Richard’s Bay (1), South Africa 理查兹湾, 南非
April 6, 2025
After three sea days, we arrived in Richard’s Bay, South Africa, in the morning, a coal transport port. Disembarkation required a face-to-face immigration and customs inspection, which went smoothly. We then boarded a shuttle bus into the city, where we were pleasantly surprised by how clean and modern Richard’s Bay was. The shopping mall we visited was as large and well-equipped as any mall in the United States—an impressive introduction to this small, beautiful city.
After a quick early lunch, we set off for Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park, the second-oldest national park in the world after Yellowstone. This park is renowned for its successful conservation efforts, particularly for saving the southern white rhino from extinction.
Our 2+ hour game drive in the Hluhluwe section of the park was thrilling, breathtaking, and unforgettable. A male lion sat regally on the road, watching us as we passed by, while a mother lion and her cub played in the bushes nearby. One of the most dramatic moments was seeing an elephant chase a white rhino away—an intense and awe-inspiring sight.
In just a short game drive, we encountered four of Africa’s iconic Big Five: lion, buffalo, elephant and rhino except leopard. The close-up wildlife encounters made this one of the most memorable safari experiences we’ve ever had. Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park truly lived up to its legendary status.
Hluhluwe–iMfolozi 公园
2025年4月6日
离开东非的坦桑尼亚，经过三天的海上航行，我们于清晨抵达南非的理查兹湾（Richard’s Bay）。早餐后南非的海关工作人员上船来与所有乘客进行一对一面试，过程非常顺利。随后我们搭乘邮轮提供的免费接驳巴士前往市区，对理查兹湾的整洁与现代化感到惊喜。这座城市虽然不大，却井然有序，绿树成荫。免费大巴送我们到市区的购物中心，它与美国的大型商场一样宽敞、设备齐全，给我们留下了极好的第一印象。
回到船上简单吃过早午餐后，我们便出发前往Hluhluwe–iMfolozi 公园。这是世界上仅次于黄石公园的第二古老国家公园，因成功拯救南方白犀牛免于灭绝而闻名于世。
我们在公园 Hluhluwe 区域进行了一次超过两小时的野生动物观赏之旅，过程惊险刺激、令人屏息、难以忘怀。进公园不久就遇到一只雄狮从草丛中走岀来，威风凛凛地在马路边爬下，注视着我们的车辆缓缓驶过；不远处，狮妈妈与小狮子在灌木丛中嬉戏玩耍。而最令人震撼的一幕，是看到一头大象发威将一只白犀牛驱赶离开——场面紧张而震撼人心。
在短短的行程中，我们近距离看到了非洲标志性的“非洲五霸”中的四种：狮子、水牛、大象和犀牛，唯独没见到豹子。还有不计其数的白斑羚， 黑斑羚，各种鸟类等等。Hluhluwe–iMfolozi 公园果然不负盛名，实至名归。如此近距离的野生动物体验，让这次狩猎车之旅成为我们最难忘的非洲野生动物探险之一。