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Before we go into depth on this, please view our products and gallery or follow our youtube channel to see more of our travels around the world and what wildlife we are experiencing in the lovely South Africa. Introduction: what it means to judge based on biblical views So we have all heard the saying judge not least ye be judged, but then at the same time judge with righteous judgement, and People who are against biblical views and anti Christians will use this verse to try and get the upper hand in any discussion. But I have the viewpoint Christians should never fear challenging their own beliefs, I do it all the time and normally the answers I find don't actually pull me away from God but give me a deeper understanding of what the truth is. Whether it is science or religion, asking questions actually makes me more humble in accepting that the bible doesn't answer every question, just like science doesn't have every answer. Now I know it might be controversial to say that simply being a true Yahweh believer is simply not enough to lead a good life. I have known true Christians who believed and trusted in Jesus but that committed suicide, had broken marriages, stole money from the church and cheated on their spouses. So as much as everyone might say just put your faith in Christ and your life will be fantastic and peaceful, Christians in the church who mess up badly shows differently. They have Jesus, the pray, they go to church and yet they still sign, badly, according to the human scale of good vs bad. So this suggests we actually require something else outside of the Sunday Church service. And this is where I think our individual responsibility to ourselves and those we love come in. Asking the church to fix your problems is not going to help you. We as individuals have to look at our individual lives and take accountability for ourselves. So what it means to judge based on biblical views? let's find out. So back to what does it actually mean to Judge people? If we consider todays society and the way the word Judge is used, it can have many connotations based on the context of the sentence and the situation where it is used. The original Greek word for Judge is krī́nō (pronounced Kre-no) and can have one of the following meanings: To separate, divide or distinguish To order or arrange To inquire or investigate To select or choose To decide a dispute To judge To discern To pronounce To accuse To pass sentence on, condemn or criticize to secrete Now if we look at the modern world, this actually gets applied in everyone's lives on a daily basis and we judge accordingly. We have legal proceedings where a judgement gets made. We have sports events where judgements are made for a winner. We have business dealings where judgement calls are made. We Judge movies and performances based on our individual criteria when viewing them. We judge people's work performance based on a set of criteria. We judge people behavior based on a moral standard and at times\ We judge people harshly without understanding the individual circumstances and facts behind it. That would be to condemn someone. We see this all the time where a person spouts the sentence you will go to hell for being such a horrible sinner, repent and admit how horrible you are so I can feel like I did my Christian duty and saved the horrible sinners of the world. We determine the whole individual based on an individual act or trait of that person. Imagine someone was drinking and ran someone over. Should we condemn that person for the rest of their lives and label them a horrible individual who deserves hell for eternity because of it. Or should we look at them with love and see the individual mistake and not label them completely because of it. At the same time, we should not just raise our hands and say I cant say what you did was wrong as that would be judging you. Of course not, we would still say you made that mistake, and that mistake needs to be judged accordingly and acted upon. The person would be told to go into drug rehabilitation, probably serve some jail time of some kind, and certain expectations would be had of them from that point onward. Is that harsh? no, its the consequence of a decision. So that is where we need to Matthew 7:1 must be read and interpreted correctly. The Judge not lest ye be Judged would be more accurately defined as Condemn not, lest ye be condemned. This verse was also aimed at the Christians of the time who were on a mission to point out everyone else's sin and not look at the sin they are comfiting themselves. To put this into a modern context, imagine you had someone whom you knew to be a alcoholic and a wife beater, come to you and say you have an issue with anger, and you must repent and deal with it better. Now I would look at the person and say are you serious? your beating your wife and drunk 5 times a week, go away and figure out your own problems. before I call the cops on you again or something like that. But lets reverse the situation, If I came to this person and told them you are a evil sinner, your worthless in gods eyes and all you are is a drunk and a angry old wife beater who deserves hell. Chances are I will either belittle that person so much they will give up on life or tell me to go away in anger. Now imagine both situations, but said from a point of love and understanding. Without accusations of how good or bad they are, no belittling, just a loving honest conversation. The reality is there is still a issue there that must be dealt with, one that hurts more than the individual itself but those around them, and this cant be ignored because we are not going to judge this person. Practical Examples in my life I have a mother in law who smokes, and lets be honest it is a unhealthy habit and dangerous to the user and those around them. We also have a two year old, and so whenever she smokes, I keep my son and myself away from her. We don't want to have our health impacted by her decision to smoke. Nor should we. She chose to smoke, that should not be anyone else's problem. I have never said she is a horrible person, or deserves hell for this, but I don't condone her decision or allow her to influence my son from that perspective by saying it's ok to smoke and has no negative affects. So when it comes to something like today's big issues eg lgbtqia++, I have never condoned these acts as something the human race should condone, But mine has never been from a religious moral perspective, I have always considered this from my personal experience with it, combined with biology and psychology, and then added a moral layer to it. In my teen years I had social issues, one being that I was constantly being told I was homosexual, not a man, and this came from everyone in school to even my own brother, who kept saying this until my early 30's due to whatever reason he had to keep wanting to try and hurt me like that. Now when I was in my teen years, with all these accusations being told to me, it makes me start to wonder whether I was actually homosexual, or maybe I should be more girl like because I am not a man apparently, but then I had a dilemma to solve. Either everyone else and the thoughts I am having as a result of what they are saying is true, and I am homosexual, a girl not a boy, etc or my biology is correct and I am a boy and straight and they are all wrong and I cant trust my own mind anymore. Now I don't know about you, but my human brain cant be trusted. It lies to me 10 times a day because it has been conditioned to believe certain things based on how I was treated even though that is not true. For example, getting bullied at school made me think people are out to get me, made me very nervous and afraid and unsure. So how could I trust my own brain to tell me the truth, when all this is causing it to be telling me things that are not true. I mean in my teen days I looked at straight porn not gay porn, so I never had a inclination to be that, but yet I still questioned whether everyone else is right and I should maybe be that. So I made a choice to believe my biology and work to change my mind and not what everyone else tells me. I am still working on my mind to this day to make it believe more positive things that the negatives around me and see situations for what they actually are and not what my messed up mind sees them as. I do hope that everyone else out there who is struggling with something can find some inner peace with who they are as they were created and not have to go through multiple changes and change mindsets and adapt because some people said something that made them feel a certain way and question themselves. There are support groups out there for when you are unsure of what to do and whom are what to believe. If you need someone to talk to about what your going through, even if it is me, I will assist in whatever way I can. All I ask for is honesty and the truth and not versions that make everyone else the problem. You are in charge of your life. Take a hold of it.

