How to prepare to travel to Africa…

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Baby zebra feeding.

With our dear friend Lisa arriving in South Africa and staying with us for almost a month in Marloth Park, in a mere ten days, we’ve been talking to her about what to bring and what to expect for life in the bush.

After the meal, a little cuddling with Mom was on the agenda.

What a fantastic adventure for her! Preparing for a safari vacation in Africa requires practical planning, packing the right gear, and preparing mentally for an unforgettable experience. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you prepare that we share with our readers to better inform you of what is required and essential to ensure a positive experience.

1. Choose Your Destination & Safari Type

Africa is vast, and different countries offer different safari experiences. Consider:

  • Kenya & Tanzania – Great Migration, Serengeti, Maasai Mara

  • South Africa – Kruger National Park, malaria-free reserves

  • Botswana – Luxury safaris, Okavango Delta

  • Namibia – Desert landscapes, Etosha National Park

  • Uganda & Rwanda – Gorilla trekking

Do you want a budget-friendly safari, a luxury lodge experience, or a walking safari? This will help you choose accommodations and activities.

Bossy never fails to let us know she is here.

2. Check Passport, Visa & Vaccination Requirements

  • Many African countries require visas (check online for each country’s specific rules).

  • Some require a yellow fever vaccine for entry.

  • Malaria prevention is key—talk to your doctor about prophylactic medication.

  • Other recommended vaccines are Hepatitis A/B, typhoid, tetanus, and rabies (if doing outdoor activities).

Hal stopped for a drink.

3. Plan the Best Time to Visit

  • The dry season (June–October) is best for game viewing because animals gather around waterholes.

  • Wet season (Nov–May) has fewer crowds, greener landscapes, and baby animals (but it can mean difficult
    Kudus were searching for pellets.

    travel conditions).

4. Book Flights & Accommodations in Advance

Safari lodges and tours book up quickly, especially in peak season. Decide:

  • Lodge vs. tented camp vs. budget safari

  • Self-drive vs. guided safari

  • Consider internal flights to avoid long road journeys.

More animals joined in on the pellets.

5. Pack Smart: Safari Essentials

  • Neutral-colored clothing (beige, khaki, olive—no bright colors or black/blue, which attract tsetse flies).

  • Layers (mornings are cold, afternoons can be hot).

  • Comfortable hiking shoes and sandals.

  • Binoculars (essential for spotting wildlife).

  • High-quality camera (or a good zoom lens for your phone).

  • Hat, sunglasses, & sunscreen (sun protection is crucial).

  • Insect repellent with DEET.

  • Small daypack for essentials on game drives.

  • Reusable water bottle (many lodges have refill stations).

Zebras, wildebeest, and warthogs stopped by.

6. Prepare for Safari Logistics

  • Game drives: Expect early mornings (often 5–6 AM wake-ups).

  • No WiFi in some areas: Download maps, books, and offline content.

  • Cash vs. card: Bring some USD or local currency for tips and small purchases.

  • Tipping culture: Guides, drivers, and lodge staff often rely on tips ($5–$20 per day).

  • After tossing a batch of pellets, all heads were on the ground, scarfing them up.

7. Stay Safe & Respect Wildlife

  • Follow your guide’s instructions—animals are unpredictable.

  • Never stand up or make loud noises in a safari vehicle.

  • Don’t feed or approach animals.

  • Be cautious about food & water safety—stick to bottled or filtered water.

Wildebeests entered the scene.

8. Cultural Considerations & Local Etiquette

  • Learn a few local phrases (e.g., Swahili: “Jambo” = hello).

  • Dress modestly in villages or religious areas.

  • Be mindful when taking photos of people—always ask first.

  • Finally, they were off.

9. Prepare for Unpredictability

  • African time is real—things may not always run on schedule.

  • Embrace the unexpected—some game drives may not yield big animal sightings, but the experience is always memorable.

  • Go with a sense of adventure—the landscapes, people, and wildlife will make it unforgettable!

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, March 23, 2015:

At the Princeville Artisan Fair, I was fascinated with this handloom this vendor used to make scarfs, shawls, and wraps. It looked like a fun activity I’d have enjoyed in my old life. Unfortunately, I’d never have room for such a loom in my luggage. The quality of the work was exceptional. For more photos, please click here.

Buying hearing aids at Costco…The process, details and pricing below…

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This monitor lizard found himself in the veranda rafters. Tom helped him jump down uninjured.

Note: The content of our posts often has little to do with the photos we add. This way, we can continue to share pictures of our surroundings.

