Craven Suid Afrika 2022 TR

craven morehead · Dec 22, 2022

Time to head back into town for some lunch.

Driving up the main street and these are the stalls selling produce and souvenirs between my lodge and the Wimpy which was going to be the scene of today's lunch fix.

Naughty Hippos

So, first time at Wimpys for quite some years, it's just another Maccas/ Burger King type turn out.

I was looking at this one for ZAR$94.90

The waitress talked me into having this one with the double meat Pattie which was cheaper than the single

The service was excellent, and the tucker was ok by fast food standards. I relaxed here in the air/com for half an hour and then decided to go and book a sunset Hippo & Croc cruise.

Sprucegoose · Dec 22, 2022

looks very Northern WA

craven morehead · Dec 23, 2022

I chose Fannas Hippo & Croc Cruises: Fannas Hippo and Croc Boat Cruises

They were at 40 Mackenzie Street which is the main street, it was easy to check the place out, it was next to a bottle shop. The people were pleasant and genuine and at $ZAR250 I just paid up. Grabbed my receipt and was told to meet at the tour boat jetty for a 4pm launch. The jetty was a 5 minute walk from my room.

Fannas has a concession for their 40-seat tour boat " Spirit of St. Lucia" to operate on Lake St. Lucia and within the iSimangaliso Wetland Park.

First one aboard for this afternoon's tour

Toilet and bar facilities

undoubtedly, they will both get a workout

Chose a seat up the front.

Another tour boat just finishing their trip.

Looking back up the walkway.

Righto we're on our way. Only 12 pax on this trip so good viewing available everywhere. Quite a mix of nationalities onboard.

Looking like a proper Boer with my khaki shirt and beard, well some may say a Boar or an absolute Bore

The big fella has settled in

looking forward to a nice, relaxing trip.

craven morehead · Dec 23, 2022

After 2000+ posts, I've never attempted to load a video before. Let's hope this works

Great first sighting of a Hippo family

providing the videos work. Photos for back up

The average depth of Lake St. Lucia is only 1.5m

N860CR · Dec 23, 2022

I accidentally picked the hippo cruise without a bar this trip

. Most upsetting.

craven morehead · Dec 23, 2022

More Hippo spam!

It's a big family this one.

A mother and male calf. The calf was hard work to try and photograph.

You can just see the calf quickly popping his head out of the water on the RH side of Mums head.

craven morehead · Dec 23, 2022

N860CR said:
I accidentally picked the hippo cruise without a bar this trip . Most upsetting.

What an absolute tragedy

how did you survive?

Sprucegoose · Dec 23, 2022

N860CR said:
I accidentally picked the hippo cruise without a bar this trip . Most upsetting.

Dear, oh dear, that will only happen once.

Sprucegoose · Dec 23, 2022

I find Hippos fascinating, one of the largest land mammals - Greek for River Horse.

I remember doing a weekend down the Zambezi in what was not more than a tinnie, with these vast territorial river horses everywhere, trying to avoid them and not threaten the bulls territorially ........ there is an incredibly high fatality rate post encounters with territorial bulls.

I think your vessel was more suitable, even more so with a well-stocked bar.

drron · Dec 23, 2022

And having been charged by a hippo in the Okovango delta in a tinny with a cover and watching the fear in our guide’s face I never want to be in that situation again.

craven morehead · Dec 24, 2022

Sprucegoose said:
I find Hippos fascinating, one of the largest land mammals - Greek for River Horse.

I remember doing a weekend down the Zambezi in what was not more than a tinnie, with these vast territorial river horses everywhere, trying to avoid them and not threaten the bulls territorially ........ there is an incredibly high fatality rate post encounters with territorial bulls.

I think your vessel was more suitable, even more so with a well-stocked bar.

Yes & Yes!

Quickstatus · Dec 24, 2022

craven morehead said:
tucker was ok by fast food standards.

I’d say better. Maccas don’t do plates/cutlery and sauce in bottles

craven morehead · Dec 24, 2022

Quickstatus said:
I’d say better. Maccas don’t do plates/cutlery and sauce in bottles

Very good point.

craven morehead · Dec 27, 2022

After about an hour we turned around and started to head back.

