Category Archives: Johannesburg Mission – Back To Africa

June Transfers – The New Elders

10 new elders came into the mission this transfer…9 were at the transfer meeting but elder Williams was still on the plane from the US and did not get in until later in the evening.

June2015 - Transfers - Ssendege

June2015 – Transfers – Ssendege – Uganda

June2015 - Transfers - Ndlovu - South Africa

June2015 – Transfers – Ndlovu – South Africa

June2015 - Transfers - Thusi - South Africa

June2015 – Transfers – Thusi – South Africa

23June2015 - Transfers - Kwela -South Africa

23June2015 – Transfers – Kwela -South Africa

June2015 - Transfers - Mpiyakhe

June2015 – Transfers – Mpiyakhe

June2015 - Transfers - DeSouza South Africa

June2015 – Transfers – DeSouza South Africa

June2015 - Transfers - Elde Diogo Uganda

June2015 – Transfers – Diogo – Uganda

23Jue2015 -transfers -

23Jue2015 -transfers – Mugenyi – Uganda

June2015 - Transfers - Morrill - US

June2015 – Transfers – Morrill – US

23June2015 - Transfers - Tumarae trains Diogo

23June2015 – Transfers – Tumarae trains Diogo

23June2015 - Transfers - Downs trains Morrill

23June2015 – Transfers – Downs trains Morrill

23June2015 - Transfers - Mavundla trains DeSousa

23June2015 – Transfers – Mavundla trains DeSousa

23June2015 - Transfers - Garnica trains Ssendege

23June2015 – Transfers – Garnica trains Ssendege

23June2015 - Transfers - Kankunen and Smith-Holley train Thusi

23June2015 – Transfers – Kankunen and Smith-Holley train Thusi

23June2015 - Transfers - May trains Mugenyl

23June2015 – Transfers – May trains Mugenyl

23June2015 - Transfers - Savage trains Mpiyakhe

23June2015 – Transfers – Savage trains Mpiyakhe

23June2015 - Transfers - Turauskis trains Khwela

23June2015 – Transfers – Turauskis trains Khwela

23June2015 - Transfers - Lybe trains Ndlovu

23June2015 – Transfers – Lybe trains Ndlovu

23June2015 - Transfers - Reynolds trains Williams who was still on a plane

23June2015 – Transfers – Reynolds trains Williams who was still on a plane



Kruger Part 7 – Birds

June2015 - Kruger - Large red head long beak bird

June2015 – Kruger - Grounded Horn Bill

15June15 -Kruger Trip - Big Water Bird with Orange Beak

15June15 -Kruger Trip - Saddle Billed Stork

15June15 -Kruger Trip - Big Bird with Orange Beak Feeding

15June15 -Kruger Trip – Saddle Billed Stork Feeding

15June15 -Kruger Trip - Big Bird with Orange Beak Looking for Food

15June15 -Kruger Trip – Saddle Billed Stork Looking for Food

15June15 -Kruger Trip - 7 Color Bird

15June15 -Kruger Trip - Lilac breasted roller

15June15 -Kruger Trip -7 Color Bird

15June15 -Kruger Trip -Lilac breasted roller

15June15 -Kruger Trip - 7 Color Bird - Very Good

15June15 -Kruger Trip - Lilac breasted roller

15June15 -Kruger Trip - Big Blue Heron

15June15 -Kruger Trip – Big Blue Heron

 

 

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2 Starlings

June2015 - Kruger - Large red head long beak bird 2

June2015 – Kruger - Ground Hornbills

15June15 -Kruger Trip - One Leg Starling

15June15 -Kruger Trip – One Legged Cape Glossy Starling on deck rail

15June15 -Kruger Trip - LS - Buzzard

15June15 -Kruger Trip – LS – Buzzard

15June15 -Kruger Trip - LS - Grey Headed large bird Cormat

15June15 -Kruger Trip – LS - Kori Bustard

June2015 - Kruger - Cormot - closeup good

June2015 – Kruger - Kori Bustard – heaviest flying bird in South africa.

June2015 - Kruger - Ostrich

June2015 – Kruger – Ostrich

June2015 - Kruger -Owl tree

June2015 – Kruger -Owl tree

 

June2015 - Kruger - Owl....

June2015 – Kruger – Owl….

