Sardine Run and Wildlife Safari

7 Night / 8 Day Itinerary

When the sardine run gets going in June.  KwaZulu Natal South Coast is the place to be.  These billions of tiny little fish attract a delightful symphony of sea life.  From the ostentatious dolphins frolicking in the waves to the ensemble of plunge-diving gannets, whales and sharks feeding on these silver fish.  Combine this with the wonder of seeing the Big Five in the best reserves in Africa. This spectacle is a fascinating and unforgettable experience.

Day One

Durban / Port Edward
You will be met at the Durban International Airport.  Enjoy the scenic drive down this beautiful coastline towards Port Edward, which is on the border of KwaZulu Natal and the rugged Wild Coast.  The road snakes through subtropical bush, canefields and hills garlanded with hibiscus blooms.  Sweeping beaches and calm lagoons abound.  Overnight at Umtavula River Lodge in Port Edward.

Day Two

Port Edward – Sardine Run
This morning you will be taken down to the launching site on the beach, where while you will kit up, the diving equipment will be loaded into the dive boat.  During the next few hours, the skipper will track a shoal of sardines and when the time is right, you will have the opportunity of diving in the shoal.  As it moves very quickly, sometimes it is quicker to jumping into the water with snorkelling gear.  You will experience huge flocks of gannets, thousands and thousands of dolphin (the best is to jump in with them as they frolic and play around you), see whales jumping and sharks.  The diving situation will be fully monitored as it is unsafe to be in the water if there is a ‘’bait ball’’ and sharks are feeding.

The greatest faunal event on the planet plays out on the East Coast of South Africa from May to July and travel over more then one thousand kilometres of ocean.  One of 3 shoals within a seventy-kilometre radius stretches off the Transkei and KwaZulu Natal.  One shoal is fifteen kilometres long, three and a half kilometres wide and 40 metres deep – unbelievable!!!

Day Three

Port Edward – Sardine Run
Port Edward is the most southerly coastal resort of KwaZulu Natal.  Although small and peaceful, offering safe swimming and excellent fishing, it also is a draw card in the Wild Coast Sun Casino.  The Umtamvuna Nature Reserve south of the town has prolific bird life and many rare and protected plant species.  Today will be spend on the water getting in as much snorkelling and diving as possible and following the shoal with all the exciting activity that goes along with it.

Day Four

Port Edward / Umkomaas
Spend the morning on the water getting in your last experience of this amazing phenomenon.  This afternoon we will depart for the drive up the coastline toward the world-renowned town of Umkomaas, which is famous for the wonderful dive site of Aliwal Shoal.  Overnight Ocean View Guest Lodge.

Day Five

Umkomaas / Hluhluwe Game Reserve
Enjoy a spectacular early morning dive on Aliwal Shoal – normally wonderful sightings of colourful reef fish, spectacular corals and the lazy ragged tooth sharks.

After breakfast, depart for the drive towards the famous Hluhluwe Game Reserve – Big Five Reserve.  Lunch en route and we will be stopping at some of the African roadside curio shops that sell handmade African crafts.  On arrival at Hilltop Camp, spend the afternoon relaxing before a late afternoon game drive with sundowner drinks.

Hluhluwe Game Reserve is one of the oldest game reserves in the country, notes especially for its black and white rhino.  Lion, elephant, buffalo, giraffe, leopard, cheetah, hippos, crocodiles and various antelope species inhabit the reserve.

Day Six

Hluhluwe Game Reserve
The mornings and later evenings are the best time to view game, so before breakfast enjoy a wonderful early morning game drive.  Spend the late morning and early afternoon relaxing around the camp.  A late afternoon game drive.  On return to the camp and once you have freshened up.  Enjoy a night game drive before dinner.  This is a totally different experience as you now suddenly see nocturnal animals, which are not normally seen in the daytime.  Dinner at camp this evening.

Day Seven

Hluhluwe Game Reserve / Simunye
Depart after breakfast for the drive through the park.  Continue towards Simunye – where you will journey in the footsteps of the early pioneers into Zululand.  The Biyela clan, which are directly related to the Royal House, will be hosting us.  Arrive at Simunye Cultural Village around 15h00; you will be welcomed at the Trading Store to arrange your mode of transport to the village.  You will be transported to the Lodge in 4 x 4 vehicles.  Accommodation is in a stone and thatched lodge nestled in a cliff overlooking the Mfule River.  There are five rooms, which have electricity, and the rest of the rooms are lit by candlelight (we will be booking the rooms with electricity unless someone specifically wanted candlelight). The bar and restaurant are run off electricity.  This evening soak in your own hot rock pool bath – an experience you will get nowhere else!  The Chief of the village has invited us for pre-dinner drinks in the Zulu Village.  Dinner is then served in the lodge followed by the rhythmical Zulu dancing.

Day Eight

Simunye/ Durban
Before breakfast, visit the village once again to see the daily working of the village – cattle kraal, Zulu crafts and many other interesting aspects of Zulu life-style.  Breakfast at 09h00 and then depart for the trading post at 10h00.  Depart the Trading Post for Durban at around 11h00.

"HAMBA KAHLE (Good Bye in Zulu)"