Last Updated on December 9, 2021 by Kevin Agar

6th-9th February 2020

We moved on from Salt Rock to Ramsgate but stopped on our way to see a bit more of the country. Our 1st stop was at Umhlanga where we visited the beach and Whalebone Pier.

It was only a short stay as we wanted to go into Durban and visit the Aquarium at uShaka Marine World as it had great reviews. It was easier than I thought it would be driving there and after parking the car we walked through the complex to the beach front to get our bearings.

We also decided to go and see the dolphin show as it was included in the entrance fee

After the dolphin show we went to the aquarium which was situated inside an old freighter

After the aquarium Sandra was considering snorkelling in the snorkelling lagoon. Whilst we we discussing this a lady came up and said that they had bought a family ticket to do the snorkelling and they had a spare ticket which they gave to Sandra. After thanking them we went to the snorkelling lagoon and Sandra spent half an hour swimming and taking photographs. It’s always uplifting to meet nice people.

We had lunch at the end of the pier and then continued on to Ramsgate.

Mimi’s Retreat Ramsgate What a wonderful place to spend a few days. Our hosts Greg and Luzia were wonderful and very welcoming.

There was a beach just over the main road which we went to a couple of times as there were some rock pools and a great beach for walking along. At the entrance to the beach there was a small bit of water that looked like a stream that entered a pool and then drained through the sand to the sea. There were loads of birds about here and I managed some shots of Southern Red Bishop and Pied Kingfisher amongst others

It rained whilst we were in Ramsgate but not enough to stop us. We did some walking along the coastal path and the beach as well as stopping at the Ski Boat Club and having calamari and chips for lunch. should have bought one between the two of us.

A short video of a White-breasted Cormorant chasing a school of small fish in the Quarry tidal pool

Whilst we were in Ramsgate we visited the Beaver Creek Coffee Estate, tried a few of the different coffees and walked around the Estate. A very relaxing time and very interesting.

We ate out a lot here and tried several different places including the Waffle House for breakfast and the Blue Lagoon for dinner.

One of our final activities whilst in the Ramsgate area was a visit to Riverbend Crocodile Farm and it proved to be a great decision as it was the day the Crocodiles were fed. The owner gave very good talks on the Crocodiles from egg to adult as well as a very good snake talk. I’d definitely recommend visiting Riverbend Crocodile Farm

It’s amazing how the birds know there’s a chance of an easy meal

This is a list of the different birds we saw during our time in the Ramsgate area.

African Fish-Eagle, African Pied Wagtail, Brown-Hooded Kingfisher, Dark-capped Bulbul, Giant Kingfisher, Green Wood-Hoopoe, Grey Heron, Hadada, Hamerkop, Kelp Gull, Pied Kingfisher, Red-winged Starling, Southern Red Bishop, Spectacled Weaver, Tawny-flanked Prinia, White-breasted Cormorant, White-fronted Plover

To see all bird photographs then please visit Birds of South Africa

Next it’s on to Lake Eland Game Reserve and the Oribi Gorge