This is Africa! - Tuzi Gazi Marina, Richard's Bay, South Africa
Harmonie
Don and Anne Myers
Sat 23 Jun 2012 16:27
| 28:47.639S 32:04.763E June 6, 2012 - June 23, 2012 Aha! This is what we came here for. Africa, in all its glory. What a fabulous place, and we've only seen a small slice so far. Below are pictures taken during a day trip to iMfolozi Game Reserve. It's only a few hours drive north from Richard's Bay, and we only spent a few hours driving around it, but were amazed at the number and variety of animals we saw in such a short time. We can only imagine what Africa must have been like in its heyday, with herds of these marvelous creatures roaming about. It's so odd to drive down a road, look to the right, and see an elephant standing there. But he so belongs there, don't you think? Like if he wasn't standing there, so regally, this expanse of African landscape wouldn't just look empty, it would feel empty. The white rhino. Look at this guy! It's hard to tell in a photo, but he's (she's?) huge! And so ancient-looking - you see this, and wonder if a tyrannosaurus might be around the next bend. The white rhino was near extinction not so long ago, but is now recovering slowly. Unfortunately, there is still a good market for rhino horns in places like China. An impala buck and his harem. Not so unlike the old Zulu kings and their collection of wives. Yes, giraffes are tall, and we've always known this, but they look a lot taller in person, standing next to your car chomping tree leaves from above. No wonder an evil character in an animated film is sometimes portrayed as a warthog. They are uuugly! The red-tinted mane is a nice touch though. This photo was taken in Enselini Nature Reserve, which is only a fifteen minute drive from Tuzi Gazi Marina. There are no lions or rhinos or other scary beasts in this reserve, so visitors are allowed to walk through in daylight hours. We loved the zebras, but they didn't necessarily love us. After snorting in our direction several times, they opted to exit stage left. Here's a fun fact for you: Did you know zebras are like snowflakes in that no zebra's markings are exactly the same as another? This is just a teaser (for us and for you) for what's to come. We leave tomorrow (June 24) on a two-week driving tour of KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga Provinces with John and Sue (Storyteller) and Australian friends Ray and Helen. More in a few weeks after we return to Richard's Bay. Anne
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