We began our Durban Day Safari in Umhlanga where I collected my clients for this very exciting Durban day Tour. After covering the History of Durban and KwaZulu-Natal we had arrived at our first destination Tala Game reserve.
At Tala game reserve we began our quest to find animals and having a high density of animals we did very well.
Our first sighting was this Blessbok and Wildebeest next to one another, both holding territories.
Blesbok and Wildebeest seen on our Safari near Durban to Tala game reserve, Valley of 1000 Hills and Zulu Cultural Village
Blesbok and Wildebeest seen on our Safari near Durban to Tala game reserve, Valley of 1000 Hills and Zulu Cultural Village
The pond in front of these animals created a lovely reflection and a cool additive was the Egyptian Geese. As we continued our Durban Day Safari we were very luck and came across a pair of Blue Cranes which are Endangered and South Africa’s National Bird.
Blue Cranes, South Africas national bird seen on our Safari near Durban to Tala game reserve, Valley of 1000 Hills and Zulu Cultural Village
Blue Cranes, South Africas national bird seen on our Safari near Durban to Tala game reserve, Valley of 1000 Hills and Zulu Cultural Village
We continued on and got lucky again as I spotted the neck of a giraffe in the distance, after a shop shop break we headed down to where she was and located her baby as well. We were very lucky to still see the baby with some dried umbilical cord attached. Who says Durban Day Safaris are boring!
Giraffe mother and calf seen on our Safari near Durban to Tala game reserve, Valley of 1000 Hills and Zulu Cultural Village
Giraffe mother and calf seen on our Safari near Durban to Tala game reserve, Valley of 1000 Hills and Zulu Cultural Village
Next was the spotting of this Long crested eagle sitting in a tree looking for rodents. The eye is a lovely orange/yellow with a crest that blows in the wind. It is one of the smaller Eagles but its still and eagle.
Long Crested Eagle seen on our Safari near Durban to Tala game reserve, Valley of 1000 Hills and Zulu Cultural Village
Long Crested Eagle seen on our Safari near Durban to Tala game reserve, Valley of 1000 Hills and Zulu Cultural Village
We continued on as we were trying for these Rhinos again before heading to the Dam with Hippos. We still had one more spot of some Water buck a male and some females on this Durban Day Safari before we could get to the Hippos.
Water Buck Male and female seen on our Safari near Durban to Tala game reserve, Valley of 1000 Hills and Zulu Cultural Village
Water Buck Male and female seen on our Safari near Durban to Tala game reserve, Valley of 1000 Hills and Zulu Cultural Village
We finally made it to the dam where the Hippos were and were very lucky as a young baby was out the water on the banks of the dam. We also spotted Knob-Billed Coots, Egyptian Geese and a Cormorant.
Baby Hippo seen on our Safari near Durban to Tala game reserve, Valley of 1000 Hills and Zulu Cultural Village
Baby Hippo seen on our Safari near Durban to Tala game reserve, Valley of 1000 Hills and Zulu Cultural Village
We continued with our Durban day safari in the attempt to find the Rhino which for the second day had not shown itself… This was becoming very frustrating for me but I have learned to cope with this occasional issue… We did however get a better photo of Zebra so I can not really complain.
Zebra seen on our Safari near Durban to Tala game reserve, Valley of 1000 Hills and Zulu Cultural Village
Zebra seen on our Safari near Durban to Tala game reserve, Valley of 1000 Hills and Zulu Cultural Village
We now had to depart from Tala game reserve and head onward to the Valley of 1000 Hills for some lunch and to get to the reptile park and Zulu Cultural village.
We arrived and had some lunch at the Boma restaurant which was open today and I had Putu, Boerewors and Chacalaca. You will have to take a Durban Day Safari with me to know what this is! One of my clients joined me and the other went for the Crocodile Burger!
Soon after lunch we went across to the reptile park for the crocodile and Snake tour which was great.
Crocodile regulating its body temperature seen on our Safari near Durban to Tala game reserve, Valley of 1000 Hills and Zulu Cultural Village
Crocodile regulating its body temperature seen on our Safari near Durban to Tala game reserve, Valley of 1000 Hills and Zulu Cultural Village
It was actually very funny as when the wind picked up a few of these big crocodiles opened there mouths but actually opened there Gular flap as well almost to swallow the cool air and regulate there body temperature.
After the reptile it was time for some Traditional Zulu Dancing and we heading into the Village.
This part of the Durban Day Safari for me is the most exciting and my clients loved it.
Zulu Dancing seen on our Safari near Durban to Tala game reserve, Valley of 1000 Hills and Zulu Cultural Village
Zulu Dancing seen on our Safari near Durban to Tala game reserve, Valley of 1000 Hills and Zulu Cultural Village
Again you know were my camera was focused. We also had some time to enter into the traditional huts and taste some Umqumboti – traditional Zulu beer. It was now coming to the end of our Safari near Durban and we headed back out to the shops to see what the clients could take back home as gifts.
Zulu Dancing picture 2 seen on our Safari near Durban to Tala game reserve, Valley of 1000 Hills and Zulu Cultural Village
Zulu Dancing picture 2 seen on our Safari near Durban to Tala game reserve, Valley of 1000 Hills and Zulu Cultural Village
After a small bit of shopping we began our drive back to Durban/Umhlanga to return the clients to civilization. It had been a fantastic Safari near Durban and we all enjoyed the experience.
