18 January 2021
Our morning drive may just have been a relatively short circuit around the Grassland Loop, passing the shores of Lake Bhangazi, and then back to Cape Vidal, but we saw so much that it actually took quite a few hours to complete.
Cape Vidal really is the most wonderful combination of a beach holiday and a bush safari. I need to be honest here: I get bored on the beach reeeaaally quickly when it is high-tide. Therefore it is marvelous to be able to just walk over the first dune and start looking for forest birds and animals without having to distract Marilize and Joubert from whichever wet or sandy pursuit they’re enjoying at that point in time, and then quickly pop back over the dune every now-and-then to check that the sea hasn’t disappeared yet! 😀
Our very leisurely afternoon outing took us south to Catalina Bay and then slowly back to camp. A strong wind and ever darkening skies accompanied us all the way.

Map of the eastern shores section of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park (from https://isimangaliso.com/)
Such riches! It is amazing to have the ocean, the bush, grasslands and the lake all in close proximity like that.
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I don’t think any South African reserve or national park could compete with iSimangaliso in terms of a diversity of systems and habitats, and that in a relatively small pocket of the country. Truly a place of “miracles and wonders”!
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It is a fabulous place.
Not sure whether to ask, but I know there have been problems with keeping the accommodation maintained at Cape Vidal, and am wondering how you found things during your stay?
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It’s a question often posed to us, Carol, and I must say that either our standards are very low or we’ve been very lucky, but in all our visits to Cape Vidal, and there’s been more than a few, we’ve never been disappointed with our units. On this latest trip, again, everything was clean and in working order in our cottage, except for a dripping outside tap which we quickly turned into a waterhole using a pie dish. By the way, the campsite too looked really inviting!
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I am very glad to hear that, thanks. We were last at Cape Vidal in Feb 2019 and we also found our chalet to be absolutely fine. The campsite at that time though was chockablock full, cheek-by-jowl. Times have changed!
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It is a very special place, and I know as long as I am able to I will go back over and over and over.
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And now the birds and the beasts…im impressed looks like there might be some surf too. Really its not often i come across a place that has a good many bird species as here (south oz).i remember visiting Masai marain the mid 80’s andbeing entranced and delighted… may they continue to thrive despite humanity’s desire for progress…thankyou for sharing Trees
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With 526 recorded species iSimangaliso is a bird-watcher’s dream, and that diversity is thanks to the richness of habitats that’s protected here. We certainly share your hope that places like iSimangaliso will continue to be protected against human greed.
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Wow! That’s incredible!
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I am impressed with your knowledge of bird species. Unless it’s a robin, my photos of birds are likely labeled “bird.”
I don’t get to the beach often, so I can enjoy a visit, but I am not much for staying long. It’s fun to walk barefoot in the surf for a bit, but then I am ready to see what else is going on as well.
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I do struggle with the “LBJ” birds, John – Little Brown Jobs… 😀
And I am glad to hear that I have a kindred spirit when it comes to lazing on the beach!
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After another eye operation yesterday, I cannot see well and will return to look at your photographs properly. Even my blurred vision shows this was a well worthwhile trip, which is great to share with the rest of us.
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Sending you best wishes for a speedy and complete recovery, Anne!
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Die naam pas beslis “place of miracles and wonders”. Daardie strand, ai sal wat will gee om ‘n paar dae daar deur te bring. Sal maar op my wens lysie moet sit, vir ingeval ek dalk die kans kry om te kom kuier.
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Ons sal saam met jou duim vashou, Ineke!
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Dankie, alles hang maar af van omstandighede.
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How pretty the kingfisher and swallow are. 😍 Your camera seems to attract the best wildlife, Dries.
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Thank you, Sylvia!
(And here I thought it was my proficient tracking skills!)
😀
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🤣
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You always have so much to see and photograph there! I would have to take at least two cameras with me there, one with a long lens for sure!
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That’s how I do it, Montucky, and you should see the looks I get from some people when I’m walking around with two cameras and a pair of binoculars around my neck (especially on the beach where they’re baring all that flesh!) 😀
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No matter when or where, a photographer is always doing something that other folks think is strange. It comes with the territory, and it’s well worth it!
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I agree wholeheartedly!
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I love these photos That pygmy Kingfisher! And the little monkeys. Finally I would love to just love a walk down that beach and have my feet in the water. It is a long winter here in Ontario!
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Thanks very much, Anne! That’s another thing about iSimangaliso – even in winter the weather is usually pleasantly warm and sunny; ideal for South Africans weary of the winter cold in other parts of the country.
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I really enjoyed the photos of the wide empty beach, but I agree that just that would get old quickly. How fortunate that you have such a variety so close at hand to make it the perfect combination for all of you. I love that vibrantly-colored kingfisher and of course the zebra. 🙂
janet
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Thanks for making me feel less alone, Janet! When I was little people said I had red ants in my pants, these days my inability to sit still is called “Adult ADHD”…
😀
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Very nice Park, it has a great variety of species of animals. and it is close to the Ocean. Thanks, D. 🙂
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iSimangaliso really has something to make everyone excited! Well deserving of its name, which means “place of miracles and wonders”!
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