Our first adventure was a two hour boat ride up the St. Lucia Estuary to see some of the 800 hippos and 2000 crocodiles - Nathan standing in front of our ride.
Several of the multitude of hippos we saw - this trip they became our favorite animal.
Our guide passed around a set of hippo teeth and explained that more people are killed by hippos than any other animal in Africa. He added that the hippo can snap a crocodile in half with one bite!
Beside the water we also would see birds and wild life on the shore like this bull Kudu, with his beautiful horns.
To help Nathan reminisce about his mission to Brazil, our first night in St. Lucia we ate at Braza, a Portuguese restaurant. Our waiter was Peter from Mozambique.
One of our stops in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park was at Mission Rocks on the Indian Ocean. The waves were mesmerizing and we could have spent longer watching them roll in and out, but it was on to other sights.
Our first rhino sighting (iSimangaliso Wetland Park).
Nathan contemplating taking a swim in the Indian Ocean at a St. Lucia beach - since there were no other swimmers, he decided not to be the one to test the waters for rip currents or sharks.
Breakfast at the Avalone Guest House (St. Lucia) - more than we ever normally eat!
Before leaving St. Lucia, Nathan gave one of the two pools a try at the Avalone Guest House.
Our next stop was Mkhaya Game Reserve in Swaziland. The cattle ramp was a big help getting into the Land Rover. Our two fellow passengers were from Chandler, Arizona.
This was typical of the roads we traveled in the Mkhaya Game Reserve - you felt a little beat up after a two hour game drive.
This hippo is letting us know we are not welcome in his territory (Mkhaya Game Reserve)
This is our 5:30 am wake up call so we can get ready for the game drive before breakfast. This lady climbed a pretty steep hill with this tray of hot chocolate and muffins balanced on her head. Our sleeping lodges were scattered throughout the bush and separated by some distance to give privacy.
Nathan trying to decide if he really wanted to get up for the early morning game drive. Our lodge was open with a grass reed roof over a cement slab with a two foot high stone wall around the outside and providing partitions inside.
He not only decided to get up, but to have a shower before going. The wall by the shower was higher than two feet. Notice the oil lamp - no electricity inside the game reserve.
A game drive is not complete without Giraffes - we saw several.
This group of Zebra made for a nice picture - wonder what they are thinking.
When this mother rhino faced us and made some threatening gestures, our driver put the Land Rover in reverse and we made our exit. Note the Cape Buffalo in the background.
Nothing like a candle lit dinner in the bush after a long game drive. This was a three forks, three knives, two spoons, two goblets dinner of Impala stew and Butter Fish.
The two bedroom, self catering chalet were we stayed in Ezulwini Valley, Swaziland.
As we toured the Swazi Cultural Village, Nathan gave the wooden pillow and reed mat a try.
Nathan and Sandy learning the Swazi two step. A group of about 30 entertained us with traditional song and dance.
Ngwenya Glass is a "must stop" in Swaziland. Nathan and Sandy are trying to choose the perfect glass hippo souvenir. Every glass item from goblets to hippos are made here with three to four thousand items made and shipped every week all over the world.
Nathan and Sandy standing in front of the restaurant at Summerfield Botanical Gardens.
Elder and Sister Wilson joined us for a belated Thanksgiving dinner at Summerfields.
Our last stop for the trip was Richard's Bay. Elder and Sister Pier joined us for dinner at the Thai Wok restaurant overlooking the boat harbor. Nathan gave his meal a thumbs up as he really enjoys Thai food. As we came into town, we stopped at the chapel for the tail end of the District Youth Conference, with about 50 youth and their leaders. It appeared to us that everyone was having a fantastic day!
1 comment:
lucky Nathan!
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