Our long-time dear reader Pam wrote requesting details about Tom’s experience buying hearing aids at Costco. Other readers have written in the past inquiring about this topic, but with many worldwide readers without a Costco store, I hesitated to share the detailed story.

However, when Pam wrote an email yesterday requesting information on the Costco procee, I decided it was time to delve into it. What do hearing aids have to do with world travel? Quite a lot based on Tom’s experiences since we began traveling in 2012. Here are some reasons why those with hearing loss may benefit from hearing aids after struggling to hear for years.

Five zebras stopped for a treat.

Senior travelers with hearing loss need hearing aids to stay connected, safe, and fully engaged in their experiences. Traveling—solo or with companions—relies heavily on communication, environmental awareness, and adapting to new situations. Hearing aids can make a significant difference in several ways:

1. Enhanced Ability to Communicate

Travel often involves talking with locals, fellow travelers, hotel staff, and tour guides. Without a hearing aid, conversations can become frustrating, leading to misunderstandings or missed opportunities to connect with others. Being able to hear allows senior travelers to immerse themselves in their journey without constantly asking people to repeat themselves.

Oh, oh, a few pellets fell to the veranda floor.

2. Safety and Awareness of Surroundings

Hearing loss can pose serious safety risks, from crossing busy streets to navigating unfamiliar train stations. Announcements in airports, train stations, or buses often include crucial information about gate changes, boarding times, and delays. With a hearing aid, travelers can hear these updates clearly, reducing stress and the risk of missing important details.

3. Hearing the Sounds 

Traveling is about experiencing the world—whether it’s the sound of waves crashing on a secluded beach, a tour guide explaining ancient ruins, or a street musician’s performance in a bustling city square. Hearing aids help senior travelers fully absorb these moments rather than feeling disconnected from their surroundings.

Hal was contemplating approaching the veranda railing.

4. Reduction of Travel Stresses

Travel can be overwhelming, especially in noisy environments like crowded airports or foreign cities with unfamiliar languages. Struggling to hear can add to the stress and fatigue. Modern hearing aids with noise reduction features help filter background noise, making it easier to focus on essential sounds.

5. Maintaining Independence and Self-Confidence

Many seniors value their independence, and hearing loss can make them feel reliant on others to repeat information or assist in understanding what’s happening. Wearing hearing aids allows them to maintain confidence while navigating new places, ordering food, or asking for directions.

Mongoose scrambling for bits of paloney.

6. Communicating with Travel Companions

If traveling with family or friends, being unable to hear correctly can create a sense of isolation. Conversations during meals, long road trips, or sightseeing become more challenging. Hearing aids ensure senior travelers remain active in the group rather than feeling left out.

Hearing aids aren’t just a convenience for senior travelers—they are essential for making the most of every adventure. They allow people to connect, stay safe, and enjoy the world in all its richness. For those who love to travel, investing in good hearing aids means fewer limitations and more unforgettable experiences.

Mongoose preparing to tackle an egg.

Over the past twenty years, Tom’s hearing has gradually worsened from 42½ years of working on the railroad, mainly from being in the locomotive’s cab up to 16 hours a day, eventually 12 hours a day, from the diesel power plant’s steady roar. The railroad provided many hearing tests to determine his hearing loss over the years.

Since we’ve been traveling, his hearing loss seems to have escalated, and I often repeat myself in a loud tone for him to hear what I am saying. He struggles to listen to conversations in social settings, especially when there is background noise, but he learned to read lips proficiently.

Norman and a piglet. Right now, Norman stops by daily. We are always happy to see him, as he seems so glad to see us.

He was stubborn and refused to consider it for years when I suggested the prospect of him buying the devices. Hearing loss and blindness are hereditary in his family, and he didn’t like the prospect of wearing clunky-looking hearing aids and dealing with batteries while we’re traveling.

When COVID-19 hit, he struggled even more with everyone wearing masks. It was at this time that he came to realize how severe his hearing loss had become.

Norman and Mom with two piglets.

While we were in Minnesota last May, he finally bought hearing aids after many expressed satisfaction with Costco’s service, process, and pricing. We made the appointment after being Costco members for many years and happy with their products and services.

Once he made the appointment, he received an email stating he needed to stop by the store to determine the amount of wax in his ears, if any, since a doctor would have to remove it before taking the hearing test. This made sense. He has no wax and is waiting for his hearing test, which was a few weeks later.

Little Daddy snapped his neck to check out a sound.

The test took less than an hour, and when he came out of the hearing aid area in the store, where I waited for him, he immediately told me how impressed he was with the audiologist’s skill and the detail and complexity of the test, more than any test he had in the past.

