May trip to Planisberg Game Reserve

Each quarter the temple missionaries plan a one-day trip to the game reserve, Pilanesburg.  Because it is only two hours from Johannesburg it is easy access and each time we encounter something new. We are up and on our way by 4 am, hoping to arrive at sunrise so we can get a glimpse of the animals while on their move.

We arrived at the reserve at 6:20 AM just in time for the gates to open at 6:30 AM

Our first encounter was with an elephant.                    

Then this Rhino


       






While watching the Rhino a passer-by said
that he had just seen a small pride of Lions
down the road a bit.
By the time we got there they had gone into
the bush and we could not locate them - SAD.

During the remainder of our time in the park we saw the following animals:

                                      













As we travel to and from the game reserve we pass by what is called a "shanty town or township" which is where the poorest of the black poor live. To us westerners these conditions are deplorable and beyond belief but poverty among the blacks is rampant and these townships can be found all over South Africa.

May 1st Holiday

Today is May 1st, a national holiday here in South Africa.  On days like this the missionaries put together activities where we can go and see some of the beauty of South Africa and historical sights. So off to Pretoria to visit the botanical gardens and the Sammy Marks Museum.

We started out by going to the Pretoria National Botanical Garden.

                       
                                                     Waterfall in the middle of the garden

                                      Jenee standing next to one of the large plants in the garden

Elder Smith and I on a walk along one of the mountain trails that wound through the garden.  He guaranteed that we 3 would find the elusive small animal dassie.  Gail saw 1, but Rog & Jenee didn't, and, YES he is that small about 5 ft nothing.  A wonderful man who served in the London Temple as an ordinance worker and a sealer as well as being a bishop and counselor in a Stake Presidency.    A down- to-earth chap and we have become very good friends since we arrived.  Sadly he and his wife will be returning to England in July after serving 18 months here. GOOD PEOPLE ALL AROUND!

      

                                   
                                        A local tribal hut decorated in their traditional paintings.

                                Pretoria Gardens is known for its Bird of Paradise gardens.

                                   Next we went to Sammy Marks, south of Pretoria 15 miles.

Sammy Marks was a Jewish immigrant, born in Lithuania and grew up in England, He journeyed to  Capetown in 1868; his first job was in the diamond mines, but at the age of 44, returned to England for an arranged marriage to a 22 yr old Jewish girl and they settled to a rural farm that is now their beautiful estate. He was quite a "Pioneer Industrialist" in steel, as well as the first Commercial Farmer: maize.He also had several thousand fruit trees, a brick and tile factory and quite a fortune in gold and coal mining, becoming one of the wealthiest men in South Africa. His home and estate just outside of Pretoria became a national museum in 1986, with tours year round.

He was also known as one of South Africa's best known philanthropists, having donated millions to South Africa, England and Israel. Because of the Boer War with England, his 6 living children, being schooled in England, were unable to return home so they never bonded with Z.A. and went on to locate their lives in Canada. He was very instrumental in establishing peace with England and an end to the war.  Otherwise, he stayed out of politics.

The place has a very nice outside restaurant where we had lunch, and is surrounded by flower gardens with some beautiful flowers.