St Lucia Trip On Estuary Water
Visiting the estuary it is well worthwhile taking in the view from on the water, offering another angle, masked up and ready to go we departed from Sunset Jetty (there are a couple of options available), price around before arranging.
Advantage Tours our selection at ZAR220 per person in July 2021, remember this was out of season and during lockdown, not many people traveling the town was quiet and smaller cruiser used on the day. Cruise lasts around two hours.
Boat dog to keep us company, he has obviously done this regularly he had good onboard boat behavior abiding by all the rules, he was exempt from mask wearing.... lucky dog.
We opted for the 10h00 cruise, a later 15h00 was available enjoying the sunset, we had however visited the jetty and enjoyed the sunset earlier in the week. Young fellow enjoyed sitting up front with the dog as companion feeling the cool breeze from the bow.
First up in a tree is a python, well I looked, did not see so going to put two photographs up perhaps you will spot it and let me know...
Guides showed us with both being extremely excited, even took the second photograph using my camera saying you will see it! Well still looking....
Did manage a quick snap of two woolly-necked storks (Ciconia episcopus) sitting together, perhaps their sight is better than mine.
Knowing the waters, having two guides watching both sides of the water we soon arrived right next to the bank of the river to see two Nile Crocodile (Crocodylus Niloticus) basking in the sun.
These two were young and quite docile, everyone did move back away from bow to ensure avoiding any sudden possible lunge at the boat. Previous years going on river adventure we have seen enormous crocodiles.
At the same spot a hippo was not very happy and did charge from within the reeds along the riverside, we moved on.
Looking back at the village of St Lucia you will notice the R618 bridge that crosses over into town, this is the only way to enter, road and pedestrian bridge.
Bridge is built at a slant, higher on one side to the other. From memory we were previously told it was designed like this for heavy weather conditions.
Further up along the estuary very few bird sightings, mid winter we heard the Fish Eagle cry, saw a Purple Heron at a distance, actually a disappointing day for bird sightings only managed to photograph the Woolly-necked storks earlier.
To make up numbers in the water was the Happy Hippo, hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) a reasonably large pod along the waters edge.
They say we are hairless 'river horses', I'm not so sure let's take a closer look at those bristles...
Some kind of 'hair' in the ears and on the back...
Now one thing they do is come out to eat... mostly at night, when returning to their part of the river, will belly flop straight over the edge of the river bank as shown, something I would love to witness!
Moving further along we spotted a baby crocodile using a log to prop up on, possibly looking for insects to munch on for lunch.
The midday sun beats down on the water, not much wildlife was seen today, sadly this estuary is not in the best of health needing a lot more tender care.
View of some dead mangroves, these are dying off by what I understand due to lack of salt water breaching into the estuary at the frequency it should.
More healthy patch, hopefully in time this whole region will be demarcated to wildlife, remove farming and mining let nature take back what is rightfully hers. St Lucia has potential to fully recover.
All the action over, dog told us as much lying down to relax in the sun....
Another quick look at the R618 road/pedestrian only bridge into town from the river, with slant.
Onto the Sunset Jetty to disembark.
A pleasant morning out, this African Daisies (Gazania rigens) reminded me "Tomorrow is another day." A walk down memory lane, flowering Gazania each time I visit I stumble into one I remember @dswigle #alwaysaflower (situated right outside ladies powder room, where I came out well relieved.... to photograph!)
All photography my own using Canon Powershot SX730 HS camera - 7th July 2021. Any queries or requests please drop a comment below or make contact with me, have a wonderful day! Photography without tripod, go with the flow wherever life takes you. NB: Amateur photographer in nature, keep smiling!
Thought for Today: "Do not insult a crocodile while your feet are still in the water." - African Proverb
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What a wonderful trip, @joanstewart. So much wildlife! I couldn't see the python either. It is well hidden and well camouflaged!
Boat dog looks like a good companion. He would have been cute in a mask!
I hope they do restore the mangroves. They are such a critical contributor to a healthy ecosystem and they evidently clean the water and prevent erosion.
Thanks for sharing your wonderful pictures, as always!
Dog was fun, also decided to take advice to move off the front when visiting the crocs, Oh a mask would have suited him, we have to suffer under the things...
Mangroves have taken a beating, we had severe drought a couple of years ago, trying hard to assist nature allow sea to flow in again, alas humans have made a problem here that will take many years to rectify.
Thanks for visiting and kind words @jayna
!ENGAGE 20
ENGAGEtoday.Now you can officially call me blind - I have been looking for quite a while but couldn't see the Python 😎
But I saw all the other animals - the crocodiles look so dangerous with their yellow eyes but yet beautiful and I even saw the baby crocodile and the hippos, of course 😉
The cutest animal was the boat dog - it must have seen all this a thousand times, so laying down and relaxing must have been more enjoyable for it 😀
You have had a great and certainly exciting tour, Joan, at least for me it would be enough for one day, and next time the weather will hopefully be better for some bird sights.
