Bushbabies and Bananas

 Happy World Elephant Day! Sr Rodolfo Cumbane, from the Maputo Special Reserve, came to talk to the kids from Mapanga and Nhonguane Schools, to explain why the elephants, and nature, are important. Clap hands! Much appreciated.  Thankyou Rodolfo, and anytime you are in the area, shout!  I will happily come drink a beer. Another kindred spirit! Rodolfo in action Innocence, a Ranger

Fat Cat! You sit atop your pile of gold       of broken dreams             and promises sold Don’t you know that it’s lethal       the power that you hold? Did you forget Umuntu Ngumuntu Ngabantu    or how it feels to be hungry? Fat Cat!   Get out of the concrete jungle         take off your shoes go sit under a baobab with your spine against its trunk    and wait to connect with the wisdom of the Earth that sustains us Can’t you hear Mother Africa weeping for her lost children and animals    for her polluted streams and oceans         doesn’t She sing in your blood anymore              don’t you know its together we stand          ...

A bubble-gum pink Rose is nodding to Herself in the sunlight outside my window having drunk Her full of early  morning tea of dewdrops and mist She sways sleepily dreaming The Oak Tree stands proudly full of birds now and again sending an acorn thudding down to the grass where Ants are busy, always busy carrying a bug carcass away to their winter pantry like a miniature Olympic relay team working hard together The Garden is a family of all shapes and sizes chirping, foraging, and croaking in the pond some rooted some flying some working some dying but all intertwined in the Story If only Humans played nicely and accepted their role and their time to briefly shine knowing there is growing and then going peacefully on if only we accepted gracefully our part in the Story instead of our arrogance in thinking we are the whole book They closed our eyes  you see cut the connection to our angels and guides leaving a chasm ga...

Santa Maria village and surrounds...

Today was the end of an era.  Our Chefe do Posto, Sr Magaia, who has been here since 2007, is leaving us.  We had a beautiful ceremony this morning under the Waterberry trees in the village.  See the Presidents photo and flag hung in the tree.  Only in Africa will the outgoing government official dance the new one in - such wonderful uplifting spirit. Our Administrator from Bela Visa, Sr Avelino Pinto Muchine Our new Chefe do Posto - Sr Jose Limpo Rozao Our Induna, Sr Zacarias Nhonguane and Abel, one of my favorite people here Regulo Tembe Bye Bye Sr Alberto Luis Magaia - we will miss you!  Good luck in Zitundo.

To reach home at Santa Maria, it is either a drive through the Reserve, or a boat trip from Maputo across the Bay. Lake Maunde Maputo Special Reserve Watching Rewilding at Maputo Special Reserve The road home Santa Maria Point, Machangulo, Mozambique Mangroves, Machangulo, Mozambique My dogs love being on the boat and in the Sea