Pictures of South Africa

We'll let the pictures do most of the communicating in this entry. We went with Joanna and Keith to Kruger Park last month and had some memorable encounters. (Thanks to them for the great pictures.)



We were driving along and this guy was on the road. We stopped and watched him flapping his ears and walking slowly toward us. There was still some distance so we just waited. But when he started trotting, I put the truck in reverse and we got out of there! Later a guide told us the elephant was trying to defend his territory and we were in the way so he decided to charge. After we backed up, he stopped and ambled off of the road so we could pass.

After a day of not seeing much at all, we went on a sunset drive with a guide. We saw about 20 rhinocerus, some in a herd of mothers and babies. Then we came upon a pride of lions parading down the road. I had heard of parades like this before but had never seen one. We stopped the truck and they stopped and stared at us like this one. They were so close it was almost scary!



The guide had his window down with his arm resting on it. He was also down closer to the road and I asked him what would prevent the lions from just jumping in. He said they were used to the truck and thought his arm was a black stick! Hmm, I hope for his sake that he knows what he's talking about. Earlier he told us about the time an elephant charged him right through the windshield and one tusk went right beside him and into the seat. Wow, he's had some adventures and lived to tell about it.















We've posted pictures of Blyde River Canyon here before, but it is such a beautiful place, we will post some more.






Here we are on our last night together playing cards as we got in the habit of doing. This is "Up and Down the River" where you have to say how many tricks you will take starting with 10 cards and going down to 1 and back up. When you get to 1, you cannot look at it, you put it on your head and others see it and guess whether they will take the trick or not. Keith always covers his mouth, he says he doesn't have a poker face!

Fun times, and we will remember them gratefully. It was hard to say "see you later" but it is one of the realities of being here. We were very blessed to have them visit.