!BEER and !WINE - both make a nice dinner with !PIZZA :)
!invest_vote
I took about four photographs of tree, guide used my camera and took two, still blind to the elusive python... Will put his photo up here for another look!
Crocodiles were young and healthy, must have eaten not really interested in us at all.
Dog was so at home on deck, only moved off the bow when close to crocodiles otherwise that was his spot.
We were there in mid-winter with a lot less bird life evident, off the water I did expect to see a few more... alas wrong on the day, was advised birds return in August.
!ENGAGE 15
Thanks for the !BEER and !WINE
Good luck, let me know if you can see it!
I don't think I have ever looked on a photo so intense for such a long time and still didn't find what I was looking for 🤣
Of course, when we had Summer it was Winter in South Africa and most birds were on vacation, I always forget that.
I hope you have had a nice start into the new week - here it is warm but rainy. I don't mind because sitting in the office is much easier that way 😉
!LUV
!PIZZA and !BEER - sounds like a nice dinner :)
!invest_vote
Oh it's started to turn up the heat and humidity here again, 30 deg C today no sign of rain till Wednesday possibly, more humidity to look forward to...., yeah we grumble and groan discussing summer! Oh under the air conditioner today.
No I have enlarged photos one by one..., that python must have blended so well with the tree, normally I see things in nature, not this time!
It's only Spring and so hot already? We haven't had many days over 30C this Summer .
Our rain has also stopped and tomorrow might be a nice sunny day again but the weatherman said this about today too and it rained 🌧️
I know they have a "camouflage coat" but even by knowing for what to search it was impossible for me to find it 😅
!PIZZA and !BEER - sounds like a nice dinner :)
!invest_vote
Hot days sneak in between, today a bit cooler after heavy winds passed through all night, it changes with seasonal change, normally a time for catching colds and sniffles with higher pollen count.
Oh I went back and circled what I think in a later post....
It's the same here - today will be sunny and warm but tomorrow it will be raining again they say.
Yep, I have seen the image but I am not sure if that's what we think it is 😉
!PIZZA and !BEER - sounds like a nice dinner :)
!invest_vote
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Went back to this photo and this is the only possibility I do see....
Help @johannpiber - to be or not to be a Python in a Tree 😆
You can ask your friend @papilloncharity - see keeping you entertained at work now!
Oh yes, I have seen this too, but that looks so much like the tree. I wonder what Zac @papilloncharity will say
!PIZZA and !BEER - sounds like a nice dinner :)
!invest_vote
Relatively big snake laying in the branches, well that is about the only place I notice a possibility. 😄 but then could still be wrong!
We will never know for sure, but let's say it is the snake and maybe next time you will see one clearer 😉
!PIZZA and !BEER - sounds like a nice dinner :)
!invest_vote
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ENGAGEtoday.Ah yes, St, Lucia is crying out to be restored, but as long as the mining goes on it will eventually die a slow death. Oh, the python was to le left of your focus as I saw the tip of its tail hahaha.
Another lovely post Lady Joan.
!BEER
Area itself is being well maintained with alien vegetation being removed, alas it is inland where toxic substances reach water, but then we are giving our land away!
Python was resting on the tree branch according to guide I sure as hell cannot see it and have enlarged each photo it must be extremely well camouflaged.
!ENGAGE 10
Thanks for the !BEER
I will say this again Lady Joan. All townships on or near the river banks in the country should be removed.
Factories that are proven to leak into the rivers must have an alternative, move or be shut down.
Oh and don't forget the municipalities that pump excrement's into the rivers. They should face a charge of sabotage in the courts.
In my mind it's the only way that we are going to save our rivers.
But I don't think that this will ever happen.
Would never have believed in thirty years a country could resemble a garbage heap wherever you look. Possibility from July uprising the beaches/rivers damage will take five years to clear!
No comment...., live goes on!
Oh yes, we just have to keep our blinkers on Lady Joan.
Trying very hard, not always succeeding!
Such is life my friend and we all just have to hang in there.
Some impossible things happening.
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I think the adventure is will worth it for R220, a great way to spend time outdoors. I never get a day or two off whenever am in KZN due to work I would love to going such lovely cruise.
Well worth making time to come enjoy the North Coast, some very reasonable priced places to stay in St Lucia, very central, with plenty to do...
If you don't like humidity, plan winter my friend.
