After our jeep safari in Kruger National Park and Hluhluwe-Imfolozi, we embarked on another safari adventure but of a different kind – a boat safari. We headed to St. Lucia, a small town in the east coast where the population of hippos and crocs outnumber the people. It is home to one the largest estuary in Africa, which is teeming with wildlife and is the first UNESCO Heritage site in South Africa.
Warning sign in our hotel lobby. Should we be nervous?
More warning sign on the river bank. I don’t they should worry; we wouldn’t think of feeding the crocs in a million years.
All set to board the boat for a safari in the tidal estuary. Although it was called “Hippos and Crocs Boat Cruise,” we saw a lot of other wildlife that inhabit the wetlands.
Our first sigthing was a huge crash of floating hippos. The wetlands of St. Lucia has the highest concentration of hippos in South Africa
Hippos are known to roam the streets of the village at night. They were probably relaxing here after a wild night out.
This waterbuck swam across the river and struggled to get our of the water when it reached the bank. We watched the poor thing struggled for several minutes.
The waterbuck changed its course and finally got out of the water. Everyone in our boat cheered.
The area is also bird’s lover paradise. This was one of the many graceful herons we saw.
A Kingfisher was one of the many bird species we identified.
We had not seen any crocs at this point, To make up for it, the boat captain handed us a model of a crocodile head.
And soon after, as if hearing that we were looking for them, the crocs started to come to view.
Here’s a huge one basking in the sun.
More sighting of huge crash of hippos lounging on the river bank.
Hippos on lunch breach.
A bunch of healthy rumps. Don’t they look delicious?
After cruising the estuary, we walked around town and checked out the market selling fresh produce and souvenirs.
A lovely girl in the market.
Seeing the wildlife from the boat was a delightful experience. It was a beautiful day and the cruise was quite relaxing. For more information about the boat cruise in St. Lucia Estuary, click here. Don’t forget to bring your binoculars and zoom lens.
Amazing trip
Muza-chan recently posted..Japanese traditional blinds, Sudare
Hi Lili, it really was.
Your boat safari sounds relaxing, Marisol & Keith. St Lucia is beautiful.
Despite their size, I find them quite graceful – hippos, I mean. And they move pretty fast too!
Marcia recently posted..Sculptures From the 1964 New York World’s Fair
Hi Marcia, it really was relaxing and enjoyalbe. The hippos were surprsingly graceful and adorable.
Wonderful photos, it looks like a really great way to view the wildlife. #TPThursday
Phoebe @ Lou Messugo recently posted..The French Flag – le Tricolore
Hi Phoebe, thanks. It really was a fun and relaxing way to see the wildlife.
The signs are hilarious! I can’t imagine trying to feed a crocodile, haha. Looks amazing! I am hoping to plan a trip to South Africa next year, so I will be back here looking through everything again. I especially liked your photo of the heron, it’s gorgeous. The hippo butts and the market girl are close runners up.
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Hi Katie, we thought the hotel sign was scary but yes, the crocodile sign was pretty hilarious. We thought that maybe some super crazy people might have tried to feed the crocs in the past, hence, the sign. Glad you enjoyed the photos.
Marisol & Keith recently posted..South Africa: Boat Safari in St. Lucia Estuary
Marisol, I wish I had done this while we were in South Africa. I love a boat ride, and hippos…not so sure about crocodiles. I’ve seen my fair share of them by now, and they’re kind of scary. Beautiful photos, as always!
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Hi Corrine, thanks. If you love boat rides and hippos this would be a delightful experience for you.. Too bad you missed but hey, there’s always a next time.
Fantastic shots – it would be difficult to choose between them to pick a favorite; although I have to admit that little girl brought a smile. What a great adventure and even better because you saw everything you did unlike some safaris that don’t result in any sightings.
Jackie Smith recently posted..That Dovecote Day on Tinos Island
Amazing wildlife photography, Marisol! The photo of Heron and its reflection is my favorite.
memographer recently posted..The Angels on The Ponte SantâAngelo
Amazing shots as usual. Thankfully the water buck did not cross in an area infested with crocodiles, otherwise instead of cheering you would have witnessed a horrific ‘national geographic drama’.
