Gqeberha, previously known as Port Elizabeth is a city on Algoa Bay in the eastern cape province and one of eight in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipalities. This beautiful area is known for its numerous beaches, hiking trails, and vast marine life.

As Crystal often does so well is to invite guest lecturers onboard who specialize in the regions we travel. We were privileged to have a guest lecturer join us in Durban South Africa, Zelda La Grange, who served as Nelson Mandela’s private secretary for nineteen years.

Her story of getting a job at 24 as the assistant to the private secretary of Nelson Mandela when she had once voted to keep apartheid, then serving as his private secretary, was life changing, not only for herself, but for all of us in the audience. They were very close to each other, like grandfather and granddaughter, often referring to each other in that context. Her series of lectures, Q&A and the history of his life were enriching, heartfelt and the hope of Ubuntu.

When our ship was cleared, we were on our way to the Kariega Game Reserve.

And then … you guessed it! The dress