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Great White and Aliwal Shoal Shark Combo
offered by supplier M14649 (view this supplier profile)
Key Information:
Tour Duration: 11
day(s)
Group Size: 1
- 16
people
Destination(s):
South Africa
Specialty Categories:
Scuba Diving
Wildlife Viewing
Season: January - December
Airfare Included: Yes
Tour Customizable: No
Minimum Per Person Price: 19162 South Africa Rand (ZAR)
Maximum Per Person Price: 20838 South Africa Rand (ZAR)
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Great Whites and Aliwal Shoal Combo: The Ultimate White Shark Experience package is catered around those individuals wanting to focus on Great White Shark cage diving and viewing. This package will take you to Gansbaai and False Bay, both well know white shark hot spots. Gansbaai is the Great White Shark Capital of the World and False Bay is home to Air Jaws, the breeching sharks.
This package includes 3 days White Shark cage diving in Gansbaai and 1 day white shark breeching in False Bay. You have a spare day available (day 6) with an activity scheduled which can be canceled and used for a shark dive should it not have been possible earlier that week due to weather. The entire package will be tailored once you have arrived so that as much shark diving as possible takes place should the weather interrupt the package as scheduled. Accommodation for this entire trip is at The Roundhouse Guesthouse. This is a 4 star upmarket guesthouse that will cater to your every need. All transfers to restaurants, into town, to the harbor and more will be done by the guesthouse manager and is free of charge.
Shark Diving: More about Gansbaai White Shark Cage Diving. This is possibly the greatest thrill that you will ever experience. Just imagine pulling up on the boat in 'Shark Alley', the open stretch of water between the mainland and Dyer Island off Gansbaai, South Africa referred to as the White Shark Diving capital of the world. The wonderful thing about shark diving in Gansbaai is that you only have to take a 20 minute boat ride to Dyer Island. In the winter time we can even see sharks before the shark chum is dropped into the water and it is clear to see why Gansbaai is named as being the most densely populated area for Great White Sharks in the World. We get White Sharks here along the coast all year round but Winter is the best time to come and see these beautiful animals.
The beauty is that in Gansbaai you do not have to be a qualified diver to see the Great White Sharks from the boat or cage. As the cages are mounted next to the boat and floated on the surface it is very easy for inexperienced divers to jump in and take a good look at the Great Whites as they cruise past the cage. For most of the year the divers do not use air or snorkels in the cage as the bubbles tend to make the Great White Sharks nervous and very cautious. We want the shark to be comfortable with the boat and people diving in the cages so that they will come as close as possible. It is not uncommon for a shark's pectoral fin to glide just into the gap in the cage as it swims past.
It is important to stress that you do not have to dive in the cage to see the Great White Sharks. The boat based viewing all year round is exceptional and there are many people who just take the trip to see the Great White Sharks from the boat. Unfortunately there is no difference in price to just view the sharks from the boat. The costs involved are virtually the same with the Chum, Bait, Catering, Crew, Fuel and Environmental taxes. It is simply a bonus if you decide when out there to slip on a wet suit and jump in the cage to have a closer look.
Shark Breeching: More about False Bay White Shark breeching. Witness the unbelievable, a 7,000 lb Great White Shark launching itself out of the water through the air only 20 yards away. This will get your adrenaline pumping if nothing does! There is only one place in the world where you can go on a boat and trawl a try to provoke a Great White Shark to breach out of the water. Just imagine cruising along watching a rubber cut out of a seal bobbing around 20 yards behind the boat and at any time you might witness the apex predator of the oceans burst through the surface into the air. Both Chris Fallows and Rob Lawrence worked with Discovery Channel to create one of the most famous shark documentaries ever created. This film named ‘Air Jaws’ documented the flying sharks for the first time and showed the world a new wonderful feature of the White Sharks artilerary that was previously unknown to the world. It is amazing to see the sheer power this incredible animal has to accelerate to approximately 40km/h over a 20m depth to protrude the surface and go airborne.
To obtain these images you must be extremely patient and have a lot of concentration on your object, the decoy seal. To wait for a breach may take up to an hour or more and the breach lasts for only 2 seconds and then it is all over. A professional photographer went out last June and he was most unfortunate. He focused on the decoy for over an hour and the moment he moved his trigger finger to scratch his nose the shark came out of nowhere and breached the bait. You do not have any indication when a shark will breach and this make it all the more exciting!
Accommodation: More about The Roundhouse Guesthouse. The Roundhouse B and B is part of a total tourist experience in Gansbaai. We offer Gansbaai accommodation and bed and breakfast facilities in the undisputed best place in the world for Land Based Whale watching. This the perfect spot for a stay over when embarking on one of the famous shark cage diving excursions in the area.
The establishment is situated in de Kelders, which is the prime land based whale watching area in the world for Southern Right Whales. The Roundhouse is a three stories high round building with a thatched roof. The house has a very modern African feel to it and every care has been taken to assure your complete relaxation and comfort rated 4* but with many 5* finishes. The house has unique features such as a big projector screen television in the bar area and wireless hotspot internet connectivity throughout the house. This is excellent for anyone from conferences to movie buffs! The suites, which consist of a bedroom, living room and bathroom, have all the little extras such as microwave, toaster, coffee / tea facilities, bar fridge, Television, DVD player, Stereo, Hairdryer, Sewing Kit, First Aid kit, Toiletries and more.