Before reading this article, go view our Youtube channel to see our videos while doing family tours around South Africa, Please like and subscribe or let us know what areas you would like us to visit. You can also view our products and gallery page for more info. Our trip to Germany: Planning ahead for a extended Family Vacation Where to Stay Rental Car Mobility Scooter The Arndt Family will be taking a trip to Germany in march and this time we will be bringing a member of our extended family along. My Mother-in-law will be joining us and this will be her first trip abroad in nearly 70 years. So it will be quite a experience for her. Add that this will be Connor's first trip overseas as well, and he will be two years old then, this will make for a eventful trip for all of us. But naturally there will be some things to prepare for beforehand when it comes to handling toddlers and elderly parents on a trip like this. If we consider the fact that we have a smoker who has never been overseas, on a long flight such as this, a active toddler who at least like car trips, but will require constant monitoring and things to do when out and about, there are things to be aware of. In this article we will be discussing some of these aspects that we have seen come up when planning a vacation to Germany with elderly parents and toddlers. Point 1: where to stay that can accommodate everyone. So when we started planning our trip, we were aware of the fact that we would need to work around a elderly parent who is not very mobile and has difficulty climbing stairs. Combine this with the fact that we would need accommodation that would fit a family of 4, it means we had certain requirements. These included: ground level accommodation 3 bedrooms minimum for me and my wife, mother in law and toddler so no one interferes with anyone when it comes to bed times and privacy etc. a bath where possible as standing in a shower for long periods can be difficult and bathing a toddler is easier with play time etc. Self catering accommodation due to stomach issues and a toddler being selective over their food choices. So this automatically canceled out the large majority of hotels as they normally had separate rooms for our mother in law and us with Connor and this could be a issue as if she required assistance in anyway she could not just call out and we would here. Hotels also don't have self catering units normally, but they do have elevators normally, which would have made getting to and from the rooms easier. So we then had to expand our search to include guest houses which allowed for self catering units, in a single residence, and preferably without stairs. But that is where the problem comes in. Through the search, we noticed a lot of the houses in Germany are built to be multi level. So finding a bungalow as they are called in Germany (a single level home) was very hard and so we had to be ok with having stairs for her to climb wherever we went. Thankfully a single flight of stairs ins not a problem, it will just a little longer. After all the searching, we were able to settle on a few locations for our trip through Germany, landing in Frankfurt, onto Rothenburg, then to Schwangau, The Black Forest and finally Heidelberg to visit family. Our locations are: Edelzimmer Rothenburg we are staying in the Viktoria cottage which is on two floors and has two bedrooms and a pull out couch for two more people, or can be used for a toddler. Otherwise they provide a crib if required. Breakfast is included but they also have a kitchen in the apartment. No bathtub but that can be dealt with pretty easily for a few nights. So from a family travel perspective this location gets a 3.75/5 as I don't see the bathtub being that much of a problem, but the flight of stairs might be an issue for the less mobile. but it offers self catering accommodation and a laundry and a baby crib, so has a fair amount going for it as well. Haus Moni Schwangau While we are staying in Schwangau to visit locations such as Neuschwanstein, we will be staying in Schwangau at Haus Moni. We had the option of staying in nearby Fussen as well, but this seemed to meet our needs better. We will be staying in the Enzian apartment. We had some confusion initially as the website states it is a 2 bedroom but the booking.com link stated it as being 3 bedroom. After confirming with the owner, it is a 3 bedroom and there website is incorrect. Please note they do not speak English so some German goes a long way with this, and they require cash payment. The apartment has a living room with two bathrooms with a bath and shower. Kitchen has all necessities with a stovetop, refrigerator, dishwasher and all kitchenware required. as expected there are stairs. But it provides mountain and landmark views of the castles nearby and all tourist locations are within 20km. They can also provide breakfast if you would prefer that instead of making it yourself, at a extra fee. This gets a 4/5 as it has the extra bedroom and two bathrooms with baths which is always a good thing. a baby crib can be arranged as well at a extra fee. Ravenna Lodge-Breitnau Onto The Black Forest, where we will be staying in the small town of Breitnau. This is probably the smallest town we will be staying in when we are there, and as such our accommodation is very quiet and surrounded by nature. We will be staying in the Ravenna Bach apartment, as it has accommodation for 6 people in 3 separate bedrooms, with a bathroom on the ground floor with a bathtub overlooking the stream. a full kitchen is available with coffee machines, dishwasher, stove top, dining area indoor and outdoor and they have a washing machine for doing laundry as well. it has heating available with fireplaces. The Kitchen is especially useful as being away from everything, it is easier to cook your own food. But there is also a hotel 150m away with a restaurant if you prefer not to. Once again the one flight of stairs make an appearance, but that is a reality to deal with. all the beds in this apartment are double beds, so we will build a fort around Connor to prevent him falling out the bed and use the bed rail we have at home as well. there are no baby cribs or extra beds available, so this might be an issue for some with younger children, but we moved our son to his own bed around 18 months old. and babies can sleep anywhere, just take the necessary precautions and you will be fine. This gets a family rating of 3.75/5, due to the lack of a crib and stairs, but if we were rating this on a overall location, beauty, facilities etc., it would easily get a 4.5/5. Heidelberger Dachsbuckel-Heidelberg For the last part of our journey, we will be staying in Heidelberg to visit my uncle and brother. My mother will also be coming in from England and will be staying a few days with us. So for this we needed a three bedroom minimum with a kitchen and plenty of space. We settled in on the Heidelberger Dachsbuckel and the Pinot Blanc room. We actually know very little about what we are getting, expect that it has two bathrooms, a large kitchen and three bedrooms. It is situated on a wine farm, which I know sounds a little crazy because if you read our other posts you would know my wife is a recovering alcoholic, with her choice being wine. But the world exists and people are going to drink around her, so she needs to control herself in these situations as she cannot avoid them. But it has been nearly two years now sober. Giving this place a family rating is a little difficult as we don't know exactly what is available, so we will stick with a safe 3.5 out of 5 until we have actually seen what the bathrooms and accommodations offer. and whether it can survive having two mother in laws/mothers in the same building with a grandson and how family dynamics work around that. Point 2: The Rental Car So when it comes to a rental car, there was a lot of back and