Monday, April 8, 2019

Durban, South Africa – Start of Safari - March 30

Durban, South Africa – March 30

We have done a 3 week safari in Tanzania/Kenya and gorilla trekking in Rwanda, but it’s our first time to South Africa. We are doing our only “over-land” on this cruise. Harriet & Charley joined this safari with us. They are just a super nice couple and they were great company to share the experience with. They have been on a safari before as well and they didn’t get to see a lion and we didn’t get to see a rhino, so we both really wanted to see each of those.
The tour company was recommended by Tina (on our roll call, but I hadn’t met her yet) Sun Safaris was very responsive and the entire safari from each pickup and delivery to the flights, went off without a hitch.  www.sunsafaris.com
It was announced that due to tidal conditions we would be 45 minutes late, but it was a long time after that when we finally got off the ship.
 sail in






 Hartlaub's Gull


We were amongst the first people off the ship. Princess gathered anyone with an over-land tour so we could be off the ship first before the day tours started. Charlie was told by Princess that he may not have enough pages for immigration to stamp his passport, so they told Harriet & Charlie and 4 other people that they would walk them off first and guide them through the process. So, when we got through immigration, we expected that they were already finished and waiting outside. Princess dropped the ball, and no one guided them off the ship first. As we were walking outside, we see that all of the day tours have started to disembark and there are Harriet & Charlie in line. They said the whole morning had been one comedy of errors after another with people ignoring them and then leading them in the wrong direction etc. 
Luckily, the immigration people had no issues with Charlie’s passport pages. So, it was all that stress for them for no reason. Harriet was so worried that if they would miss the safari (and the rest of the South African ports) if they wouldn’t stamp his passport. 
Anyway, all was well, and our driver was waiting for us and we had a large van for just the 4 of us. Our driver was Suvosuso aka Patrick from Ilios Travel, and he was full of information as he gave us a mini city tour of Durban on the way to Valley of a Thousand Hills & Phezulu Cultural Village. Besides lots of history and information on Zulu people he spoke in several native languages using the clicks and pops. He also was very well-versed on the United States knowing more facts about our country than we did. Very interesting young man.
The drive out of the city inland took us through small villages and gentle rolling countryside which gave way to the most spectacular views. 





















After an ATM stop, we arrived at the village just in time for the village visit and dance performance. We didn’t have as much time here as we were supposed to since Princess & immigration took way too much time and arriving late didn’t help either. 
We went into a couple of the huts (all recreations) and they demonstrated various ways of life as it used to be. We even tasted the local beer they make there. After that we were taken to an outdoor amphitheater where they did a fantastic dance show. We could also pose for photos with them. 
 our van
 arrival at the village














me drinking
 yep, it was that good....








































































We had no time to shop at their gift shop as we were taken next to the reptile exhibits. They had various crocs, tortoises and snakes. We could have skipped that part, but it was part of the tour and they moved us through quickly since we had to get to the airport. 
Reptile Park





































 Charley checking out the tortoise


 driving to the airport



We had just enough time to get a quick lunch of a “chicken basket” which was very tasty. I grabbed my token magnet of Durban and we then got right on the plane. Phew!




Our flight to Nelspruit was 1.5 hours from King Shaka International Airport out of Durban and then we had a 2.5 hour drive to the lodge over mostly rough roads. Tommy was our driver from Seasons in Africa. As we were leaving the airport, we saw a few Impala. We also passed lots of farmland and greenhouses. 

 Nelspruit Airport - Greg, Harriet & Charley on the left








 Impala right outside the airport





Arathusa Safari Lodge https://arathusa.co.za/ is located in the Greater Kruger Park in the Sabi Sands Private Nature Reserve and shares an unfenced border with the Kruger National Park and allows off road driving for the Big Five. It is an all-inclusive lodge meaning that all game drives, bush walks, drinks, food, snacks etc. are included. The game drives and bush walks are guided by professional game rangers and trackers. All the drives were in open 4 x 4 Land Rovers.
Upon arrival at Arathusa Safari Lodge we were greeted with cold towels and a refreshing cold drink. Monique was so helpful throughout our stay as was every other employee there. They treated us like family. We were given a tour of the grounds and facilities. There was a covered outdoor dining area with a huge fireplace for when the weather is bad, a boma area with a firepit and a great location away from the lodge. They also had a huge bar, lounge area, infinity pool, the breakfast & lunch area and another boma area. The watering hole has been dry for 3 years due to the drought. 


We then were taken to our huge villas. They have watering hole facing rooms and bush facing rooms. In hindsight, we should have taken a bush facing room for more wildlife viewing. (though animals still came through the dry watering hole area.) Those in the bush facing rooms needed to be escorted while we did not.
The villa had a front veranda, a couch, chairs, wet bar, clothes rack, huge netted bed, a huge shower, powder room, vanity with double sinks, a huge tub and then we had a private outdoor shower and a bench out there. 
 the outdoor shower


 indoor shower & bath








 our villa

lone wildebeest in the dry riverbed
We got settled in and then went to dinner which was at the boma that was farther away from the lodge. We were called to all meals by a guy banging on a drum. Nice fire pit and each guide had a table as you were seated with the people you would be on game drives with. A boma is al fresco under the stars and was buffet style and had many choices including antelope sausage. The food was all amazing. We got to know the people that had been there and already had been on game drives. I have to admit that there was one woman there that was so loud and brash that I almost asked if we could be moved. She was 50 I think she said; but talked in this loud over-done “Valley Girl” accent. (she was from Texas) 
boma
Since the wake-up call was at 5:00, we headed for a shower and bed. There wasn’t much sleep to be had despite the long tour & travel day. 
Here are some links to photos that have not been sorted, deleted or put in any order. I won’t have internet or free time to do that until we get back. But, they are there if you want to check them out. 


Nosy Be’ & Nosy Komba, Madagascar –  part 1 https://photos.app.goo.gl/gbDypVVpSxncWYrr5
Nosy Be’ & Nosy Komba, Madagascar –  part 2 https://photos.app.goo.gl/Be3HsuJaw3ADmje68
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