Lots of "firsts" these last few days:
1) Our first airbnb: a generously sized two bedroom home in a rural area (read: smell of cow manure outside), just outside Tsitsikamma National Park. We're here for 4 nights in the row, the longest we've stayed in one spot at a time. We're happy to not be packing/on the move for a bit. It came at a great time, because today is our first rain. It's dry season and we've haven't seen a drop of rain until today. It's 1pm here and it's been raining steadily for a healthy seven hours. Good, because SA is in the midst of a very long drought that has its population on water restrictions (at least we feel good about not contributing to the water shortage in any significant way - we have to beg/bribe the kids to shower every 3-4 days and Ben has drank almost nothing but mango-orange "liquifruit" since we arrived).
2) The first rain came at a good time. Because we also had our first vomiting today (Ben) so it's convenient that it's not a nice day for a hike anyway. (The above picture was before the rains the and illness.) Today was supposed to be the beginning of a week of day hiking in and around Tsitsikamma and Knsyna NPs. Instead, we are hunkered down under fleece blankets listening to the hard rain on the metal roof.
3) Cape buffalo. A few days ago, we saw our first cape buffalo - the 5th of the "Big 5" - the only one we hadn't seen on our 3 day camping safari. It was the one Ben wanted to see the most but they are rare sightings in Pilanesberg NP. So, after flying to Port Elizabeth (and renting a car, with no troubles - Abby will fill you in on that), we headed to Addo Elephant NP and drove ourselves around the park for the day. It was awesome having just our family in the car, rather than having the guide. We were certainly glad to have the guide in the early going to teach us about the animals (he was very knowledgable) and the "how-tos" of a game drive but glad to not have the small talk and smoking on this drive. Ben thought he had reached his Shangri-La when we rounded a corner early in the drive and came across this guy in a wide open field by himself, not more than 40 feet from the road.
But then, within an hour of the gates closing on our last "game drive" of the trip, this was the look on Ben's face when we encountered a herd of 50+ cape buffalo walking right by the car.
As they walked past, they took a quick dip in this water hole, to cool off:
Occasionally, one of them would look right at us, start what seemed like a staring contest, and I would wonder if Chris could start the car and drive away fast enough if he decided he was tired of being watched.
At one point in our earlier safari, Chris mentioned that it was still a bit like seeing animals in a zoo since there is a fence around the outside of the South African National Parks to keep the animals in. But, after watching scores of cape buffalo cool off in a tiny water hole on their way to wherever they were going, even he agreed: this is decidedly not like a zoo.
4) Our first braai (where we were actually doing the cooking - really, Chris and Abby cooking, since I was under the weather). Once again, there's a sweet outdoor braai (used both as a noun and a verb) on the patio of our house. The South Africans have a fascinating (quite different from ours) set up for their fires/BBQing. Getting the braai going starts with a beautifully built wood fire. Then charcoal is added. When you arrive at an accommodation, the wood is all set up in the braai for you. Chris hasn't got their system totally figured out - he came in at one point last night and announced that: 1) he'd have "this thing figured about by the time we leave here" and 2) there might be a reason the safari guide didn't have our dinners ready until 9pm on the safari.
5) Our first regret - we forgot to bring binoculars on the trip. Our guide had them for us on our safari, but now we're on our own. We survived Addo without them because so many of the animals were SO close
and that was our last game drive in a park with big mammals (and the Big Five). But Chris decided with possible whale watching, plenty of smaller mammals on hikes, and lots a great birding in our future here, it was a regret we needed to rectify. Thus, our first venture into what I refer to as "South African REI".
All the same stuff as our camping type stores, plus a few decidedly African items:
Those pots are for cooking stews (and other things) over a wood fire. Abby's "hat" is an insulator for a pot of paap (a polenta-type grain, though white cornmeal, not yellow, served with lots of South African dishes).
6) We have finally knocked off our first visit to one of the surf spots on our Surfing Monopoly board (not that we've ever had a goal of visiting all (or any) of them): Jeffrey's Bay, South Africa. It was a last minute decision due to a lack of proper accommodation planning. And well worth it.
Blue skies, crystal clear waters of the Indian Ocean, several very skilled surfers on some of the longest waves in the world, a number of cool wooden viewing platforms to watch them from, and miles and miles of nearly empty, fine white sand beaches to walk on. And the binoculars (called "binos" here) came in quite handy!
7) School. Abby started her school work (math) a couple days ago. She's using the Algebra curriculum they use in Ann Arbor. (A random 8th grade math teacher in AA, who I emailed this summer, told me about it, gave me resources for teaching it and told me how far they'd get by November- a woman I've never met and may never meet.)
I love the curriculum. Each unit of every topic starts with a hands-on (engineering/science type) real world application. Then, you learn the details of the math that connect with that application....just the way it should be. (Not surprisingly, it is the very curriculum Mr. T suggested when I asked him what curriculum to use with the kids...even though he's never used it.)
This morning, as Abby was crying and "yelling" at Chris and me about our support/lack of support/teaching (who knows?) while doing her math today, Ben chimed in with, "So, is this what homeschool is like?"
