South Africa

Specials / Self-drive / Family / Walking / Romance / Budget / Capetown & Safari
KwaZulu Beach & Safari / Horse Safaris / Wildlife & Beach / Rhino Tour

Divine Diving and Safari Adventure -
13 days/10 nights

Day 1 – Depart New York on South African Airways flight to Cape Town via Johannesburg.

Day 2 – Upon arrival at Cape Town International Airport you will be met and transferred to the deluxe Table Bay Hotel by private vehicle. Accommodations in a luxury room for four nights inclusive of breakfast daily.

Day 3 – Breakfast at the hotel. White Shark Diving takes place (weather permitting) approximately 7 miles offshore from Gansbaai. Prior to diving, you will be required to complete an indemnity form. Dyer Island has become known as one of only two unique areas in the world where it is possible to see the great white shark. Divers are lowered into the water in a specially designed, secure, two-man cage that floats on the surface, with the divers no more than one meter below the surface. Only experienced divers are allowed in the cage, and non-divers have great opportunities to watch the sharks feeding from the safety of the boat. Once the sharks are around, a specially designed, secure, cylindrical two man cage, which floats with part of the cage out of the water is lowered into the clear aquamarine waters. Divers with at least an entry level qualification may enter the cage from the dive platform. They are never more than 1 meter below the surface. Once in the cage they are fed surface supply air instead of scuba - this is a tried and proven method offering the safest and most comfortable dive. The air feed is monitored throughout your dive by a qualified crew member. A wide panoramic port, allows the diver to photograph, film and even reach out and touch the animal. Divers merely slide into the opening at the top of the cage and retrieve their mouthpieces. The lid at the top of the opening is closed before diving starts.

The best time of the year to view sharks is from June to September. Four to five sharks are usually encountered in a day. As many as 18 sharks have been encountered on some outings. We have a 95% success rate in terms of daily sightings during the high season. Great white sharks prefer a diet of game fish and from May to October the latter are in abundance. Great whites are also known to feed on seals and carrion. October to December, being the pupping season for some 35,000 seals on Geyser Island, results in an ample food supply of drowned pups in the surrounding coastal waters. Although great whites may be sighted during the low season, the abundance of food in the area makes luring to the boat more difficult.
Cape Fur Seals, Cape Gannets, Cape Cormorants, Jackass penguins, whales and dolphins are likely to be seen while on the trip.

Day 4 – After breakfast at the hotel, depart on a wreck diving excursion. The Cape Peninsula lies at the convergence of the Atlantic and the Indian Oceans. The rugged coastline is littered with wrecks – perfect for dive explorations!

Day 5 – Breakfast at the hotel followed by a full day at leisure to explore the scenic beauty and historic sights of Cape Town.

Day 6 – After breakfast at the hotel you will be met and transferred to Cape Town International Airport for your flight to Durban. Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to Rocktail Bay Lodge. Accommodations in a Standard Chalet for four nights inclusive of all meals and activities.
Rocktail Bay Lodge is situated in the northern reaches of the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park, a World Heritage Site. Situated offshore is the Maputaland Marine Reserve which offers extraordinary diving and snorkeling encounters with fish, dolphins and whales. About 7 miles south of the camp is the fully accredited Mares dive-center that arranges boating excursions out to sea to enjoy scuba (and snorkeling) on the pristine coral reefs. (Dive certification and pre-booking is compulsory for scuba activities). Other lodge activities include fly-fishing and drives to Black Rock Hippo Pools in open 4x4 Land Rovers. During the summer months Rocktail Bay Lodge is integrally involved in turtle research and guests may participate if desired.

Day 7 – Breakfast at the Lodge is followed by a full day of diving activities. The launch site is situated at Island Rock, about 7 miles south of Rocktail Bay Lodge. The reefs off Rocktail Bay have never before been commercially dived; they are young fringing reefs harboring surprisingly healthy and diverse coral communities & marine life. Features of these reefs are large pinnacles, ledges, drop-offs & swim troughs. Ragged tooth sharks, Manta Rays & Whale sharks are sometimes encountered.

Day 8 – Breakfast at the Lodge. Enjoy all the activities Rocktail Bay has to offer.

Day 9 – Breakfast at the Lodge. At leisure to enjoy the natural splendors of this very special area.

Day 10 – After breakfast, you will be met and transferred to Ndumo Wilderness Camp. Accommodations in a Standard room for two nights, inclusive of all meals and activities. Ndumo Wilderness Camp is one of South Africa's most superb safari camps. Drives in open 4x4 vehicles around the various scenic pans are a highlight as well as boating along the waterways. The camp offers 8 luxury-tented rooms each with en-suite bathroom and a private balcony. Ndumo Game Reserve is considered by many to be the finest bird watching locality in South Africa. The reserve is also home to Black Rhino, White Rhino, Hippo, Crocodile, Giraffe, Impala, Blue Wildebeest, Nyala, Red Duiker and Suni.

Day 11 – Enjoy a full day of game viewing activities at Ndumo.

Day 12 – After the morning game drive and breakfast, transfer to Richards Bay Airport for your flight to Johannesburg with onward connection back to the USA aboard South African Airways.

Day 13 – Arrive home.

COST: From $4,177.00* Per person sharing
Includes use of VIP lounge in Capetown and Johannesburg airports.

*Terms and conditions apply. Please inquirefor full details.
*International & domestic air taxes of approximately $110 not included.