After the hearing aid test, he was presented with two brand options for the hearing aids: Phillips and Jabra. They were almost equally priced and could be operated by an app on one’s phone. He chose the Phillips. It took about a month for his order to arrive at the store, and he immediately made an appointment for the fitting that he’d made earlier.

The fitting appointment lasted about 30 minutes, during which the audiologist made adjustments and set up the app on his phone, which he’s been using ever since.

Either brand of hearing aids does not require batteries. They are charged daily by an included electric plug and an easy-to-use charging station. The charge usually lasts all day and evening, so he recharges them during the night.

\He makes any necessary adjustments while wearing the hearing aids using the app on his phone. There are options for different environments.

The total cost for the Phillips product was US $1700, ZAR 30995.27, and, according to Tom, was a worthwhile investment. He did not have health insurance that paid any portion of this. We charged the cost on our Costo Citibank Visa card, for which we got reward points. He was given the necessary easy-to-use cleaning supplies, which he’ll replenish when we return to the US in May/June.

He’s thrilled. I’m thrilled he can now hear, and our lives of world travel have been enhanced.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, March 22, 2015:

Cloudy days have a certain appeal in Kauai. For more photos, please click here.

Are you considering a holiday/vacation in magical Marloth Park, South Africa?…Check out this house!…

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What a beautiful veranda at Tarentaal Cottage!
Braai seating area.
The pool is larger than most splash pools in Marloth Park.

Yesterday at noon, Louise took us to see a lovely home, Tarentaal Cottage, that Danie built about three years ago for a couple in Germany who visit periodically.

FOR MORE PHOTOS, VISIT LOUISE’S WEBSITE HERE FOR THIS LOVELY HOUSE AND OTHER PROPERTIES IN MARLOTH PARK.

The lovely and inviting lounge room overlooks the exceptional pool, veranda, and wildlife-visiting areas.
Alternate seating area in the lounge room.
Dining area.
Well-stocked and appointed kitchen with separate scullery.

It’s always interesting for us to see the holiday rentals Louise owns and manages in Marloth Park since we’d never consider renting from anyone but her. As we’ve mentioned many times in the past, no one we’ve ever met is as attentive, kind, and helpful to all of her holiday/vacation rental clients.

Primary bedroom.
Soaking tub in the ensuite bathroom.

She is truly the queen of hospitality. With her diligence and her husband Danie’s building skills as a professional builder, there’s no waiting to get things done when something unanticipated goes wrong.

Her houses are impeccable and well-appointed with every possible amenity, and many have alternate power sources to supplement during load-shedding (power outages).

The second bedroom has an ensuite bathroom and outdoor shower.

Her prices are reasonably priced for holidaymakers and include optional reasonably priced cleaning services, utilities, laundry service as needed, Wi-Fi, and purified water.

Here is Louise’s description of  the Tarentaal Cottage on her website here:

“Tarentaal Cottage

Tarentaal Cottage is a brand new, lovely, and modern cottage with two bedrooms en suite and air conditioning in both rooms.

The kitchen is fully equipped for self-catering, and there is a lovely indoor relaxing area with a huge glass window that looks outside for animal visitors. 

Outside is a vast furnished veranda with a pool and braai area.

All linen and towels are provided. Please bring your own swimming towels. Daily cleaning services are available on request and it cost extra.

The cottage offers free Wi-Fi and backup power to make your life easier during load shedding.”

Outdoor shower of ensuite bathroom in second bedroom.

The nightly rate for Tarentaal Cottage in ZAR 2000 is US $109.84, which is undoubtedly reasonable for the exceptional experiences travelers can anticipate in the unique surroundings of the exquisite Marloth Park Conservancy. If you are a nature lover and decide to visit Marloth Park, we’d be happy to assist you in answering any questions, even on a free WhatsApp call.

Outdoor dining area.

We’ve done this many times for countless readers who’ve decided to come here for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Of course, one must possess a passion for wildlife and nature. Kruger National Park is a 20-minute drive from the property, where you can see the Big Five and much more.

It’s a cozy spot for morning coffee.

Make Marloth Park your next holiday adventure!

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, March 21, 2015:

Oh, sun, what you do to us in our perpetual pursuit of the perfect sunset. This photo was taken in Kauai, Hawaii. For more photos, please click here.

The vernal equinox…Fantastic evening with friends…A five year anniversary of a memorable event…

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Bossy was looking for me through the kitchen window while I was cutting carrots and apples.