We'll let you know when Ben has started his school work. ;)
1) Our first airbnb: a generously sized two bedroom home in a rural area (read: smell of cow manure outside), just outside Tsitsikamma National Park. We're here for 4 nights in the row, the longest we've stayed in one spot at a time. We're happy to not be packing/on the move for a bit. It came at a great time, because today is our first rain. It's dry season and we've haven't seen a drop of rain until today. It's 1pm here and it's been raining steadily for a healthy seven hours. Good, because SA is in the midst of a very long drought that has its population on water restrictions (at least we feel good about not contributing to the water shortage in any significant way - we have to beg/bribe the kids to shower every 3-4 days and Ben has drank almost nothing but mango-orange "liquifruit" since we arrived).
2) The first rain came at a good time. Because we also had our first vomiting today (Ben) so it's convenient that it's not a nice day for a hike anyway. (The above picture was before the rains the and illness.) Today was supposed to be the beginning of a week of day hiking in and around Tsitsikamma and Knsyna NPs. Instead, we are hunkered down under fleece blankets listening to the hard rain on the metal roof.
3) Cape buffalo. A few days ago, we saw our first cape buffalo - the 5th of the "Big 5" - the only one we hadn't seen on our 3 day camping safari. It was the one Ben wanted to see the most but they are rare sightings in Pilanesberg NP. So, after flying to Port Elizabeth (and renting a car, with no troubles - Abby will fill you in on that), we headed to Addo Elephant NP and drove ourselves around the park for the day. It was awesome having just our family in the car, rather than having the guide. We were certainly glad to have the guide in the early going to teach us about the animals (he was very knowledgable) and the "how-tos" of a game drive but glad to not have the small talk and smoking on this drive. Ben thought he had reached his Shangri-La when we rounded a corner early in the drive and came across this guy in a wide open field by himself, not more than 40 feet from the road.
But then, within an hour of the gates closing on our last "game drive" of the trip, this was the look on Ben's face when we encountered a herd of 50+ cape buffalo walking right by the car.
As they walked past, they took a quick dip in this water hole, to cool off:
Occasionally, one of them would look right at us, start what seemed like a staring contest, and I would wonder if Chris could start the car and drive away fast enough if he decided he was tired of being watched.
At one point in our earlier safari, Chris mentioned that it was still a bit like seeing animals in a zoo since there is a fence around the outside of the South African National Parks to keep the animals in. But, after watching scores of cape buffalo cool off in a tiny water hole on their way to wherever they were going, even he agreed: this is decidedly not like a zoo.
4) Our first braai (where we were actually doing the cooking - really, Chris and Abby cooking, since I was under the weather). Once again, there's a sweet outdoor braai (used both as a noun and a verb) on the patio of our house. The South Africans have a fascinating (quite different from ours) set up for their fires/BBQing. Getting the braai going starts with a beautifully built wood fire. Then charcoal is added. When you arrive at an accommodation, the wood is all set up in the braai for you. Chris hasn't got their system totally figured out - he came in at one point last night and announced that: 1) he'd have "this thing figured about by the time we leave here" and 2) there might be a reason the safari guide didn't have our dinners ready until 9pm on the safari.
5) Our first regret - we forgot to bring binoculars on the trip. Our guide had them for us on our safari, but now we're on our own. We survived Addo without them because so many of the animals were SO close
6) We have finally knocked off our first visit to one of the surf spots on our Surfing Monopoly board (not that we've ever had a goal of visiting all (or any) of them): Jeffrey's Bay, South Africa. It was a last minute decision due to a lack of proper accommodation planning. And well worth it.
Blue skies, crystal clear waters of the Indian Ocean, several very skilled surfers on some of the longest waves in the world, a number of cool wooden viewing platforms to watch them from, and miles and miles of nearly empty, fine white sand beaches to walk on. And the binoculars (called "binos" here) came in quite handy!
7) School. Abby started her school work (math) a couple days ago. She's using the Algebra curriculum they use in Ann Arbor. (A random 8th grade math teacher in AA, who I emailed this summer, told me about it, gave me resources for teaching it and told me how far they'd get by November- a woman I've never met and may never meet.)
I love the curriculum. Each unit of every topic starts with a hands-on (engineering/science type) real world application. Then, you learn the details of the math that connect with that application....just the way it should be. (Not surprisingly, it is the very curriculum Mr. T suggested when I asked him what curriculum to use with the kids...even though he's never used it.)
This morning, as Abby was crying and "yelling" at Chris and me about our support/lack of support/teaching (who knows?) while doing her math today, Ben chimed in with, "So, is this what homeschool is like?"
We'll let you know when Ben has started his school work. ;)
Love seeing the experience through your eyes. Glad you've found curriculum you're happy with - makes me excited for them to go to school in AA. Looking forward to hearing Ben 10's experience with home school. :)
ReplyDeletePlease tell Abby to post again soon. She left us with a cliffhanger about a "blow up" and Chris' driving and I'm anxiously awaiting the stories!
Rain on a metal roof feels so "Africa" to me. I know each country is quite different but I'm happy your family and I will have some shared knowledge of the continent.
Hope you and Ben are feeling better!
Hi Abby! We're just catching up with your wonderfully written account and photos. You even make hunkering down during the deluge sound delightful. Sorry to hear Jennifer and Ben have been under the weather. Hope you are all healthy now. Loved the images from the camping store.
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