Mini Safari

The World Cruise has optional overland trips.  On April 9, I left the good ship Insignia for a three-day and two night safari experience. We disembarked in Durban, South Africa on April 9, spent two nights in Kreuger Park, and returned us to the ship in Maputo, Mozambique on April 11 (Day 87). It was a great experience, despite a few hitches.

For this overland, the tour operators had chartered a plane and I flew from Durban to Kreuger Park, along with other guests going to numerous lodges and glamping places in the park.

Our small group of about 15-20 left the airport in land-rover-type vehicles for a drive to our location, Lukimbi Lodge.  This was not a “roughing it” safari. The Lodge had a central site for reception and meals and we were lodged in individual cabins, which were very spacious and comfortable.

Each had a large bed, comfortable seating area.

An individual porch looking out on a small river where wildlife could come.

Each also had a bathroom with a stone tub, with window, indoor and outdoor shower.  Quite the little retreat.

I very much appreciated this accommodation, as I ended up with GI problems that kept me there for 24 hours of the excursion. It was a very comfortable place to not feel well.  I was able to see a family of wart hogs come down to the river from my porch.

The main activity of the place was early morning (wake up call at 5am) and late afternoon/early evening game drives. For the drives, six of us went out with a guide and tracker in their open vehicles looking for animals.  I did have to miss two out of four of the game drives, which was a disappointment, but I did still see plenty of wildlife and we had some adventures.

We were in the middle of a herd of elephants crossing the dirt road around us.

We had some excitement, as a bull elephant who was in Musth who was in the midst of the herd looking for females in estrus.  Usually elephant groups are all female, so this was a bit scary as he came toward the vehicle in a threatening manner. The guide spoke a word in a confident voice and he moved on.

On the way back, we were crossing a stream in the middle of a pride of lions and got stuck on a rock in the stream.

The ranger and tracker had to call for another car to come. The ranger then said we had “a bit of a tricky situation.”  And, that “we might have to get out of the vehicle with the lions around us.”  My response was to query who the “we” was and luckily he meant the ranger and the tracker. 

Another vehicle came to the rescue.  With now 2 rangers and 2 trackers getting out of the vehicles, the lions ran away and they were able to get the vehicle off the rock. We got back on our way.

I did see a giraffe in the bush.

I missed the leopard, which others got to see. However, I almost believe I could make out the shape of a hippo far in the distance.

The most unusual wild life siting according to the ranger was a morning encounter with a large pack of wild dogs.  They were using the dirt road to do their morning hunting and they were very impressive.  They kept checking for antelope smell. They crossed the small river and did some romping in the wet. Eventually they heading into the bush to continue their hunt, but that was special.

The trip back to the ship was quite a long drive and we ended up spending three very uncomfortable and hot hours at the Mozambique border.  We were supposed to be able to get our visas to enter Mozambique there “on entry.”  Eventually we did, but they were not prepared for the numbers of us coming across from these tours expecting to get this visa and there was much frustration waiting in line after line.  We got through and safely, however, and back to the ship.

A most enjoyable trip, which I would recommend.