Richard’s Bay, South Africa 🇿🇦 2025

Date : 21st March 2025 

Travelled : 1600 NM from Réunion to Richard’s Bay, South Africa

Visited : The Shops  

Stayed : Holland America’s Zuiderdam

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Departing Réunion the Captain warned the seas tonight would be relatively heavy in comparison to what we have experienced over the past few weeks. It was quite remarkable how quickly the swell rose as we left the lee of Réunion. The seas and the strong winds the result of the tropical cyclone Jude which devastated Mozambique a few days earlier.

This wasn’t the news Pam was hoping for, and the Zuiderdam did rock and roll a bit overnight. Half a sea-sick tablet and Pam was good for our usual morning on the promenade. After lunch the wind and swell settled a bit and we were back to usual.

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The three sea days slide by as we approach Richard’s Bay, with a following sea it’s been more of the same. This port was not on our original itinerary but a replacement when the Zuiderdam could not dock in Madagascar.

Having our coffee in the crows nest cafe we can hear the helicopter lowering the pilot on board for our entry to Richard’s Bay. We are soon slowly moving between the breakwaters into the harbour. The surrounding countryside is relatively featureless other than the coal loaders.

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Wikipedia explains that a makeshift township and port of Richard’s Bay was developed by the English in 1879 during the Zulu wars but nothing significant occurred until coal was discovered and the port developed in 1969. Richard’s Bay was the world largest coal exporter until it was surpassed by Newcastle in 2016.

At first glance its’ a dusty grimy place.

HA have organised a shuttle bus to the Boardwalk Mall, so where off to the shops.

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The mall is massive in fact there are three giant malls connected by walkways. There all very tidy and up market bit like three big Westfields. Not Gucci upmarket but HM and brand name sporting and clothing shops. It’s a public holiday today so the locals are all out.

The high point of the mall is pictured below I haven’t seen a pie shop for 6 weeks.

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Glad to get on the bus back myself and return to the grime of the port and await embankment to somewhere without black dust swirling around.

That was our day in Richard’s Bay.

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Michael + Pam