{"id":36617,"date":"2025-03-24T00:05:00","date_gmt":"2025-03-23T13:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/?p=36617"},"modified":"2025-03-24T00:05:06","modified_gmt":"2025-03-23T13:05:06","slug":"richards-bay-south-africa-%f0%9f%87%bf%f0%9f%87%a6-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/?p=36617","title":{"rendered":"Richard\u2019s Bay, South Africa \ud83c\uddff\ud83c\udde6 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Date : 21st March 2025 <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Travelled : 1600 NM from R\u00e9union to Richard\u2019s Bay, South Africa <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visited : The Shops  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stayed : Holland America\u2019s Zuiderdam <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Departing R\u00e9union 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 R\u00e9union. The seas and the strong winds the result of the tropical cyclone Jude which devastated Mozambique a few days earlier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This wasn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The three sea days slide by as we approach Richard\u2019s Bay, with a following sea it\u2019s been more of the same. This port was not on our original itinerary but a replacement when the Zuiderdam could not dock in Madagascar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having our coffee in the crows nest cafe we can hear the helicopter lowering the pilot on board for our entry to Richard\u2019s Bay. We are soon slowly moving between the breakwaters into the harbour. The surrounding countryside is relatively featureless other than the coal loaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Wikipedia explains that a makeshift township and port of Richard\u2019s Bay<\/a> 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\u2019s Bay was the world largest coal exporter until it was surpassed by Newcastle in 2016.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At first glance its\u2019 a dusty grimy place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

HA have organised a shuttle bus to the Boardwalk Mall, so where off to the shops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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