South Africa requires a face to face meeting with immigration official before we were allowed to leave the ship. EVERYONE on the ship had to have their passport stamped – passengers and crew. This was also the first location where we were required to take our passports with us when we left the ship.
Those that had early excursions – leaving between noon and 12:30, were asked to line up by 11am. Those not on excursions were to be called by floor number.
When we got in line, the line was halfway the length of the ship. We were going to the dining room to meet immigration officials and we lined up, we were at midship at the shops. By the time the line started actually moving, the line had gone the entire length of the ship and snaked back on itself and was in the corridor threatening to make it to the dining room, but I don’t think it ever did. Once it got moving, it moved fairly quickly. The crew did bring out water and cookies and then at dinner offered free soft drinks and sparkling wine for the fiasco. Although the cluster was most likely caused by people that should have waited to be called by floor. Fear of missing out is real, folks!
Our meeting time for our excursion was at noon and to leave at 12:15. When we got to the mainstage to check in, it was 11:45. Jeff stayed with our stuff and I ran up to the Lido and got us both a sandwich. Thankful that I did because we didn’t get back from our excursion until after 6.
There were only 2 buses going to the Tala Game Reserve which was a drive of 1 hour 15 minutes. While we were driving through Durban, the guide told us that the city has had rolling blackouts for 4 years because they can’t generate enough electricity for the entire city. This caused a lot of the intersections to have non-working traffic lights. We eventually got out of town and on the highway. The roads were good and there was a lot of traffic.
When we got to the game reserve we boarded 4 wheel drive vehicles and all 3 set off in different directions. We saw a lot of wildlife and I was worried that our tour was in the heat of the afternoon and the animals are most active in the morning and evening. Our guide told us the time was actually good because they animals would be less likely to run away from us, expending too much energy.
The reserve was 3300 hectares or about 8100 acres. We saw Rhino, Ostrich, Zebra, Eland, Antelope, Greater Kudu, Nyala, Giraffe, and Monkey. There were other animals at the reserve but we didn’t see them.
It was a good trip and we had a great guide.
The ride back to the city had lots of traffic going the other direction out of town, although it was heavy on our side too. There were a lot of trucks on the road.
This port was one of the largest and busiest that we’ve been too. It is so busy here that the pilot who boards the ship to direct it into the port was dropped off by helicopter!! That is definitely a first for us.
Our guide n the bus was from a Zulu tribe. They divide their population into two groups, she belongs to the latter – the Born Frees – those born after Nelson Mandela was released from prison.
To marry, her husband had to pay the father of the bride 11 cows, or the monetary equivalent of 11 cows. Cows cost 12,000 rand which is about $650 each. Plus, the husband gets a list of presents that the family members want to receive. It took her husband 4 years to save up enough for everything so they could get married.