Rachel M recently posted..Saving Mount Kenya
the hippos are so much fun to watch i think. i wonder if they have the same type of boat safari in the bayou of lousiana
Photo Cache recently posted..Random Skywatching
What a great outing. I never think of South Africa in terms of boat safaris but good to get another view.
I have seen hippos en masse and now understand the term “when the shit hits the fan”. Their pooping display was like nothing I’ve seen in my life – with the stuff flying through the air like a fan had caught it.
Leigh recently posted..Hiking in Calgary’s Nose Hill Park
I love your colourful description Leigh. Next time someone uses that term I shall have a mental picture of hippos.
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Hi Leigh, Oh no, we missed that great pooping scene.! I guess it was not a pooping time when we visited. Sounds like a really interesting sight.
Gorgeous shots! I’ve seen kingfisher when I was in the jungle in Borneo and they are magnificent birds. I’ve only seen hippo in a zoo, but my they are smelly creatures. I laughed when I read Leigh’s comment. What happens at night if a villager meets up with one on the street?
Nancie recently posted..Travel Photo Thursday — June 5/14 — Summer Travels — Beach, Food, History, Sun!
Hi Nancie, Yeah, Leigh’s comment is really funny. We think the villagers are used to seeing the hippos on the street that it’s just like bumping into neighbors when they see them on the street.
I definitely want to do a boat ride along a hippo filled river in Africa. The Heron photo is stunning and I love the clarity of the hippo photo. I liked the first one because it was so surprising, but the rest are equally as good.
We saw a croc on the bank at Dungeness this week, but it was quick to enter the water so no photo though. It was about 6ft long. Loving your African trip.
budget jan recently posted..Have you caught Crabs on Holiday?
What a great day! I am a big fan of farmers’ markets so I would also head straight to this fruit and veggie market to buy some organic products! This boy in the last picture stole my heart <3!
Agness recently posted..Visiting Düsseldorf On A Budget
I love your photos, they’re beautiful and capture everything so perfectly! St Lucia is really close to my hometown, and I remember going there on a school outing, I loved it!
Erica recently posted..May
What a fun trip this must be! Seeing crocs is always exhilarating, but definitely won’t dream of feeding them either, haha.
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I somehow never realized that people did safaris via boats, too. It must have been so wonderful seeing all those wild hippos, although I don’t think I’d want to encounter one on a street at night. I imagine they must have to put a warning sign up about the crocodiles because some person thought it’d be a good idea to feed them. Glad that you are wiser!
I heard that hippos kill more people every year than crocodiles. They surely are easy to aggravate, but when they just soak in the river, they look kind of adorable actually. At least for me.
Bama recently posted..Food of the Fragrant Harbor Part 1: Earth & Sea
What a fun tour, it’s so amazing to see the variety of wild animals in their natural environments, would love to do a photo excursion like this some day. Thanks for sharing meanwhile.
noel recently posted..4th Street in Berkeley
I have a fascination with hippos and this is my kind of boat safari
Love all the gorgeous wildlife photos here! What a wonderful way to see the wildlife and looks relaxing too. And a safer way to see the crocs. Those signs are hilarious. You’re making my S Africa so enticing!
Mary {The World Is A Book} recently posted..Cruising the San Diego Big Bay
What amazing shots! Such an adventure.
ladyfi recently posted..The gift
great wildlife shots. Love the hippos
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I’ve never seen these animals outside a zoo! I really hope I can visit South Africa someday. Gotta save up more
Sorry, we are so late to the party Marisol and Keith! Your pictures are once again spectacular. I was just reading yesterday on another blog that the most common cause of death for tourists by hippos is them attacking people in boats?? Had you heard of this occurring while you were there? I love that crocodile warning…I would have no desire to feed them in an open environment! What an absolutely amazing trip for you! We hope you’re doing great, our friends!
I loved this place too! It’s such a great spot to visit – although it looks like you had even better wildlife watching than we did. Glad you got there and shared your adventures.
cindy recently posted..Along the Maligne River, Jasper National Park, Canada
Wow, what an exotic post! You don’t see hippos in travel blogs every day. Excellent photos, by the way.