Fall is finally here in the Southern Hemisphere. As we enter the season, the temperatures will drop and be cool and comfortable in about a month. Over the next five days, the weather is expected to be as high as a hot 96F, 36C. Regardless of the weather, we’ll still sit outdoors all day and part of the evening.

“The March equinox marks the beginning of autumn – and a shift toward winter – in the Southern Hemisphere. When is it? The sun crosses the celestial equator – a line directly above Earth’s equator – at 9:01 UTC on March 20, 2025 (4:01 a.m. CDT).”

A few nights ago, the garden was filled with over 20 animals, including seven species.

Last evening, we joined friends Roz and Les for dinner at their lovely home a few kilometers from us. We arrived at 5:00 pm and didn’t return to our house until after 10:00 pm. We had a fantastic time with this lovely couple. Seeing their house’s beautiful decor and design with modern attention to detail was fun.

We cooked delicious filet mignons on the braai and had salads on the side. Tom expertly made my thick cut of the meat perfectly, as rare as possible, after searing the exterior. It was fantastic. I can’t wait to have it again. Surely, we’ll buy more filets next time we go to the Butchery in the Bush Center. The 800-gram, 28-ounce chunk of tenderloin we’d brought and shared between us was only ZAR 186, only US $10.24. Unreal.

It was delightful to see so many animals visiting the garden.

The conversation was engaging as we discussed world affairs, travel, politics, and life in the bush. They are leaving soon for the UK, where their daughter is graduating from chiropractic school, and will return about the same time as we return to Marloth Park after our granddaughter Maise’s graduation.

Back at the house, we stayed up until after 11:00 pm and finally drifted off. I am still waking up in the middle of the night but able to go back to sleep within 30 minutes or so.

We couldn’t keep up with feeding them pellets. There were too many, and we didn’t want to see them head-butting one another.

Much to my relief, the medication Doc Theo prescribed is working. The side effects have abated, and I can breathe easily; the hay fever is under control, and my eyes aren’t itching. No words can describe how relieved I am. I will continue to take low-dose Prednisone for about ten more days and then reduce the dose further to stop it entirely. We’ll see how it goes, but I am hopeful.

Today is the fifth anniversary of the night in Mumbai, India, when we went to the airport at 3:00 am to board a plane to South Africa to escape COVID-19. While waiting to check in for the flight, after waiting for over an hour, we were informed that South Africa’s airports were closing. Here is our link to the post about when the ten-month stretch in a hotel room during lockdown in Mumbai began. What an experience!

The various herds stayed together while they grazed.

Louise will pick us up in about an hour to show us a house Danie built a few years ago. We will take photos to share tomorrow and include the rental fees should any more of our readers like to visit Marloth Park, based on the extraordinary experience we’ve continued to enjoy over the years.

Two wildebeests at the railing with Mac in the distance.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, March 20, 2015:

The sun attempted to peek out between the cloud cover in Princeville Kauai. For more photos, please click here.

It’s a beautiful morning in the bush…We’re busy with bookings!…

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Note: Due to WiFi issues, we are having spacing problems we cannot repair..

Crooked Face returned to see us! He had a little trouble grabbing this carrot.

It couldn’t be a more perfect day. The weather is comfortable at 74F 23C, the sky is overcast, and the wildlife is abundant. We couldn’t ask for more, especially when Norman arrived again this morning. He stayed for over an hour, enjoying carrots, apples, and pellets. Annoyed with all the Big Daddies hovering, he finally took off.

The only thing annoying us is the sound of someone in the area using a generator as the sound wafts through the bush. We love the quiet sounds of the animals and the birds. Hopefully, soon, the noise will end.

Zebras don’t try to get too close to us. They need to get close to humans only for food, while many other animals seek to enjoy human interactions.

Living in the bush, one’s senses are acute. Every moment and every sound attracts our attention, and we never know what to expect when we hear new sounds. It’s terrific that Tom now wears hearing aids and can listen to the magical sounds of nature.

Zebras visit every day.

This morning, we had to get to work booking all the rental cars we’ll need while here, when we arrive in Minnesota at the end of May, and when we return to Marloth Park in June. We have locked in some fantastic pricing in South Africa, as low as US $400, ZAR 7308 a month, which is at least four times higher in the US.

Not Big Daddy, but whom we call “Medium Daddy,” who has some growing up to do to reach Big Daddy status.

Also, we arranged the picking up and dropping off time when our friend Lasa arrives on April 2 and leaves on May 1—booking three cars and coordinating the pickup and return dates is time-consuming, especially when we only book them for a maximum of 30 days with our credit card, covering the insurance for only the first 30 days.

