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Johannesburg
12
Graskop
34
Kruger NP
56
Mozambique
7
Swaziland
89
St Lucia
1011
Durban
1213
Bergville
14
Cape Town
15161718192021
South Africa - Bicycle Tour Adventure, Day 7
Pictures and Stories About Bicycle Adventures
Morning Photo Safari Ride in Kruger NP,
Saw a Big Cat (Lion), Crossed Famous Crocodile River;
Rode Transport to Mozambique, Driver Robbed by Policeman,
Cycle Ride Canceled, Too Dangerous, Walked around
Maputo (Capitol Mozambique); 14 Nov 2014
Photographic Highlights of the Day
Above: We saw our one and only Lion in a One Minute Time Window.
Morning Photo Safari in Kruger NP
Driving East through Kruger toward Mozambique
Above Left: The day started wet.
Above Right: A Waterbuck stands proudly (and wet).
Above Left: Loveld/Loveldt looking south (grass still wet).
Above Right: Rhinos sleeping. Because of my ski experience I know that it is easier to get a mass of weight upright on a slope than on a flat. Notice that the Rhinos already have their feet on the downslope.
Above Left: Newly wet creek bed.
Above Right: To me, this Jaguar Country.
Above Left: Our guide had a clever plan. As we have not seen a 'cat' at all and the cats seem to be actively visible in the north end of the park (we are at the southern end), Jannes had heard of a Lion Sighting in this area of the park (guides communicate with one another). So we planned on having breakfast here at this middle way station in Southern Kruger to follow up on a Lion Sighting, as it appears to be on our scheduled route.
Above Right: It's a CROC! <Joke>
Above: Daily Wild Animal Tracker - The RED DOT represents a LION SIGHTING. We will drive to this location and we will see the Lion. We were lucky to see the Lion at all, and it wandered off, one minute after our arrival.
For the Record, we were grateful to have seen what we had already, sights enough for a lifetime.
Above: Quick 100 meter distant photos of a Lion wandering off (more photos, cropped, at the top of this page).
Above Left: Impala, Male(s).
Above Right: Elephant.
Above Left: A dirty Hinged Tortoise (soil splashed from rain).
Above Right: Solo Elephant, likely a Bull.
Above Left: A Hinged Terrapin.
Above Right: A view down the road (in Africa).
Above Left: Rhino Mommy and Baby.
Above Right: Impala Male - We're nearing the parks eastern border and housing can be seen in the distance.
Above Left: Kruger National Park Entrance/Exit Station, Eastern Boundary (near Mozambique).
Above Right: Crossing World Famous Crocodile River.
Above Left: African Sacred Ibis.
Above Right: Lebombo Border Station Border Station (crossed flags are the international symbol for border station, usually consisting of customs and immigration). If one is in a vehicle (like us), there will be a vehicle registration and insurance stop.
Above Left: How the De Havilland Caribou came to be here (4km outside of Komatipoort, just this side of the Mozambique border) is not known to the public. It has been painted red and a KFC advertisement has been painted on the side. I found the following reference at http://www.countrylife.co.za/prawn-run-nelspruit-komatipoort/. [Hint: Scroll to #14]
The Red Plane: "As you drive into Komatipoort there is a rather dilapidated plane painted red. A De Havilland Caribou from Canada, it has quite a history. The story goes that this plane saw action in the Vietnam War and was nicknamed the Rebel Rouser. Apparently it was based for a while on a small island in the Pacific, then came to Mozambique and was then bought, supposedly by a South African company believed to be a front for the South African government, possibly involved in sanctions busting and supporting rebel movements in Southern Africa. No one quite knows how it came to be in Komatipoort but until recently there was a South African Air Force Base just behind where the plane is parked."
Above Right: The line-up for Commercial Trucks to Enter Mozambique is over a mile long. The right lane is for automobiles and our wait is rather short.
Entering Mozambique
Driving SSE for Maputo, the Capitol
Above Left: Leaving South Africa/Suid Afrika.
Above Right: Entering Mozambique/Moçamique.
Above Left: The roadsidee instantly became a market place.
Above Right: There are many people and many poor dwellings.
Above: In between many kilometers to go and few kilometers to go our vehicle was pulled over by an Mozambique Policeman. The Policeman found something wrong between the vehicle title and the vehicle registration. The Policeman then demanded 40000 Metical (about 12000 Rand, 1200 USD) or we go to jail today (Friday) and Court on Monday. After Bartering, the Policeman accepted 400 Rand (40 USD) - Which we figure was Weekend Party Money. He stuck the money in his pocket and waved us off (no receipt of course).
That is only one of many "I got shook-down by a Mozambican Cop" stories!
Above: We're entering Maputo (the capitol), a heavy rain has wet down all of the street markets.
Above: Downtown Maputo.
Checking into the Polana Hotel
- Downtown Maputo, Mozambique
- Decided NOT to Bike Ride as Intended
- We Went for a Walk, Strong Negative Feeling
Above Left: Our hotel, the Polana Hotel (now the Polana Serena Hotel).
Above Right: The Door Man at the Polana Serena Hotel. Terry asked him what all the buttons were and he stated that guests keep giving him buttons and now it is a known expectation of the Polana Doorman.
Above: Five Star Accommodations. We felt extremely out of place. There is something wrong with the government of Mozambique.
Above: Our view from our hotel room.
Above: Terry and I went for a walk. There is nothing pedestrian friendly about Maputo. Side walks are where cars park. If a person wants to walk about they must negotiate many obstacles and must often walk in the streets. There is zero consideration for a pedestrian safety or well being.
Above: Once one is out of the immediate downtown area of Maputo one will find:
Many formerly nice homes that no one can afford to repair are just sitting there, rotting away.
There are no roads in good repair; it seems that there is a pavement to dirt road detour every 4 to 8 blocks.
There is a police check point about every 10 blocks, the Police love to pull over car drivers and shake them down for something.
One cannot travel very quickly in a car because the check points back up vehicular traffic.
I genuinely felt sorry for the people of Maputo.
Costa do Sol Restaurante
- It is a locals restaurant, down the beach from Maputo
- It is felt to be safer to drive than to bike or walk
Above: The Costa do Sol Restaurante, we're early.
Above Left: Euro/African Music Mix, a very good musician.
Above Right: Ladies Dancing.
Above Left: Mozambique is world famous for its Prawns.
Above Right: Finger Licking Good. Dinner and the People of Mozambique were wonderful!
Above Left: Back to the hotel for a night-cap. Compass theme ties to the Portuguese Sailors and Empire Days. Mozambique, formerly Portuguese East Africa, was a Portuguese Colony that served as a sailing stop for the India Spice Trade.
Above Right: Portuguese Galleon etched into glass.
Tomorrow we drive out of Maputo and then bike to Swaziland,
We cannot wait to get going!
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