Timbo, Timbo, Timbo

"Timbo, Timbo, Timbo, come here!"

"Keep coming!"

"Whoa! Timbo! Whoa!"

As you may know, Timbo is Swahili for elephant. And elephants were the highlight of our second day of safari. Dr. Turner was in heaven as he loves, Timbo's. They got so close Dr. Turner could have touched him, but he had warned the youth not to touch lions -- he thought he better not. However, Timbo may have brushed up to our vehicle. It was exciting. They were everywhere and active: tearing leaves off bushes and trees, dusting themselves off, walking across the road, and taking care of their young.

"If you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours."

"Mom, are all these
people coming for dinner?"

"Come on little one, you've got to keep up."

"I may be old, but I still can see."

Soaring, a Yellow Billed Stork

Acacia tree thorns, something like the kind that was used for
Jesus crown of thorns. The exact plant is not known.

The Acacia tree, has finely leaves and yellow flowers, grows to a height of twenty feet or more, and its stem may sometimes reach two feet in thickness. The tree often assumes a characteristic umbrella-like form. The wood is close-grained and is not readily attacked by insects. It would be well suited for such purposes as described, the construction of the ark of the covenant, the altar and boarding of the tabernacle. It too is known as the "shittah" tree (Isaiah 41:19). Its wood is called shittim wood (Exodus 26:15,26; 25:10,13,23,28, etc.).

The Crown Of Thorns in Matthew 27:29. Our Lord was crowned with thorns in mockery by the Roman soldiers. Obviously some small flexile thorny shrub is meant perhaps Capparis spinosa. "Hasselquist, a Swedish naturalist, supposes a very common plant naba or nubka of the Arabs, with many small and sharp sines; soft, round and pliant branches; leaves much resembling ivy, of a very deep green, as if in designed mockery of a victor's wreath." — Alford.
Some interesting facts: Three of the four evangelists mention the crown of thorns, wherewith the rude Roman soldiers derided the captive Christ (Matthew 27:29; Mark 15:17; John 19:2). All speak of the akanthine (Acanthus) crown, but there is no certainty about the peculiar plant, from the branches of which this crown of cruel mockery was plaited. The rabbinical books. mention no less than twenty-two words in the Bible signifying thorny plants, and the word akantha in the New Testament Greek is a generic and not a specific term.

Elephants and Girrafes will eat this thorny tree.

"There's got to be something good here."

Dave, taking it in.