June2015 - Kruger - 4 starlings in tree by deck

June2015 – Kruger - 4 Cape glossy starlings

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Ground Horn Bills

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Cape glossy starling in tree by our deck

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15June15 -Kruger Trip - Birds - Black with Red

15June15 -Kruger Trip - Ground Hornbills

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White headed vultures

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White headed vultures

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Ground Hornbill

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Ground Hornbill

June2015 - Kruger - Large red head long beak bird 2

June2015 – Kruger - Ground Hornbills

June2015 - Kruger - Large red head long beak bird 3

June2015 – Kruger – Ground Hornbill

June2015 - Kruger - Yellow Beak Bird

June2015 – Kruger - Southern Yellow-Billed Hornbill

June2015 - Kruger - red beak bird in habitat

June2015 – Kruger -Saddle Billed Stork in habitat

June2015 - Kruger - red beak bird

June2015 – Kruger - Saddle Billed stork

June2015 - Kruger - Bird fishing

June2015 – Kruger – Saddle Billed Stork fishing

June2015 - Kruger - Red Beak Bird Fishing 2

June2015 – Kruger - Saddle Billed stork

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Southern yellow-billed hornbill

June2015 - Kruger - big white bird

June2015 – Kruger – Great White Heron

June2015 - Kruger - LS -  birds from deck

June2015 – Kruger – LS – birds from deck

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15June15 -Kruger Trip -Black and White Birds

15June15 -Kruger Trip -White headed vultures

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Great White Heron

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June2015 - Kruger - Large red head long beak bird

June2015 – Kruger – Ground Hornbill

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15June15 -Kruger Trip - Black and White Bird on Rock

15June15 -Kruger Trip – Black and White Bird on Rock

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15June15 -Kruger Trip - Black and White Bird with Yellow Beak

15June15 -Kruger Trip – Yellow Horned horn bill

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15June15 -Kruger Trip - LS - 7 Color Bird on wire

15June15 -Kruger Trip – LS – 7 Color Bird on wire

15June15 -Kruger Trip - LS - Large Cormat

15June15 -Kruger Trip – LS - Kori Bustard

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Kori Bustard

15June15 -Kruger Trip - LS - Angry Yellow Tailed Bird

15June15 -Kruger Trip - white-spectacled bulbul

June2015 - Kruger - Large red head long beak bird 3

June2015 – Kruger – Ground Hornbill

15June15 -Kruger Trip - LS - Egytian Goose - great

15June15 -Kruger Trip – LS – Egytian Goose – great

15June15 -Kruger Trip - LS - Crested Guinea Fowls

15June15 -Kruger Trip – LS – Crested Guinea Fowls

15June15 -Kruger Trip - LS - Birds under our deck

15June15 -Kruger Trip – LS - Starlings and Natal Spurfowl under our deck

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15June15 -Kruger Trip - LS - Starlings in parking lot

15June15 -Kruger Trip – LS – Starlings in parking lot

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Kruger – African Fish Eagle

15June15 -Kruger Trip - LS - Heron looking

15June15 -Kruger Trip – Great White Heron checking us out…



23 June 2015 – Transfers – After

After the meeting the new companionships get together, car boots are emptied and refilled as the missionaries shift their earthly belongings from their old area’s vehicle to the new one. But it is also time for more getting together with friends, signing journals and finally the cars start exiting until after the last training meeting is finished and the last piece of luggage is stored the parking lot is again empty of cars, missionaries and chatter until 6 weeks from now when it will happen again…

June2015 - Transfers - Mary, Liera

June2015 – Transfers - Mary found elder Liera who we miss here in Potch…

June2015 - Transfers - Turaskis, Khwela - South Africa

June2015 – Transfers – Elder Turauskis with his new son elder Khwela who is from South Africa

June2015 - Transfers - Savage, Mpiyakhe -South Africa

June2015 – Transfers – Elder Savage will train elder  Mpiyakhe who is also from South Africa

June2015 - Transfers - Me, Barton

June2015 – Transfers - I ran into elder Barton who was transferred out of Potch – we will miss him!

June2015 - Transfers - Peterson, Hehir

June2015 – Transfers – Elder Peterson with elder Hehir who is elder Wild’s new companion here in Potch.

June2015 - Transfers - Me, Todd

June2015 – Transfers - Elder Todd also was transferred so we will only get one or two more chances to enjoy his great smile – at least until he is released.

June2015 - Transfers - Clegg and back of Smth's head

June2015 – Transfers – Elder Clegg managed to close his eyes in every photo I took of him. I noticed that I also got a photo of the back of Elder Smith’s head.

June2015 - Transfers -Garnica, Ssendege - Uganda

June2015 – Transfers -Elder Garnica – our only real Mexican – will be training elder Ssendege who is from Uganda

June2015 - Transfers - Lyon, Group

June2015 – Transfers - I was taking group pictures when I noticed elder Lyon leaning against a car. One of the first photos I took in South Africa was of elder Lyon.

