DAY 115---RICHARDS BAY, SOUTH AFRICA

 DAY ONE OF SAFARI

Arrived at Richards Bay this morning.  Hazy and 71 degrees this morning.  We will be disembarking and heading out as soon as we clear immigration.  Van and driver will take the 8 of us to the Phinda Rock Lodge.

Historical/Background Info:

        We were here back in 2010.  We left the ship with another couple and did a 4 day safari in the Kruger Park at Leopard Hills luxury private lodge.  WE LOVED IT!  So guess what!  We are doing it again but this time to the luxury Phinda Rock Lodge.  More about that later.

        First, Richards Bay is situated on a large lagoon which makes it one of the country’s largest harbors.  It is also the deepest natural harbor on the African continent.  The city’s population is nearly 60,000.  Exports include:  coal, bananas, aluminum, titanium, granite, paper pulp, wood chips, and phosphoric acid.  However, like most of South Africa, the Richards Bay area is plagued by unemployment and poverty.  Apart from the mining industry, tourism is a major part of the economy, with Richards Bay seen as a gateway to Zululand with its large game parks.

LAST EVENNING

                                                             Sailing out of Maputo.

                                                         Sun setting over Mozambique.

                               When we arrived there were 3 butlers and a bartender to serve us.

                 Great cocktail party with our safari partners in Joan & Charlie Davis's master suite.

                                                               Cauliflower bisque soup

                                          Scallops and some bowtie pasta with shrimp

                                                                       Bread pudding

                                           Bernalyn is a tiny thing.  Or am I a big thing!!

                                               Alex and Magdalena's show was very good.

TODAY

        Up at 6:30 instead of our usual 7am today and had a big breakfast from room service to start our safari day.

        Normally the port pilot comes via a boat to the ship but just after 8am he was lowered on the deck by this helicopter.

        Ok, we were docked at 9:30 and were first to clear immigration and walked off the ship at 10:15.

        Douglas was waiting for us with his van.  He put all our luggage in the back seats and we piled on board.  He said it would be a 2 hour drive and it ended up being 1 hour and 58 minutes.  He was a very good driver and the roads were better than in US until we turned off the main highway for the lodge.

        We drove by miles and miles and miles of these gum trees.  Used for making paper, fences, roofs, etc.  We also passed by acres and acres of pineapple plants and sugar cane.

                                                 Dirt/gravel road into the lodge.  Bumpy

                                                                 Entrance to Phinda

                                                              Some warthogs greeted us.

                                                               Zebras blocking the road

                                              Already seeing game on way to the lodge.

                           The staff greeting us as we arrived.  Karen is boss.  Vera and Ndu.

          Path leading up to the lodge entrance.  I am taking the photo looking back down it.

                                              Turned around and took this of entrance.

                                       Karen is briefing us on the do's and don'ts of the lodge.

                                        Photos of our suite.  It is amazing!!!!!!!!  Wash basin.

                                                         Large bath tub with a view.

                                                                      Inside shower

                                                                        Outside shower

                                                                  You know what this is.

                                                                        Bedroom

                                                          Just inside the entrance

                                      Outside plunge pool.  All six suites have this private pool.

                                                            Group photo before lunch      

                                                        On the table as you enter the lodge.

                                              Looking in from the front door to lounge area.

Bar choices.  All included.  The wines are very good also.  I brought container of Makers Mark Manhattans and two bottles of our La Crema chardonnay off the ship.  They have Marcia's Grey Goose vodka.

                                                                    Table set for lunch

        Oh, my!!  Lunch was amazing.  Fried chicken breasts, ribs (best I have ever had), roasted potatoes, pasta, two salads, and bread.  So yummy I did not want to stop eating.  Now have to get hungry again before dinner.

                            Debi, our chef, is amazing.  I want to take her back to the ship.

        It is now 3pm here and everyone back to their suites after lunch getting ready for departing at 3:30 for our first evening game drive.  We were supposed to have tea/coffee and cake before the drive but everyone too full from lunch.  We are to be back from the drive around 6:30 and dinner 7ish.  What an amazing place this is.  Thank you Samantha, our Cape Town travel agent, for recommending it to me.

        The lodge's internet is super fast so making it so easy to do the blog.  I will post this now and put photos of the drive/drives on tomorrow's posting.  Wake up call at 5:30 tomorrow morning for coffee and rolls before the morning drive.  Breakfast after the drive.  Stay tuned!!