Shadreck just returned from the Mozambique Kruger Beach and Bush MOa14 and had some new experiences. This is what he had to share... My first tour for the season has just given me a new approach and more strength to look forward for the oncoming tours for 2017.
Our first stop Zululand Lodge, a tented camp owned by Sunway Safaris which is a great start to the tour. Our guests loved the setup of the tents the included local meals from the kitchen. The nature walk was exceptionally awesome on the property with bird species I have never seen before. As we entered the property we were welcomed by a small family of zebras cropping the grass, a welcoming party. We spent the next 3 nights at the lodge. Early the next day we headed to Mkhuze Game reserve for a morning game drive. The Mkuze is one of the ten jewels of the ISimangaliso wet land conservancy. This reserve offers the opportunity to see the big five. Out of the big five we saw nothing, only one of the small five a leopard tortoise. Lots of general game including the tallest land mammal in the world the Giraffe.
The following day we drove to Hluhluwe Umfolozi Game reserve another jewel of Zululand. Renowned for its rich and diverse wildlife, the park has a wide variety of fascinating fauna and flora including elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion, leopard, blue wildebeest, giraffe, cheetah, hyena, and warthog and over 300 bird species. Our first animals shortly after entering the park were a small family of rhino, a mother and two daughters. A few km down the road on our left side, somebody shouted buffalo!! What a great start!! All you could hear were the endless clicks of cameras from the rear of the truck.
The weather was very good, clouds covering the usual blue sky and giving Shadreck and his guest an opportunity to explore the park on a red matriarch. I call my truck the red elephant ( the matriarch) for it is one of the very old trucks left in the company and due our bond and her wonderful condition makes me jealous that soon very soon she will be sold out in exchange of the new trucks.
Heading to the coast we stop over in Kozi Bay. In all the trips I have done to this beautiful area I have never found fish in the Tsonga fish traps. This way of fishing is so primitive yet smart in the way it’s only the big fish that are trapped giving the small fish a chance to escape the trap and time to grow.
When visiting the traps with a local we found two big fish called Mullet. The fish were still alive in the trap. The only to catch fish was to use a spear. Our guide to the traps demonstrated on how spear the fish. Five guests tried this art of spearing the fish but only 2 managed to get it right. With the 2 guests getting this ancient art correct and spearing the fish our dinner menu changed from meat to fresh fish, thanks guys!!
A wonderful evening meal was had by all including our local guide invited to join us by the fire...