by Kate Barba

These last ten days we have finally settled into our new normal.  Before you start thinking we will always travel on a tour or that fancy meals will be the norm, let me share our usual travel style.  Well, as usual as you can get when you are traveling around the world.

We arrive at a new place and settle into a small home or apartment we found on Airbnb.  We claim our bedrooms and unpack.  Pete cooks because he loves it and he’s excellent at making ingredients work together.  I assist because I am a good chopper and notice when something is about to burn.  The kids help with dishes and set the table, etc.  I do the laundry (so far in very small washers) and the kids help me hang it to dry (dryers are very rare in rentals).  We all shop for food in new stores and try to interpret unfamiliar labels and languages.  We go on walks every day and sometimes we do yoga or a strength training workout (we’re building up to it).  We read, write email or texts, research activities, watch videos and talk.  The sights or activities we came for often only take a day or two out of the 3/5/7 we spend in an area.  Usually we find a couple more interesting things to do or see by asking or searching online.  That’s it.  Real life mixed with exploring.

On days we aren’t doing all-day sightseeing or activities, we work in some school.  We started homeschooling officially in August.  6th grade is scary for me, because it’s the start of middle school and when we return the kids will be going back to a “real school”.  I worry about the kids being ready after 3+ years of homeschool.  (I have anxiety and though I know they are at or above grade level, I stress.)  That said, this year the kids will get so much life experience and real-world learning that I’m told to relax.  So, this year’s homeschooling is far more loose than previous.  Ancient Cultures in Athens, Egypt, and Peru?  Check.  Biology on safari, geology while hiking, and physics while sailing?  Check.  Really, we’re making sure they keep up in math and writing, plus a bit of Spanish.  Pete and I have split the subjects and are mostly using a digital curriculum from Oak Meadow, a Waldorf-style distance learning school.  Pete is piecing together science from Blossom and Root, Science Mom, and his own knowledge.  I’m throwing in some stories about the regions we visit, such as African folktales here and Heidi while in the Alps.  Everything else is researching and explaining things we are seeing!

Our first airbnb is in Marloth Park, a neighborhood that basically fenced in a border area of Kruger National Park, kicked out the predators, and built a fence to keep it that way.  The result is that warthogs, giraffes, zebras, impala, and kudu (an elk-sized antelope) roam freely, along with monkeys, baboons, and tons of ground and tree birds.  Our home has a great outdoor space and lots of regular visitors, especially kudu and warthogs.  The kids enjoy naming them, feeding them, and recognizing them when they return!  While they are wild animals and we were cautious, these animals have been slightly domesticated over the years and everyone feeds them.  We got quite attached!

Our daily walks are along the Crocodile River that separates us from Kruger, and we regularly see a large elephant family.  In the evenings we will often drive around the neighborhood looking for groups of animals to observe and photograph.  Besides the elephants, our favorites are the giraffes!  We also met lovely residents, mostly retired expats, and other renting visitors.  The Marloth Park community is safe and friendly, we would definitely recommend it!

Pete chose our rental “‘Ndida” for the balcony and the dream of sipping coffee there in the morning.  I honestly think that image kept him sane those last few months!  We ate our rusks and coffee out there nearly every morning and it was magical.  Later in the day it was a great place to safely watch and feed the animals.  The outdoor shower was also pretty awesome and another reason we chose this place.  The pool was heated, the firepit was fun to cook on, and the outdoor table was excellent for schoolwork.  No wifi….but that was nice for a while.

Our day trips from Marloth Park included the Kingdom of Eswatini (read here) and an all-day game drive in Kruger National Park (read here).  Both were excellent, but we also thoroughly enjoyed our neighborhood animal watching and spending time together.  Sightseeing is nice, but the big picture is togetherness and connection.  Try it today!

Thanks for reading to the end!  Next up: Umlani Safari Lodge!  Don’t forget to check out our past stories and subscribe for future articles as well.  Find us on Facebook and Instagram for bonus content!  As always, if you are planning a trip to any location we visit we are happy to provide more details and opinions, so feel free to contact us.