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South Africa Wildlife & Dive Expeditions

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This is a 10-day / 9-night dive and safari program organized for 2 minimum / 10 maximum adventure travelers and divers to South Africa. The trip will start from Durban, KwaZulu Natal Province in the southeast of South Africa. Lapped by the Indian Ocean, the KwaZulu-Natal coast is a paradise of warm waters, sun-drenched beaches, lush woodlands and a vibrant underwater world with one of the most beautiful coral reefs in the world. We will visit Hluhluwe Umfolozi Game Reserve where there is a chance to spot the Big 5 through our two-day safari. Safari activities also include a hippo and crocodile cruise in Saint Lucia through the pristine iSimangaliso Wetland Park, which boasts an amazing 21 different ecological systems.

Further north along the coast, lies the diving mecca of Sodwana Bay, which offers a wide variety of marine life found along its coral reefs, as well as seasonal sightings of whales and turtles. From November onwards of each year, female loggerhead and leatherback turtles haul themselves through the surf zone in the Kosi Bay area to lay their eggs. From mid-January another miracle begins, the turtle hatchings. There are usually around 100 eggs in a batch. Having survived all the threats of predation, collapsing beaches, desiccation and overheating, the surviving turtle babies have to break out of the leathery egg sacs and then clamber up through a metre or two of sand to the surface. If you take the trip between November and March, there will be a chance to witness the mother and baby turtles on the beach.

The travel shall be good all year round. Visitors who come in May or June are in for a treat as well! This is the time when Southern Right Whales leave their Antarctic feeding ground for the warm waters of the KwaZulu-Natal's south and north coasts. Humpback and Bottlenose Dolphins are also easily seen from boats and Humpback Whales pass through on their migrations. This safari and dive package includes a combination of various highlights presenting the magic beauty that South Africa has to offer.

Wildlife Itinerary: Day 1 - Durban – Salt Rock, Dolphin Coast Welcome to South Africa! Our driver and guide will meet you at King Shaka International Airport of Durban upon your arrival. You will be transferred to a nearby hotel to get some rest. Welcome dinner. Day 2 - Salt Rock – St. Lucia – Hluhluwe After breakfast, we will travel to St Lucia (200km) and take a Hippo & Croc Boat Cruise up the St Lucia Estuary to witness Hippo wallowing, Nile Crocodiles and African Fish Eagles. In the afternoon, continue to Hluhluwe to get settled in a bush villa for two nights. Sunset safari to view wildlife inside the wildlife park. Day 3 - Safari in Hluhluwe Umfolozi Game Reserve Board the park’s open game drive vehicle for a Big 5 safari trip, witness the wildlife in the oldest proclaimed game reserve in Africa. Keep an eye out for the Big 5, African Wild Dog and Cheetah that hunt in the open plains. Upon return to our bush villa, we will have a traditional South African bush barbecue (braai) under the stars. Our safari guide will give us the insights on South Africa’s wildlife conservation … … African vultures swirling in the skies, cries of hyenas and wild dogs hunting … … this safari will remain in your memories for years to come.

Scuba Itinerary: Day 4 - Hluhluwe – Sodwana Bay Today after breakfast we will continue to travel northbound to reach Sodwana Bay (100 km). We will first get settled in a villa or local lodge. After lunch, go to the dive center to fit the dive gear and get a coral reef briefing. Day 5/6 - Sodwana Bay We will enjoy two ocean dives each day. Enjoy cultural activities with the local community in one of the evenings. Day 7 - Sodwana Bay One last dive in the morning. Afternoon, we will drive to Kosi Bay area (100km) and get settled in at one of the local lodges. Sunset walk at Kosi Mouth.

Day 8 - Kosi Bay Kosi Lake boat ride, canoeing and beach walk for turtle viewing (in season). Learn about the local Tonga people’s fish kraal making. Day 9 - Kosi Bay to Durban Drive back to Durban area (390 km) and overnight at a hotel near the airport. This is your last day in South Africa for this trip. Do some shopping if you wish. Relax and pack your bags. Farewell dinner. Day 10 - Depart South Africa You will be taken to Durban Airport and board your flight for your home country or your next destination.

Inclusions: - airport transfers & ground transportation; accommodation; - all meals; - 2-day safari; - hippo & croc cruise; - 3-day reef dives with full gear; - snorkelling, canoeing and other cultural activities; - park entrance fees; - service of driver and guide; - local SIM card with 1G data loaded.

Dive Conditions

South Africa Wildlife Safari Conditions Safari trips to southern and eastern Africa can be undertaken year-round, there are always some good options. By far the most popular time to go on safari is May to October, which is the dry season in most areas. However, there are certain safari areas that have the converse season, notably those areas fringing the southern side of the Sahara Desert. There are also some safari areas that offer some major wildlife migration events during the December to March green season, including Serengeti, Makgadikadi and Liuwa Plain. It's worth noting that the southern tip of Africa around Cape Town has the opposite season, with November to April representing the southern summer.