June2015 - Transfers - DeSouza, South Africa

June2015 – Transfers – Elder DeSouza the third new missionary from  South Africa will be trained by elder  May way up in Tzaneen.

June2015 - Transfers - Dye

June2015 – Transfers – Elder Dye is writing in someone’s journal – all over the parking lot there are elders writing in their companion’s journals…

June2015 - Transfers - Stilgoe with Falg

June2015 – Transfers – During one of the early transfers after we got to the mission, elder Stilgoe was proudly displaying his country’s flag. Since he was transferred today, he brought it and I got him to hold it up for a photo. Many of the missionaries display their country’s flag on their flat’s wall.

June2015 - Transfers - Worton, Menendez

June2015 – Transfers – Elder Worton a current AP and elder Menendez a former AP gets a last photo as elder Menendez was going home in just a few hours.

June2015 - Transfers - Cummings

June2015 – Transfers – I got a picture of elder Cummings who is another elder I seem to run into at every meeting.



23 June 2015 – Transfers – Before

Another great transfer meeting…14 elders finished their honorable missions and 10 new missionaries started their’s. About 90 minutes before the actual meeting cars full of missionaries start arriving and everyone moves around the lot greeting old companions and friends. There are lots of smiles, hugs, handshakes and talking going on.

June2015 - Transfers - Alvial, Woniala

June2015 – Transfers – Alvial, Woniala were companions for the last 3 weeks.

June2015 - Transfers - Lasen, Nelson, Pickup - Alvial

June2015 – Transfers – Lasen, Nelson, Pickup – Alvial – Elders Larsen and Alvial served with us in the district. We served in the Florida Fort Lauderdale mission with elder Pickup’s sister.

June2015 - Transfers - Dutson, Stilgoe

June2015 – Transfers – Elders Dutson, and Stilgoe served in the Vaal Zone together…elder Stilgoe was transferred today…

June2015 - Transfers - Dutson, Dye

June2015 – Transfers – Elders Dutson and Dye will fly all the way back to Idaho Falls together – a great pair of missionaries.

June2015 - Transfers - New Missionaries Meeting

June2015 – Transfers – New Missionaries Meeting

June2015 - Transfers - Neuenshawnder, Compton

June2015 – Transfers – Elders Neuenshawnder and  Compton -  two of those who will be going home – but elder Compton only after he spends time in South Africa with his parents.

 

June2015 - Transfers - Rini, Masta, Souza fence sitters

June2015 – Transfers – Rini, Masta, Souza fence sitters

June2015 - Transfers - Rami, Smith and others

June2015 – Transfers – Rami, Smith and others

June2015 - Transfers - May, Yates

June2015 – Transfers – Elders May and Yates both served in Orange Park but I am not sure if they served together there.

June2015 - Transfers - Clegg, Savage

June2015 – Transfers – Elders Clegg and Savage both managed to close their eyes for this photo…

June2015 - Transfers - Oldroyd squeezing Harris

June2015 – Transfers – Elder Oldroyd squeezing Elder Harris- we had the blessing of serving with both of them in the district

June2015 - Transfers - Segil, Arthur 2

June2015 – Transfers – Elders Segil and Arthur

June2015 - Transfers - Adjin, Rami and friend

June2015 – Transfers – Adjin, Rami and friend

June2015 - Transfers - The Gathering

June2015 – Transfers – The Gathering

June2015 - Transfers - Compton Family

June2015 – Transfers – Compton Family came to pick up their son…Elder Compton was our first district leader when arrived at the end of February 2014 – we talked about how it seems like yesterday….

June2015 - Transfers - Menendez saying Goodbye?

June2015 – Transfers – Menendez saying Goodbye? Elder Menendez was one of the missionaries being released. We got to know him when he was a Vaal Zone Leader and later as an assistant to the president.

June2015 - Transfers - Togiatomai

June2015 – Transfers – Elder Togiatomai is also on the phone but probably not talking to elder Menendez since they were standing about 30 feet apart..but then who wants to walk 30 feet to talk when you can use your phones?



21 June 2015 – Sunday at Potchefstroom…

Another beautiful day at the Potchefstroom Branch….between meetings and after church they gather in yard to enjoy the sun…

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Church 6/21/15 - Menzi, Kea

Church 6/21/15 – Menzi, Kea

Church 6/21/15 - Philip, Simon

Church 6/21/15 – Philip, Simon

Church 6/21/15 - Meisie

Church 6/21/15 – Meisie

Church 6/21/15 - Adam Laboba - Sister Nebo

Church 6/21/15 – Adam Laboba – Sister Nebo

Church 6/21/15 - Dorcas, Georgina, Viona, Merriam

Church 6/21/15 – Dorcas, Georgina, Viona, Merriam

Church 6/21/15 - Merriam

Church 6/21/15 – Merriam

Church 6/21/15 - Primary Children

Church 6/21/15 – Primary Children singing and dancing to ‘Follow the Prophet’ with lots of spirit and smiles.

