There's nothing false about False Bay!

There's no place better than False Bay (on the St. Lucia Lake) for complete peace and quiet and we are not disappointed to find we are the only campers

After setting up camp, the beach beckoned for a sundowner. The bats flying above enchant us with their flying skills

The Lake is slowly filling up once more as the Umfoloze River has been redirected into the estuary at St Lucia. Until fairly recently you could walk across the bay so it was with delight that although False Bay's water lever is low, we are assured we can launch our boat at Listers Point.

Listers Point

My husband grew up in these parts and cycled from Hluhluwe as a young boy to camp and fish whenever home from bording school. Oh boy, the stories he can tell over an evening camp fire!

With windly conditions not suited to boating, we drive to Sandy Bay and spy two shy red Duiker in the forest close to the road. Standing at 45cm and slightly larger than the 35cm Suni, they are the smallest antelope in the park. They stand out vividly against the grey, dry forest

Above: Sweet Red Duiker mates

left: Glorious sunrise to welcome us after an

uncomfortable night with mattress

deflating

Sandy Bay is beautifully sheltered from the wind and I cook us a hearly breakfast on the tailgate of the vehicle before heading out for a walk along the coast line, hoping against hope of finding a fossil.

And stumble on a fossil I do! 60 million years ago, the area was covered by the sea and fossils of both animals and coral can be found here.

Lovely Sandy Bay with Hells Gate barely visible in the distance

Our second day brings a change in the wind, the lake is as calm as glass. We launch the boat, with picnic and fishing rods packed, and head to Hells Gate and Fanies Island. Passing through the Gates, we reminiscence of the first holiday spent at Fanies and puttering up to the gates in a tin boat, loaded with kids, to see the False Bay dads always spoken about.

We are thrilled to see croc's, hippos, buffalo and nyala on the sandy beaches as we make our way towards Fanies but a sandbank blocks our way and we have to turn back.

Graceful Nyala Bulls

A special sighting!

As we settle in the Gates for breakfast, we are joined by greyheaded gulls diving for their's

Picture perfect setting

In the distance, Eastern Shores and beyond, the sea

These guys are such characters with personalities to match

Later in the day, back on dry land, a pod of eastern white pelicans fly in to catch their lunch and gulp down fish by the dozen. Life is returning to False Bay!

Day three and the south wester blows in so we decide to drive to St Lucia. If the weather turns, there is such a choice of activities on your doorstep, from Hluhluwe game reserve, to the Isimangaliso wetland park around St Lucia, Mission Rock, Cape Vidal and of course the town itself. The Park has been rehabilitated over the past 8 years, removing all alien trees and reintroducing historically occuring game to the area. There is a new gate before St Lucia, the car limit is 120 per day. A bird hide and picnic site are additions too, on the southern side. Charters Creek is being rebuilt and should be open for the December holidays. A lovely attraction is the Butterfly Dome, nursery and permaculture unit run by the local community. They offer guided tours and trails through the countryside and park.

We are thrilled to watch the great Umfolozi River flowing strongly into the Estuary. According to reports, in February last year only 10% of the Lake's surface area was covered by water. By May this year, with the redirected river, almost all the lake's surface area was covered and now, as we have seen, the depth is approximately 1 - 1.2 m throughout the system.

Young Woollynecked Storks

Sunbathing or drying out or just resting after fishing?

Duck walking to capture a closer shot doesn't work

Enjoying the antics of these aerial masters

Stealing bait

Hells Gate and Eastern Shores

Our sublime bay, deserted but for 2 human admirers

Day 4 brings welcome, early season rain. As we wrap up our short visit, we reflect on this incredibly diverse slice of the exquisite country that is South Africa

#nature #wildlife