Due to a power outage on April 20th, this post wasn’t uploaded until the morning of April 21st.  However, a new post describing an upcoming adventure in Africa will be posted later today, April 21, 2018.  Sorry for the inconvenience.

The road to Malelane on the well-traveled N4 Highway.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

This baby warthog was nursing between her mom’s back legs.

Yesterday morning, before completing and uploading the post, we decided to drive to Malelane. Our permanent Kruger “Wild Card” (a year-long pass) had arrived at the post office, and time was running out to collect it.

Talk about “rocky mountains!”

Why the pass wasn’t sent to us baffles us since mail usually comes to the post office in the Marlothi Shopping Center. But, as everyone always says, “This is Africa,” and things aren’t always done as we’d expect in other parts of the world.

Giant rocks atop mountains and hills on the way to Malelane.

We quickly found the post office in the small town and headed to the Obaro farm store to buy pellets at hopefully a better price than the recent one. We’d heard we could get a “senior discount” at that location. 

The drive took about 40 minutes from Marloth Park. Many police cars were parked on the sides of the road, looking for offenders. Tom stayed under the speed limit in hopes we wouldn’t get stopped.

As it turned out, the senior discount in Malelane was ZAR 5 (US $.42) per bag, and the bags were priced at ZAR 204 (US $17.03) as compared to ZAR 215 (US $17.95). In all, with the meager discount, we saved a total of ZAR 16.05 (US $1.34) on each of the four bags. 

As darkness falls, Tom’s favorite, Ms. Bushbuck makes an appearance.

Had we not needed to go to the post office, buying pellets in Malelane isn’t something we’ll do in the future. The 90 minutes round trip drive plus the petrol we used doesn’t make it worth a memorable trip.

Then we spotted three hippos near the Crocodile River.

After Obaro, we drove to the biggest mall we’ve seen since we arrived to shop for a few items at the Malelane (also spelled Malalane) SuperSpar, which is much larger than the Spar in Komatipoort. 

Big Daddy stopped by last night, moments before dark.

We couldn’t find several items on our list and decided we’d continue to shop in Komatipoort, which seems to carry most of the things we use. I’ve been trying to find herbal cinnamon tea with no luck anywhere which I like to drink hot or as iced tea. 

Two hippos and a cattle egret at the river’s edge, as seen from the fence between Marloth and Kruger Park.

When we returned home, I ordered 12 boxes of my favorite Good Earth Sweet and Spicy herbal tea (no caffeine, no sugar), which will arrive with our upcoming shipment in several weeks. (We haven’t had it shipped to us yet since we’re awaiting the arrival of a few items to our mailing service in Nevada).

Last night, after dark, we had a steady stream of visitors; warthogs, kudus, bushbucks, bushbabies, and duikers came to call. It was much busier than most evenings.

In any case, the trip to Malelane was enjoyable, visiting another small town in South Africa. The fact that only a little over 8% of the country’s population is white is evident in this small town in Komatipoort.  At no point did we feel like “outsiders,” nor have we anywhere we’ve been in South Africa thus far.

We call him “Little Daddy.”  He’s about 30% smaller than Big Daddy. There are two types of kudus in Marloth Park, the Greater Kudu and the Lesser Kudu, smaller with smaller antlers. This appears to be a Lesser Kudu. Please correct me if I’m wrong.

Of course, Marloth Park is not a realistic representation of demographics or lifestyle in this or any country. It’s a world of its own, far removed from the reality of life in most parts of the world.

Every day we remain in awe and grateful for this experience and more experiences we’ll glean in our remaining time on the continent, another ten months, including several side trips. 

As shown on the veranda floor, our bright lamp doesn’t seem to keep the wildlife away.

The first of those trips is upcoming on May 11th to Zambia, another forthcoming in February, details of which we’ll be sharing in tomorrow’s post. Please check back for photos and exciting information.

May your weekend be filled with peacefulness, pleasure, and purpose.

