Hi, I have just noticed that our trip for the 15th. June had temporarily gone missing, have now put it back on. whoops, uups, so if you missed the rhino, it is there now.


'Jambo, Jambo,'  What a lovely day we had down  at the beach. Lying under the palm trees watching the beautifully coloured birds swooping around, and the monkeys gibbering around in the trees. Splashing around in the crystal clear sea, snorkeling and just having that much needed rest. Seems weeks ago we had the break, will have to plan another one soon.  Now it's picking up the water bottles, sunscreen, some sweets and pack up the old kit bag and on our way.
Our driver is waiting for us by our transport, a big cheerful smile on his face, what a happy person he is and his knowledge of wildlife is excellent.
Not long into our drive we come across this group of elephant. The two youngsters were trying out a mock tussle with each other. The clash of tusks sounded quite painful, but they were only playing around.

'Coming out to play'

'Tusks at the ready'

 

'Clash ,Bang, Wallop'

                                                     



                                                                                     



Seeing the elephants reminded me of the time a very dear friend came to stay with us. Klaus and an old chappie who had a boat on the river offered to take her out for the day. I was expecting at the time so not fit to bump around. They sailed up the river and got out to walk up a slope to view some elephants. One of them decided to charge, the flapping of the ears, and scrapping of the ground with the feet  was not enough,' it was the real thing,' so all three made a hasty exit. My friend (no names or she will kill me) started to run but was wearing a big new floppy hat which blew off. Yes you guessed it, she stopped to pick it up. The old bloke swore at her as he thought he could feel the hairs at the end of the trunk tiggling him in the you know where area! They made it safely to the boat and when getting out at the other end offered her a hand to climb out. Unknown to her there was a big rock that you could step onto, but no she was still fuming at being sworn at, so stepped out herself straight into the river. The hat was last seen floating away. Sorry dear friend, just had to write this .xx  So if one day you are out on safari and going up the river lookout for a lovely straw hat!! Or at least tie yours on.

We have  as usual stopped off at one of the lodges for lunch and a nice glass of fresh fruit juice. The views from some of these places are spectacular, which is of course why they are built like this. It is always the vastness of the land that takes your breath away.
     

                                             
The usual sightings of buck and zebra on the way back. When you are first out here you get so excited at seeing them then but  after a few days they all look the same. Having said that, no zebra's stripes are the same, rather like our DNA,  and then back it's back to camp. Looking forward to the warm shower , a lazy meal and catching up with others at the lodge and what we have all seen.

Join me again next week for our trip out on the dusty game trail.

It was the elephants that I just had to paint.

'Come Along Boys'

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This weeks art progress.


The wolf is now finished, and  have to admit I am rather pleased with it. Using acrylic for the background seems to have worked nicely, and you can use pastels over it as well. I touched up some of the foliage with pastels. I still find these are better for the daintier touches needed in places.
will let you see it again once framed.

Not sure what I am doing next. I have been going through the photo's and have fished out a couple.


Now to the birds.


As you can see I have started on the background. Have started with some sky, and also some colour around and underneath the birds to help with the idea of what I shall do there. I need a base colour especially for any leaves etc going on top. I am still coming to grips with the brushes, they don't always do what I want them to do, and they tend to loose hairs! You then have to pick this off before the paint dries. Klaus did offer me a 6 inch brush! I must thank him for all his hard work on sorting things out properly for me on the computer.He is much better at scanning photos and putting them in the proper place for me to find.

Do come back next week and see the progress, hopefully I will not have mucked up everything