Church 6/21/15 - Nomsa

Church 6/21/15 – Nomsa

Church 6/21/15 - YSA

Church 6/21/15 – YSA gather for a picture…

Church 6/21/15 - Ncapayi, Philip, Kwaikwai

Church 6/21/15 – Ncapayi, Philip, Kwaikwai

Church 6/21/15 - Priesthood meeting outsdie

Church 6/21/15 – Priesthood meeting outside

Church 6/21/15 - Primary Fathers Day

Church 6/21/15 – Primary Fathers Day Singing

Church 6/21/15 - Menzi, Lebo, Kea, Meisie, Adam

Church 6/21/15 – Menzi, Lebo, Kea, Meisie, Adam



Kruger Part 7 – Sunrises, Sunsets, Scenery…and anything else that is left!

With the large amount of pollution in the air, sunrises and sunsets in South Africa can be spectacular…especially with the low mountains and stark trees to add interest…

June2015 - Kruger - Bill at Sabie rest area

June2015 – Kruger – Bill at Sabie rest area

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June2015 - Kruger - view from deck

June2015 – Kruger – view from deck

June2015 - Kruger - Sunrise with tree

June2015 – Kruger – Sunrise with tree

June2015 - Kruger - Sunset drive - sunset

June2015 – Kruger – Sunset drive – sunset

June2015 - Kruger - another view from our deck

June2015 – Kruger – another view from our deck

June2015 - Kruger - Dead Tree

June2015 – Kruger – Dead Tree

June2015 - Kruger - colorful large rock

June2015 – Kruger – colorful large rock

June2015 - Kruger - rocks and water

June2015 – Kruger – rocks and water

June2015 - Kruger - View from our deck

June2015 – Kruger – View from our deck

June2015 - Kruger - Riverby Kruger

June2015 – Kruger – River by Kruger

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June2015 - Kruger - Gods View 2

June2015 – Kruger – Gods View 2

15June15 -Kruger Trip - LS - Unusal Rocks

15June15 -Kruger Trip – LS – Unusal Rocks

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15June15 -Kruger Trip - LS - Mary at Pinnacles

15June15 -Kruger Trip – LS – Mary at Pinnacles

15June15 -Kruger Trip - LS - Mary at Sabie close

15June15 -Kruger Trip – LS – Mary at Sabie close

15June15 -Kruger Trip - LS - A last Look at our tent

15June15 -Kruger Trip – LS – A last Look at our tent

15June15 -Kruger Trip - LS - View from our deck

15June15 -Kruger Trip – LS – View from our deck

15June15 -Kruger Trip - Sunset - First Night

15June15 -Kruger Trip – Sunset – First Night

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Looking out of park to the cane fields

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Sugar Care fields from the park

15June15 -Kruger Trip - Toilet Sign - Ladies- Gents

15June15 -Kruger Trip – Toilet Sign – Ladies- Gents

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15June15 -Kruger Trip - Mercure Hotel Sign

15June15 -Kruger Trip – Mercure Hotel Sign

15June15 -Kruger Trip -Mercure Hotel

15June15 -Kruger Trip -Mercure Hotel

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15June15 -Kruger Trip - LS - Happy Anniversary

15June15 -Kruger Trip – LS – Happy Anniversary

15June15 -Kruger Trip - LS - Sunset 3rd Day

15June15 -Kruger Trip – LS – Sunset 3rd Day

15June15 -Kruger Trip - LS - Sunset on Palm

15June15 -Kruger Trip – LS – Sunset on Palm

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15June15 -Kruger Trip - LS - Sunset Tree

15June15 -Kruger Trip – LS – Sunset Tree

15June15 -Kruger Trip - Lower Sabie Beds

15June15 -Kruger Trip – Lower Sabie Beds

15June15 -Kruger Trip - Landscape Cliff

15June15 -Kruger Trip – Landscape Cliff



Kruger Part 6 – Hippos

June2015 - Kruger - hippo going into water

June2015 – Kruger – hippo going into water

June2015 - Kruger - hippos from tent

June2015 – Kruger – hippos from tent

June2015 - Kruger - Hippo Pod

June2015 – Kruger – Hippo Pod

June2015 - Kruger - Hippos

June2015 – Kruger – Hippos

June2015 - Kruger - Baby Hippo -

June2015 – Kruger – Baby Hippo –

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15June15 -Kruger Trip - Hippo But

