We traveled through the Transkei in KwaZulu Natal Province, with its rolling hills, winding roads and beautiful scenery. This was the area during the Apartheid years that was declared a Zulu homeland with its own “self government”. In fact, the national government in Pretoria was in complete control. The homeland was terribly overpopulated, with the local people needing a passbook to venture outside their territory. After Apartheid was dismantled in the nineties, the Transkei became a region of the province.
At Saint Lucia, we did a trip on the lake to see the hippos but the one in our yard was by far the best possible sighting. The owner, where we were staying, knocked on our door at 6:30 in morning to tell us a hippo was sleeping in the yard. He was a young bull. They only come out at night because the sun actually burns their skin. Hipo’s are one of the most dangerous animals in Africa being responsible for more fatalities than any other animal.
Checking out the sleeping hippo.
The people whose unit he was sleeping in front of let me in their back door.
At 4:00 AM, I got up because I could hear him eating right outside our unit. This was a young bull that was being attacked by a large male in the group so he was on his own a lot. He would regularly come to the yard to escape his much bigger adversary.
Right where John was standing a minute ago.
The boat trip provided some great views but of course all the hippos were in the water.
African fish eagle
The Saint Lucia game preserve was a haven for monkeys.
The beach in the preserve was gorgeous
with tons of little crabs scurrying across the sand.
This one was deternined to have a place to sleep at night.
Heading back to St. Lucia we saw many of these fast tiny duikers in the woods.
Can’t beat the African sunsets.
As the sun went down, out came the mongeese who live in large family groupings.
As in all the towns we visited you can always load up on lots of wonderful fruit for the road till you reach your next destination.
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