Our breakfast menu includes delicious meals such as a full English breakfast, pancakes, health breakfast and the ever popular continental. We offer room service every day and offer laundry services if wished. For families, we offer a beautiful 6 sleeper self catering cottage just opposite The Roundhouse. Please note that you have a stunning sea view from the top floor but all of our rooms except 1 are on the ground floor. Our new suite the Carcharias Suite will be up and running in June and has great views form the first floor. You are welcome in the lounge area upstairs at any time. After a long day out, sit on the balcony with a glass of Wine enjoy the sunset and stunning views over the bay.
Aliwal Shoal: More about the diving at Aliwal Shoal. The trip out to the Aliwal Shoal takes about 20-min. The Aliwal Shoal is 5kms in length and has a huge diversity of marine life and is one of the best places in the world to get up close and personal with the Ragged Tooth [Sand Tiger] Sharks, the shoal also attracts a huge variety of sea-life including Tiger and Hammerhead Sharks, Morey Eels, Manta Rays, Whales, Dolphins, Hawk Fish, Groupers, Angelfish, Wrasse, Brindle Bass and much more. The dive sites on the Aliwal Shoal include two wrecks, the Produce and the Nebo which can only be dived when the current is not too strong. Dive sites on the Aliwal Shoal include Shark Alley, Pinnacles, Raggies Cave, Manta Point, Chunnel, Anvil Flats, South Sands, False Cathedral, Tiger Cove, North Sands, Eel Skin and Cathedral.
Tiger Sharks: More about the tiger shark diving at Aliwal Shoal. Tiger Shark Diving: Our dive with Tiger Sharks will rate as one of the top-5 dives you will ever do. The dives take place on the southern end of the Aliwal Shoal. We launch from the Umkomaas River and we travel south (about 30-min) to the southern ledges of the Aliwal Shoal. We then create an odour corridor to attract the sharks. Once the sharks arrive we enter the water to observe the sharks in their natural environment.
Over many years of diving with Tiger Sharks, we have experienced many behaviour patterns and this knowledge enables us to experience up-close encounters with these fantastic creatures. We generally have between two and six [but can be as many as nine or more] Tiger Sharks as well as many Blacktip Sharks, Dusky Sharks and on occasion other species of sharks. Before the Tiger Shark Dive, we will give a full briefing to help you to understand their behavior and how we behave in return. Tiger Sharks are very shy, they are also very inquisitive and intelligent animals which is why they are one of the ocean's apex predators and deserve the highest respect.
The Tiger Shark Diving is a truly amazing experience.Accommodation: More about Umkomaas Accommodation. Facilities at the lodge: The lodge has 8-upmarket bedrooms, a swimming pool, B.B.Q. Area (known locally as a braai), Kitchen facilities, Tea and Coffee, Television, Laundry Service, Internet and Fax facilities, Beach access to miles of sandy beaches. Nearby the lodge: Restaurants and bars, Banks and ATM machines, Shops etc.
About the rooms: All rooms have views of the Indian Ocean are available as single, twin or double occupancy with En-suite Bathroom (with showers), Private Balconies and Ceiling Fans. Rooms are serviced daily.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Cape Town / Airport collection and transfer to Gansbaai. Upon arrival at Cape Town International Airport, you will be met by a Shark Alley representative who will hand over all documentation and assist you with a transfer to Gansbaai for check in at The Roundhouse Guesthouse situated in the neighboring De Kelders. Depending on time of arrival, your day/evening will be spent at leisure.
Day 2: Great White Shark cage Diving and Viewing in Gansbaai. Your expedition starts early morning and is launched from the neighboring Kleinbaai. Your trip begins with a light breakfast at the crew house followed by a brief orientation of the day’s activities before moving down to the harbor to meet your skipper and crew, and then head out for about 4-6 hours at sea. All equipment will be supplied, and a light lunch as well as snacks and drinks will be served on the boat. Late afternoon you will return where you will have the opportunity of viewing and buying a DVD of the day following your trip. You may take a warm shower to freshen up before being escorted back to your guesthouse for the remainder of the day at your perusal.
Day 3: Great White Shark cage Diving and Viewing in Gansbaai. Depending on the weather, once again, your day has an early start. You make your way to Kleinbaai harbor to have breakfast at the crew house, a briefing on the days activities and down to the harbor where the boat will await you for a 4-6 hour trip at sea, returning late afternoon. You have the option to either freshen up at the crew house or back at the guesthouse. Thereafter you will have the remainder of the day at leisure. The Gansbaai area has a few restaurants that offer good quality food and pubs that offer a great local atmosphere.
