South Africa KwaZulu Natal Provincial Parks
Surfing hippo shot dead
By Sean Ross
Nonkululeko, KwaZulu-Natal’s surfing hippo, has been shot dead by authorities this week.
The wandering hippo, whose curious behavior of taking to the surf was reported on earlier on SouthAfricaLogue, was apparently posing an increased risk to human life. Her death follows suspicions that she was responsible for the fatal attack this weekend past on 60-year old man, although wildlife authorities seem to think the wounds are not consistent with a hippo attack. Forensic authorities said the autopsy report on the man would only be available for inspection towards the end of the year.
Wandering Hippo
Nonkululeko meanwhile had been wandering freely for months, apparently starting her journey from the St Lucia wetlands in Maputaland some 250 kilometers north of Durban. It was only towards the end of June when she started nearing the populated coastal resort towns which lie about 50 kilometers north of Durban that Nonkululeko started attracting public and media attention. From then on her future lay in the balance, even although authorities repeatedly warned the public to keep clear of the animal.
Date: July 22nd, 2008 |
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Robyn goes Shark Diving!
So I arrive at work on a Tuesday afternoon after a hectic weekend, where Billy’s opened on a rare Sunday afternoon to host a Red bull function which featured an awesome South African duo called Goldfish, to the news that i was going diving with sharks the following Saturday! What, where and how??? Apparently there was an incentive for us waitresses… whoever sold the most Vodka Red bulls would win a shark dive… oh cool! 
Saturday morning arrives and a group of us are off down the coast… the morning started a bit chilly and overcast! We arrive at Blue Wilderness, Rocky Bay and are quickly kitted up with wetsuit, flippers, goggle and snorkel. After a group shot and a short orientation from the lead diver, it as time to hit the beach. The rain started to come down at this point and the sea was looking very rough. We had a pretty rough but exciting 30 minutes boat ride to the dive site where the chum was dropped and within seconds we saw our first shark from the safety of the boat! While staring in disbelief into the open waters… we spotted a Southern Right Whale jumping in the distance!
Date: October 10th, 2007 |
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The Durban July, and Durban in July.
So Durban and the whole of South Africa are well into winter. For us Durbanites it comes as a welcome relief from the heat, but it’s still warm enough for people to go water skiing, enjoy the beach and sit outside after sunset! Talking about water and beaches…
the month of July brings the 8th annual 6-star World Qualifying Series Mr Price Pro to North Beach. The 10 day event starts on 29 June and is just one of the many attractions during the Vodacom Beach Africa festival held along the Golden Mile from 2 to 11 July, which features some of the hottest action in the sea, on the sand and in the air.
Date: June 15th, 2007 |
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Robyn’s Durbs update.
I think it’s safe to come out of hiding now that the dust has settled after the Super 14 final where the Sharks were robbed of the trophy by the Bulls (I’m not a bitter loser at all)! All I can say is that South African rugby was a huge winner on that day! This weekend’s win over the English Roses (58-10) went some way to ease the pain a little.
South Africa was been gripped by a severe cold front this week, with snow even reported in Plettenberg Bay. Durban, who I claim doesn’t experience much of a winter was also very cold, but us Durbanites can comfort ourselves in the fact that it was colder throughout the rest of the country and no snow fell!
Date: May 28th, 2007 |
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Durban’s “The Golden Mile” Kwazulu-Natal
Durban itself is probably best known for its “Golden Mile”, a 6km walk along the golden sands, that stretches from the Suncoast Casino and Entertainment World in the north to uShaka Marine World in the south.
Both uShaka Marine World, Africa’s largest marine park and home to an aquarium and dolphinarium, Wet ‘n Wild water park and numerous top class restaurants and shops and Suncoast Casino, a casino complex with a private beach, hotel, restaurants, shops and public entertainment facilities, are fairly new and very popular additions to the mile.
Date: April 24th, 2007 |
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The Surfing Hippo of KwaZulu/Natal
A curious story of a surfing hippo has been doing the rounds in South Africa recently. First spotted in the KNZ coastal resort town of Ballito, situated about 40km north of Durban, the vagrant hippo has been steadily making its way south from the area of the St Lucia wetlands in Maputaland, where the species is very common. Reminiscent of the early 20th century odyssey of Huberta, this travelling hippo has generated enormous local sympathy and interest.
Huberta
Huberta was born in the St Lucia wetland system in 1927, and a year later was on the move, migrating south on an epic 1600km journey that would take her all the way to the Eastern Cape. She was initially thought to be male, and was named Hubert, which was later changed when it was discovered she was female. Her journey took her three years during which time she became something of a local and international celebrity. She successfully evaded many attempts at capture before eventually making her way as far south as East London. There, although having been declared en-route to be Royal Game, and thus protected by the Crown, she was shot and killed by hunters. Her body was then reverently shipped to a taxidermist in London, after which she was returned to South Africa where she can still be seen at the Amathole Museum in King William’s Town.
Date: June 2nd, 2008 |
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Two tourists arrested for photographing Zulu Royal Reed Dance.
Umkhosi woMhlanga is the Zulu name for the Royal Reed dance which happens every September at KwaNyokeni Palace, Nongoma, which is the Zulu nation’s royal residence.
Over 10 000 virgin maidens are invited from throughout KwaZulu Natal, to dance in the ceremony and thousands more Zulus help the prepare. The occasion marks a Zulu maidens passage to womanhood, and serves to unite the Zulu nation under the King, who presides over the ceremony. (Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu)
Many of the Zulu maidens are ritually “topless”, so indiscreet photo taking is discouraged, as are women wearing pants entering the royal residence. This season two tourist had been arrested for taking pictures of the topless Zulu maidens, but later released. “Zulu maidens are increasingly becoming targets of unscrupulous photographers and cameramen who take the pictures of maidens and flash them on Internet porn sites,” said Nhlanhla Mtaka, media director for the event.
Date: September 11th, 2007 |
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The Sardine Run ‘07: The Greastest shoal on Earth is nearly here.
It is nearly time again for the world famous sardine run, where gigantic shoals of sardine (which can be seen from space), swarm up the East coast of South Africa.
The Sardine Run can be witnessed at some point between May and July (conditions permitting). If the water is too warm the Sardines will stay out in the deeper water.
Divers come from all over the word to view this once in a lifetime dive opportunity dubbed “The most exiting dive in the world”
The massive schools clump into bait-balls as a feeding frenzy occurs by shark, seal, birds, fisherman and other predator fish species.
It was reported today that if water temperatures remained low, the fishies could be close to shore by next week. If you are in the are check for updates and dive info here.
Sardine run facts after the jump:
Date: June 13th, 2007 |
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Dive Spots in Durban: Kwazulu-Natal
I hope everyone in Cape Town is loving the cold, windy and wet weather you’re experiencing at the moment! Here in Durbs the sun is shining and the weather is sweet… makes you want to move you’re dancing feet!
Just one great feature of the Durban winter, it’s still warm and the sun shines pretty much everyday, you’ll still even find people swimming and surfing. Ok, enough of me poking fun at Cape Town, in a previous post Philip mentioned he’d been diving at Sodwana Bay so I thought I’d filled everyone in on the top two diving spots in KZN.
Date: April 30th, 2007 |
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Robyn: Why not Durban??
As I’m sure some of you have noticed this Logue is pretty one-sided, so to speak, in the favour of Cape Town. There is nothing wrong with that, but there are other beautiful parts of South Africa that are just as attractive.
Philip has asked me to help provide a balance and let the readers know what is hip, hot and happening in Durban or Durbs to the locals!
Date: April 19th, 2007 |
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