TRAVEL AND EXPERIENCE THE THRILL OF THE OCEAN
SODWANA BAY
MOZAMBIQUE PONTA DO OURO
UMKOMASS SHOAL DURBAN
ALIWAL SHOAL DURBAN
SODWANA BAY
Sodwana bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, in one of the most unique and unspoiled parts of the world. The KwaZulu-Natal province is home to the Zulu people who have inhabited the area in harmony with the land for several centuries. They still remain the predominant ethnic group in the region. Situated in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park and the Maputaland Marine Reserve, efforts are made to protect its integrity from environmental degradation. You will find a peaceful and yet dynamic little town to spend some quality time away from home.
Come explore the area, meet the locals and enjoy a wide variety of activities in one of the top ten scuba diving destinations in the world.
For the avid ocean enthusiasts, sea turtle tours, ocean tours, kitesurfing, learning about sharks, fishing and much more is on the menu and Sodwana Bay will meet your highest expectations. While on land, go quad biking or on nature walks. Scan the horizon or look up to the sky where you will have the privilege to observe South Africa’s incredible wildlife. It is a prime location for bird watching, and several game reserves offer safaris where the big five can be spotted.
While visiting Sodwana Bay, the adventure seekers can experience the wild side of Africa by camping and those looking for a bit more luxury will also find affordable accommodations in the various cabins, chalets, guest houses, lodges and hotels.
MOZAMBIQUE PONTA DO OURO
Ponta do Ouro (also Ponta d’Ouro in English meaning “tip of gold”, in reference to an existing cape at the southern part of the beach) is a town in the extreme south of Mozambique, lying on the Mozambique Channel south of Maputo and just north of the border with South Africa. It is known for its beach, for its dolphins and for its offshore diving and deep-sea fishing. From other points in Mozambique, Ponta do Ouro can only be reached by a 4×4 vehicle as there are no tarred roads.
The currency is the Metical, but the South African Rand and the US Dollar are also accepted. Shopping is very limited in Ponta. There is a petrol station, bank, pharmacy, hardware stores, bottle stores and other small shops in town. Fresh bread can be purchased at the local market. Basic food items like vegetables, fruits can be purchased at this market. No luxurious items are available anywhere in Ponta do Ouro. Holiday accommodation is readily available. There are 3 to 4 modern and comfortable resorts in Ponta on the beachfront and surrounding areas. Other resorts date from pre-war and although quite primitive with limited facilities are very popular with tourists due to reasonable pricing and excellent location on the beachfront. It is commonly referred to as ‘Ponta’ by visiting South Africans.
Ponta do Ouro is about 15 km away from the South African border and about 130 km South of Maputo. With the new road connecting Maputo to Ponta do Ouro, the travel lasts about one hour.
UMKOMASS SHOAL DURBAN
Umkomaas, a small coastal town on the subtropical south coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa was formed when a harbour was built in 1861 to export sugar. The town rests beside the mouth of the navigable uMkhomazi River, also known as the Mkhomazi or Umkomaas. With the successful dredging of Durban harbour’s sandbar and arrival of the railway, like Port Shepstone, the harbour fell into disuse, but the town came to life.
Many whales once used the estuary as a nursery, giving birth in the shallows. The Zulus named the river after this spectacle (uMkhomazi means the place of cow whales). The settlement was originally known as South Barrow, with its suburb known today as Ilfracombe then called North Barrow.
The town is located 48 km south of central Durban and is accessible by rail and by roads including the N2 Freeway and the coastal R102 or “Old Main Road.”
The South African Navy mine countermeasures vessel SAS Umkomaas is named in honour of the river and town.
ALIWAL SHOAL DURBAN
The Aliwal Shoal is a rocky reef which is the remains of an ancient sand dune approximately 5 kilometres off the coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The reef is inhabited by many kinds of hard and soft corals and a variety of tropical and subtropical fish species. Aliwal Shoal was named after the near-sinking in 1849 of the three-masted vessel “Aliwal”, captained by James Anderson. There are two wrecks near the reef that are popular recreational dive sites. The Norwegian bulk carrier MV Produce sank in 1974, and SS Nebo sank in 1884. Aliwal Shoal has diverse marine life, including large predators, and is popular as a recreational scuba diving destination. The Shoal is known especially for its abundance of Grey nurse sharks (known locally as ragged tooth sharks or “raggies”) between July and November when the sharks congregate there to mate.
INTERNATIONAL TRIPS
As one of the seven wonders of the underwater world, the Red Sea offers scuba divers some of the world’s most beautiful coral reefs, plentiful marine life, and highly diverse sites to dive.
Both northern and southern Red Sea areas offer excellent diving, with the former offering amazing wrecks including the world-renowned Thistlegorm, while divers can see some of the world’s coral gardens and dive with manta rays and various sharks including whale sharks, especially in the islands of Big Brother, Little Brother, Elphinstone, and Daedalus.
The Red Sea could also It is easily accessed from Europe and boasts warm waters and generally great visibility. The main tourist hubs of the Red Sea are in the northern regions, but the crowds thin in the southern areas.
