Sandy and Jim WC 24-25

  Richards Bay, South Africa March 29, 2025 Richards Bay is home to Africa’s deepest natural harbor.   Established during the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879 as a make-shift harbor, it was registered as an official town in 1969.   Sandy had a lesson in Zulu from one of the locals in Guest Services on board.   This region exports tons of coal and the coal dust floats over everything in this port.   Today’s excursion was a boat cruise through the very scenic St. Lucia Estuary.  Covering approximately 140 sq. miles, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of Africa’s largest estuaries.  Home to the largest concentration of hippos in South Africa, this estuary also supports more than 2,000 Nile crocodiles and about 520 different bird species.  We didn’t see any crocodiles on this excursion but a number of the cutest hippos with a mother foraging for her 2 week-old baby!!!!!

  MAPUTO, MOZAMBIQUE MARCH 28, 2025 Maputo, capital of Mozambique, features colonial Portuguese architecture and wide avenues lined with jacaranda and acacia trees.   Very colorful street art is featured throughout this city.   Our first stop on today’s tour was the domed bronze CFM train station cited as the 3 rd most beautiful train station in the world.  This station dates back to 1910.  Its other claim to fame is having been featured in Leonardo Dicaprio’s “Blood Diamond.”   The Bank of Mozambique is the tallest building in the city. The headquarters of TAP (Portugal) Airlines is one of the most colorful. Of course, no capital is complete without the embassy of the United States. Samora Machel, Mozambique’s beloved freedom fighter and first President, stands in the center of Maputo’s Independence Square.  The square also contains a house made of iron.   This square is the site of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Concept...

  Nosy Be, Madagascar March 24, 2025 A beautiful sunrise to watch on our lanai early this morning as we sail into and anchor in the harbor of Nosy Be.   Lo and behold the local “entrepreneurs” arrived at our ship in their fishing boats shouting “Money, Money, Money – Shoes, Shoes, Shoes – Bananas, Bananas”!!!!!  That was fun!!!!  Our tour began in Andoany, formerly known as Hell-Ville, which is the small capital city of Nosy Be, an island off Madagascar’s northwest coast.  It wasn’t named for what you might be thinking. Turns out that, when the French were colonizing Madagascar, the commandant of Nosy Be was a Frenchman by the name of Hell. Hence, Hellville! The island is known for its crater lakes created by former volcanos, waterfalls and rainforests which are home to an array of wildlife – lemurs, bats, reptiles, and birds.  Our passionate local guide, Tadji, learned English from others who he played basketball with and explained how funds received fro...

  TSAVO EAST NATIONAL PARK - KENYA MARCH 20, 2025 Six of us met our tour guide at 4am and traveled 3+ hours to this game park for a 4-hour game drive and lunch hoping to spot the “Big 5” – Lions, Leopards, Cape Buffalo, Elephants and Rhinoceros.     As soon as we entered the park, the roof of our van was raised so we could stand while viewing the wildlife.   We were not to get out of the van while in the park for safety reasons.  We were met by giraffes and many, many elephants.   This big guy was definitely feeling a little “frisky.” Driving up to a watering hole, we noticed a Hippo cooling in the water on this very hot day!!!   A variety of beautiful birds cover  this park in the trees and bushes.  Termites have built many unusual red sand “condos” everywhere!!!!   We spotted several groups of zebras and antelopes while baboons stayed cool under a tree.   We even spotted a few warthogs!!!! We didn’t spot all of the “Bi...