They say better late than never!
Here we are at the end of January and I am just now getting my blog done.
Happy Belated New Year!!
A few days before Christmas we spent three days in the Pilanesburg Game Reserve. We enjoy the park a lot and always see lots of animals.
We watched these weaver birds making their nests. It is absolutely amazing how they put the nests together. The males build the nests and, if the female doesn't like it, he tears it apart and starts all over.
Spotted this big fellow while we were watching the birds. The picture doesn't do him justice-he is one huge crocodile!
We spent a day with Brent and Charlene at the
Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve and enjoyed a picnic lunch.
To celebrate Al's 75th birthday, we drove to Durban. We stayed in a B&B right across from the botanical gardens. The oldest garden in South Africa. We had dinner in the ONLY revolving restaurant in the Southern Hemisphere. Had the absolutely best meal ever and watched the sunset over the city and ocean from the 32nd floor! It was a great day!
This tree with the big round balls is a canonball tree. Having one of these fall on you would leave you in a world of hurt.
The orchids were beautiful.......
I love this little fellow - he is soooo adorable!
This is a Southern Red Bishop
The female builds their nests - they are in the weaver bird family.
These Red Bishops were nesting in Lotus blossoms!
This was the first time I had seen Lotus blossoms in person.....
From the gardens to the beach! This is Durban.
Can you tell where the lifeguards are posted?
Everyone stays in front of the lifeguard station when they go into the water.
As usual, I am trying to hold everything on my body. There were whitecaps on the ocean.
We were intrigued by the lady in the burka showering off the sand.
Anyone for a taxi ride?
Sand sculptures!
This one was taking donations to stop the poaching of the rhinos.....
While in Durban we visited the site of the temple being built there.
It is in a lovely spot on a hill.
After Durban we drove up the coast to Richards Bay and stayed in a little chalet on the beach. Did some beach combing and we then went to Imfolozi Game Reserve
A leopard turtle!
Cape Buffalo (one of the BIG FIVE)
Close your eyes - this one is R rated!
Elephant time!
I can't tell you how many pictures we have of the back ends of animals - here's one more!!!
More beautiful and not so beautiful birds.....
More elephants - they are also one of the BIG FIVE!
White Rhinos - Part of the BIG FIVE!
The BIG FIVE consists of Elephants, Rhinos, Cape Buffalo, Lions and Leopards.
Continuing up the coast to a little town called St. Lucia. These warning signs are justified - the hippos from the nearby marshes and wetlands come into town at night to eat the grass.
A Vervet baby!
We took a sunset cruise up the river to see the hippos. We saw a breeding pod where there were four babies born in the previous 8 days before we came. One was 8 days old, one was 6 days old, one four days and one was just 3 days old.
This group was just waking up and they were fun to watch and listen to.....
These are some little ones here - not the little, little ones but still little.
On our way back to the pier.
The sunset part of our sunset cruise.
Another hike at Klip River Nature Reserve
We found the animals on this hike - we hiked about 7 kilometers that day!
Black Wildebeest
Bleesbok
More Wildebeest
And, of course, you NEVER go hiking with Allan and Brent without talking a picture of the local lizards!
This one was pretty chubby.
Work has been going great. Things are starting to pick up now that the holidays are over. It is just like when we were in Ukraine - Christmas holidays go from 15 Dec to 15 Jan! Things don't come to a complete stop but they really slow down.
We are enjoying a very pleasant summer with lots of rain. They need the rain badly here so we are glad when it comes.
Farewell until next month (which is only in 2 days!)!!!
