South Africa: Mossel Bay

Friday, April 7, 2023, Mossel Bay South Africa


Friday, April 7, 2023, Mossel Bay, South Africa

We arrived at 10 am, anchored out in the bay, rode the tender boat (which doubles as a lifeboat) to shore. Mossel means mussels, but we didn’t really see much of Mossel Bay.


We were signed up for a safari at the Botlierskop Private Game Reserve. There was a bus on shore that would take up there. It was a 30-minute drive inland. As we neared the place, the bus attendant told us “Bolierskop” means bottle top, and it became obvious where it got it’s name—see the photo below!



Note “bottle top” at the top of the mountain.

The facilities at this reserve were gorgeous. The main welcome building was a large, thatch-roofed building and the restroom facilities were top notch. Someone on the tour had been here before and mentioned they had significantly upgraded the facilities.


We followed a couple who knew the ropes and skipped the coffee/snacks niceties. We immediately got into a 6-guest Range Rover and quickly got going. The seats were cushy and we were happy.


Our guide was named Simba, which apparently means lion in Swahili. He used a walkie talkie to communicate with other guides to locate ”game” animals. Most of the critters roam freely over a vast stretch  of hills, forests, grasses, and bushy areas. Views from the high spots were spectacular. 


Almost immediately, we saw elephants with a baby, then zebras, and impalas. It took a lot of expert driving over unpaved, narrow and rutted roads. Next were Cape buffalo, blue-eyed wildebeests, blue cranes, ostrich, springbok and rhinos. There was so much area and foliage that somehow giraffes were hard to spot locate that day. 


Several of the vehicles took turns getting close when lions were found napping in the underbrush as they do during the day. The lions were our biggest thrill, the only ones we saw in Africa. The lions were grouped in a separate area of the park along with other animals they could prey upon. They were separated from giraffes and zebras for the time being until they get the right balance of species - something that the park workers monitor.


Here are the animals!


 



Extremely lucky to spot this guy—and very close by!


Mom & baby




Blesbok

Blue-eyed wildebeest


Cape Horn buffalo—extremely dangerous



Gazelles

There were a lot of zebras

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