South Africa Dive Conditions South Africa is blessed with a rich marine environment. The marine life includes large mammals such as whales and dolphins, as well as smaller macro-life like colorful nudibranchs, sea-horses and Christmas-tree worms. There might also be sightings of dugong, schools of hammerheads or dragon moray eel. Featured creatures include sharks, sardines in season, Indo-Pacific tropical reef fish and temperate critters. KwaZulu Natal province dive sites will have warm water conditions and great visibility, from 20-30 meters. The East Cape dive sites will also have great visibility, but surface conditions can be a challenge. Drysuits may be needed on the East Cape. Water temperatures can range from 27°C/80°F at Sodwana to 14°C/57°F at False Bay. Visibility can vary but is generally more than 20 m (66 feet). There are several climate zones that range from desert to subtropical.

South Africa Dive Sites Aliwal Shoal - Recognised as one of the top ten dive sites in the world, Aliwal Shoal is famed for its shark sightings, including ragged-tooth sharks, tiger sharks and hammerheads. Located about 50km south of Durban near the town of Umkomaas on KwaZulu Natal’s southern coastline, this ancient sandstone reef within a Marine Protected Area has dive sites to suit all levels. In addition to the thrill of diving with sharks within their natural environment, there are also a couple of fascinating wreck dives to explore.

The Sardine Run at Protea Banks - If you are visiting South Africa in June or July then diving during the annual Sardine Run is a must. The sardines migrate east along the coastline from the cold waters around Cape Town to the warmer waters of KwaZulu Natal, accompanied by an incredible spectacle of large marine life coming to feast on this moving buffet. One of the best places to witness this is at Protea Banks circa 160km south of Durban. Situated 7.5km straight out to sea off Shelly Beach, Protea Banks is a fossilized sand dune from which a dive as shallow as five meters will immerse you in the Sardine Run.

Sodwana Bay - 100km from the southern border of Mozambique lies Sodwana Bay, affectionately known as Sordies. This heavily protected marine and coastal reserve is a nature lover’s paradise, both above and below the water. In addition to the impressive Zambezi and tiger sharks, expect to see tiger angelfish, butterfly fish and longnose hawkfish amidst a vibrant coral reef. Whether you’re a beginner looking to venture out into the open seas for the first time or an expert looking for a technical diving challenge, Sodwana Bay has dive sites to suit. In the summer months, the water is normally 25°C.

Zanzibar, Tanzania, and Kenya Dive Conditions Scuba divers exploring Zanzibar, Tanzania, and Kenya will encounter all of the tropical Indian Ocean species throughout the region’s warm waters. A myriad of reef fish inhabit the inshore reef sites, with ribbon eels, fire dartfish, octopus, moray eels, and giant groupers commonplace. Many larger species also patrol the inner reef walls and barracuda, yellowfin tuna, and large schools of trevally are not an uncommon sight in the blue.

Zanzibar Dive Sites Mnemba Atoll - The tropical fish capital of East Africa, Mnemba Atoll boasts pristine coral walls and a myriad of marine life in fantastic visibility. Most dives are gentle drifts along vibrant walls, teeming with beautiful corals and an overwhelming array of fish. Leven Bank Off the northern tip of Zanzibar, nutrient-rich currents sweep through Leven Bank creating a playground for all manner of pelagic visitors. Huge schools of barracuda and trevally mix with tuna, king mackerel, and a variety of wrasse, and humpback whales can often be heard underwater between August and September. Pemba Channel, Pemba Island Off the west coast of Pemba Island, the shallow reef plunges thousands of feet into the Pemba Channel and a series of pinnacles and steep walls create a habitat for a variety of interesting marine life. Reef sharks, turtles, Napoleon wrasse, and other pelagic gamefish frequent the strong currents of the channel, but despite the excellent visibility, this site is best suited to experienced divers.

Tanzania Dive Sites Mafia Island Marine Park Nearly half of Mafia Island’s coastline is protected under the Marine Park and is home to over 460 species of tropical fish, five species of turtle, and the shy dugong. Mafia Island is a great place to spot whale sharks between October and March, pausing to feed on plankton upwellings as they migrate along the coast.

Kenya Dive Sites Watamu Marine National Park One of the best protected and managed marine reserves in Kenya, at least a dozen dive sites range in depth and are suitable for all levels of diving. The endangered green sea turtle is a common sight around the park reefs, as well as moray eels and octopuses holed up in the coral at Moray Reef. Whale sharks are often spotted passing through between October and February. The Canyon is an excellent all-around site boasting a soft coral-covered arch teeming with snapper and trevallies.