Category Archives: Dreaming

Blessings, Dreaming, Family, Gratitude, Holidays, Quiet, Reflection, Storytelling, Traditions, Travel

Wanderings Day 11

I think my need to wander began as a girl. Growing up, my mom and dad organised wonderful family holidays that took us the length and breadth of South Africa. Often intrepid and roads less travelled, sparking a wanderlust that has remained with me.

These days I also have incredible memories of travels with my mom – just the two of us. So grateful to have had these opportunities with my very special mama bear.

Today’s wanderings takes on one of these “travels with mom” adventures in search of Middle Earth. She is very patient with me and my obsessions. This will make more sense as my story unfolds.

I have been obsessed with Professor JRR Tolkien’s writing for as long as I can remember. Then Peter Jackson chose New Zealand as his Middle Earth. I think Professor Tolkien would have approved. Anyway, it has been fabulous to have Middle Earth on my doorstep.

Today I am sharing some pics from a Queenstown and surrounds trip with Mom. We found evidence of Middle Earth all along the way from the Fords of Bruinen to Isengard, Ithilien to Parth Galen, the Mountains of Mordor to the West Fold of Rohan. Magic!

Even if you aren’t in search of Middle Earth like we were, New Zealand’s South Island is simply spectacular. A true pure space. I love mountain environments probably more than being on the coast. Just as in the Kalahari, I am similarly inspired by changing light and colour in these stunning surroundings. And just like in the Kalahari, there is something of the serene juxtaposed with harshness in this space that captures the soul.

We visited Queenstown, Glenorchy, Paradise, Arrowtown, Wanaka and Cadrona among other beautiful South Island spots. Besides wonderful sights and scenery there also seems to be great coffee, food and wine to taste everywhere you go in this area. Mom even got me to go on a little horse ride with her in Paradise! The motivation? A chance of wandering through Lord of the Rings filming sites only accessible on said horse ride.

The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with weary feet,
Until it joins some larger way,
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say.

J R R Tolkien

Africa, Birth Place, Blessings, Dreaming, Gratitude, Health and Wellness, Holidays, Mindfulness, Nature, Reflection, Storytelling, Travel, Wildlife Conservation

Wanderings Day 7

So we are back on the Panorama Route headed towards one of my most favourite places on earth.

Many happy childhood memories spent driving this route.  Our end destination today, Hoedspruit, holds a particularly special place in my heart. 

Wind your way along the R532 which hugs the edge of the escarpment.  Definitely a stop at the Three Rondavels lookout for photos of these iconic mountains and into the Blyde River Canyon below.  Mariepskop in the distance. 

The Three Rondavels with Mariepskop in the distance
Blyde River Canyon

The R532 meets up with the R36 at the Abel Erasmus Pass.  This pass takes you through the last of the mountains past interesting vegetation and rock formations.  As you are nearing the J G Strydom tunnel there’s a pretty waterfall if you know where to look amongst the cliffs.  Peregrine Falcon breeding spot apparently? 

The other side of the tunnel you will start a sharp descent into the lowveld of the Limpopo Province, the Olifants River to your left.  You gain a different perspective of those same mountains and cliffs of the escarpment from below. 

Another view of Mariepskop
Unique Kadishi Tufa Waterfall which you can see from a Blyde Dam boat cruise
Leaving Hoedspruit looking back at the mountains of the escarpment

Drive past the game farms and citrus orchards until you get to Hoedspruit.  So much to see and do in this area.  I highly recommend staying for a while. 

One particular recommendation is a tour around the Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre…. And yes, that is a pic of the famous Stoffel, the honey badger Houdini.

Africa, Blessings, Dreaming, Gratitude, Health and Wellness, Holidays, Mindfulness, Nature, Reflection, Storytelling, Travel, Wildlife Conservation

Wanderings Day 2

Choosing today’s pics was a tough task… a year’s worth of Kalahari wildlife encounters limited to 10!

Of course, there are the iconic Kalahari predators like lion and leopard.  Then there is the majestic gemsbok (oryx) with their sabre horns. 

The bird life astounds – raptors, owls, vultures…. I chose ostrich and a kori bustard to share today.

Then there are the cuties like the meerkats and ground squirrels… the mischief makers like the ratel (honey badger). 

Cheetah were an added bonus.  A little taste of true wildlife conservation research by accompanying Dr Gus Mills on a cheetah radio collaring project.  We followed this sibling group most a of day through the dunes.  The next day we changed tack and found a new female to collar.  Elena had recently become independent.  After I left the Kalahari Gus and Margie sent me photos of her with her first litter. There she was looking healthy, a gorgeous first time mum still sporting the collar I had helped to fit…

Kgalagadi is a magical place….

Africa, Blessings, Dreaming, Gratitude, Health and Wellness, Holidays, Mindfulness, Nature, Quiet, Reflection, Storytelling, Sustainability, Travel, Wildlife Conservation

Wanderings Day 1

Due to severe wandering withdrawals I have decided to use the month of April to wander virtually down travel memory lane.  Here we go….

We are starting at Twee Rivieren rest camp in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.

I spent some time here as a SANParks People and Conservation intern. The internship was organised through an organisation called Global Vision International. 

My lodgings – a shipping container village within the staff village affectionately known as Blikkiesdorp (Tin Town).

I remember the sound of the barking geckos of an evening, dodging scorpions on windy nights and the amazing family of yellow mongoose who kept the cape cobras at bay.

28 March 2020 8:30pm many acknowledged Earth Hour around the world. I happened to be in Twee Rivieren for the first ever Earth Hour. It was my task to communicate about climate change and its impact on this area of the arid North West. With not too many resources to hand and bearing in mind we are talking 13 years ago, I cobbled together a display, of sorts😀 I have included a pic of the display board in the Twee Riveiren visitors’ centre. We also parcelled up candles with a little info sheet for all the chalets, campsites and staff houses so guests as well as staff could participate.

More Kgalagadi wanderings tomorrow…. this time remembering many breathtaking moments with the incredible wildlife of this unique region.

Not all those who wander are lost

JRR Tolkien
Dreaming, Education, Nature, Reflection, Sustainability, Values, Wildlife Conservation

Getting an Education

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It’s been a while since my last post. I seem to be needing time to settle into this year and all it has held for me already.

I have been quite overwhelmed by the whole Kikki K Dream Life experience so far. There has been something so comforting in having those three big dreams on paper in the Dream Tin perched on the Vision Wall. They are there with their respective Master Action Lists attached, goals and milestones in the diary…. everything my organised mind could wish for.

And then… serendipity! Two things have popped up this month most definitely not on any Master Action List. But two things which beautifully match where I am at with working towards all three of those dreams coming true…. the Universe in perfect alignment with my Dream Life!!

So, while there is something delicious in the structure of this particular dreaming process, and having dreams written down, and to do lists in place, there is something equally intriguing about being open to boundless possibility too.

One of these serendipitous events has been enrolling in two different online courses.

Exploring Conservation – free courses through National Geographic. Nothing particularly new for me content wise but so thrilling to see how many people from all over the world are looking into this wanting to understand more!

The other course is through the Civic Ecology Lab, Cornell University. It has been wonderful to really study again. To reflect on lectures and webinars, to keep up with the readings and fill a notebook with ideas and reflections.

And here, again, unexpectedly finding a tribe – a group of humans literally all over the planet on a similar quest for knowledge and the tools to share their message and their passion for Mother Earth.

So, right now I’m taking the advice from my previous post to “Educate yourself for the coming conflicts” Mother Jones.

Learning is a life-long journey that is for sure.

Hope your 2020 has started on a positive note too.