My South African Adventure - Part two: Playing in South Africa

The spitting cobras to the left of me or the puff adders to the right of me or the pack of dogs behind me were of little concern. They were just part of my stay on Tom's magnificent South African "farm" outside of Johannesburg.

However, when the "tick-picker" riding on the rhino in front of me sounded the alarm and flew off, I though it could be the end of me and my friends.

Oxpeckers, AKA "Tick-pickers", are colorful birds that ride on rhino's backs and eat parasites from the rhino's hide. These birds also warn its host of pending danger and I must say we were more than a bit concerned when the guard bird sitting on the rhino standing about a foot from our car started sounding a major alarm before fleeing the scene.

I assure you that Tom, Yvonne and I had a very good reason to be alarmed ourselves because Tom's car was idling between a mother rhino and her calf! We could have been killed in an instant, but instead of charging us, Mom repositioned herself between our car and her calf and they just walked off. We were thrilled to still be alive!

My adventures in Cape Town included a trip to the top of Table Mountain, whale watching in the bay, a tour of the Cape's glorious coast line, a visit to the Noon Gun and Company Gardens and so much more -- I will always treasure my excellent South African Adventure!