A Purple Heron

The only Croc we saw on this trip and only a baby. See head about 1m to the left of the Crane. Wasn't too concerned about Crocs as we can see them back home pretty much any time. It was all about the Hippos for me today.

Managed to grab a couple of quick snaps of the African Fish Eagle.

craven morehead · Dec 27, 2022

On the home stretch now.

Monitor.

Forgot what sort on Ants build these nests.

One of the competitors. I wonder if they had a bar onboard

Taking a little side trip down to the main wharf and boat ramp in town.

Saw these African Golden Weavers on the way back out.

Heading back out as another boat is also finishing for the day.

I really enjoyed the couple of hours out on the water. The captain was very informative, and they had a Bar!

SuePa · Dec 27, 2022

I camped somewhere near hear on an extended African group tour, in 2011. We were warned not to come straight out of our tents at night as there were likely to be hippos wandering through the camp ground. I don't think anyone peed that night!

craven morehead · Dec 27, 2022

Tonight, it was suggested by the crew on the boat, that I check out the local pub. It was still on the main street, but you had to enter through a takeaway shop

that was a new one for me.

Grabbed myself a table and a beer. No surprises there

Once again, it was basic with plenty of room, good service, cold beer and no downside in my opinion

It's not like hospitality staff to check their phones while working these days, is it?

I went for a Bunny Chow tonight. For those not familiar: A Bunny Chow is an Indian South African fast-food dish consisting of a hollowed-out quarter or half loaf of white bread filled with curry and a serving of salad. I certainly enjoyed mine tonight. I will say, I never finish all the bread.

After a few more beers it was time to wander back up the main street to my lodging. A nice walk back on a fairly quiet evening. I never felt threatened in St. Lucia at all.

craven morehead · Dec 27, 2022

After a good sleep and another nice breakfast, it was time to head back to Ixopo.

Photos of this beautiful little place taken heading down the street on the way to the bridge.

Time to grab some fuel before heading off.

The first time I've ever had my car fueled up by a Princess

see name tag!

Naturally I asked if could take a photo.

I should arrive back in Ixopo late afternoon.

I shall definitely return to St. Lucia again and hopefully spend a week here next time. I really, really enjoyed my short stay here.

craven morehead · Dec 28, 2022

Just as I turned at the main roundabout and started to head over the bridge this bloke runs across in front of me

Gotta love South Africa

Heading over the bridge and I'm on my way.

I'll have to do this one next time.

A local restaurant heading back towards Mtubatuba which ultimately gets me on to the N2 which I could then follow for a few hours to get me South of Durban.

Luckily, I had a haircut before I left Oz - Looks like they've planted Heineken Bottles this year

Once I got back on to the N2 which only took about 40 minutes, I pulled in to the first servo on the highway to grab a sandwich and drink.

After that I didn't stop for the next 2.5 hours which got me South of Durban. I then pulled into the Shell Ultra City South Coast for a feed and a stretch. This would now leave me ~1.5 hours to go to get back to Ixopo.

There was a KFC and a Steers (Chips & Burgers etc) takeaway here that I took note of. Sister servo across the highway.

Out the back of the servo were stalls selling all sorts of stuff.

Time to get cracking again.

craven morehead · Dec 28, 2022

After leaving Ultra City, I continued on a little further to Park Rynie where I would turn off the N2, go over the highway and head up the range on a windy road towards Highflats and then onto Ixopo. Last time I travelled this road the potholes were terrible. What I had forgotten was the logging trucks that struggled up the range, at times in low gear. It was nothing to have 8-10 vehicles backed up behind the trucks. The locals are pretty crazy and overtake on blind corners and all sorts of madness. I drove aggressively but with as much caution as I possible, otherwise, your 1.5hr trip would quickly turn into 2+hrs. I passed through a few smaller villages on my way up to Highflats and with the ubiquitous speed bumps in the middle of these places requiring reduced speed, I didn't really have the luxury of taking photos while watching the road and keeping my wits about me. I have attached a series of videos in sequence with some loose commentary (maybe 2 swear words max)

I hope this gives you a feel for what I am experiencing, instead of a plethora of still shots. It's certainly not a glamourous, glossy brochure type tourist trail that I'm on and I haven't known a single person for the last 4 days. I hope they are of some interest