Day 9

Got picked up at 9.15 for a visit to a local Cheetah Rehabilitation Centre where they care for disadvantaged cheetahs, servals and other wild cats. The centre also undertakes many breeding programmes where young cubs are looked after and released into the wild in an attempt to increase the wild cat population which is threatened by human occupation on land and poaching.

The highlight of the trip was without a doubt seeing the cheetahs. We visited two brothers that have lived at the centre since they were born and have become very comfortable around people, giving us the opportunity to walk around the enclosure with them and stroke them.

Had lunch at a ski and boat club next to the estuary, close to the beach and enjoyed some stone baked pizzas in the sun while trying to spot the odd crocodile or hippo. While we were having lunch, our game ranger was telling us about a local women whom was eaten by a crocodile while fishing in the reeds! Apparently people were looking over the estuary from the ski club as she was dragged up stream as people watched...not all bad because she was a poacher but luckily nothing dramatic happened while we were enjoying our pizzas. Curt had a pizza with bananas on! Not all that bad actually :).

Afterwards we visited a Zulu cultural village where we had the opportunity to gain an insight into how Zulu people live - very traditional cultural rules! As well as trying on traditional Zulu clothing and enjoy some Zulu dancing. We were taught a few words to say in Zulu however can honestly say we weren't very good!!

Back to the lodge for dinner for a Braai along with fellow guests at the lodge - a lovely thick steak (seriously, this thing was huge!!) with boerewors and corn on the cob. An early night ready for our transfer back into Durban in the morning to stay with Curts Dad and Grandparents. Looking forward to seeing the family, but wish that we had some more time in St Lucia to do some exploring of our own.

C & E