Sharks Board

One cannot visit the KwaZulu North Coast and not visit the sharks board.  And with 3 busy boys with a keen interest in everything shark!

 

In the museum

 

A short video, to introduce the sharks board its objective, its history and its duties. 

We then moved outside for the dissection:

 

There were 2 sharks on the table.

Apparently they stank

We sat in the gorgeous warm outside and learnt all about sharks, the various types, their teeth, skulls, how their bodies work, their characteristics, how we should behave and much much more.  The kids were very intrigued during the dissection, not quite sure how much of the information was retained but it was worth the smell.

The dissection

Our Jardim family of 4 next to great white shark

My beautiful boy

Rafael and Jaime, the two (almost) 5 yr olds

The afternoon was spent on the Umhlanga Rocks beach.  Lunch, coffee, sea, umbrellas. 

Pure holiday bliss

The evening - chilling in our apartment
 

Crocodile creek

Morning pics of my Mr Jaime 

 

 

 Then off to see some crocodiles...

 

After a long drive through the sugar canes

 

A short intro into what Crocodile Creek is all about and what crocodiles are all about
 

 

 

 

 

Mateo loving the talk

 

Outside for the feeding:

The ranger poking around in the croc tank.  Note the sign above his head.  FYI he has a finger missing, for real!

We move onto the Aligator tank

Yes he is barefoot and dragging an alligator by the tail...wonder if the people in Florida can be seen doing this?

 

Sitting on the biggest crocodile in the farm.  He is real.

 

After the demonstration we walked around the park checking out the snakes, other crocs, spiders, reptiles, birds and mongoose.  The boys got to run around and burn some energy before lunch.

The boys and the baby croc

Ili and Jaime and baby croc

 

The rest of the afternoon was spent chilling at the Balito local restaurant right on the beach.  While the boys jumped on the jumping castle us adults got to chill, refresh and catch up.

 

 

oh and I got to defend my baby Jaime from terrorist local kids, much to the embarrassment of Ili who says I am making Jaime weak and basically putting a target on his head for teasing. 

Honestly, no one messes with my kids ;-) 

 

 

Day 2 = Beach day

Today we spent a good part of the day on the beach.  Here some pics:

The "Granny pool" ie a section of the ocean that is protected from the waves and large surf by rocks

Jaime loving the triple S (sand sun and sea) 
I wish I could bottle his smile, his laugh and his happiness

Our apartment block from afar

Some special one on one time with Tiago

The Balito coastline

 

Still loving the sand, and still fascinated by his wriggly toes. 

 

Sand man & boy

Ili bonding with Rafael

The afternoon nap with Avo

 

the nap area gets bigger

 

revitalised and ready for our next adventure, movies and dinner

 Dinner at Cape Town Fish Market:

Another successful Day

Day 1 in Sunny warm Kwazulu Natal

After a long drive, we finally arrive at the holiday apartment.  And it is NICE! Yvette did good!



Just before bed time, Dad helps Mateo see his toes.  He is very interested in his wiggly toes

And so our holiday officially begins, at 5am yes a very early wake up thanks to Tiago, Rafael and Jaime. 



Tiago and Mateo

 

Tiago & Rafael enjoying their new baby cousin



The boys receiving an extensive explanation on how to fish from Big cousin Tiago



And the toes...this position is much easier to reach

Before anything happens we have to, just have to hit the beach!



Everyone feeling the soft sand between our toes

Me and my baby boy

Back to the apartment.  Ili and I hit the store with the boys and Ant & Yvette hit the airport to pick up the folks. 

 

Our experience of the store visit was one to be remembered.  Too many people, 3 busy boys, SA paranoia.  Need I say more.



Avo and Mateo...long time no see

Quick lunch: 

 

And back to the beach of course:

Mateo's first experience
He absolutely loved the sand, he just kept raking his hands in the sand.

The boys, and ili, ran in and out of the water.  They had a blast!

 

Short walk home

Dinner: and SA braai

 

Die Manne

 

Die Man at the braai

Our apartment block

Our view

Mateo spending time with Tia Yvette



Getting there

 And who can blame him look at those toes...

 

Chef Rafael helping out with dinner

Dinner is served

Our familia ...plus the four cousins (wine)

After dinner, we lay down for a quick story, and well completely passed out

 

Captured by Ili while chatting in the moolight

Last visitor of the day - a gecko

I reckon that was a full, fun filled day!  Loving the HOT South African sun!