2024 Grand World Voyage with The Inside Cabin

[The-Inside-Cabin]

We arrived in Durban very early this morning (15 April)   

 

We are moored at the new Nelson Mandela Cruise Terminal

 

Last year we were at the Ocean Terminal Building

The ship has a shuttle going to uShaka Marine World.  Walking out of the port is allowed but not recommended as apparently we are in a bad neighborhood.

 

 

All the passengers had to walk into the terminal for a face to face immigration.   It started at 7 AM and finished at 10 AM

 

We are leaving the ship today and heading to the Kariega Game Reserve - we retund on the 18th in Cape Town. More HERE

 

Edited April 15 by The-Inside-Cabin

[oakridger]

That Indonesian meal looks very good and a nice change of pace for sure!  Have a great time at the Game Reserve!  I'll be watching for your posts.

 

~Nancy

[The-Inside-Cabin]

Flight from Durban to Port Elizabeth was on time - nice flight.

 

Warning!!

 

Arrived too late for the evening safari drive

Here is our room

 

Highlights from this morning's drive

 

After reading about elephants in the news in Zambia - this encounter got our hearts pumping.   He passed close enough to touch - but left us alone

 

 

 

 

And finally a Lion - more later

 

 

 

 

[forwardho]

Wow I never thought a safari room looked like that! How long will you be on Safari?

[The-Inside-Cabin]

7 hours ago, forwardho said:

Wow I never thought a safari room looked like that! How long will you be on Safari?

You can find safari rooms that are a Motel 6 up through the Four Seasons.....

 

We return to Cape Town on the 18th

Edited April 16 by The-Inside-Cabin

[The-Inside-Cabin]

Highlights from this afternoon's Game Drive - All about Elephants!  (plus a few giraffes_  We came across about 25 elephants at sunset.  Nice

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 16 by The-Inside-Cabin

[Hygge!]

How did this location compare to last year’s location? Very impressed seeing so many elephants! 

[cunnorl]

Beautiful pictures! Thank you for sharing with us. 

[The-Inside-Cabin]

3 hours ago, Hygge! said:

How did this location compare to last year’s location? Very impressed seeing so many elephants! 

Their location is on the eastern cape much further west than our previous safaris.   The reservation grounds are huge (44 square miles) but enclosed by fencing so the animals can't migrate to other parts of South Africa.   Thus all the animals are "here" but sometimes hard to find nevertheless.   No jaguars here at all.  Maybe a few cheetahs. 
 

The facilities are about the same.  All crazy good.   Our room is smaller that last year which was over the top huge.   This suite is a nice size.    

Edited April 17 by The-Inside-Cabin

[The-Inside-Cabin]

1 hour ago, cunnorl said:

Beautiful pictures! Thank you for sharing with us. 

Thanks.   I am trying to not take pictures of animal's butts!  They always seem to be facing away.  

[The-Inside-Cabin]

Here are a few highlights from our second safari day. Tomorrow, we fly to Cape Town to rejoin the Zuiderdam.  

 

The main entrance to the Ukhozi Lodge

 

This morning we tracked and found a couple of Cheetahs

The Cheetahs don't stay put very long-  We had about 10 seconds to observe before he took off.

 

Lodge staff meet every returning game drive with interesting drinks (orange juice and grenadine here) and hot towels.

 

We had the same Ranger, Forrest, for all three days.

 

On the afternoon drive, our guide, Forrest, dug into a termite mound and offered us a chance to sample a live termite.   It tasted like a blade of grass.

 

Forrest offered us live termites - about half of us took him up on the opportunity/

 

They look like ants

 

We came across a small herd of Wildebeest

 

One of three White Rhinos we observed this afternoon.

 

We came across the same two lions we saw yesterday - they sleep a lot.

 

At our "Sundowner" drink stop, we observed two male Giraffles - necking - which is how they fight it out to see who gets the desirable female.   My Picture above = More below from YouTube

 

 

 

 

Our Game drive group at the Sundowner stop/

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 17 by The-Inside-Cabin

[Toad]

Wow what an amazing opportunity!  Great photos, and I loved seeing the accommodations since I have always been a bit nervous about accommodations thinking they would be too rustic for my taste.  Guess I will have to reconsider this.  My husband says thank you. 

[cunnorl]

Amazing, simply amazing. I hope I get a similar opportunity on the 25.

[The-Inside-Cabin]

5 hours ago, Toad said:

Wow what an amazing opportunity!  Great photos, and I loved seeing the accommodations since I have always been a bit nervous about accommodations thinking they would be too rustic for my taste.  Guess I will have to reconsider this.  My husband says thank you. 

You can find safari accommodations ranging from tents to a motel 6 quality all the way to six stars and beyond. 

