Richards Bay, South Africa

 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!!!!!






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