Emily and Ethan's Visit

 ".  .  .  Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: . . . Mark 6:31."

Emily and Ethan arrived for a visit to South Africa from Cambodia on March 26.  We met them in Johannesburg and traveled to  Kruger National Park for our first visit ever.

We have very enjoyable memories from our three days in the game park, stopping for coffee breaks along the way and .  .  .

.  .  .  braaiing almost every day. Here, we are enjoying a breakfast braai cooked on the skottelbraai (in the background on the right).

The goal of every visitor to Kruger is to see the BIG FIVE.  Even with an extended stay in the park, it is not unusual to not make this goal.  So we realistically did NOT expect to sight all five during a visit of less than 3 days.  On our first afternoon in the park, we saw the first of the Big Five, the RHINOCEROS. Among other animals seen that first day were many impala, a giraffe and an ELEPHANT (the second of the Big Five, though deep in the bush).

The next day started by our seeing a LION (the third of the Big Five), . . . 

 . . . and shortly thereafter, we saw number four, the CAPE BUFFALO.

 

Imagine our excitement a few minutes later when we saw a HERD of over 150 ELEPHANTS, who appeared to be arguing over territorial rights.  We actually heard them before we saw them separate right in front of our vehicle. This small group seemed to pose for Ethan to take this impressive photo.

A few hours later, just before dust, after less than 30 hours in the park,  we saw the fifth of the Big Five, a LEOPARD having a meal of springbok ribs in a tree with several hyena waiting below to finish off his scraps.  

We were close enough to this lion to learn that lions smell very bad!

As we left the park on the third morning, we posed before the statue of Paul Kruger, president of the Transvaal Republic, who passed a proclamation to form a "Government Wildlife Park" in 1898. In 1926, this park was expanded in 1926 into the Kruger National Park making it one of the largest game parks in all of Africa.  

Back in Cape Town, Ethan and Emily became acquainted with our church family at our services  . .

 . . .  at our Easter braai, playing games . . . 

 . . . and pitching in with dishes and salad making.

Emily and Ethan's trip to South Africa provided opportunity to spend time with her childhood friend, Liz.  We all enjoyed getting to know her husband, Ross, and make more memories together.  Perhaps the most memorable moment for me ws seeing "Lil' Crowley," when Emily had a sonogram.  The little lifted a hand and appeared to wave to ME!  (At least, that is what I think!  :-)

A few days before their visit ended on April 16, the four of us climbed Table Mountain.  Emily said, "Mom, I hope I can do this climb when I'm YOUR age!" (Was that a compliment?  :-)