What it is

Diving on the magnificent coral reefs of Sodwana Bay and Phinda / Hluhluwe in Natal and Ponta Mamoli in Mozambique

Itinerary

Day 01:

Arrive Johannesburg International and connect with your domestic flight to Durban, own arrangements. On arrival at Durban International Airport you will be met by a representative of Dive The Big 5 for the 5 hour road transfer to Sodwana Bay National Park which is part of the Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park. The Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park was declared a world heritage site in 1999 and is one of 552 world heritage sites world-wide. Overnight at Sodwana Bay Lodge on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis. www.sodwanadivelodge.co.za and www.sodwanadiving.co.za

Day 02:

Two dives on the magnificent coral reefs of Sodwana Bay, weather permitting. These reefs are one of the southern most coral reefs in the world and are even more south than Australia's Great Barrier Reef. The Great Barrier Reef has 1 800 species of fish and Sodwana which is 1/10 the size of the Great Barrier Reef has 1 200 species of fish, 6 of which are endemic to the Sodwana area. Therefore your chances of seeing more species of fish are great at Sodwana than at the Great Barrier reef due to the concentration of the area that you are diving on!. You could be diving on either Two Mile Reef, Five Mile Reef, Seven Mile Reef or the fabulous and seldom dives Nine Mile Reef. The reefs are all unromantically named by the distance they are from the launch site, Jesser Point. For a deep dive, Sponges is a must and is best dived on Nitrox which is available at Sodwana. Please be advised that all diving in South Africa is best done early in the morning, just after sunrise, because as the morning wears on the wind tends to pick up causing a chop on the water, which makes for unpleasant diving. This leaves the afternoons free to explore your new surrounds. Overnight Sodwana Bay Lodge on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis.
 

Day 03:

Two dives on the magnificent coral reefs of Sodwana Bay, weather permitting. These reefs are one of the southern most coral reefs in the world and are even more south than Australia's Great Barrier Reef. The Great Barrier Reef has 1 800 species of fish and Sodwana which is 1/10 the size of the Great Barrier Reef has 1 200 species of fish, 6 of which are endemic to the Sodwana area. Therefore your chances of seeing more species of fish are great at Sodwana than at the Great Barrier reef due to the concentration of the area that you are diving on!. You could be diving on either Two Mile Reef, Five Mile Reef, Seven Mile Reef or the fabulous and seldom dives Nine Mile Reef. The reefs are all unromantically named by the distance they are from the launch site, Jesser Point. For a deep dive, Sponges is a must and is best dived on Nitrox which is available at Sodwana. Please be advised that all diving in South Africa is best done early in the morning, just after sunrise, because as the morning wears on the wind tends to pick up causing a chop on the water, which makes for unpleasant diving. This leaves the afternoons free to explore your new surrounds. Overnight Sodwana Bay Lodge on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis.

Day 04:

A further two dives on Sodwana's reefs, weather permitting and if conditions allow, maybe even a night dive! This has not been included in the cost of the itinerary and would be for your own account. The afternoon can be spent exploring the miles and miles deserted beaches, searching the many rock pools at low tide, which are far better that a visit to the worlds best aquarium. Or you could take a 4x4, and if the timing is right, go snorkelling at Mabibi or just chill out and soak up the African sun either at the beach or at the Lodges private pool. If you are really adventurous, a micro-light flight over the reef to spot whale sharks, whales, dolphins and manta's. This is a flight not to be forgotten! Overnight at Sodwana Bay Lodge on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis.

Day 05:

Your last two dives on the  reefs of Sodwana, weather permitting. Overnight at Sodwana Bay Lodge on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis.

Day 06:

After a leisurely breakfast you will be collected from the Lodge by a representative of Dive The Big 5 for the transfer to Phinda. You will arrive at Phinda in time to settle into your chalet after which you will proceed to the main lodge for afternoon tea or coffee before going on the afternoon/evening game drive in open 4x4 safari vehicles. At sunset you will stop somewhere in the bush for sun-downers before continuing on into the night looking for the nocturnal animals with the aid of a powerful spot lamp. Depending on the animal activity you will return to camp at about 20:30 for dinner in the "boma", around a roaring log fire, under the African stars. Overnight at Phinda Forest Lodge on a fully inclusive basis. www.ccafrica.com and click on Phinda. OR You will be transferred to Hluhluwe Game Reserve and Hilltop Camp. On arrival at Hilltop, you will have enough time to settle into your  "rondawel" before the departure of the evening game drive. Overnight at Hilltop on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis. www.kznwildlife.com and click on Hluhluwe Game Reserve.

