Last Saturday, Mom and I drove to Kruger National Park. The Area Public Affairs Office was holding a 5-day seminar for all the Public Affair senior missionaries in Southeast Africa there.  Leaving Johannesburg, we drove northeast going through the Drakensberg "dragon mountains." This is South Africa's largest mountain range. 

 Mom was able to capture this picture of a waterfall. I was too busy trying to stay on the left side of the road.

Our first night was spent at the Khayat Manor House. As you can see, it was pretty nice.

Getting ready for dinner looking out over the pool and Kruger Park.

During the day, there were training classes; but at 5:30 am and 5:00 pm there were drives into the Park. We saw lots of animals and I got pictures of some. This is a Common Hippopotamus. This guy, like most hippos, spent a lot of time in the water and this was the best shot I could get. Contrary to his appearance, a hippo can attain a speed of 20 mph on land. It was probably better he stayed in his watering hole.

This is one massive Rhinoceros! He was just coming down the road at us when our driver thought it was better to pull over and let him pass.

 Totally absent north of the equator, the Blue Wildebeest was constantly in migration mode except at Kruger where they can't leave the park. Kruger is huge. It extends 220 miles north-south and averages 38 miles east-west, so they can roam a bit.

This bird is a giraffe's best friend picking bugs off this long necked animal (except when the bug is in his eye!)

 This is a male giraffe. You can tell because he's larger and has a darker hide.

 A full grown Steenbok. The name is an Afrikaans word for "stone buck." This refers to the fact that when disturbed, the Steenbok usually goes stone-cold still. This one held still for his picture op.

 A male Common Waterbuck.

 The Impalas were plentiful but usually we saw the males (with horns) in their group,

 while the females were in theirs. Apparently, this time of year the females stay together because many are giving birth and all the mothers lookout for their young.

 We sat in the Land Rover while a small heard of elephants walked around us. Being so big, it was amazing how quiet they were.

 Can you say "Akunda Matata"? Here's a Spotted Hyena, Africa's second-largest predator after,

 the Lions. We couldn't get too close; but if you look carefully, you'll see two white lions on the left. They are considered very rare in the wild.

 This guy just kept staring at me, so I took his picture. I would really hate to get in his way.

Lastly, at Dullstrom, a small village on the way to Kruger, we had lunch at Harrie's Pancakes. We could only think of our oldest grandson. We love you, Harry, and all our grandchildren.

 Monday, November 18, 2013, I flew to Maputo, Mozambique. On both Monday and Tuesday, I met with some local attorneys to discuss property issues and then flew back to Johannesburg Wednesday morning. This photo taken from the plane just before landing. This is a pretty typical area of residences jammed in pretty tight around Maputo. There are very few paved roads. In the background is Maputo Bay.

 Typical street vendor.

 In the late 15th century Portuguese explorers began landing along this coast. Maputo is located in the southern end of Mozambique. There is a harbor here which was used by the Portuguese as a stopping off point for their trading ships, going to, and returning from Asia. Photograph is taken from my hotel.

 Carrying home some groceries.

 Very friendly, until they saw the camera.

 Near here the Church has property where a chapel will be built next year.  Mozambique is very poor. It wasn't until 1975 that independence was proclaimed after a very long war with Portugal. The country is just now recovering economically. Oil and gas fields have been discovered off the coast.

 A Father & Son activity.

 Looking for sand crabs for tonight's dinner.

 Or you can always catch some very small fish. Look closely at the net and you'll see a meal.

 If the fisherman drops a fish these little guys will get it.

 Colorful dresses, slacks and scarves on street near the hotel. The tree with the red flower is called a Flame here, but I've known them as Flamboyants.

One happy vendor! He's just made a sale to me. Its 5 girls. I had to buy it because it reminded me of 5 daughters at home.

 This is the 2nd chapel built in South Africa by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Its within blocks of downtown Johannesburg and is considered to be in a dangerous part of town.

 As a young missionary, I attended this building on a number of occasions. We called it the Ramah building then and it housed one branch. Today, there are two wards meeting in this building. Mom and I attended church here this past Sunday. Just coming onto the chapel grounds brought tears to my eyes. Hard to believe it has been 47 years.

 Inside of the chapel.

Members of the Johannesburg 1st Ward.

 Well, here is where we live. It's called Dukes Court. If you look closely, you'll see the name directly over the entrance to the building in the center of the photograph. Our apartment is on the 2nd floor and is directly above the "Duke" sign. We have no view to speak of. Right across the street (extreme left of photograph) is the Killarney Mall. We look right into the 3 story parking structure of the mall.

 Here is our living room. Notice the great photographs on the wall. They were taken by Dave and Pam Larsen who we replaced. There is no air conditioning so we keep the fans turning at all times.

 The dining room looking from the living room.

 The small, all white, kitchen. Yes, that is a clothes washer next to the dish washer. The clothes dryer is in the bathroom.

Our bedroom. Mom's desk is on left.

 Its not always, work, work, work, here at the Area Office. On Saturday, we were invited to go to the Vodacom World of Golf facility outside of Johannesburg for some golf lessons.

 Our teachers were 3 members of the Church Laurette Maritz (called Lolly), Reeve Niel, who stayed with us when we lived in Irvine, CA. She was 13 years old at the time and Cecile Lundgreen (called CC). Lolly and CC are touring golf pros on the European Ladies Tour. Reeve is their coach. A couple of years ago, Lolly and Reeve started a charity called "Eyes4Zimbabwe". CC is now part of the program which raises money for many Zimbabweans who have cataracts and other eye site problems.

 This is picture of me with Reeve and Monte Eggett. Elder Eggett was a missionary in South Africa during the time I was out here. He and his wife are presently serving in the Area Office with responsibility for employment.

 Last time we saw Reeve she was 13 years old. I might add, after watching my golf swing, with all its bad habits, she gave me some really good tips. I might have to try qualifying for the Senior PGA tour when I get home.

Mom discovered that CC was Norwegian born. You know how important that heritage is to Mom.

 While in Swaziland, we came across some really interesting signs. We didn't see any, but I guess there are "Thugs on the loose."

 This is the back end of a Kombi. Kombis are little buses that stop every where, take as many people as they can and drive like maniacs. This guy wasn't worried about what people thought of his driving.

 If you were wondering who dresses Swaziland, well here's your answer: "Mr. Cheap Fabric"

 Apparently, KFC is doing real well in Africa. We had our first KFC lunch in Manzini, Swaziland on Monday. I don't think Del Taco has made an appearance on the African continent yet.

 After lunch on Monday, we drove into the countryside. We had bought some apples, bananas and oranges to give to some of the children we were meeting on the roadside.

 Mom was loving this stop and the kids were loving the bananas.

 It's hard to explain how adorable these children are.

 Dancing in Swaziland.

 This little fellow was really afraid of me. I think I was the first white person he had ever seen.

It's not much of an existence but the Swazi people are amazingly happy.