Big Daddy kudu.

After all, we don’t have a car and subsequent insurance as an adjunct to renting rental vehicles. We figured out this workaround, but it requires returning the cars every 30 days and a long round-trip drive to the airport.

Also, today, Tom is booking cars for our final three months here, from June to September. We’ve yet to book a place to stay in Spain in September before our four cruises, but we have plenty of time. We’ll get to work on that sometime in the next 60 days.

Checking out the birdseed on the hanging rack.

We are going to a braai at friends Roz and Les’s home, a few kilometers from here. Soon, I’ll make a salad to bring and prepare our filet mignon to cook at their home. They offered to provide all the food, but we suggested bringing our meat and a salad. Few people eat such good-sized portions of meat or use homemade salad dressing as we do.

It’s too much work to ask the hosts to prepare anything special for us. In South Africa, it’s not uncommon for guests to bring their meat to a braai and a side dish to share. As always, guests bring their drinks, whether alcoholic or not. Tom will bring Lion beer, and I’ll bring a bottle of my low-alcohol red wine and some pre-made Crystal Light lemonade. I only drink two 5 oz glasses of the light wine and then switch to Crystal Light.

Drinking from the birdbath.

Today is the first day since I reduced the dose of Prednisone from 20 mg to 10 mg; after adding the new medication, I can breathe a little better. Last night was challenging. Hopefully, the new drug, Mont-Air, is kicking in and will prevent me from having asthma.

That’s our day, folks. We’ll be back with more tomorrow.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, March 19, 2015:

Tom and our dear friend Richard, who’s since passed away, toasting on St. Patrick’s Day in Kauai, Hawaii. For more photos, please click here.

It happened!…

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After a fitful night’s sleep, Tom woke me up at 6:15 am when Norman arrived in the garden. I couldn’t get up quickly enough to see him.

What a morning. Last night, after taking the new asthma medication Doc Theo prescribed yesterday (see details below), I hadn’t slept more than a few hours, tossing around. Today will be a good day for a mid-afternoon nap.

When I walked outdoors in my pajamas after slipping on my shoes, I was thrilled to see him at our vacation/holiday home for the first time since we arrived 15 days ago. We’d seen him in Louise and Danie’s garden on Saturday, but it wasn’t the same. Now I know he’ll return frequently when he responds so animatedly to my voice and our iced cold apples and carrots.

Could he be any more regal?

His ears flipped back and forth, listening to me even when pellets were on the ground. Of course, once I cut up a plateful of carrots and apples, he knew he was in the right place.

So be it if carrots and apples are needed to entice him to visit. I can live with that reality. After all, he’s a wild animal, always searching for sustenance. Although there is plenty of green vegetation, the plants and trees the animals eat have been stripped bare after a dry season. Rain is badly needed.

I took many more photos but decided on the few shown today.

While Norman was here, warthogs, kudus, impalas, mongooses, bushbucks, zebras, and wildebeests were present simultaneously—seven species in total! However, I was preoccupied with Norman and couldn’t take my eyes off him.

He stayed for over an hour and finally headed out. We didn’t see Nina and the kids, but we surely will one day soon. He often grazes with his family. We’ll keep you posted.

He started fluffing his mane when a Bog Daddy jumped the fence.

As for what transpired at Doc Theo’s office yesterday, I am hopeful his asthma/allergy treatment plan will be successful and that I can get off Prednisone within a week or two. He prescribed a drug called Mont-Air, which has many side effects but can eliminate asthma, hay fever, and itchy eyes caused by allergens in the environment.

I took the first dose last night, which is recommended since It can cause sleepiness but also can cause restlessness and anxiety in some patients. I ended up with restlessness, feeling like I had a motor running in my body. I hardly slept all night. However, as the morning wore on, I felt better.

His ears flipped back and forth when I spoke to him.

Theo told me to take the new drug, use my regular inhaler and nasal spray, and continue the low-dose Prednisone for one week. After a week, I’ll cut the Prednisone in half and continue that for another week, all the while continuing with the new drug. Hopefully, when the Prednisone is out of my system, I’ll have the full effect of the new drug and be asthma-free.

Having severe asthma attacks is dangerous at any age, but even more so for heart patients and the elderly. I guess at 77, I am considered elderly. Good grief.

Notice his left ear flipped back when I talked to him.