forth about this, as we originally started with a Peugeot Rifter thinking that the boot space would be enough if we went for the 7 seater version. But when we measured the dimensions out and saw that even with the last two seats folded there would not be enough space for 4 bags, and luggage, a pram and a mobility scooter. it measured roughly 1m x 1m so we needed a different model car. I was using discovercars.com to look through all the deals that were available as when doing a comparison over a few months, there prices actually matched what the companies themselves offered, and at times had vehicles available on their website that the companies themselves did not have. So I started checking on a daily basis what else was available. First I changed to a Opel Vivaro with Wheego, which was about R25000 at the time, but I had my concerns about them as there reviews suggest they sell more cars than they have and then make it your problem. I know its standard practice to oversell, but how the company acts when they do and run out of cars is what concerns me. So I checked in everyday and eventually found a ford Tourneo 9 seater custom with Enterprise for R22000. They had a good reputation at the Frankfurt branch and mostly seem to do their best. So we booked this one instead. We could also go view this car beforehand as it is available in South Africa, and we can drop the last row of seats which will give us more than enough boot space for all the mentioned luggage we have with us while on holiday. This car allows for ample space for snacking and feeding while on the road, and for entertaining Connor. Thankfully he enjoys a long car ride and so just watching the world go by might be entertaining enough for him. I also think discovercars.com might have been onto what we are doing by checking for lower rates everyday, as a few days after changing again, their prices for the Tourneo went up to R35000, a increase of about 50%. Now maybe their algorithm adjusts prices based on timeframe of when your holiday is compared to the current date, which is plausible, Or it was told to increase prices after a certain vehicle is selected, or after a certain amount of changes. Either way we got our vehicle for a lower rate than a few weeks later. and everyone is going to be comfortable. see a review on it here. We will give a more in depth review of what the trip was actually like afterwards. But to see our itinerary go read our other blog article about it here. Mobility around Germany So the one aspect we had to consider was that my mother in law could not walk very fast or very far for a long time. So in Germany there was going to be a fair amount of walking around with castles and tours etc. So we needed a solution for this. That is where the mobility scooter came into play. it was going to be compact enough and lightweight enough to allow us to take it wherever we needed to go around the cities and locations we were visiting. Yes we will see how it works on cobblestones. Our selected version was the EnduraLite 4 Wheel Mobility Scooter as it has lithium batteries for recharging and weighed in at 35kg. There is also a process to go through to get it onto the Lufthansa plane. As it has batteries which the airline needs to be made aware of beforehand. You can find the form here. once filled in you must email to specialcases@dlh.de along with the security data sheet of the unit you want to have flown over. I am still waiting to see if they will approve it or not. The Flight So my Mother-in-Law has been on planes before, but never for this long. She already has a fear of the plane landing and taking off and my wife has already been warned that she will be having her hand crushed at these times. The idea of a sleeping pill was suggested, but that is not our decision. otherwise everything should be easy from that point. She can walk herself to the plane. It would be preferred if it were a jetway/loading bridge were used, but there is no way of confirming that until we get there. could be a bus and then some steps, but we will see on the day what happens. As for our son, he is already watching videos on planes and getting excited about them. We specifically watched videos with the lufthansa 747-800 so he gets used to the plane he will be flying in. We also booked the first row of bulkhead seats (Row 18 D-G) to give us more space and deal with all the extra baggage etc without having to be a disruption to others as little as possible. Lufthansa also provided a wheelchair service for my Mother-in-Law if needed, and we are waiting to hear back about transporting the mobility scooter.

Frankfurt Rothenburg On the road to Schwangau Schwangau Driving to Breitnau( The Black Forest) The Black Forest Making it to Heidelberg Heidelberg Return to Frankfurt and home Introduction Hi All So we will be taking a family vacation through Germany in march 2024. This will be me, my wife Yolandi, my son Connor, my mother in law Sari, who is in her 60's and so this had to be taken into account for the trip, and my mother will be joining us for the last portion in Heidelberg as she stays in England. In this post, we will show your our plans for our Germany Holiday Itinerary and which places to visit Our vacation will include the following locations: Land in Frankfurt Rothenberg ob der tauber Schwangau/Fussen Breitnau/black forest Heidelberg We are flying out from OR Tambo international airport in Johannesburg, South Africa on the 4th of March at 19:35 and landing at 5:15 in Frankfurt. This will be our first flight with Connor who will be just a week shy of two years old when we leave. So it will be a new experience for all of us. Frankfurt We will be landing in Frankfurt at 5:15am in the morning. Considering we have 4 people in the family, and carrying a wheelchair, a stroller, car seat, bags etc., we will be needing a larger car than a station wagon. so something like a minivan was suggested to us.This will help with the mother in law as well as its a spacious enough car and most minivans have sliding doors which are easy to get in and out of. After much searching, we found the Peugeot Rifter. We were only able to find this car through the discovercars.com website, the supplier we ended up using, okmobility, did not have it listed as an option on there website at all. We are currently not certain exactly which model of the vehicle we will be getting, and have sent discover cars an enquiry on that front. We did book the 7 seater automatic, but there are various models within the range, some which have a satnav included, compatibility with android auto etc., but to find out exactly is not possible so we had to inquire with them on that. will advise which car we ended up getting once we have that confirmed, either at the airport itself or beforehand if they answer us first. But the boot space at a massive 774 liters is more than enough to accommodate everything we need. And considering the next car up was a 9 seater Mercedes Vito, which was overkill for our needs, this car fit in right with our budget and needs, as the Vito would have been about 75-100% more expensive than the Peugeot Rifter. Once we have collected our car and had breakfast at the airport, provided the flight with Lufthansa doesn't give us breakfast, it doesn't state yet if a flight that early gets breakfast, Our first stop will be the Johannisburg Castle in Aschaffenburg. This is on our way to Rothenburg, as we can only check in between 3pm and 5pm. So we have a few hours to explore. Here we will also be collecting our Konigsschlosser Combination ticket, as it will give us access to numerous castles on our trip including Neuschwanstein, Linderhof Palace, Residenz Kempten and Wurzburg Residence. We are buying the 14 day ticket even though we will only be in the area for about a week, its still a saving than having to pay individually at each location. Once we have left the