Magoebaskloof : Lockdown Day 153 - Wednesday 26 August

We left early for a day out birding in the Magoebaskloof forests with expert guide David Letsoalo. Cell +27 83 568 4678.He is one of the most knowledgeable and enthusiastic guides we've ever birded with. I recommend you book a day out with him for sure. 

We went looking for some of the rare and endemic birds of the area. We added 15 birds to our lockdown list ( 236 )and 4 to our life list.

He also took us to a nesting site of a pair of endangered Bat Hawks. 

Quote of the day today is borrowed from Carol.

Martina Navratilova was once asked, "How do you maintain your focus, physique and sharp game?"

She gave a humble reply, "The ball doesn't know how old I am."

Magoebaskloof : Lockdown Day 152 - Tuesday 25 August

Johan and Neil went trout fishing for the morning. What peace and quiet all by myself. I was enjoying sitting outside with the laptop and coffee and watching birds in the garden but my allergies got too much and I had to move inside. That's a sure sign that spring is here. Yippee!

I can really recommend Magoebaskloof Birders' Cottages.

Email: mbcottage1@gmail.com

Cell: 084 402 3709

Website: www.birderscottage.co.za

And I continue to make plans, at least for September and October!

" Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on the shore and merely existed?"

Hunter S Thompson.

Magoebaskloof : Lockdown Day 151 - Monday 24 August

So today we have officially flown the coop and come to Magoebaskloof Birders Cottages for 4 nights.

Johan had booked it when we were allowed to travel for leisure within Limpopo. And now we can travel anywhere in South Africa. Summer is coming and we need to make plans to get on the road again. We are going to be in and out of Ximongwe for September. Does this mean the end of the lockdown daily blog? I can't give it up yet. It would feel like letting your lockdown sourdough starter just die!

After 15 minutes here we had seen so many birds and 2 "lifers", the White Starred Robin and the Swee Waxbill. Our lockdown Bird List now stands at 217!

Facebook and Google Photos are still reminding us of our travelling life in years gone by. And it's definitely all the family and friends I miss the most. Here's to hoping we'll be visiting and partying and travelling together very, very soon.

With Greg and Sarah in Spain

With Bob and Jane in Park City, Utah in 2018

Lockdown Day 150 - Sunday 23 August

We were up early for a game drive. It was a giraffe day.

I took some pictures of a tree that has been ring barked by an elephant. That tree will probably now die.

It's scary how many dead and up rooted trees we see and the destruction that elephants cause.  There are too many elephants in Greater Kruger. If numbers are left to grow unchecked they could destroy the habitat forever. 

Africa is in our blood. We will never get tired of sitting around the boma fire in the bushveld drinking good red wine and braaing steak and wors.

Lockdown Day 149 - Saturday 22 August

Another lazy day. Happy times. Warm weather. We haven't seen the hippos here for quite a while and today one was hanging around.

This time last year we were in Venice with Tracey. It feels like a lifetime ago, which is strange because these last five months in lockdown have just flown by. Venice is one of my favourite cities in Europe. Let's hope we can get back there again sometime in 2021.

Lockdown Day 148 - Friday 21 August

Song lyric for the day..." Hey! Hey! It's Friday! " and I'm still stealing friends' what's app posts for the blog. 

Our Elephants visited again and we had a lovely collared sunbird at the window.

I made Turkish Balloon Bread with our eggs and bacon for brunch. Very nice with a crisp Chenin Blanc.

We are enjoying wines from our new wine order from Safari Wines.

We are also enjoying the speciality "Natural" Ethiopian coffees I ordered from "Cape Coffee"  that were delivered to the reserve gate.

Neil studied a barista course during lockdown but he hasn't shown a lot of interest in the practical part of it; especially when it comes to making coffee in the morning and he has no interest in taking the exams or getting the certificate. (He also did the academic part of the Field Guide course but skipped the sections he has no interest in like trees and grasses.😂) Paulet and Clarissa made pizzas for dinner. Neil requested  " Iced Zoo " rocky road for dessert. Not an adult dessert and not a biscuit I ever liked. (Only South Africans will know zoo biscuits.)

Lockdown Day 147 - Thursday 20 August

Ximongwe has it's first official guests from Gauteng. Our Elephants put on such a welcome show for them and we had lots of different animals visiting.

The Grey Headed Bush Shrike is usually a shy bird but he has been in the tree near the balcony for a few days now.

The weather is a little chilly; the last of the winter weather but we still enjoyed sitting outside around the fire all evening. We cooked Greek lamb patties and stuffed pork neck on the braai and served them with salads and homemade pita bread but my enthusiasm for taking photos of all the food seems to be waning. Song for the day.." Sitting on the deck at Ximongwe.. Watching ellies play all day!"

Lockdown Day 146 - Wednesday 19 August

It's an admin day and a cooking day. The Sanparks website has crashed again and it looks like the Kruger Park is 100% fully booked until the end of 2020. People really want to get away after five months at home. We have a few trips planned but we are going to spend some time here at Ximongwe too because we are getting visitors. Some of you are already out and about.

A friend posted on Facebook, "For every situation there's a suitable line from a song!"

Try.."We're all going on a summer holiday!" or " Don't fence me in!" and "We've gotta get out of this place!" 

Then there's a random photo highlighting Neil's sense of humour.

Luckily twelve years of full time travelling together makes five months of lockdown togehther a doddle.

Lockdown Day 145 - Tuesday 18 August

After a slow start we went into town to collect our wine order. We are following government advice and ensuring we have a three month supply just in case. During Lockdown we have only been drinking the good stuff and I don't think we can return to drinking plonk ever again.

As things open up all over the world and people start meeting up for an outdoor meal, a braai or a walk, I have noticed that Zoom chats have largely disappeared. This week's online phenomenon seems to be creating avatars. Last week it was Jerusalema dance sequences.

And I am so excited that a few friends are coming to stay at Ximongwe. It's really safe here in the bush with warm weather for lots of outdoor living and no crowds. Thus far Hoedspruit and surrounds has had very few Covid cases.

Lockdown Day 144 - Monday 17 August

So it's getting difficult to come up with something new and exciting to write about every day. Our garden is still full of animals and the kitchen is still full of culinary delights like today's wonderful pita breads. 

Neil has been compiling a new wine order for Safari Wines and we'll pick it up in town tomorrow. We are very excited that some friends from Gauteng are booking to come and visit us here at Ximongwe after our five months in exile.

We've been listening to a new band called Mt. Joy on Spotify. Neil says their lyrics are surrealistic.

"Angels smoking cigarettes on rooftops in fishnets

In the morning with the moon still glowing

And here comes Jesus in an Astrovan Rolling down the  strip again

Life ain't ever what it seems

These dreams are more than paper things

I don't want to see those tears again

Jesus drives an Astrovan."

Ximongwe Greater Kruger : Lockdown Day 143 - Sunday 16 August

The lions have moved off the carcass and the vultures have finished it off. I have so many photos from the last few days that I'm going to post a few more. 

At about midnight one large male was on our lawn again. I took the photo from our balcony with my phone in one hand; spotlight in the other. 

Today I spent lots of time making plans and bookings now that we can travel interprovincially again. We've decided not to rush to Gauteng but wait a few weeks to see how things pan out in Lockdown Stage 2. The Sanparks website crashed because so many people are trying to book holidays. Now I realise how special it was too be able to visit Kruger on day visits with hardly any other tourists. Let's all support the tourism and hospitality industries as much as we can until the international tourists return.