Richards Bay is our first port during over a week in South Africa. It’s a major coal exporting center. So I’m going to Hippo Haven. This is one of those “I need to get off the boat” tours. But hippos are cool, so off we go.

The Isimangaliso Wetlands are a sometimes-estuary: a place where fresh water and salt water mix. Depending on the weather, a sand bar forms across the connection and keeps the salt water out. Our guide explained that is causing confusion with the plant life.

We saw a Goliath Heron before any hippos.

There were also some crocodiles, starting with a baby on a log.

The largest croc was quite small and skinny. At least compared to the ones we saw in Australia. Our guide said crocs grow based on what they eat – the have no natural maximum size. What stops crocs is when they run out of teeth, therefore can no longer eat. That takes some time, as they have over 44 sets of replacement teeth (polyphyodont).

Then we finally found some hippos.

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And that was it. Not much, but I have another safari lined up. I’ll be spending three nights off the ship as it sails to Port Elizabeth.