Durban, St. Lucia Estuary - South Africa - November 2021

 We left Cape Town on a very early morning flight for Durban. The big tour bus was already at the airport upon our arrival. The driver and the bus would be with us for the rest of trip. It was a long drive from Durban to our first night stay in the north eastern part of South Africa. Due to military upheaval, Eswatini closed the border to tourism a few days before we arrived.  Instead of traveling to Eswatini, we would stay near Hluhluwe Game Reserve one more night and a longer game drive in Hluhluwe.

Art work at Durban airport restrooms

Taking a break by the Indian Ocean 

Indian Ocean

We traveled north along the coast and made it to St. Lucia in the afternoon. The boat was already there waiting for us to tour its famous estuary. St. Lucia has one of the largest estuary in Africa with an incredible home for hippos, crocodiles and abundance of birdlife. 

Boat ride to visit St. Lucia Estuary

Estuary bank with (yellow) bird nests

Hippo home

One of St. Lucia estuary's many hippo pods

Another large pod of hippos

 

They're looking at us

Relaxing and cooling off

After visiting Saint Lucia Estuary, we headed out to Hluhluwe. ANEW hotel in Hluhluwe was near the Game Reserve where we'll stay for the next two nights.