Mozambique & South Africa post

Tom's birthday was celebrated the same day (April 2nd) we arrived in Maputo, Mozambique. We toured the city and purchased some souvenirs at an outdoor handicrafts market but otherwise we stayed onboard the ship and that evening enjoyed dinner in the Pinnacle Grill (a specialty restaurant on the Amsterdam) and Tom wore his gift from Steve - a lei or string of white orchids around his neck.

The next day we arrived in Richard's Bay, South Africa and our tour included a visit to a Zulu village and a safari through a nearby Game Reserve.  We saw three of the Big Five - which is the nickname given to five of the famous African wildlife - the lion, leopard, elephant, rhinoceros, and water buffalo and the buffalo is reputed to be the most fearsome since they can charge even when not provoked.  You'll see photos below of the three we saw, neither the lion nor the leopard showed itself on this safari, but also photos of the giraffe and antelope that were spotted on a rather cloudy and rainy day.    

The third stop of this Post was Durban, South Africa and we were scheduled to take a safari tour early that morning, however heavy rains the night before canceled our tour.  We were unable to get another tour later that day as they were all totally booked, don't you know.  And, yes, everyone that took the afternoon safaris claimed to see all five of the Big Five, haha.  Oh well, it's another reason to perhaps return some day to South Africa to again see if we can spot the rest of the Big Five and maybe even venture further inland to other Game Reserves. But now we're sailing towards Capetown and the southern most tip of the continent of Africa.  


Totsiens, or Afrikaner for goodbye!