With this new plan, I am my usual cheerful self and continue enjoying the wildlife, surroundings, and wonderful people we know.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, March 18, 2015:

A visitor was killed on this beach at the end of Anina Beach, in Kauai, a desirable beach only 15 minutes from Princeville. This was sad to see. For more photos, please click here.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day to those who celebrate…Off to Komati to see Doc Theo for the first time in two years…

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What a beautiful animal!

Ah, it’s a beautiful morning. The sun is shining. There’s no breeze and the temperature at 10:00 am is 78F, 26C with an expected high today of 85F, 29C. The humidity is always high here, but it’s at a meager 60% with a dew point of 63, which is quite tolerable.

Wildebeest Hal and friends.

The wildlife is visiting, and often I am up and down, filling the 4-cup plastic measuring cup to the brim to feed them pellets. To keep the animals off the grass, which Louise is trying to grow inside the little fence, we’re trying to feed the animals at the railing/bench, as shown in the photos.

There are several calves in his herd of 12 who visit often.

But, they are persistent and used to walking right up to us on the veranda. They are bright and they will learn. The exception is the mongoose who seems to persist in coming up close and personal to ask for paloney. But they don’t eat grass since they are carnivores, and most animals are herbivores, only consuming vegetation.

Big Daddy kudu.

In about 90 minutes, we’ll leave for my appointment with Doc Theo to address my allergy issues. I’m still on a low dose of Prednisone to get me through until I see him. I will report what he’s suggested in tomorrow’s post. It will also be wonderful to see this dear man we’ve become close to over the years. He’s the only primary care physician we’ve had in 12½ years.

They are constantly scouring their surroundings for danger or food. Kudua are herbivores, only eating vegetation.

The Cleveland Clinic doctors suggested we get a primary care physician in the US, but now that we’re on the move again, it makes no sense when we’ll only spend a few weeks in the US every year. Neither of us cares to go to a doctor unless we need immediate treatment.

Wildebeest drinking from the pool after eating pellets.

After the appointment, we’ll go to the pharmacy to fill prescriptions while we shop for some odds and ends at the Spar market. The new SaveMor market here is good, but they don’t have many products we regularly use, such as sour cream, cream cheese, and various hard cheeses.

Today, we’ll purchase more carrots and some apples, hoping that Norman and his family will stop by. If he doesn’t, we’ll dole them out to the other animals, who love the ice-cold carrots and apples. We use a small amount of carrots in our salads, but neither eats apples or fruit other than occasional berries.

Mr. Bushbuck jumped the little fence to let us know he was hungry.

With our weight loss goals in mind, we avoid fruit, grains, and starches, except for a bit of almond or coconut flour required in specific recipes. Tom gave up eating rice for the time being since it prevented him from losing weight. Since he stopped eating it several days ago, he’s lost several pounds/kilos.

When Vusi washed many of our clothes we’d left behind, neatly folding each item, I was shocked to see how much more clothing we each left behind. Many of these items fit me since I gained weight after heart surgery in 2019. I’ve tried losing it many times but I’d lose a little and gain more, mainly due to medications I no longer take.

A mating pair of duikers. It’s that time of year.

I don’t overeat, snack, or eat unhealthy foods. It has been so frustrating not to fit into my clothes. Less than two weeks later, I am fitting into jeans I’ve never worn from the batch Vusi washed and dried. It’s as if I have a new wardrobe. Over the years of world travel, I’ve paid little attention to clothing besides trying to look put-together. Now, I have a renewed interest.

Once we get to the US in June, we’ll need to purchase some items for the upcoming four cruises. Who knew we’d ever have the opportunity to think about clothes for cruises. We are very grateful.

Our first sighting of a cute little male duiker.

Thanks to our many readers who write to us regularly, including Nicole, Thelma May, Gini, and many more. Your communication means the world to us. It’s always comforting to have friends from afar.

That’s my news for today.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, March 17, 2015:

Plumeria growing on the sparse tree in Kauai. Spring is in the air. For more photos, please click here.

Seeing an old friend!…A quiet Sunday…Wildlife in hiding with many weekend tourists…

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It was hard to see Norman at first, but when I called his name, he turned his head to look at me. My heart skipped a beat! His youngest son is in the front of the photo.

Last night, we dropped off the keto cheesecake I baked for Louise and Donnie before heading to Jabula for dinner. Usually, I’d make a pie for myself, but I am doing great on my diet (so is Tom), and I didn’t want to sidetrack my progress. It was fun to sit and gab with them both for a while.

But no sooner had we walked into the door of their house/office, Louise grabbed me and said she had to show me something immediately. I followed her outside to their veranda and garden, and she said, “Look, there’s your boyfriend!”