Johannisburg Castle, its onto the Wurzburg Residence. This location has a English guided tour at 3pm, after which we will make our way to Rothenburg ob der Tauber. we plan to arrive somewhere around 5pm, as it is one hour away from Wurzburg Residence. Rothenburg All our accommodation for this trip is self catering facilities if required, but there are always restaurants in the area if needed. We opted for self catering as our party has certain dietary issues that would be wasted on a restaurant all the time, and we probably would have paid for a meal just to have it go to waste more than likely. Our accommodation for the Rothenburg stay is Gastehaus edelzimmer. We wanted a room for myself and my wife, one for Connor to sleep on his own in, and one for Sari as well so that everyone could do their own thing without waking anyone else up. We went for the Gastehaus Viktoria as it was the only family friendly accommodation and did not have multiple flights of stairs. Sari can do a few stairs, but not three flights. So this was perfect for us. There is a Lidl, which is the German version of a small grocery store, nearby in the town. It is in walking distance from the Gastehaus, 15 minutes/1.1km, which is closer than the distance I walk my son to school everyday. So this will be a convenience, although probably a bit cold. We will be visiting the following locations while we are there: Christmas museum and shop Medieval crime and justice museum Imperial City Museum I will also be taking along my trusty mirrorless camera, which is still to be purchased, but I have decided on a Fuji xs-10 due to its multiple dials for ease of use, as well as the ibis(in body image stabilization). I have always had shaky hands and this will help. Road-trip to Schwangau We will only be spending one full day in Rothenburg, and when we leave the next morning, we plan on making two stops along the way. Yolandi and Sari will be visiting the Dachau concentration camp, while Connor and I will go the aquarium in München for that time. Dachau is not something a two year can understand or enjoy, but a bunch of fish swimming in a shiny large pool, that's entertainment. each location lasts about 2.5 hours, as Dachau has a guided walk around the camp. So that means I basically need to entertain my son for that time, so therefore 2.5 hours in the aquarium at the same time. Lets hope that goes well. The guided tour in the concentration camp starts at 11am for English speakers and costs 4 euros. so that will keep us busy till about 2pm, after which we are back on the road to Schwangau, which is about a 2 hour drive from there. Schwangau Schwangau is a small little town next to the more famous Fussen, but it has ample accommodation as well. Fussen is more of the tourist town, with restaurants, shops etc., but Schwangau is more rural and has a quarter of the population. I prefer more open space, less touristy etc. So we decided to stay at Haus Moni.There is a Lidl again available in Fussen. The website doesn't seem to have been updated in a while as what booking.com said and what was written on their website stated different things about the rooms eg number of bedrooms. But we will be staying in the wohnung Enzian, which they have confirmed has three bedrooms, two bathrooms. I will confirm once we have finished our trip. Things we will be doing while we are there: Neuschwanstein Hohenschwangau Museum of the Bavarian kings Linderhof Cheese Shop We will be arriving the 7th of march and leaving the 10th, giving us two full days in the area. On the way to Breitnau( Black Forest) On the road again and this time we will be heading to the black forest, but naturally we have time to kill again on the road, and this time we will be stopping at two locations as well. First on the list is the Residenz Kempten, part of the Konigschlosser so all you need to do is arrive and join the tour which starts every 45 minutes. Be aware during the winter seasons(November, January-March), this is only open on Saturday and Sunday, from 10am-4pm. We are just lucky our timing means we leave on the Sunday for the Black Forest. We will spend about an hour there, and then move onto the next castle in the list, Hohenzollern Castle in Sigmaringen. These tours appear to run every two hours, at 10am, 12pm and then at 1pm again. we will aim for the 1pm tour. Don't confuse this castle with burg-Hohenzollern, that is a separate castle nearby. It took me a few minutes to figure out the difference. Then its onto our accommodation in the black forest, in a small town called Breitnau. Breitnau This small little town will be our home base while we are in the black forest, and we will be staying at a place called Ravenna Lodge. Being a small town, there is nothing in the area itself, but the location and the natural surroundings are what made us decide to stay here. Freiburg and Triberg are not far away, and as we have a car and will be driving around anyway, this was a good location for us. This is all about experiencing the black forest itself, so traditionally its about hiking trails, the waterfall, the cuckoo clocks in the area, and then Freiburg as well with its church and marktplatz. We will be here from the 10th to the 14th, so three full days to experience everything in and around it. This will include: Triberg Waterfalls Museum Triberg Land Worlds Largest Cuckoo Clock Hornburger uhrenspiele freiburg munster Augustinermuseum Schwarzwald Zoo Eisenbahnmuseum On the way to Heidelberg So after our time spent in the black forest, its then onto our final stop on our journey before heading home Frankfurt. But naturally we have some time, so there are a few planned stops along the way. This will first take us to the castle we mentioned before, Burg Hohenzollern. The castle opens at 10am, and there are no guided tours in this castle, although they do have an audio app you can use. Staff are always available to assist with anything you need to know. And the comes the stop Yolandi is probably looking forward to the most, that is the Ritter Chocolate factory in Waldenbuch. I have been there multiple times and always bring back a bag of chocolates for friends. then we are moving onto our final stop to meet up with family in Heidelberg. Heidelberg On our final stop of our journey, we will be staying on a wine farm called Heidelberger Dachsbuckel. We will be staying in the Pinot Blanc room. We did have some reservations staying on a wine farm, due to my wife being a recovering alcoholic, but this entire tour is going to have alcohol around it in some form or another, and she cant hide from it as their might be social situations where alcohol will be present, be it work functions, parties etc. its always going to be around, so this is more of a situation where she would need to take charge of the situation and be honest when she needs to be watched and when she is ok. This will be more focused on family time as my mother has never met her grandson, but there still will be a few stops we will be doing, some in the nearby town of Karlsruhe: Schloss Heidelberg Schloss Karlsruhe Natural History museum It will also be Connors birthday on the 18th of March, but we will be celebrating the Sunday before that with family. So we need to find a good konditorei (pastry shop) or backerei (bakery) for his birthday cake. Return to Frankfurt and Home and then on the 18th, it is our final day. We will be heading into Frankfurt early and going to the Senckenberg Museum for about 2-3 hours, which should take us till lunchtime. We only have a flight at 10pm that evening, so there is still some time fill up, but we can see on the day what we feel like doing to cover that. but it is Connors birthday as well, so maybe we will find a nice place for him to have a party. We will give an update on how it actually went in April next year. God Bless

