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| Sardine Run Safari
» Description
The Sardine Run has recently received a great deal of media attention and hype. We would love to have you over to witness this spectacular event - but first you have to know the facts.
It is not possible to predict exactly if, when and where the sardines will arrive at our coast. Historically the best window time to expect the sardines is from mid June to the first week of July, but it may be earlier or later, and normally they are first dived from Port St Johns and then at any of the launchable sites as they move north along the coast. In 2003 they did not reach the coast at all, but passed 25 km offshore at a depth of between 50 and 100 meters deep - a total disaster from a divers point of view! This means that there are absolutely NO guarantees that you will see the sardines unless you come here for a month or two and wait (and have the budget to do that). For this reason we have decided to from now on not have a Sardine Safari per se. Instead we rather offer a package at our lodge in UmKomazi 60 km South of Durban and central to all of the major dive sites. Based here we spend the days waiting (and hoping) for the sardines by diving the various sites (reef, wrecks and sharks) of Aliwal Shoal, Protea Banks and Rocky Bay. If and when the sardines arrive, they migrate up the coast and we will then dump everything else and dive them from any of the launching sites along their way. This way you are ensured of an adventurous diving holiday whether the sardines come or not.
» Requirements
» Duration (Sunday to Saturday)
» Safari Dates - (Custom dates can be arranged only for groups larger than 8)
» Price
  Day one:
You will be met at the Durban Airport and from there we first visit the Natal Sharks Board to view their display of sharks, rays and turtles endemic to the area. Then we spend an hour or two at the Gateway Center for a bit of necessary shopping and then transfer to UmKomazi where you will be welcomed in traditional South African tradition.
Days two to six: At Aliwal Shoal the Ragged Tooth sharks congregate to mate during this period and you are sure to have lovely dives with them. Depending on conditions we dive Cathedral, Raggie Cave, Shark Alley or any of a number of spots at Aliwal Shoal. Should you tire of the sharks, we can always dive on any of the wrecks or go hunting for the huge (and I mean huge) Brindle Bass! Other species include rays, turtles, schools of pelagic fish, whales, dolphins, and many more. Protea Banks offers exiting drift dives with a number of shark species, and is not for the faint of heart! All the shark dives are done without cages and are quite safe. There is a absolutely NO feeding, baiting or chumming for the sharks and we No diver has ever been attacked by a shark on any of these sites.
Day seven:
Call it a day and transfer to Durban International Airport to be in time for your flight home, or
» (Option B)
» (Option C)
» (Option D) » Option B - Great White Shark viewing Jump on a plane to Gansbaai to cage dive with the Great White Sharks - 3 nights bed and breakfast, land transfers, 2 sessions cage diving/viewing.
» Price » Option C - Tiger Shark Diving Fly to UmKomazi to dive with Tiger Sharks (sorry, no cages) - 3 nights bed and breakfast, land transfers, 2 sessions Tiger Shark Diving.
» Price » Option D - Land Safari Add a land safari to the trip and see lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, buffalo, zebra, giraffe and many more species before flying home - 2 nights bed and breakfast, land transfers, 4 game activities.
Included in the price
» Price » 6 Nights accommodation on a Dinner, Bed & Breakfast basis » Experienced guide/dive master and driver » Transfers from the airport and back » A visit to the Natal Sharks Board and Gateway Center » Excursion to the Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve » Game drive in the Vernon Crookes Game Reserve » A tour of Durban and it's markets » An afternoon at the uShaka Marine World » Transfers to the and from the dive sites » 10 dives at various sites, air fills, weights & tanks on a "use it or lose it" basis. » Sardine dives are included on the basis that we spend the same time on such a dive as we would have spent on the normal dive - plus minus 60 minutes in the water. During the run it is possible for a group of divers/non-divers to charter a boat for the full day @ between ZAR400.00 - ZAR600.00 per person extra depending on the numbers and availability. For obvious reasons it is better to arrange and pay this locally.
Excluded from the price
Terms » Subject to availability. » If we cannot launch due to bad weather we will offer alternative excursions in lieu of diving. » 25% Non-Refundable deposit to secure booking » Balance payable 30 days before departure date » For payment by credit card add 5% » Bank charges are for your own cost » All prices are per person sharing » Non-divers welcome
Important
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Dive with the sardines (including the reefs, wrecks and sharks) at Aliwal Shoal, Protea Banks and Rocky Bay as they migrate northwards along the KwaZulu Natal coastline. Ragged Tooth sharks congregate to mate during this period and you are sure to have lovely dives with them. Also huge Brindle Bass, moray eels, rays, turtles, schools of pelagic fish, whales, dolphins, and many more.
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