And there he was with his wife Nina and two of their latest kids, whom I’ve yet to see and name. I called out to him in my high-pitched voice and he immediately snapped his head my way.

He stared at me for a few minutes and then turned to Nina, whom he was pursuing. It’s mating season again. They had two kids since we’d been gone for 23 months.

I can’t wait until he and his family make their way to our garden, which could happen at any time. I’m keeping a watchful eye on the bush.

It’s a tranquil day today, with only a few animals lingering in the garden. At this point, I see three bushbucks, one unknown warthog and a male kudu at a distance. On Monday, when the weekend holidaymakers return to their respective homes, the bush will be abundant with wildlife again.

It was so wonderful to see Norman once again.

Tonight’s dinner is prepped. Tom has bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin cooked on the braai, and I am having prawns and mussels in garlic wine broth. On the side, we’ll have a dish I prepped this morning: a keto mushroom, onion, egg, and cheese flan, along with a big cabbage and lettuce salad with tomatoes, carrot, celery, and homemade dressing.

We’ve been doing laundry this morning, half of which is done now. Every few weeks, I wash everything white in a tub with bleach. With all the dust in the air here, whites can lose their brightness and bleach can resolve this. When we take off our socks at night, we notice a line of demarcation between the white in the shoe and the tinge of brown in the exposed part.

Tomorrow, I have an appointment with Doc Theo to get something for my bad allergies. It’s disappointing that I’m having to deal with more health issues but hereditary inflammatory conditions such as heart disease, pre-diabetes and allergies have plagued me all my life.

My boy Norman is quite handsome.

No sooner than four days after we arrived, I started sneezing with itchy eyes and having asthma, I had no choice but to start a short course of Prednisone, as recommended by Doc Theo to treat the asthma when my usual medications didn’t work. In my 30s I had a seven-year course of allergy immunization injections which worked until 30 years later. But, their efficacy can wear off in one’s later years.

Hopefully, he’ll have some options for me besides Prednisone, which is not recommended for extended periods. We shall see. After the appointment, we’ll head to the pharmacy and Spar Merket for veggies and a few odd items.

That’s it for today folks.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, March 16, 2015:

Not wanting to awaken the sleeping monk seal, I kept my distance, although I’d have loved to see more, in Kauai at Napali Beach. “Known to native Hawaiians as ʻIlio-holo-i-ka-uaua, or “dog that runs in rough water”, its scientific name is from Hugo Hermann Schauinsland, a German scientist who discovered a skull on Laysan Island in 1899. Its common name comes from short hairs on its head, and it is said to resemble a monk. The Hawaiian monk seals are adopted to be Hawaii’s state mammal.” For more photos, please click here.

It’s a special day in our lives of travel…Last night, eight guys and me at the “Cheers-type” bar at Jabula…What a blast!…

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My first ever attachment to an impala. This is Mac. He hangs around our garden throughout the day and night. Most often, impalas graze in herds. Max is the exception. He’s learning his name and the sound of my voice.

We uploaded our first post on March 15, 2012, 13 years ago as of today. You can read the first post here.

It was an exciting day to upload that first post. Although our site wasn’t entirely designed then, I did my best to make it readable. We made many errors, many more than we make today, but I genuinely believe our readers understand that posting as often as we do, a certain number of errors are to be expected, although we both proofread each day.

Today’s post will be number 4172. It is not exactly one post per day; there have been times when we couldn’t post or took a day off during the 13 years since we began sharing our story.

Although we posted on March 15, 2012, we didn’t begin our travels until October 31, 2012, 231 days later. But, we thought we needed to share the process of unloading everything we owned and the emotions associated with letting go of so much we knew and love, including family and friends.

Mongeese drinking from the bird bath after eating paloney..

In the beginning, we included a few photos—for many days, there were no photos. However, as time marched on and our experiences grew, we purchased a cheap little automatic camera at a Walmart in Mexico, with virtually no expertise in photography.

Over the years, our interest in sharing photos increased exponentially but my interest in photography never increased. Thus, as much as we’d like our photos to be perfect, we spend little time editing photos while gaining little knowledge about how to take great pictures.

Tom’s dinner at Jabula last night was 300 gr. rump steak, baked potato, sour cream (which I used), and green beans. He said it was delicious.

After spending so much time preparing posts and photos, once I am done for the day, I have little interest in using my laptop or learning about photography to a greater degree. It is what it is, and I do my best with my limited ability. We hope you all understand.

We’ve found we like to spend the balance of our days experiencing the world around us instead of being educated on a topic for which I have little interest and skill. As long as I can upload photos for our readers to see, I am content and experience no frustration or angst for this topic.

