For the beauty of the earth

Tuesday 16th September

Sudwala Lodge, Mpumalanga

Waterfalls, Crocodile River, Nelspruit

Today was one of the hottest yet, so the coolness of the rainforest within Nelspruit's Botanical Gardens was gladly appreciated.  Planted with trees from rainforest areas across Africa, this was home to some of the most extravagantly coloured butterflies I've ever seen.

As well as the rainforest, the botanical gardens were spectacularly planted with all manner of plants and trees, including baobabs.  (Fact of the day: cream of tartar is made from the fruit of the baobab tree.  You learn something new every day.)

Reading the information provided, it was astonishing how many of the trees have medicinal uses, either in traditional remedies or in pharmaceuticals - what a bounty the earth supplies!  (Although, there were an equal number with the ability to sting, poison or blind!)

Cascading waterfalls on the Crocodile River that runs through the gardens ended in a pool filled with plastic bottles and aluminium cans - the shape of the rocks forms a natural filter which removes all the rubbish thrown into the river upstream.  During the dry season, teams of volunteers empty this out, ready for it to start its work all over again the next year.

The beauty and bounty of the earth contrasted with the destructive wastefulness of humankind - when will we ever learn?