In this post we will be discussing what a family trip/day outing to the Rhino and Lion Park in Krugersdorp, South Africa is like. You can also view our Youtube video showing what our trip was like: We will talk about this from two perspectives, the family trip and what the place has to offer, and the safari experience you can expect when you take the trip. So what is A family adventure at the Rhino and Lion Park in South Africa, ,lets dig deeper into it. Getting there and the history of The Park The Rhino and Lion park is situated in the Gauteng Province of South Africa in a town called Krugersdorp. Its full name is the Bothongo Rhino and Lion Park. The Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve started out with only two white rhinos and a handful of assorted antelope. In the 29 years since its inception, the reserve has grown and now boasts over 650 head of game. The Reserve was opened to the public in 1990 and since then it has flourished and grown into the beautiful landmark that it is today. The Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve is now under the dynamic and innovative ownership of the Bothongo Group. To get to the park, they are situated in the Cradle of Humankind due North of Krugersdorp on the Kromdraai Road, the D540, 45 minutes from both Johannesburg Central & Pretoria. So what is the park like? So we paid online for our tickets to the enter the park and we could go straight into the park from there. They give you a guide at the entrance. There was a reception that we visited, but that location had a bike park with small hills and a race track setup where you could rent a bicycle or something similar to ride the track if you wanted. We were not there for that and Connor is to young to do that just yet. So we skipped that and went straight into the park. You start off in the area with the normal wildlife you would expect to see on a game reserve. Zebras, antelope such as springboks, wildebeest, gemsbok etc. This is nothing special among game reserves and they all pretty much have them. So whether you are going to the Addo, Kruger or Amakhala, you are pretty much guaranteed to see the various antelope and such species. The roads are good for pretty much any vehicle. We have a Renault duster 4x2 and that handled even some patchy roads that had ditches but were not labelled 4x4 roads only. I would not suggest a sedan or fancy BMW for these, but the standard dirt roads pretty much all vehicles can handle. After going through the standard area, you then can access the predator section of the park, which houses all the cats such as lions, cheetahs and wild dogs. As the park is more of a conservation park than a game reserve, the cats are kept separate and fed by the park rangers than hunting on their own. This does remove the game reserve feel to it as someone would want to see animals in their natural environment and not a fenced off area. This does more than likely guarantee sightings, but its not a true african experience. For children who don't understand the difference yet, they wont care though and just will be happy to see animals. Connor was to young to see them though, couldn't see over the car door through the window yet at that angle. You can take photos with the statues though with toddlers. They like to touch and feel so this provided a little entertainment for Connor. Thankfully he just likes riding in a car. Now the one disappointment was that we never saw any rhinos at all. They are kept in the main part of the reserve. I suppose to get a better chance of seeing them you would actually have to pay for a game drive in the park, but looking at the park itself and having worked on game reserves before, I would not pay the R495 a person for this personally. Its not a large difference from the self drive option at R240, but its for two hours and yes you have a higher chance of seeing more wildlife than normal, but personally I would just do a self drive throughout the day and see what happens. But that could be the game reserve snob in me talking, its not a comparatively bad price and it appears children under 5 get into the park for free as well. Game drives in the Kruger Park start at R2160 per person, although some lodges in the park offer different rates. Wildlife Centre After doing the Predator Section, we then wanted to stop by the Wildlife Centre. This area is naturally more fenced off than the rest of the park as it houses the predators who are not able to be on the reserve itself. They will either jump the fences or are simply not suitable for that environment. Most of these animals are being rehabilitated after being used for other purposes, which is why you can find tigers, black jaguars and others here. This is where we stopped to take a snack break and visit the reptile section of the park. it is a very small building less than 100 sqm, and houses mostly snakes and a few other animals. The nice part here though is that there are areas for a family to have a braai/barbeque/grill in a natural setting. It was not very busy when we went there, but it was the 2nd of January and so all the holiday makers probably left already. You can see the facilities in our video here. Restaurants Now coming to the restaurant, we decided to visit the Neck and Deck Restaurant along our way out the reserve. This is also the restaurant where you can feed a giraffe with some goods purchased from the restaurant itself. Unfortunately it appears that the giraffe is actually vary wary of young children and it kept turning away every time Connor stuck his hand out to touch it. I would also be like that if I had numerous hands on me every single day. But it has a nice size plastic and steel jungle gym available and offers a wide variety of food options, but it is not fine dining. its a pretty standard south African restaurant. We had a toasted sandwich and some cheesy fries for Connor who normally loves cheese and love fries, but this one did not meet his approval. It had that gorgonzola blue cheese taste from one of the cheeses and so was a little rich for him. The jungle gym is more than adequate for multiple children and they have a pool nearby, although no child minders so its the parents responsibility to look after your child, which should be standard anywhere in my opinion. Its your child, not the restaurants, and unfortunately in South Africa children can disappear from restaurants way to easily. Summary So what are our final Thoughts on This game reserve? We will rate it two ways, African Safari Experience, and Family Experience. From A African Safari view, this is probably going to leave you disappointed if you came all the way from overseas to see animals. Rather go and spend some more cash staying at a game reserve like Amakhala where I previously worked, I would suggest Woodbury Lodge. Visiting the Kruger is always a good option, and stopping by the Addo Elephant Park. African Safari Experience Rating: 2.5/5 The Rhino and Lion park comes into its element when thinking of a local family vacation. South Africans love the bush and braaiing, swimming and playing. This park offers all those options easily. Taking your kids out and having them run around the wildlife center while the parents make the food, play games, go out for a self drive, it just makes for good family memories. Yes if you want to have them go to a pool or a jungle gym, it means a restaurant, which is a smart move on the owners part as you will probably buy some food while there. Only the thatch café and the neck and deck have jungle gyms, while the Boma restaurant does not have kids play areas. The bike park is also situated at the Thatch cafe. Taking all of this into account, The final rating is: Family Experience 4/5 Please remember to view our products, stores and gallery page to see what we have to offer from our wildlife photography. You can also find us on various social media platforms from our home page. Thank you for reading and have a blessed day.

