Today's weather report showed the morning air temperature was 24C and the sea temperature was 26C. Predicted maximum was 25C, but we spent the day inland where it was 30C+.
The ship docked at 6am and we went to the top deck to view the lovely harbour and city of Durban.
We boarded our tour bus at 8:15 and our Zulu driver and guide took us along the northern beaches and over the mountains with interesting scenery, including sugar cane, bitou and lantana. We passed one of the large sports arenas built for the 2010 World Football Cup.
At 10:30 we arrived at Shaka Zululand, which reminded us of Old Sydney Town, as it was a recreation of a nineteenth century Zulu community. It was originally built for the making of a TV series called Shaka Zulu, and now is run by the local Zulu people as a very authentic theme park. We were greeted by young people in traditional dress singing in harmony to put us in the mood.
Then our leopard skin clad guide Mmoosha took over from the coach guide Sibo and took us to many different places and experiences in the park until lunch at 1pm.
Then our leopard skin clad guide Mmoosha took over from the coach guide Sibo and took us to many different places and experiences in the park until lunch at 1pm.
We bought some traditional beaded jewellery.
Our guide explained how a polygamous family cluster operated within a village using a small scale model.
We watched a 12 minute version of the 9 hour series on King Shaka and were invited to taste the beer that they made from fermented corn.
Inside the large hut we were treated to half an hour of singing, drumming and spectacular dancing by a troop of about 20 performers.
Their enthusiasm and sense of humour showed us they loved their culture and and had very great respect for King Shaka, who inflicted a terrible defeat on the British Army. We were then served a delicious lunch and at 2:30 we climbed back into our coach.
Their enthusiasm and sense of humour showed us they loved their culture and and had very great respect for King Shaka, who inflicted a terrible defeat on the British Army. We were then served a delicious lunch and at 2:30 we climbed back into our coach.
Unfortunately, when we had arrived a man collapsed on the path and had to be stretchered off. Then, as we were ready to leave, we looked out of our coach window and saw him being lifted from the coach next to us, put on a stretcher in the shade and given CPR. He was covered over with a blanket and an ambulance was called. Some people from that coach took up empty seats in ours.
We arrived back in our cabin at 5pm feeling very glad we had decided to pay for this day out only a few days ago. It was the chance of a lifetime for us. At 6pm we went down to dinner and Carolyn told us that some people were walking through town and had necklaces snatched from their necks. A lady was in a taxi with her window down and had her phone snatched from her hand. We had been warned that there are many poor people in Durban, including refugees from various war torn countries to the north.
After dinner we went to the top deck to watch the departure in the dark through the harbour. Very romantic.
People on the shore were screaming and waving and shining torches, so the captain gave three long blasts on the horns, which could be heard all over the city.
We finished this busy day with a comedy show by Jon Courtenay, who had us all laughing.
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