Tag: Richards Bay

TUESDAY, 1 MARCH 2022 RICHARDS BAY, SOUTH AFRICA
Arrival: 8:30 AM All Aboard: 10:30 PM Departure: 11:00 PM
TODAY’S WEATHER Partly Cloudy High: 84°F 29°C Low: 72°F 22°C
DRESS CODE: CASUAL
For Ladies: DRESSES OR BLOUSES AND PANTS
For Gentlemen: SPORT SHIRTS AND SLACKS
No shorts or flip-flop-type footwear after 6:00 PM in indoor venues

RICHARDS BAY, SOUTH AFRICA – GATEWAY TO ZULULAND
Considered as the official gateway to Zululand, Richard’s Bay has morphed from being a tiny fishing village into a bustling harbor town. Today, the 30 km2 lagoon is the major port of the region and also the deepest in Africa, a growth spurred on by the significant mineral deposits, wonderful wetland scenery, unspoiled beaches, and game reserves.
Located on the north coast of KwaZulu-Natal, Richards Bay was founded in 1879.
British Rear Admiral Sir Frederick William Richards eponymously named the port after landing there during the Anglo-Zulu colonial wars.
Despite its superlative natural setting, Richards Bay was long considered a southern African backwater, with as little as 200 residents as recently as 1969. This number grew when it was proclaimed a town, but even today it is relatively underpopulated, with fewer than 60,000 calling the province home.

The town’s Zulu heritage is omnipresent so be sure to look out for the local arts and crafts. Nearby Zulu village Dumazulu is the only Zulu village to be opened up to tourism by King Goodwill Zwelithini, and the only authentic example of Zulu traditions that foreigners are allowed to into.

If African culture is not your cup of tea, the hinterland offers fascinating flora and fauna, including a chance to see the
incredibly rare white rhino along with the bucket list Big Five.

Richards Bay’s attractions can be found closer to port too – the 350 kilometers of coastland, also known as “Dolphin coast”, are a joy for divers and beach lovers alike.

HLUHLUWE-UMFOLOZI GAME RESERVE
One of the most fascinating parts of Africa this expansive reserve preserves the wildlife of Zululand, along with the beauty, charm, and tradition of its natural surroundings. The reserve has become renowned for its small population of rare, white rhinos.

SIGHTS
• Hluhluwe/Umfolozi Game Reserve
• Zulu Nyala Private Game Reserve
• iSimangaliso Wetland Park
• Lake Mzingazi
• St Lucia Wetlands Park
• Dumazulu Traditional Village

Our Mid-Voyage Land Excursion to Phinda Forest Lodge – A Private Game Reserve for 3 days/2 nights.

VOYAGE OVERVIEW
We enjoyed 2 glorious days in the bush at Phinda Private Game Reserve with 2 mornings and 2-afternoon game drives in search of not only the Big 5 animals but numerous other wildlife- & birdlife. Phinda Private Game Reserve is home to Africa’s Big 5 and diverse bird watching with approximately 400 different species. We saw all the Big 5: Lion, Leopard, White Rhino, Cape Buffalo, and Hippopotamus; and of the elegant yet elusive cheetah as well as the rare black rhino (only 5,000 in existence).

DAY ONE – TUESDAY, MARCH 1ST, 2022 – RICHARDS BAY/PHINDA FOREST PRIVATE GAME RESERVE

Phinda Private Game Reserve is situated in the lush Maputaland region in northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Bordering the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park – a World Heritage Site – Phinda comprises 17 500 hectares (43 240 acres) of prime conservation land. Seven distinct habitats shelter an abundance of wildlife including Africa’s Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, black and white rhino, buffalo) and over 380 bird species, while the marine diversity off the nearby coast of Sodwana is said to rival the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.

Following a 2-hour bus transfer from Richard’s Bay Harbour to Phinda Private Game Reserve we arrived at the main entrance gate of Phinda. We were met by a guard who called the Lodge to sent three open-air 4 x 4s Land Cruisers to pick us up and continue a 10-minute ride to Phinda Forest Lodge. Phinda Forest Lodge is nestled inside 1,000 hectares (2,471 acres) of Africa’s last remaining dry sand forest and is one of the world’s first eco-designed luxury safari lodges.

Set in a rare and beautiful sand forest, the glass walls of Phinda Forest Lodge’s 16 air-conditioned suites offer a sweeping view of one of the most unique ecosystems on the planet. A dense canopy provides privacy, and floor-to-ceiling windows invite the forest in, with the wonderful opportunity to view wildlife roaming outside your glass “bubble”, fluttering birds nesting in the foliage, and the gentle rustle of forest sounds.

On the edge of the forest, just before a clearing that overlooks a small waterhole, lies the lodge’s sparkling rim-flow swimming pool, an ideal respite in between game drives. Expansive decks in the spacious guest area, look out onto panoramic views of an open grassy meadow. In the evenings, when warm firelight welcomes you to the traditional African boma, wide-eyed bush babies watch inquisitively from the trees above, as you indulge in a lantern-lit feast beneath a canvas of stars.

We checked in on arrival and our luggage was taken to our suite. Each glass-walled suite is separated from each other by about 100 yards creating our own private sanctuary. Following lunch, we enjoyed the free time in our suite to freshen up and enjoy our surroundings. We gathered in the main lodge for afternoon tea prior to our sunset game drive and returned to the lodge for dinner.