Pathblazer Studios offers A wide range of gifts for #wildlifelovers with everything from the classic t-shirt to something more fun like a custom made wildlife tie or a #wildlifepostcard that can be customized to say anything you want on it. In partnership with companies like #zazzle and #teepublic , we hav a wide variety of #wildlifephotography gifts. In this article, we will be showing you our top 10 products we suggest you consider as a gift for any body who has done an African safari or just loves wildlife from Africa. Our list of 10 gift options for wildlife lovers The 10 gift options for wildlife lovers we would consider based on our current sales are the following: 1. Postcards 2. Shirts 3. Canvas mounts 4. Ties 5. Mugs 6. Wrapping Paper 7. Gift Bags 8. Mousepads 9. Desk Pads 10. Aprons African Wildlife Postcards One of our best sellers through the years, #Postcards of African Wildlife still are a popular choice. Whether its of a collage of locations around South Africa such as the Kruger National Park, The Addo Elephant Park, Cape town and more, or just a photo of #wildlife such as giraffes, elephants, rhinos, zebras, lions and more, We have created a wide variety of designs from our photography from days working on the game reserves and doing trips around South Africa. Wildlife Shirts A #shirt is always a safe bet when it comes to giving gifts. Everyone just seems to love them. We offer a wide variety of designs and style options with our #wildlife designs and photography on them, whether it is for adults or for children. So whether its something for #conservation of African Wildlife, or how much you love #cape-town, we have a photo/design for you. Canvas Mounts Having a wildlife photo mounted on #canvas is a great way to add a sense of style to any home, and we offer our #wildlife and #nature photography on a wide variety of sizes and style options. So whether it is a beach scene taken from blouberg beach looking at table mountain or a photo of a herd of elephants while riding through the Addo Elephant Park, we have some options for you. Ties One of our best sellers, we offer a wide variety of African Wildlife inspired tie designs. We also have some designs featuring beach scenes taken around the Western Cape of South Africa. Ties are a fun way to strike up a conversation with your colleagues and show them in a gentle manner your love of Africa, and all it has to offer. Mugs Mugs are always a safe bet when it comes to giving gifts, as people always want to have a new mug in their kitchens as a memory for when they were travelling to their holiday in Africa. So why not considering one of our wildlife inspired mugs through our partnership with Zazzle or with Teepublic as a gift option for the wildlife lovers out there. Wrapping Paper Another one of our top selling products, Wrapping Paper custom made woth our Wildlife Photography & Designs does very well for us. Not just during Christmas but all year round for birthdays, parties, events, anything you can imagine. Gift Bags Complimenting our range of wrapping pape, we also offer gift bags which have been doing fairly well for us. Whether its a collage of African Wildlife or one of a african map designed with wildlife photography, we have multiple options available. Mousepads Mousepads are always a simple yet useful gift for anyone who loves Cape Town, South Africa and all its wildlife, and we have a wide variety available. Desk Pads Desk pads are a recent addition to our products, and I personally prefer them as they offer more space for moving the mouse around and with multiple monitors used these days, it is beneficial to have a larger desk pad. Aprons Something we would not have considered ourselves but we have sold a few of these already and they are available in different sizes and for adults and children. So for the budding chef in the home kitchen who loves wildlife, how about a custom made apron? To see more of our products please view our stores at Zazzle and Teerepublic respectively. We offer a wide variety and you can see more on the individual heading links above or see our gallery. You can also view our store page to see what else we have on offer, from our trips across europe, fatherhood and our diverse designs in our pathblazer studios store.

We have expanded to a new store We are always looking for different ways to market our designs and products of African Wildlife and the latest website we have partnered up with is Teepublic. And we already have had our first sale through them, this Africa Is Calling design was purchased on two shirts. Thank you to the buyer, we appreciate it. Our Teepublic Wildlife photography & designs include photos of wildlife such as giraffes, elephants, rhinos, lions, zebras and more for all the wildlife lovers out there looking for that perfect gift. We are always working on adding new designs around our nature, wildlife and outdoor photography, and have already added some new concepts to the teepublic store we have. This includes this design below we specifically created for our mugs and cellphone cover/cases designs, but are available on multiple products as well. So whatever gift for the wildlife lover on your life you are looking for, or that person who wants to do or has done a safari in Africa, we can give you a wide variety of mementos of the trips and experiences they had while exploring the great game parks of Africa, from the Kruger National Park to the whale watching in Gansbaai. We made a video showing what our experience was when doing the whale watching in Gansbaai, which you can see on our yotube channel Let us know if you have any questions about touring south africa and we will gladly give any advice to assist you in travelling this beautiful country. I am originally from germany and moved here when I was one, my wife is a Afrikaans South Afican, currently living in Johannesburg but soon moving to either Fish Hoek or Blouberg areas in Cape Town.

