South Africa East Coast Diving and Safari
South Africa East Coast Safari
Our East Coast Safari is a 10 night safari filled with animal encounters, the like of which you would normally only dream of. The striking South African scenery is home to great predators, both above and below the waves. And your tour team will be the perfect companions the whole way.
Your tour team are intimate with every aspect of this adrenalin fueled journey. From the moment your are met at the airport to the actual dives, the very name of which gets your blood pumping. Sodwana Bay with not only its pristine coral reefs, but also frequented by whale sharks, and the Aliwal Shoal which is home to the tiger shark, seen here without the need for a cage. Ragged tooth sharks cruise in the shallows, dozing occasionally or being cleaned. Drift diving and RIB entries are the norm here. Peppered between are the game drives into the Hluhluwe and Ubizane Game Reserve.
When it comes to negotiating your way around this vast and dramatic country, the service and support of iShare Travel is invaluable. Working with all the right people, this tour of South Africa will stand out for all the right reasons and take you closer to some of the largest predators on the planet.
0845 519 1413 |
Itinerary / Highlights
Day 1: Arrive at Durban International Airport - Transfer to the Ubizane Game Reserve - Afternoon game drive.Day 2: Morning game drive - Transfer to Sodwana Bay
Day 3: Two dives at Sodwana Bay *
Day 4: Two dive at Sodwana Bay *
Day 5: Last dive at Sodwana Bay - Transfer back to the Ubizane Game Reserve - Afternoon game drive
Day 6: Morning game drive - Transfer to Umkomaas (Aliwal Shoal)
Day 7: Two dives on Aliwal Shoal *
Day 8: Tiger Shark Dive *
Day 9: Tiger Shark Dive *
Day 10: Transfer to Durban International Airport
* Optional afternoon activities will be arranged after the morning dives or opt to do an additional dive.
On the morning of your arrival at Durban International Airport you'll be warmly welcomed by your tour team who will be your guides throughout your dive safari. After a short transfer you will arrive at the Zululand Tree Lodge in the Ubizane Game Reserve adjacent to the famous Hluhluwe Game Reserve. Your first evening will be spent in a stilted cabin nestled in a tranquil Yellow Fever Tree forest. In the late afternoon you will get your first taste of Africa with a game drive as the sun goes down. Dinner is served in the bush under a starry African sky. The perfect start to your African dive safari!
Early the next morning as daylight breaks you will find yourself on a game drive, giving you another chance to spot the Big 5. Breakfast will be served back at the lodge before we depart for Sodwana Bay. Exquisite scenery will surround you as we enter the Greater St Lucia Wetlands Park with its pristine lakes, winding river estuaries, dense coastal forest and the world’s highest natural sand dunes protecting miles of golden beaches. This beauty forms the backdrop for your four day stay in Sodwana Bay. The afternoon will be spent exploring the area or relaxing before sundowners are served as the African sun sets.
After a small breakfast, we will head for the beach for your first dives of your dive safari. Exciting beach launches in ribs take you beyond the wave breaks and into the open sea for some excellent diving. Your surface interval will be spent on the beach and a small brunch will be provided before the fun begins again. Early afternoon will be yours to spend at your own leisure before we take you on an optional horseback outing through the nature-reserve followed by sundowners on the beach.
The following morning you will again do two morning dives leaving the afternoon open for group activities or your own leisure time. We can organize off-road quad biking, Micro-light flights around the bay, hippo and croc spotting at Lake Sibaya at dusk or just relaxing on the beach with a cooler box packed with refreshments. In the evenings relax around a campfire or on your terrace or join us for a cold beer at an African pub called a Shebeen.
The arrival of day four marks the end of your stay in Sodwana Bay. You'll enjoy your last dive on Sodwana’s pristine reefs before we transfer back to the Ubizane Game Reserve. You will have time to relax by the pool before your late afternoon game drive, where the park ranger will once again guide you through the bush. Dinner will be served at the Lodge in their tranquil restaurant overlooking the dark African bush.
An early morning rise on day five and your final game drive of the safari gives you the last chance to spot one of the Big 5! Following breakfast we will transfer to Umkomaas on Kwa-Zulu Natal's South Coast. The afternoon will be yours to spend relaxing. A short drive the following morning will take you to the dive centre and your Aliwal Shoal diving experience will begin with two morning dives. Brunch will be served between dives and the rest of the day will be yours to spend at your own leisure on the beach or by the pool. An additional afternoon dive can be arranged or we can arrange a trip to the local big cat farm or a visit to the breathtaking Oribi Gorge with a chance to do a gorge swing if you’re feeling brave.
An early rise, a small breakfast and you will be set for a day to remember! Days eight and nine will bring your Tiger Shark dive days. A surf launch from the Umkomaas River and a 15 min boat ride takes you to the Southern Ledge of Aliwal Shoal. Here we will create an odour corridor to attract the sharks. After a short wait the sharks will begin to gather and we will kit up to experience the pleasure of seeing some of the greatest ocean predator in their natural environment. An optional dive on the Aliwal Shoal can be arranged following the Tiger dives.
The arrival of day ten will sadly mark the end of your South African East Coast Safari. With new friends made and plenty of amazing stories to go home with this will be your last day in South Africa. You'll enjoy a late morning with breakfast at your own leisure and spend the rest of the day relaxing and getting packed for your evening return flight or your Cape Town Extension. Your tour team will transfer you to the airport and wish you a fond farewell with hopes of seeing you again soon!
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