Day 07:

Full day spent game viewing at Phinda. You will be woken by the beat of African Drums for early morning, tea and coffee which is served at the Lodge before venturing out for the early morning game drive. Again, depending on the animal activity we will return to camp at about 09:00 for breakfast. After breakfast you are free to enjoy the tranquillity of the African Bush. You can either go for a bush walk in "Big 5" country with your armed Ranger & Tracker, go down to the hide and sit quietly and watch the game come down to drink during the heat of the day, spend the time bird watching in and around the camp or just laze by the pool. After afternoon tea and coffee you will again set out for the afternoon/evening game drive. Overnight at Phinda Forest Lodge on a fully inclusive basis. OR Full day spent game viewing at Hluhluwe Game Reserve. You will be joining both the morning and evening drives conducted by experienced KZN game rangers. Overnight at Hilltop on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis.

Day 08:

After the early morning game drive and breakfast you will be collected from Phinda / Hluhluwe by a representative of Dive The Big 5 for the 2 hour transfer to Thonga Beach Resort. Overnight at Thonga Beach Resort on a fully inclusive basis. www.zulunet.co.za and click on Thonga Beach Resort.

Day 09:

2 x dives off the magnificent and pristine reefs off Thonga Beach Resort, weather permitting. These reefs form part of the Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park. You may also have the opportunity to go on a night-time excursion to witness the Loggerhead and Leatherback turtles lay their eggs and if the timing is right, you may even see the eggs hatch and the little ones return to the sea. This excursion was not included in the cost of this tour. Overnight at Thonga Beach Resort on a fully inclusive basis.

Day 10:

After breakfast, you will be collected by a representative of Dive the Big 5 for the 90 minute road transfer to Kosi Bay border post.

Once across the border you will be met by the staff of Ponta Mamoli resort and you will be transferred in a 4x4 to Ponta Mamoli. This is a 1 hour transfer over coastal dunes and through coastal dune forests. On arrival at the Lodge you will be welcomed with a refreshing drink to wash down the dust whilst your bags and dive gear is taken to your sea facing wooden chalet. After settling into your chalet you can follow the carefully built wooden boardwalks, to protect the delicate coastal vegetation, to the beach. In the early evening  you will gather in the pub area for the dive planning while you enjoy sundowners. Overnight Ponta Mamoli on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis. www.pontamamoli.com

Day 11:

The first two of your 6 scheduled dives on the many reefs off Ponta, weather permitting. You will assemble your equipment prior to each dive at the storage and washing facility where it is taken and loaded on the RIB. You can then either take the short walk to the boat, jump on and ride down to the launch area on the beach in the boat or you can  wait for the 4x4 to give you a ride down. After each dive the equipment is washed and hung up by fully trained staff. For photographers etc. the camera wash-bins are situated next to the restaurant area. Non-divers can snorkel by entering the rocky areas that stretch out from the point or they can charter a boat and visit snorkel sites a bit further out and maybe encounter a dolphin pod that inhabit the region. After the second dive the rest of the day is free to soak up the sun. Overnight Ponta Mamoli on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis.

Day 12:

Another two dives on the reefs of Ponta Mamoli, weather permitting. You will be either diving on reefs called Bass City and the Pinnacles which is situated just to the south of Ponta Mamoli or reefs situated in the bay of Ponta Mamoli itself.. After the dives you can either go for a walk on the endless white beaches with it's squeaky-clean sand or relax around the pool area taking in the fresh sea breeze. Overnight at Ponta Mamoli on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis.

Day 13:

An early wake up call to sip a cup of coffee while you watch the sun rise over the warm Indian Ocean before you set out for your last two dives at Ponta Mamoli. These can be on any of the reefs that you didn’t get to dive the previous days, or you can set out to the north where the large bay of Ponta Techobanine lies. This dive site is well known for it’s prolific coral growth with prolific fish life that one normally associated with diving in the Red Sea or the Maldives. One thing that is guaranteed, you will not be disappointed with the corals and abundant fish-life that Ponta Mamoli has to offer. Overnight at Ponta Mamoli on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis.

Day 14:

After a leisurely breakfast Ponta Mamoli will transfer you back to the border. Once you have crossed back into South Africa, you will again be collected by a representative of Dive The Big 5 for the 6 hour road transfer back to Durban International Airport. Here you will catch a domestic flight to Johannesburg International in time for your return flight home, own arrangements.

Cost:

Cost for 3 people travelling including safari at Phinda
ZAR  nett per person sharing
ZAR nett single supplement

Cost for 3 people travelling including safari at Hluhluwe
ZAR  nett per person sharing
ZAR nett single supplement