Chimp Eden

"Jane Goodall" has spent nearly thirty years living and working among Chimpanzees in Tanzania and is one of the world leading "scientists" in the field of chimp behavior and capabilities.

She has travelled many African countries to rescue chimps that have been taken out of their habitat for "human" reasons being looked upon as cute cuddle pets until they get too old, circus animals, or even just kept on a leash as an attraction in bars and at gas stations.

It is devastating hearing what some of these chimps have been through and what is even more sad is that Chimps are one of the closest animals to human beings, sharing some of our DNA. A grown chimp has about the same brain capacity as at least a six year old child and a male grown chimp has the strength of six grown men - hence all my pics are from beyond a fence!

You can not imagine that a human can be so cruel to something so close to his own image...

The chimps at Chimp Eden have been rehabilitated by a fantastic team of people in large natural enclosures where they can once again be free like they would have been in the wild. But with a couple of added advantages like being fed fruit and macadamia nuts five times a day, cosy enclosures where they can sleep nice and snug and being monitored for any illness.

Do not miss this attraction when in the Mpumalanga area as all the proceeds goes back to the chimps and who wouldn't want to duck behind the green nets much to Cozy's delight when he decides to through you with a macadamia nut:)

(Cozy was kept by a gypsy traveling along the road and used him to perform tricks and make money. Instead of getting him to do tricks and rewarding him with some fruit etc. she took a different course of action and beat him repeatedly over the head if he didn't perform, leaving him with brain damage. He is not your usual chimp and you will have to hide one's he decides to show you who's boss as he flings macadamias and rocks at you... We do love the interaction though!!!)

The oldest guy around! At about sixty, I think he looks fantastic for his age:)

Barberton Daisy's

At the foot of the majestic Saddleback Mountains, lies a hidden paradise called Barberton. This nature lovers dream owes its existence to the discovery of gold by the Barber brothers in 1884.

The Town is still very much a mining town and most people that live there today still to some degree has something to do with the gold mines. I however went specifically to look for the infamous Barberton Daisy which is one of the only places where it grows wild in the field.

Once found, my day turned into a "beautiful flowers" day as I not only discovered the daisy's but also gorgeous Clivia's and then Roses. So all things floral it was:)

Clivias

Roses

Lowveld National Botanical Gardens

This garden is one of nine gardens managed by the South African Biodiversity Institute. It is about five minutes drive from central Nelspruit and sitting astride the Crocodile River which has cut deep into the granite bedrock to form a narrow gorge and the spectacular Nelspruit Cascades, it is a must visit when in the area.

The Crocodile river converses with the Nels River. The garden contains no less than two thirds of South Africa's tree species, has the largest collection of cycads on the African continent.

I had a wonderful and somewhat strenuous hike through the African Rain Forest all along the river and must admit by the time that I got the bottom, I wasn't looking forward to walking all the way up, but well worth it in the end.

I saw a coffee plant for the first time in my life and had a quiet giggle at myself for thinking coffee beans looked like the ones you get in the packets in the supermarket - I had no idea they look more like berries and are bright red:)

(Coffee anyone?)

These moss covered steps made me think if I sit here long enough I might find a fairy or two...

My new apartment...

 
 

Well it certainly takes some getting used to if you have lived in 3m by 2m room for the last couple of years. It is bliss to live in a normal apartment again with a room, separate sitting room, a kitchen and the best of all a huge balcony with a view of the South African bush.

There is nothing in the world like a African sunset.

Pics of my new apartment, its a working progress with not too much decor yet. So stay tuned for future updates.