So you are wanting to take a Safari in the Addo Elephant Park? A visit to South Africa would not be complete without visiting the Addo Elephant Park in South Africa. I had worked for a few years at the Cosmos Cuisine guest house just outside of the park, serving as the game ranger and general duties in the guest house. The guest house itself is known for its food more than anything else, offering traditional south African meals and a variety of options for all. Addo was created to ensure the protection of the elephants in the area after years of hunting which led to a small population remaining. This hunting also led to inbreeding in the small population of African elephants, which is why the females on the park no longer have any tusks. Accommodation in the park is varied and can be anything from tented camps to private luxury accommodation, so this all depends on your individual needs. A alternative and what we would suggest is rather staying at one of the nearby game reserves, such as Amakhala game reserve, where I also worked. I was based at the woodbury lodge side of the reserve. The Woodbury Lodge is nestled in the side of a hill overlooking the savannah on Amakhala and has the mountain in the background as well, its quite a way to wake up in the morning and see that view. Carnarvon dale was originally created for the local south african market and is currently revamping itself as a self catering accomodation option. Woodbury tented camp was created for a more outdoor experience environment, and is settled in the bush with raised platforms so you don't get unexpected visitors. The bush lodge and Bukela game lodge are the 5 star establishments on the reserve, and offer the best experience for those seeking luxury. Leeuwensbosch Country House is the family friendly location as they cater for children of all ages. The other locations have certain ages that can stay there. This is for the safety of the children due to how the lodges are constructed eg raised platforms, proximity to wildlife etc. Hlosi game lodge also offers accommodation for all ages, with kids programs available. So whether you are looking for a special trip with your family, a romantic getaway with your new wife/husband, or just a outdoor experience, Amakhala will have a location on offer that will suit your needs and leave you feeling like you had the experience you were looking for. View our products page for gift ideas for wildlife lovers.

This article will describe how I got started in wildlife photography. When I was younger I was a boy scout in South Africa, getting all the way to springbok scout. This naturally lead to a love for nature, wildlife, anything outdoors really. So when I finished schooling, I went and studied game ranch management. But like most 18 year old's, I actually had no clue what I enjoyed. Psychology teaches us today most teenage brains don't actually have the capability to understand the consequences of their decisions. So asking a 18 year old to determine a 3 year degree minimum that will set them for the rest of their life is not exactly a wise thing to do. If I had the opportunity again, I probably would have spent more time doing some self reflection and discovering what I enjoyed. Even now as I right this, I cant really say what I enjoy at this moment. beyond design and photography. But being on the reserve gave me a few opportunities, such as taking up wildlife photography in South Africa. I started with a little bridge camera, eventually upgrading to a entry level DSLR. Being there on a daily basis gave me the opportunity to see things most people don't, and do things some dreams of, like having a sleeping zebra on my lap after it got darted to be transported to another game reserve. Or the day we were surrounded by about 50 buffalo that were being bred for an auction to other reserves. fun times at least. So while being there does offer its experiences, just because something is exciting and fun, doesn't mean it fulfills a persons desires. its important to be happy in the situation, regardless of what other people think about it. I opened up some of my old toys recently for my one year old, and it brought back good memories of building legos, train sets etc. Maybe I should take inspiration from Sheldon......do we have a train experience in South Africa? nope. But this eventually lead to me finding out if there is a way to make this into a business opportunity. So I did some research and found out about places like zazzle and teepublic that you could sell your designs through. When I started though I had no design skills whatsoever, I basically uploaded all my photos and thought the money would just roll in. That didnt happen. So I started playing around with gimp, some of my designs were terrible, but everything is a learning process. from my wildlife photos of giraffes, zebras, rhinos, buffaloes, lions and more, we have been able to create multiple African wildlife themed designs on custom printed items like shirts, mousepads, mugs, postcards and more through our partnerships. Don't forget about our wrapping paper and gift bags as well. perfect for the wildlife lover as a reminder of their African safari. but this is a long term project, and we will be always going to new locations and developing our design and photography to always be better at the craft and deliver new ways to see the world and all it has to offer.

Have you ever wondered what to get for the outdoor enthusiast, the animal lover, wildlife lover or nature lover? Our range of wildlife inspired gifts and products will meet that need. We offer a wide variety of photos and designs of African wildlife, including giraffes, elephants, rhinoceros, zebras and more on products like: Mousepads shirts postcards mugs puzzles and more. through our partnerships with Zazzle, Etsy, Redbubble, Printful and Printify, we can bring these directly to you. Currently we dont have a store on our website and offer through the marketplaces from Zazzle, Etsy and Redbubble. In time we will have a ecommerce wildlife and nature shop available to you. so head over to our products page or our shops page to see what we have available. We have a wide selection of gifts for the wildlife lovers out there. View our products page for more.

Introduction: Africa, the mesmerizing continent known for its diverse wildlife, never ceases to amaze nature enthusiasts. From the towering elephants of the Serengeti to the graceful cheetahs of the Masai Mara, Africa's wildlife is a treasure trove of awe-inspiring beauty. And what better way to bring a piece of this natural wonder into your own home than through African wildlife postcards? In this blog post, we invite you to embark on a visual journey through the captivating collection of African wildlife postcards - a gateway to the enchanting wilderness of Africa. African wildlife postcards are not just regular postcards; they are works of art showcasing the remarkable craftsmanship of photographers and artists who dedicate themselves to capturing the essence of Africa's remarkable wildlife. These cards often depict rare moments, creating a sense of exclusivity and wonder. With each card, you are transported to the plains of Africa, where a vast array of wildlife displays its unrivaled beauty. 2. A gateway to African landscapes: From the stunning sunsets over the savannah grasslands to the lush greenery of the rainforests, African wildlife postcards allow you to get a glimpse of the spectacular landscapes that serve as a backdrop for these magnificent creatures. Whether it's the vast expanse of the Maasai Mara or the picturesque Okavango Delta, these postcards effortlessly transport you to some of Africa's most breathtaking locations. Cape Town in South Africa offers a majestic view of table mountain when you are in the bloubergstrand area for a unique postcard. 3. A tribute to Africa's biodiversity: Africa's biodiversity is unparalleled, and its wildlife is a testament to that. African wildlife postcards capture the diversity of species that call this continent home. Whether it's the regal lions of the Kruger National Park or the striking zebras of the Serengeti, these postcards serve as a reminder of the incredible variety of fauna that Africa boasts. Each postcard tells a story and highlights the significance of preserving these species for future generations. So why not tell your own story and remind others about why wildlife is important with a custom text Wildlife Postcard from Pathblazer Studios such as the one below: 4. Promoting conservation awareness: Beyond their visual appeal, African wildlife postcards also contribute to the promotion of conservation efforts. Many postcards feature species that are currently under threat of extinction, reminding us of the fragility of their existence. By purchasing these postcards, you not only bring a piece of Africa into your home but also contribute to conservation organizations working tirelessly to protect and preserve these magnificent animals and their habitats. 5. A personal touch and meaningful gestures: Finally, African wildlife postcards make for an excellent way to connect with others. Whether you choose to send them to friends and family or use them as unique wall decorations, these postcards carry a personal touch and evoke meaningful memories. They are reminders of experiences and adventures, and they spark conversations and inspire curiosity about the wonders of Africa's wildlife. Conclusion: African wildlife postcards encapsulate the beauty and magic of Africa's remarkable wildlife, allowing enthusiasts to immerse themselves in the continent's breathtaking landscapes and diverse fauna. With their unique artistry, these postcards not only serve as visual delights but also raise awareness about the need for wildlife conservation. By cherishing these postcards, we continue to appreciate, protect, and share the wonders of African wildlife for generations to come. So why not embark on a journey through the captivating collection of African wildlife postcards and let Africa's wilderness touch your heart and home? View our range of postcards here. We offer a wide variety of products for all wildlife lovers. View all our shops as well for othe designs and photography we offer.