Day 4: Great White Shark breeching in False Bay. Your white shark breaching expedition has an early start and is launched from the Simons Town Harbour. Your trip begins with a light breakfast, followed by a brief orientation of the days activities before moving down to the harbor to meet your skipper and crew, and then head out for about 6 hours at sea (weather depending) where the boat will make its way to seal Island off the False Bay coast. All equipment will be supplied, and a light lunch as well as snacks and drinks will be served on the boat. Late afternoon you will return to the harbor where you will have the opportunity to freshen up before being escorted back to Gansbaai for the remainder of the day at leisure at your guesthouse.
Day 5: Great White Shark cage Diving and Viewing in Gansbaai. You morning starts early with your third opportunity to cage dive with the great white sharks. You launch from Kleinbaai harbor after a light breakfast and brief orientation of the days activities and spend 4-6 hours at sea before returning late afternoon. You have the option to either freshen up at the crew house or back at the guesthouse. Thereafter you will have the remainder of the day at leisure.
Day 6: Cape L’Agulhas (most Southern Tip of Africa) OR Betty’s Bay and Hermanus day tour. Cape L’Agulhas: After a scrumptious breakfast, you will be collected from your guesthouse for your full day Cape L'Agulhas tour. Translated from Portuguese, Cape L'Agulhas means cape of needles, presumably referring to the jagged shape of the dangerous rocks along the coastline. You will be able to climb the Cape L'Agulhas lighthouse and look at the stunning views from this famous beacon of safety. Struisbaai is a small coastal village east of Agulhas.
The major feature of Struisbaai is the 14 kilometer long sandy beach that seems to stretch on forever. On the other side of the bay is Waenhuiskrans (wagon house cliff), also called Arniston after the British transport ship HMS Arniston that ran aground here in stormy weather in 1815. Visit Bredasorp with its Shipwreck museum where sunken ships have found their way in. The hospitality of the people of the Cape Agulhas region and the beauty of the surrounding countryside is certain to enrich all and impact the wish to return to enjoy the ambience of this region again.
Betty’s Bay and Hermanus: After a scrumptious breakfast, you will be collected from your guesthouse for your full day Betty’s Bay and Hermanus tour. On your way to Betty’s Bay you first stop in the town of Hermanus that is renowned for its “champagne air” and growing southern right whale population that visits regularly every year. The town center, being quite compact, is comfortable to explore and the interesting diversity of shops, restaurants and bars, some tucked away in quiet back streets, are within easy walking distance of one another.
After exploring the town, you will then be escorted along the scenic Clarence Drive Route to the town of Betty’s Bay. Formerly, a whaling station, is now home to the beautiful Harold Porter National Botanical Gardens, situated within the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve. Enjoy lovely walks in the garden or visit the restaurant for light meals and drinks. Plants can be bought at the nursery and souvenirs at the gift shop. Don't forget to visit the art gallery, situated within the gardens.
Betty's Bay is one of the four towns that make up the Hangklip-Kleinmond area. This unique area is also referred to as "Where Whales Play and Wild Flowers Bloom". The Betty's Bay area is not only renowned for its magnificent floral kingdom, but it's also home to one of only three breeding colonies on the mainland in South Africa. The Jackass Penguin Colony at Stony Point can be viewed from a viewing platform and the penguins are best seen in the late afternoon when they return from their day's fishing.
Stony Point, the remains of the Old Whaling station, which was in operation from 1912 to 1930, can still be seen. In 1976 South Africa signed the treaty to ban whaling and the big mammals are making a comeback. Each year, Southern Right and Humpback whales migrate into our coastal waters to calve and nurse their young. These gentle giants provide unsurpassed whale watching opportunities between May and December. Stony Point is known to be a local and tourist hotspot for land-based whale watching. After the day’s activities, you will be escorted back to Gansbaai along the scenic route for the evening at leisure at your guesthouse.
Day 7: Transfer to Airport / Cape Town. Today you get a transfer back to Cape Town airport and get on a flight to your next dive destination, Durban. We will meet you at Durban International Airport or other pick-up points as required. You can arrive at anytime during the day. You will be transferred [+/- 30mins] to our accommodation, where you will meet the team and spend the day relaxing. In the evening you can enjoy dinner at the lodge or at one of the local bars or restaurants. Overnight ScubaAddicts Lodge.
Days 8 - 10: Dive Aliwal Shoal. An early morning rise for breakfast. We receive information about the conditions before deciding where we dive. The diving takes place along the KwaZulu Natal South Coast on the reefs between the Aliwal Shoal and Protea Banks. The reefs are rated as some of the best in the world for shark diving and our aim is to show you as many different species of sharks as possible. On one of the days [when the conditions are best suited] you will also experience Tiger Shark Diving on the southern end of the Aliwal Shoal. Each afternoon we plan an excursion [optional dives available should the conditions allow] and in the evening enjoy dinner at the lodge or at one of the local restaurants. Overnight ScubaAddicts Lodge.
Day 11: Depart. In the morning you enjoy breakfast at the lodge and then you will be transferred to Durban International Airport where we will bid you farewell.
Notes:
Airfare is included in the tour price.
Also see tour packages in:
Africa
South Africa
Scuba Diving
Wildlife Viewing
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