  Clontarf Marina in Sydney, Australia. Construction was in process at the time, as shown to the left, but it didn’t seem to impede any of the activities. For more photos, please click here.

Night out at a a local pub’s pool tournament…Fun with new friends…

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We couldn’t believe how “cheap” the drinks are at Watergat. The total cost for a beer for Tom and glass of white wine for me ZAR 38, (US $3.21). 

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

On the way to the petrol station…

When Sandra and Paul stopped by a week ago Wednesday for happy hour, they told us about a weekly event in Marloth Park when the pool playing tournament begins at 5:30 pm at the Watergat Restaurant in the Marlothi Shopping Center.

Watergat is a pub/casual dining establishment known more for its social gatherings and pub atmosphere than popular dining. The food is good, not great. With few restaurants directly in Marloth Park, those diners hankering for a convenient dinner out often go to Jabula as their first choice due to its fun atmosphere and great food.

Tom was intently listening to the conversation at our table.

Phumala, a more quiet establishment with a nice bar and plenty of seating area with good, not great food; Watergat, as mentioned above and the Tin Shak (we’ve never tried this one). 

Another restaurant we’ve yet to try during this stay in the park is Marloth Park Amazing River View, located directly on the Crocodile River. We’d tried four years ago and found the food acceptable, the location exquisite.

Sandra, and her husband Paul, who live two doors from us, is a Marloth Park Honorary Ranger and now have become friends after we met at snake school.

These restaurants have a good bar area for socializing after a busy day for happy hour and often a bite to eat. Numerous resorts/lodges in Marloth Park may, on occasion, welcome those not staying in their lodges.

On Wednesday evening, we hopped into the little blue car and headed to Watergat to see what the fuss was all about.  We’d touched base with Sandra and Paul, who’d planned to meet us there and share a table. Since they know so many people in the park, it would be a good opportunity to meet more locals.

The pool playing competition occurs every Wednesday at 5:30.  Many locals come to socialize while some diehard pool players join the competition. We’re aren’t good enough players to participate, but it was fun to be there and mingle.

We ran into several people we’d already met at other functions, and the conversations flowed easily. Not only are Sandra and Paul a lovely couple, full of enthusiasm and energy, but they’re quick and eager to introduce us to other people.

It didn’t take long for us to settle in, order drinks, mingle, and also make a definitive decision not to participate in the pool tournament.  We were OK playing pool on a cruise ship, giggling and laughing over our blunders. Still, neither of us has any interest in making fools of ourselves playing against these serious players, many of who have played weekly for years.

We saw several people there we’d already met.  In this short period, we’ve begun to feel like we belong.

Not only were most of the players skilled and serious about their game, but many brought along their own pool cues, chalk, gloves, and other pool playing paraphernalia. No thanks. Not for us.

We have a pool table here in the house and have yet to use it. Someday we will, but for now, being outdoors is more appealing to us than hanging around indoors at the pool table, especially in this hot weather.

Sandra and Paul ordered pizza.

We had a good night. Our total bill for drinks, food, and tip was ZAR 354 US $29.92. Where in the world can one dine and drink for such a reasonable price? Indeed not any country in which we’ve lived.

With Easter weekend upon us, the park is filled with tourists. There are more people everywhere, so we’ve decided to stay put over the weekend except for the Marloth Park Easter Fair, which we’ll attend tomorrow at the tiny Marlothi shopping center. 

The food was good, not great, but we had lots of fun. Tom ordered chicken schnitzel with chips (fries in this part of the world). I forgot to take a photo of my chicken salad.,

There will be plenty of entertainment at this annual event and photos ops we’ll especially enjoy sharing on Easter Sunday. So please check back then.

We’ll be back tomorrow with some exciting new photos from last night’s adventures in the bush. May all of our family, friends, and readers have a glorious weekend. 

Photo from one year ago today, March 30, 2017:

While on the Manly Ferry, we were finally able to take a sunny morning photo of Sydney Harbour, a cruise ship, another ferry, and Harbour Bay Bridge. For more photos, please click here.

Construction next door…Breaking up the serenity of life in Marloth Park…

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A mom warthog and possible aunt showed up last night, shortly before dark, with the tiniest baby warthog we’ve seen since our arrival.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

Any comments on this bird’s species? I can’t seem to find the answer online.

It’s a good thing we aren’t here for only a one or two week holiday. The noise, dust, and disturbances resulting from the construction next door would have ruined an entire time away for most tourists.

Four years ago, the homes we rented were well secluded from other properties, and although sound travels through the bush, we rarely heard a thing. Now in this area, there are a few houses we can see from the veranda, which in essence wouldn’t bother us a bit.