We have thoroughly enjoyed sharing our stories and photos over these past 13 years and hope you will continue to enjoy them with us. Without all of you, I’d have had little motivation to spend every morning of my life sitting at my laptop documenting almost every detail of our lives. For this, I thank everyone of you.

This grilled chicken salad will be a regular for me. It consisted of a Greek salad topped with tender grilled chicken.

On another note, last night we had another fantastic time at Jabula, the South Africa equivalent of the Cheers Bar from the TV series from 1982-1993, about a bar, “where everyone knew your name.” I felt like a prima donna surrounded by eight men sitting at the bar with us, commiserating over our love of the bush, nature and travel. Dawn, the lovely owner, stood behind the bar and joined in with all of us.

Two men were British, two were from Mozambique, and the remainder were South African. What a lively group! The animated conversation, laughter, and interaction amongst the group were palpable. When we left, we received hugs, kisses, and handshakes all around. Surely we’ll see many of them again.

As always, our food was fantastic. We ate sitting at the bar, as usual, never missing a beat in the lively conversations. It was a memorable night. More will follow tonight.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, March 15, 2015::

In Kauai, we watched the life cycle of the Laysan Albatross for months. The beaks of the Albatross are used for preening and signs of greeting. They may also be used aggressively if an intruder threatens them or the nest. For more photos, please click here.

The weekend has begun…Socializing on the menu…New wildlife video…

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It’s a lovely day in the bush. The temperature is in the high 70s, and there’s a cooling, overcast sky, a gentle breeze, and less humidity than usual. With the cooler weather, considering there are many weekend holidaymakers, that reduces the number of animals we’ll see, we’ve had a steady stream of wildlife this morning.

We had a dazzle of zebras who seem to have become regulars along with several bushbucks, our now usual band of mongoose, a forkl of kudus, and our favorite impala, Mac, who’s often surrounded by his herd of impala. Impalas are generally shy, but Mac has taken a liking to us and visits us on his own several times daily.

We’ve yet to see my favorite animal, Norman the nyala, but have heard he’s been grazing across Oliphant, the main road in Marloth Park. Hopefully, he’ll eventually work his way back to our bush area soon.

Zebras stop by daily. Right now, there are eight of them in the garden.

A warthog came to visit that looked like Little, my favorite from 2018 when we stayed at the Orange house, probably a half mile from here. Again, we had him with us when we stayed in the Lovebird’s Nest house. When he showed up a few days ago, I could swear it was him, especially when he became animated when I talked to him while we made endearing eye contact.

My favorite female kudu, Bossy, arrived the day we arrived. I am sure she remembers me, my high-pitched voice, and my demeanor. Although wild, most of these animals are intelligent and can relate to humans, each in their own way. No words can describe how precious the relationships we develop with these wild animals are, not much different than humans would relate with their dog, cat, or other pets.

However, these animals are not pets and this is not a petting zoo. We do not touch, hand feed, or invite them into the house, although mongooses stick their heads inside the door to look for me when I cut little bits of paloney, a large roll of chicken, comparable to the texture of braunschweiger.

Today, I gave these zebras, iced cold carrots which they loved.

Each morning, I slice big rounds off the paloney and then cut it both ways into bite-sized pieces, placing them on a paper plate to toss as they wait in the garden. They squeal with delight when the paloney comes their way and this morning we took the above video to share with all of you.

We realize that over the almost six months we’ll be here, there will be considerable redundancy with an endless stream of photos and videos you may have seen in similar media years ago. After all, we’ve spent over four years living in the bush during our 12 years of world travel. We can’t get enough!

Soon, Tom will drop me off at my favorite local spa, Imbewe, where I will have a much-needed pedicure. I haven’t had one since the first week we arrived in Lake Las Vegas in December. I’ve done my best in the interim, but there’s nothing like a professional service. Also, it will be wonderful to see Patience and her husband, Doctor (not a doctor, just his African given name), after over two years since we’ve been gone.

My girl Bossy, remembered us right away.

Tonight, we’ll head to Jabula, our favorite place to spend Friday and Saturday nights. Of course, if other social plans arise, we’re certainly open to doing something else. But, here in Marloth Park, most people are retired, and particular days of the week don’t dictate when they should socialize. We’re invited to Roz and Les’ house on Wednesday for a braai. It will be fun to see them again.

That’s it for today, folks. Of course, we’ll be back with lots more. Tomorrow is a special day. Please check by to see what we’re celebrating!

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, March 14, 2015:

No photos were posted on this date in 2015.