[DeeniEncinitas]

🌺Aloha,

Magnificent photos !! Brings back memories for me not long ago! 
🌺Mahalo,

Denise

[Nancy&Frank]

@The-Inside-Cabin we did Kariega on the 23 World Cruise.  It was magnificent ! Thanks for bringing back such wonderful memories 🦒🐘🦓🦏

[The-Inside-Cabin]

We are back in Cape Town - We enjoy some Bunny Chow and a Gatsby Sandwich in downtown Cape Town and the Gatsby Palace.   There sandwiches are HUGE!!!

 

 

[The-Inside-Cabin]

Cape Town - 19 April - Final Day

 

We went to the High Tea at Mount Nelson - More HERE.  About $30 pp.    Reservations are required.

 

Mount Nelson is a very expensive Hotel - $1000 - $2000 USD a night for rooms - Its very nice inside

 

Here is the menu.

 

 

 

Here is the first course

 

First Course - Close-up picture

 

Second Course - Scones and Chocolates

 

Plenty of tea- of course

Third Course

 

Third Course as served

 

We had a great time!

Back on the ship

 

Bunny Chow was served from the Dive In at the Lido Pool - Choice of Marsala Steak, Butter Chicken or Vegetarian

 

 

The skies were clear blue - great view of Table Mountain from deck 10

 

On the main stage the South African Youth Choir performed one show - two were scheduled but they canceled the second show as we moved up our departure to avoid the fog that was moving in fast.

 

 

Their show started with 30 minutes of traditional African songs. 

 

The second half consisted of Broadway Show tunes, including Hey Big Spender and Phantom of the Opera hits—quite the contrast.   Outstanding performance.

Hey Big Spender!

 

[The-Inside-Cabin]

Skies were clear as we dropped anchor off the coast of Lüderitz around 6 AM. Immigration officials came aboard, and we started our face-to-face immigration check around 7:15. We were in no hurry, so we waited until the final call around 9:15 AM.

 

Open tendered was called at 11 am

 

We went ashore at 12:30 PM - a 15-minute tender ride.

 

Today is Sunday,  so many places, including the grocery store, closed at 1 PM.

 

We walked around town in a 2-mile loop, stopping at Desert Deli, Portuguese Fisherman, Lüderitz Museum,  Felsenkirche - Lutheran Church of the Rock and back to the tender landing.

 

Here are a few pictures.

Earlier in the morning, they prohibited wheelchairs and scooters due to the steep ramp and no railings on the pier.  Later they allowed a few ashore

The OK Foods grocery is close to the Tender Landing - it closes at 1 PM on Sunday - otherwise it is open until 6 PM

The Desert Deli served food and drinks.   It has a gift shop and wifi.   They also have a tour desk.

 

At first, I thought these guys were selling street food - No - they were just having a Sunday BBQ on the street.

 

This is the best restaurant in town per Trip Advisor.   It was crowded - Free Wifi.   T-Mobile didn't work in Namibia.

 

We ordered  fish and chips

and a Rainbow Sushi Roll

 

The Lüderitz Museum is next to the Portuguese Fisherman restaurant.   Admission is $ 2 USD or 30 NAD.   We spent about 15 minutes exploring.   It's worth your time and money.

 

 

 

Inside the museum

We hiked up to the Felsenkirche - Lutheran Church of the Rock.  It was closed when we arrived.

 

Here is the church as see from the Ship

 

 

 

 

Back on the ship, there was the Biergarten Dinner in the Lido, featuring various German dishes.

 

Afro Popera Trio was on the World Stage - They put on a great show.

 

Here is the menu for the special LIDO dinner

 

 

Afro Popera Trio - they sang a nice variety of songs, including:

 

- Andrea Bocelli’s Canto Della Terra

- Romanza

- This Is the Moment  from the musical Jekyll & Hyde 

- Paralyze My Mind 

- Lippen Sweigen

- Dein ist mein ganzes Herz

- O Sole Mio

- Funiculì, Funiculà

- Nessun Dorma

 

Edited April 21 by The-Inside-Cabin

[The-Inside-Cabin]

Marty was the guest at Coffee Chat this morning.   He talked about Project Linus

 

Here is the replay.

 

 

Tomorrow Project Linus will display the blankets that were made for this cruise on the Lido Pool

 

over 400 blankets !!!!

 

[The-Inside-Cabin]

Here is a short video showing some of the 400 blankets on display at the Lido Pool today.

 

 

[The-Inside-Cabin]

Today in the MDR - Dressy Night

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[The-Inside-Cabin]

Here is a picture of the luggage "Pillow Gift." we received yesterday

 

 

 

 

Pete with Presty outside the MDR on An Evening in Paris

 

 

Edited Thursday at 04:03 PM by The-Inside-Cabin

[Hygge!]

So glad they have wheels this year. Two good looking guys. Tell us about your quilt! 

[LouChamp]

Aloha. Yes luggage with wheels is definitely a great gift we have quite the collection from Cunard. Flag HAL is doing likewise.