We didn’t recall seeing a warthog this tiny since this post in Kenya in 2013 when a mom placed her babies in a hole to protect them from lions in place for the kill.

The benefits of a lot of wildlife stopping by to see us certainly outweighs the annoyances of the daily noise and commotion, which should be over with a few weeks. But now, it appears the neighbor or the other side of us just had a pile of materials delivered, and soon, they’ll startup also.

With all the workers around all day, less wildlife stops by. But the workday usually ends by 3:00 or 4:00 pm, and once again, magic happens, and visitors grace us with their presence within an hour or two.

It was surprising to us to see how adept the baby was at eating pellets. It may have been less than a few weeks old.

Last night was no exception. Now that we’ve adopted “happy hour” into our lives several evenings a week, where I have a maximum of two wine spritzers (no sugar added), and Tom has a few beers while dining outdoors every night, this routine has become quite enjoyable.

We close our laptops and put away our phones; no media, no distractions, just the pure pleasure of watching nature unfold before our eyes while engaging in the playful idle chatter that has become so “us” over the years.

The baby would wander off a bit from time to time, but a single grunt from mom and he came running back to her.

With the activity before us, we’re constantly busy. Now that we’ve got birdseed, apples, and a veggie scrap container, we’re often rushing outdoors to indoors to cut up another apple or carrot and refill the red plastic cup with birdseed or the yellow plastic container with pellets. 

We keep the birdseed in the chest freezer, which has proven to be quite a handy addition to our daily lives. We keep the birdseed in the freezer to avoid getting more insects inside the house. The fruit and veggies are kept refrigerated to ensure freshness and safety for the animals and to keep the ants away.

The kudus weren’t standing together, so we couldn’t get a photo of all 11.

Last night was a classic example of the perfect evening. Not only did we see the tiniest baby warthog we’ve ever seen, but we had the rousing interaction between guinea fowls and francolins reacting to one another while clamoring for the seeds we tossed onto the ground. It was a laugh-fest for us and seemingly fun for them.

Then came a “forkl” of kudu (yep, that’s their collective noun) for a total of 11 females, including a few youngsters. We’d seen this forkl in the past, and they seemed happy to see us, nibbling on cut-up apples and carrots fed from my hand, and handfuls of pellets tossed to the ground.

There’s one particular female kudu who’s come to know me, and she gently nudges my hand for more, looking directly into my eyes. Often, people underestimate the power of communication between wildlife and humans.  Sure, some are dangerous, and one must steer clear. 

It was almost dark, but this kudu approached me for a handout.

For example, I’d never feed a male kudu from my hand. His huge antlers could inadvertently cause great harm. We always keep a safe distance. Also, we don’t hand-feed warthogs. Their razor-sharp tusks are deadly, and they aren’t particularly gentle like female kudu and bushbucks. 

Not long ago, we posted a video of a warthog tossing a mongoose into the air, which can be seen here if you missed it. This split-second action appears about halfway through the short video.

We’re learning so much. Our hearts are filled with respect and admiration for the gifts Mother Nature, God, or whichever belief you may possess (or not) bestowed upon us lucky humanoids. It’s undoubtedly our responsibility to honor and revere all species on this earth, both human and animal.

Most of the time, mom and baby stayed close to one another.

As much as we have definitive opinions on conservation, we won’t get into the “politics” of this sensitive subject. Unquestionably, most of our readers can readily imagine where we stand on this topic based on our passion for wildlife. 

But, here, we choose to avoid highly charged politically motivated topics. At the same time, we maintain the integrity of living life on the move, primarily referring to our motto as shown on our homepage, which reads: “Wafting Through Our Worldwide Travels with Ease, Joy and Simplicity.”

“Mom, I need a drink after all those dry pellets.”

As a result, we choose to ignore the noise and commotion of the construction the best way we can during this off-season in Marloth Park when homeowners have work done on their holiday rentals. We’ll strive to maintain the positivity we find adds so much quality to our lives.

May your day consist of ease, joy, and simplicity.

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

Bob, our kindly landlord, and a new friend had insisted on driving us to see some of the sights in the area, including the beautiful historic St. Patrick’s Estate. For more photos, please click here.

It’s all in the numbers…Laughing out loud…A day in the life…

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This was the first time we’d ever seen Guinea Fowl sitting in a tree.
“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”
Our first tree frog, most likely a result of the white foam tree frog nest, is shown in this post.

Yesterday was quite an enjoyable Sunday. We started the day with the post, uploading it by 11:30 am. With dinner guests the night before and Marta and Josiah off for the day, we tidied the house, put away the dishes, and swept the floors and veranda.