If there's one thing that can capture a child's imagination and transport them to a world of ancient wonder, it has to be dinosaurs. These magnificent creatures that roamed the Earth millions of years ago continue to captivate children of all ages. Whether it's their size, the mystery surrounding their extinction, or their majestic presence, dinosaurs have become an enduring fascination for kids worldwide. So, if you're looking for the perfect gift for a young dino enthusiast in your life, here are some dinosaur-themed gift ideas for children that are sure to make them roar with joy! 1. Stuffed Dinosaur Toy: A cuddly and huggable dinosaur plushie is a classic gift that will surely be cherished. From the mighty T-Rex to the gentle Stegosaurus, there are various options available to suit your child's favorite dinosaur. These soft and snuggly companions are perfect for imaginary play, bedtime, or even just displaying on a shelf. 2. Dinosaur Books: Books have an incredible ability to transport children to distant lands and ignite their imagination. There is a wide variety of dinosaur-themed books available, ranging from colorful picture books for younger children to more educational and detailed options for older kids. Explore stories of adventure, fact-filled encyclopedias, or even interactive books with pop-ups and flaps for a hands-on learning experience. 3. Dinosaur Puzzles: Puzzles offer a great way for children to develop problem-solving skills while having fun. Pick a dinosaur-themed puzzle with vibrant artwork to keep them engaged for hours. With various difficulty levels available, you can choose one that suits the child's age and skills. Complete with their favorite dinosaurs, these puzzles will provide a sense of achievement once they're completed. 4. Dino Fossil Excavation Kits: For budding paleontologists, fossil excavation kits are a fantastic gift. These kits usually come with a block that contains hidden dinosaur fossil replicas. Kids get to use tools like brushes and chisels to carefully uncover the fossils, just like real archaeologists. It's a hands-on activity that combines play and learning, helping children understand the process of unearthing ancient artifacts. 5. Dinosaur Clothing and Accessories: Let them show off their love for dinosaurs with some dino-themed clothing and accessories. From t-shirts and hoodies to hats and backpacks, there are endless options to choose from. This way, they can proudly exhibit their favorite prehistoric creatures wherever they go. 6. Dinosaur Model Figures: Dinosaur model figures are a great way for kids to recreate their own dinosaur adventures. These figures come in various sizes and materials, ranging from detailed museum-quality replicas to more affordable and durable options. Kids can stage epic battles or create imaginative worlds for their dinosaurs, fostering creativity and storytelling skills. 7. Dinosaur Board Games: Board games are an excellent way for families to spend quality time together. Find a dinosaur-themed board game that combines fun and learning, allowing kids to test their knowledge about different dinosaur species or embark on exciting adventures with their favorite creatures. These games promote strategic thinking, cooperation, and friendly competition! Dinosaur gifts not only inspire a love for these magnificent creatures but also encourage curiosity, learning, and imaginative play. With the wide range of options available, you're sure to find the perfect gift to keep their dino obsession alive and roaring! View our stores page for more of our products we have. We offer Wildlife, Nature and outdoor photography as well as unique designs.

When it comes to wrapping gifts for children, there’s something incredibly magical and exciting about using dinosaur-themed wrapping paper. The combination of colorful images and prehistoric creatures creates a sense of adventure and wonder that is sure to delight any young dino enthusiast. Kids dinosaur wrapping paper is not just your ordinary wrapping paper; it is a gateway to a world where dinosaurs roam the Earth once again. With vibrant illustrations of the mighty T-Rex, the towering Brachiosaurus, and the formidable Stegosaurus, this wrapping paper brings these ancient creatures to life. Imagine the joy on a child’s face when they receive a gift wrapped in dinosaur paper. Their curiosity and excitement will know no bounds as they begin to explore and unravel the mysteries hidden beneath the paper. Each tear and rip is a step closer to unveiling their very own prehistoric treasure. Not only does dinosaur wrapping paper spark a sense of adventure, but it also provides an opportunity for educational play. As children unwrap their gifts, they can identify different types of dinosaurs and learn about their characteristics. It opens up discussions about the Jurassic period and encourages them to delve deeper into the world of paleontology. Moreover, dinosaur wrapping paper adds an extra layer of excitement to any birthday party or special occasion. Imagine a dinosaur-themed party with every gift adorned in colorful dinosaur paper. It sets the tone for a day filled with endless fun, imagination, and discovery. Decorating a child's room with dinosaur wrapping paper can also create a captivating and inspiring space. Using the paper as wallpaper, or cutting out individual dinosaurs to create wall art, can transform an ordinary room into a prehistoric wonderland. The vibrant colors and eye-catching designs are sure to spark creativity and ignite a love for the world of dinosaurs. In a world where everything seems to be digital and virtual, there is something utterly charming and nostalgic about using dinosaur wrapping paper. It takes us back to a time when imagination ruled our playtime and dinosaurs were the kings of our adventures. So, the next time you're searching for the perfect wrapping paper for a child, consider the magical allure of kids dinosaur wrapping paper. It brings a sense of excitement, wonder, and education to any gift-giving occasion. Embrace the world of dinosaurs and watch as young eyes light up with joy and anticipation. Happy wrapping!