The Acacia tree is found all over Africa. It is very drought resistant and its leaves are a favorite of giraffes but it also has some very big and sharp thorns. A giraffe as a very long tongue to get around these thorns.

Our granddaughter, Margaux, loves the giraffe so I thought I'd post a couple of pictures I've taken of this wonderful animal. At 16 to 20 feet in height, the giraffe is the tallest living mammal on the planet.  It loves to eat the leaves of the Acacia tree. 

Even in the dry season, the trees keep some leaves at the very top of their branches. Having a long neck, the giraffe can easily reach the leaves. Originally the giraffe was believed to be part camel and part leopard. In Afrikaans the giraffe is called "kameelperd" because of this old belief. Many native languages translate the name of a giraffe as "fast walker". It can gallop up to 37 miles per hour.

Its long neck has only 7 vertebrae, just like us humans but they are much longer and have a ball and socket configuration.

Besides getting around the thorns on the Acacia tree to get to the leaves, the giraffe's twenty inch tongue can also help to pick its nose. Margaux, I bet you can't do that.

I got home late Friday October 24th from Nairobi  and then early Sunday morning Mom and I flew out of Johannesburg to Reunion Island. After working most of Monday meeting attorneys, Mom and I started looking around St. Denis, Reunion Island. Amazingly, she was able to immediately find Le Casa de Chocolat. I have to admit this place had some great chocolates.

Reunion has a population of just less that one million people. Originally, when discovered by the Portuguese in 1507 there were no indigenous people living on the island. A century later the French took the island over and started colonizing it in 1665 for the French East India Company. This picture is of the northeastern shoreline looking south.

At one time Reunion was named Ile Bonaparte after Napoleon. This picture is of the northern tip of the island. The capital St. Denis is immediately to the left.

During World War II the Vichy French controlled the island but eventually the Free French took it over. The island is 39 miles long and 28 miles wide. You can drive around the entire island in about 4 hours.

La Reunion is considered one of the 27 regions of France. It is part of the European Union and everyone wants you to know that the island is not part of Africa. The architecture is very French.

The yellow administrative building in downtown St. Denis.

While walking the streets of St. Denis we ran into the Madagascar Mission President and his wife: President and Sister Adams. The Adams, you may remember, are the in-laws of Ally Passmore. We all went to dinner that evening. The Adams on right. Senior missionary couple the Madsens in center and a new Area Seventy from Johannesburg behind Mom.

Mom and I drove to the village Salazie which is located in the center of the island. The vegetation is amazingly tropical. It reminded me of Hawaii.

Coming into the village of Salazie. This little village was first established in 1829 when a cyclone had devastated nearby coastline communities.

Some of the agricultural growing is done on plats which have been cut out of the mountain sides.

Just southwest of Salazie is Piton de Neiges the highest point on the island where in 1966, 73.62 inches of rain fell in a 24 hour period. The highest level of rain ever recorded to fallen on the earth in 24 hours.

The Catholic Church in Salazie.

The Salazie Hotel.

One of the most interesting Catholic churches on the island. The LDS Church has 4 branches on the island with a total Church membership of about 800.

Part of the eastern coastline. Between 2011 and 2013, there were 12 reported shark attacks around Reunion. As a result, the government ordered that no one is to go into the water. 

Mom, thinking about Oceanside, California.

The western side of the island is a little dryer, but the coast is protected by a number of reefs.

The well-known surf break of St. Leu, Reunion Island. Apparently, surfers don't worry about the sharks.

Relaxing in Reunion.

A very pretty wave.

One happy guy on his wooden body-board.

Last Saturday, Mom and I drove out to the Pilanesberg Game Reserve.  On the way I found a driving school for our oldest granddaughter. 

South Africa is loaded with wonderful looking birds. These guinea fowl were walking our way into the the Reserve.

We came upon this Rhino just as he decided to take a nap. Notice that his ears have been notched. That means imbedded in his horn is a small computer chip, which makes it very difficult for poachers to sell his horn.

A great looking impala male.

Wildebeest are, as you can see, one of the ugliest African animals.

Can you see the lioness?  She's in the process of tracking her next meal.

Our meal was taken at a little picnic area with Public Affairs couples from the Africa Southeast Area. They had all come to Johannesburg for an Area conference.

Sean Donnelly, in striped apron, is the Area Public Affairs Director. Mom is his assistant.

On the way home we drove right through a herd of wildebeest.

Mom won't let me wander alone in a curio shop. She's afraid I'll buy some more "African stuff". I'm thinking that elephant's head would really look good on my living room wall. What do you think?