I will keep that in mind and ask you for guidance if the opportunity arises 🙂
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BEER.Hey @joanstewart, here is a little bit of
BEERfrom @papilloncharity for you. Enjoy it!Learn how to earn FREE BEER each day by staking your
BEER.I was glad I couldn’t see the python, Joan. What a great trip seeing all the wildlife..some looked dangerous. The dog was a cute addition to your cruise.
Hopefully the mangroves come back and the area recovers.
It would have been wonderful to actually see the Python, always telling people when in the bush to look up and down, snakes are able to make themselves at home anywhere.
Dog was the captain of his domain, going out he was alert watching all the way, on the return journey found his spot and dozed quite comfortably.
Thanks for visiting, hope the mangroves are able to recover, it will take time.
If I saw that python, would probably have screamed and fell out of the boat to be lunch for an alligator. My crazy snake phobia has limited me from certain places.
It was so bad one time that years ago I was visiting a friend in Florida, U.S., she had a snake skin from a large snake that had been run over on the road. I thought I could look at it but when she brought it out I took to screaming and ran out of the house.
Ha ha, a phobia you can get over, they have a wonderful feel to them when handled by professionals. No I don't go looking for them but do see them from time to time.
This one might just give you a delightful squeeze Jo.
Just kidding some people really cannot tolerate being around certain animals, I try to understand but cannot say I do.
I know people who have a phobia about a mouse or spider. I would have to say I find it hard to understand . :) I don’t mind them at all just a snake ~ any size or harmless. And there are no harmful ones here.
Have a great week Joan,🌸
Each to their own, I don't like heights and avoid them, along with swinging wood bridges, snakes I hopefully can always sidestep 😄
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Wow, what an interesting trip. I have never seen those animals. the dog is so cute, hihi.
In many ways the Hippo is more dangerous than the Crocodile people think of them as herbivores, big and cute especially on land. When cornered or feel they are cut off from the water or a youngster they will charge, boats they will attack if they feel territory is being encroached on.
Thanks for visiting @kimloan
!WINE
These are useful information. Thank you. I love trips like that. Wishing you a happy new week
Have a wonderful day and thanks for kind words.
Indeed nature's beauty is incredible.
Life is too short not to enjoy everything on offer.
What a great adventure Joan.
Great place to enjoy, very different in many ways to other parks... Now I'm selling you on visiting North Coast of KZN 🤣
They're playing my sister's music on KZN - on the top 40 - but a very slim chance of me visiting Natal. My time in SA is almost up - and I'll be heading back to Cyprus for now
Hope you enjoy being back for a short visit. Good to hear Eden's music is doing well. Safe trip back to Cyprus.
Thanks Joan - have you heard the song on KZN?
No I don't listen to radio too often, have heard her music in various places and shared out to local people I know.
Thank you - she reached #17 on Saturday on KZN and I believe she is being interviewed by them this morning.
Hahaha, my hubby and I studied your photo to spot the elusive python and sadly elusive it remained. It must be so camouflaged! Although not a high number of animals seen @joanstewart the little cruise seemed like a relaxing fun activity. Loved the hippos, they were a good save! Wishing you well @joanstewart.
Love the little flower, flowers always seem to pop up at the right time. @dswigle's #alwayaflower is a fun little tag. I always seem to have my flower eyes open these days as well.
PS: love the friendly boat dog, he is a cutie. I bet he has been patted by many.
Hippo and crocs are plentiful on this stretch of water normally, was a lovely outing to see change since last cruise in 2014, drought a couple of years later when many animals could not sustain life in the region.
Dog was a lovely little guy, and seeing flowers made me smile with their lovely little faces I have only seen this colour up there.
Ins't t funny when flowers have only one colour. it must he to do with the soil.... maybe. I am no expert but I do know for example the different colour hydrangeas has got to do with the level of acid in the soil.
Not sure about soil conditions since the plant belongs to a hardy family, colour may be regional having seen these blooms in a variety of colours already.
This was more than awesome!I looked really hard for the python and he must have jumped in the hole in the tree. The crocs were cool, but, I love watching the water horses the best!
I leave you with such a cheap comment as time has not been my own! I loved this post, my friend! You are the best!
There will always be a flower for you! #alwaysaflower
Really an eye-spy game, yes time is of the essence here at the moment as well, fully understand!
This colour gazinia I have only ever seen up in that region, was thrilled to see one again and thought of you when photographing.
Have a great day, catch up and keep up, life today!
:) I'm trying my best! ❤️
A region well worth visiting with many national parks in the area as well as the estuary.
Able to experience from close up, sometimes a little too close!
Bucket list is getting so big, I need two already! Have a great day, yes they take you quite close in, crocodiles were lazy the hippo not so much.
Doesn't look like that will happen anytime soon, enough to keep out of mischief over here for now. Then there are great posts in Hive to explore!