Big and close up Africa

Traveling back from Stellenbosch, we stopped at the Tsitsikamma Big Tree.  It is huge and ~ 1,004 years old.  Walking through the woods with ferns, humidity, and a canopy topped dense forest, we were definitely in a different part of SA.  Along the road we would always see brown signs for rest stops.  The sign tells you where is the next big tree with little picnic table.  But this is not that kind of tree, it was amazingly the bigger and there were a few trees near that were growing similar in size.  There was a long and windy slightly wet walkway to the tree, but we were so excited we practically ran there.  Lucky for us we didn't find any baboons along the way.  Will assures me he can take one or five baboons if he needs to, doubtful if you ask me.
 [Edit: I maintain that I could defeat at least one, handily. –WB]

Will standing on the bridge leading to the tree makes the tree look so huge and far away.  To get me and the tree in the same frame was nearly impossible. 
The water at Tsitsitkamma seen below is a brownish red, like burnt sienna, or tea.  I thought it was iron or something else in there.  Turns out it is decayed matter. Don't recommend drinking the water.

Next trip Will and I took was with my Mom to Addo.  There we spent the day visiting the elephants, 

zebra, and lion. (Yippie, we saw the lion!) 

Kudu

Dung Beetle

Dung Beetles are so cute.  Endangered, you must avoid them in the road.  They roll elephant poop into spheres the size of their bodies.

There is so many wonderful sights of natural beauty here in SA.  I know my mom had fun spending time with Will and I.  I can't wait until she comes back.  She survived life in Grahamstown and sleeping on the air mattress.  Next blog I will post the really tough journey we had to living where the river meets the ocean!