Autumn / Dry Season - at home and on the road

It's that time of year again. I do believe that our rainy season is finally over! The town warthogs are all dusty, no longer shiny and glistening with mud. Here is one of the curious youngsters, a little uncertain about being a photographic subject outside our workshop! They have grown up beautifully, and there has been quite a good survival rate this year. How could you not love that face?

 

We have actually just washed the last warthog-mud-rubbings off the rear of our car, knowing there will be no more sloshy puddles around town for a good 8 months or so.  If they do rub the vehicles around the place now, there is no hard evidence painted in mud!

We have been more or less stuck here, making use of all the public holidays for DIY and catch-up work in our shops, but it would not be normal without taking the odd road trip in between!

Leaving here on any trip south, we first pass one of my absolute favourite trees, ever. I have so many drive-by photos of this particular friend, at this moment dressed in beautiful Autumnal garb.

Next we pass the sunflower fields. We've been observing the crops from the car windows during the past season's road trips - from freshly ploughed fields, to sturdy little green plants, and now this pre-harvest glory!

First trip: fixing the satellite internet system at Elephant Sands.. (about 600km return trip). This is always a favourite waterhole for humans and elephants alike. Once the work is done, it's the perfect place to relax and enjoy the evening before getting up early for the trip back north, to home and work!  I have written so many blog posts about this place over here  and also here just to name a couple..

Second trip: a suddenly necessary dash to the dentist (1000km return). It appears that I cannot cook popcorn properly (my poor husband!) Luckily for me, I went in second and thus enjoyed live viewing in the waiting room, of some of  The Royal Wedding. I thoroughly enjoyed this small window of escapism and joy in between the usual dreadful images on TV screens these days.

Back home, taking a break from the all the tasks, we visited a nearby local lodge for an evening sundowner. The best route is to take the bush tracks through the Forest Reserve behind our home. The lush, jungly greenery of January (ref flame lily hunting at New Year) has now given way to more earthy autumnal colours.

At our sunset destination, Senyati Safari Camp, large herds of elephants make their leisurely way past, and enjoy the fresh water in the waterhole at the lodge.

The green acacia trees here really contrast with the brown earth of the Lesoma Valley. In this photo, we are looking out towards neighbouring country Zimbabwe, just beyond the elephants.

After completing this small window on my world, I must now return to a rapidly speeding week, with inboxes full of neglected friends and family, as well as typically procrastinated tasks! Warm mid week greetings to all reading this...