Photo from one year ago today, April 20, 2017:

Christine and Colin, the fabulous friends we met on a cruise, met up with us in Manly, Australia, for lunch. For more details, please click here.

Notice this little three-point design on this zebra’s upper leg. Each zebra has a unique pattern of stripes. Each animal has its distinctive markings and distinguishable features, making it easy to identify repeat visitors.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

Tom’s favorite, Ms. Bushbuck who insists on eating directly out of the pellet container. She adores Tom, and I think he likes her too. She visits several times each day.

Last night’s dinner guests, Gail and Mark, were a total delight. Their vast experiences in Africa and their fantastic story, as described in this post combined with our stories of world travel, created some engaging and thought-provoking conversations that lasted well into the evening.

Waterbucks along the river.

With all the dinners we’ve shared with locals, we could easily have dinner guests every week or more. We can’t recall ever having had such a busy social life. Unfortunately, we occasionally turn down local events since we need a few quiet evenings at home, which we also thoroughly enjoy.

Today, after we’ve uploaded the post, we’re heading to Malelane to pick up our permanent Kruger entrance pass, which for some reason ended up at the post office there.  

Female kudus and babies in the yard.

Malelane is about a 40-minute drive from our property in Marloth Park. However, we’ve decided to make the most of it and do some shopping while there. The stores have a more incredible selection of items. We’ll stop at the larger Spar market to see if we can find a few things we haven’t been able to find in Komatipoort.

Big Daddy and zebras seem to get along while munching on pellets.

Also, our friend Kathy explained we could purchase pellets there for a much better price at the Obaro store by asking for a senior discount. Feeding wildlife can get expensive, especially with the number of visitors we see each day and night.

It’s dangerous to hand feed Big Daddy or get too close. One could easily be seriously injured by being stabbed by these massive antlers, unintentionally, of course.

Daily, we cut up apples, carrots, and any scraps from vegetables we’re preparing for our meals.  It seems the female kudus love the leaves on bunches of celery, although the males turn their noses up at it. The warthogs prefer pellets and won’t eat many carrots or other vegetables.

Lizard crossing the road while we are driving in Marloth Park.

Even the finicky Helmeted Guinea Fowl love the bird seeds we toss out, like the pellets as they peck and peck at them to break them into smaller manageable pieces.

The zebras, not surprisingly, love apples, carrots. None of them get enthused about the cabbage but will nibble on it if it’s available. And lettuce. Based on my gastrointestinal issues, we’ve been buying lettuce instead of cabbage which doesn’t digest as easily.

Baboon in the bush.  Please stay away from our house!

Feeding the animals each day has changed our entire activity level, which is excellent. It was easy to sit most of the day, taking a walk at some point in the past. But now, as we feed the animals, we’re on our feet constantly.

Not necessarily a clear photo, but this female kudu had her foot stuck in her ear while she scratched and scratched.

Whether we’re cutting up vegetables, feeding the visitors, walking through the yard or the neighborhood to see what’s transpiring, or following a sound we’ve heard, we’re much more active than we’ve been in quite a while.

While driving in Marloth Park almost daily, we’re often out of the car, walking on rough terrain to get into better positions to see wildlife and scenery. This has been good for both of us.

There are so many species of birds in Kruger. We’re not always able to identify them. Any comments on this bird we spotted at the Crocodile River?

As much as I’d love to work out at a facility, it’s just not possible while living in the bush. It’s not as if there’s a health club I can join that’s less than a 90-minute drive which would be back to Nelspruit, where the airport is located. Instead, we take advantage of every opportunity to be on the move.

Mutton Chops sniffing Scar Face’s wounds.

In two more days, on Saturday, we’ll be posting information and photos about our exciting upcoming African adventure next February. We can’t wait to share this with all of you!

Have a fabulous day!

Photo from one year ago today, April 19, 2017:

A night view of a few of the buildings in Circular Quay, Sydney, taken from the Manly Ferry. For more photos of Sydney, please click here.

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.