Richards Bay, South Africa
Today, we were supposed to visit Maputo, Mozambique, but because of bad weather, we weren't able to get there (and not a bad thing - according to many in the crew - as it is nothing special and not a good place to visit). So the Captain decided that we should go to Richards Bay a day early and then overnight (2 days there). Here is what our daily Chronicle gave as background for this port:
Founded in the 1880's, during the Anglo-Zulu colonial wars, Richards Bay was named after British Rear Admiral Sir Frederick William Richards, who landed a naval force here. An early claim to fame came in 1891, when colonial adventurer John Dunn killed a 22 foot crocodile in the estuary - still one of the largest ever documented - but the town remained a backwater (town) with a population of less than 200 people until as recently as 1968. In 1976, Richards Bay opened what is now one of the region's major seaports, and in combination with nearby mineral deposits, it has contributed to the town's massive growth. Visitors may be more interested in what awaits in the hinterland. Richards Bay is the gateway to the land of the Zulu, one of Africa's most fascinating tribal peoples; and also offers easy access to some of the world's finest wildlife game parks, including the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve, which protects the highest concentration of white rhino left in Africa.
I could have gone on a tour, but was tired out from my last Game Reserve tour and decided to stay on the ship one day (we were docked in a coal port with coal dust blowing around the ground), and venture out the next. I took the shuttle to town, which dropped us off at a mall (because there is nothing else to really see close by and nothing within walking distance).
The mall wasn't anything special. I walked around the whole mall, looking at the different shops. I ended up in the grocery store to get some snacks. I found a HUGE box of Corn Flakes next to regular size boxes of cereal.
One interesting thing is that we are in Zululand, and on the shuttle ride we passed by the University:
That's all from here! Now to try and work off this jetlag!
Comments