With the doors wide open all day and evening with no screens, many insects enter the house and are found wriggling around on the floor and elsewhere.  It’s a daily task to clear them off, usually sweeping them outside off the edge of the veranda.
They are sitting proudly on the tree while overseeing the pecking on seeds below.
With rain expected today, yesterday I did two loads of laundry rather than wait for Marta, which I’ve been doing regularly, leaving the towels and bedding for her to do on sunny days since she hangs everything outside. No one uses clothes dryers here in Africa.
I hesitate to hang the wet clothing outdoors on the clothesline when each time I’ve done so both in Kenya and here, I’ve been viciously bitten by insects in the grass in and around the clothesline. Instead, I hang the clothes on hangers and top of the granite countertops inside the house. In no time at all, they’re dry.
As soon as we tossed some birdseed on the ground, the Helmeted Guinea Fowl came running.
I decided to make a huge pan of roasted vegetables, saving all the fresh veggie scraps for the wildlife. Some will eat them; some will not.  Warthogs don’t like cabbage or lettuce but will eat zucchini and carrots but always prefer pellets. Zebras and kudus seem to like any fresh veggies along with pellets, of course. Always pellets.

Once the veggies were done cooking and cooling, I popped them into the fridge, and we were off to friends Lynne and Mick’s home to see their new thatched roof, stay for a short visit and say goodbye before they’re off to their home in Jersey, UK. 
The word got out, and more started coming from the bush.
Tom was out of cream for his coffee. By the time we left Lynn and Mick’s home, the little markets were closed. We didn’t want to drive the distance to Komatipoort just for cream. 
I suggested he try using some of my unsweetened coconut cream instead of the whole cream to see if he likes it. I use it in tea and find it rather delicious. Much to my surprise, he liked it and will use it in the future. This makes life a little easier since we can store many containers of coconut cream, which is shelf-stable, instead of whole cream spoiling in the refrigerator in a week or two.
There were about two dozen here, but more were lurking nearby.
Upon returning to our place by 4:30, we were in for a pleasant surprise. Dozens of Helmeted Guinea Fowl appeared in the yard, looking for a handout.  How quickly they learned that we now have birdseed. Ironically, as I write this now, they’re back!  I jumped up to fill the red cup with seeds and tossed it their way.
Clucking and pecking, they’re thrilled we’re tossing birdseed their way. Next time we head to Daisy’s Den, the feed store, we’ll have to purchase bigger bags of seeds.
Tom calls them Guinea Hens, making me laugh.  They cluck a bit like a combination of turkeys and chickens.
Last night, we had a bigger crowd of guinea fowl than we’d seen to date. We entertained ourselves for an hour while taking photos and tossing seeds. It may not sound like that much fun, but for us, it’s a pure pleasure. I don’t recall ever seeing four dozen wild turkeys in our yard in our old lives, but on occasion, we may have seen a dozen. This is fun.  Well, for us anyway.

At 5:00 pm, our next-door neighbor stopped by to ask if we’d like to join him at his house for “happy hour” at 6:15. His home has been undergoing some noisy construction work, and he kindly wanted to make it up to us with an invite. It hasn’t bothered us much (we never complained), and they’ll soon be done.

They fight and peck at one another over the birdseed.
At 6:15, we headed over to Ruud’s home and sat outdoors in lawn chairs on the grass with him. After the rains, the mozzies were on a rampage, and even with plenty of repellent on, I was getting bit, including on the bottom of my foot with shoes on! Since we’re not taking malaria pills, we tend to be more careful than ever.

Our veranda is approximately over one meter (about four feet) above ground level. As a result, it’s much easier for us to be outdoors all evening sitting at the big table, getting little attention from the insects. If we were to sit on ground-level dirt or grass, it’s an entirely different scenario.

One Helmeted Guinea Fowl are sitting in a tree.
By 7:00 pm, we returned to make dinner consisting of excellent leftovers from Saturday night. By 7:30, we were seated at the outdoor table, enjoying a delicious meal to which I added the roasted vegetables. We no longer watch a show during dinner since we began dining outdoors each night.

The sounds of nature are all we need to entertain ourselves.  After dinner and before bedtime, we wander indoors and may watch one downloaded show on my laptop.

And then, there were three sitting in a tree.
It’s an easy life in many ways. Knowing it will be like what we’ve shared in these past six weeks with occasional trips away gives us a sense of peace and comfort, coupled with the adventure of what is yet to come while we’re here.

Soon, we’ll begin planning our trips to other countries in Africa, but for the time being, we’re “living in the moment,” finding each day a magical wonder.

Please check back for more.  We appreciate every one of our readers!
Photo from one year ago today, March 26, 2017:
Our kindly and thoughtful landlord, Bob, with Tom. What a great guy! For more and the results of our immigration issues in Australia, 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.