15June15 -Kruger Trip – Hippo But

15June15 -Kruger Trip - Sleeping Hippo

15June15 -Kruger Trip – Sleeping Hippo

15June15 -Kruger Trip - Pod of Hippos Resting

15June15 -Kruger Trip – Pod of Hippos Resting

15June15 -Kruger Trip - LS - Hippo Family in morning

15June15 -Kruger Trip – LS – Hippo Family in morning

15June15 -Kruger Trip - LS - Hippo Pod Clese

15June15 -Kruger Trip – LS – Hippo Pod Clese



Kruger Part 5 – Zebras, Wildebeest, and other Antelope…

Mary has a thing for zebras…I enjoy them also but we have seen so many zebras on our drives that I have reached a point where unless there is really something special about the scene I do not even get out my camera…I would like to see a mother with a brand new colt but other than that or one with three legs I am done with zebras.  The same thing is true of Wildebeest and Cape Buffalo…I did get a great shot of an old bull lying on the sand…



Kruger Part 4 – Rhinos – Warthogs

We saw tons – no pun intended – of white rhinos but of course no black rhinos…people claim to have seen them but no one has a photo that they took – “it was too far away” – it went into the bush before I could get a shot” etc. I think black rhino sightings are a myth. On a game drive during our first mission to South Africa one of the guides pointed out across the plains to a disappearing dot and said “There goes a black rhino” – right!

Warthogs are among the ugliest animals on the earth and I have come to love them. That is why  Mary had a special picture of a family of warthogs custom made for my birthday…

June2015 - Kruger - First Rhino

June2015 – Kruger – First Rhino

June2015 - Kruger - Rhino crossing road

June2015 – Kruger – Rhino crossing road

June2015 - Kruger - Rhino eating

June2015 – Kruger – Rhino eating

June2015 - Kruger - full sixe rhino

June2015 – Kruger – full sixe rhino

June2015 - Kruger - rhinos pair

June2015 – Kruger – rhinos pair

June2015 - Kruger - First Rhino

June2015 – Kruger – First Rhino

June2015 - Kruger - 3 Rhinos

June2015 – Kruger – 3 Rhinos

June2015 - Kruger - Rhino Head and Horn

June2015 – Kruger – Rhino Head and Horn

15June15 -Kruger Trip - White Rhino

15June15 -Kruger Trip – White Rhino

15June15 -Kruger Trip - 2 Rhinos on Road

15June15 -Kruger Trip – 2 Rhinos on Road

15June15 -Kruger Trip - Mom and Young Rhino

15June15 -Kruger Trip – Mom and Young Rhino

15June15 -Kruger Trip - Young and Old Rhino

15June15 -Kruger Trip – Young and Old Rhino

15June15 -Kruger Trip - Rhino along Road

15June15 -Kruger Trip – Rhino along Road

15June15 -Kruger Trip - Rhino Side View

15June15 -Kruger Trip – Rhino Side View

15June15 -Kruger Trip - 3 Rhinos

15June15 -Kruger Trip – 3 Rhinos

15June15 -Kruger Trip - LS - Big Rhino

15June15 -Kruger Trip – LS – Big Rhino

15June15 -Kruger Trip - LS - Rhino with sun shining on it

15June15 -Kruger Trip – LS – Rhino with sun shining on it

June2015 - Kruger - Rhino crossing road

June2015 – Kruger – Rhino crossing road

June2015 - Kruger - Rhino eating

June2015 – Kruger – Rhino eating

June2015 - Kruger - full sixe rhino

June2015 – Kruger – full sixe rhino

June2015 - Kruger - rhinos pair

June2015 – Kruger – rhinos pair

June2015 - Kruger - 3 Rhinos

June2015 – Kruger – 3 Rhinos

15June15 -Kruger Trip - Rhino Crossing Road

15June15 -Kruger Trip – Rhino Crossing Road

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15June15 -Kruger Trip - Keeling Warthog -

15June15 -Kruger Trip – Keeling Warthog –

June2015 - Kruger - Warthog 2

June2015 – Kruger – Warthog 2

June2015 - Kruger - Warthog close up

June2015 – Kruger – Warthog close up

June2015 - Kruger - 3 Warthogs

June2015 – Kruger – 3 Warthogs

June2015 - Kruger - Warthog = good

June2015 – Kruger – Warthog = good

June2015 - Kruger - Warthog

June2015 – Kruger – Warthog



Kruger Part 3 – Giraffes

Coming soon to this spot – lots of great giraffe pictures…