Travel Options
- Eco Tourism
St Lucia Turtle Tours
Turtles weighing just shy of 400 kg, and in some cases more than a ton, glide effortlessly through the warm Indian Ocean. They are on their way to a place they know only from a few hours spent there after their birth. They drag their gravity-stricken bodies from the waves and haul themselves towards some of the highest forested dunes in Africa. Leatherback and loggerhead turtles visit the beaches between November and March to lay their eggs, as they have done for 60 000 years. Some swim over 3 500 kilometres to reach their destination.
In the turtle season you have the unique opportunity to view the gigantic Leatherback and smaller Loggerhead Turtles at their ancestral nesting ground - bringing forth a new generation. Our search will take us into The Greater St Lucia Wetlands Park Marine Sanctuary, North of Cape Vidal.
Late at night the mystery unfolds as female turtles make their way up the beach to a chosen location. Once the area has been prepared for nesting, the eggs are deposited into an egg pot (burrow), covered and concealed. Most females nest an average of 10 times in a season, and this, of course, improves our chances of seeing them.
The young turtles hatch approximately two months later, and begin their own battle for survival. Once they are in the sea, predation on the hatchlings during their first few months is intense and it has been estimated that only one or two hatchlings from every thousand will reach maturity.
St Lucia Turtle Tours are during the night and departure times are from a Guest House nearby, are dependant on the tides. The tour takes about 5 hours and you could get back to the Guest House in the early hours of the morning.
You may also enjoy an experience of a lifetime into the magical Kosi Bay at the tip of the Greater Park World Heritage Site – in the heart of the turtle nesting area in South Africa.
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Leatherback and Loggerhead turtles venture out of the oceans on land during the summer months and batches of eggs are found on the beach during a walking tour – Its real fun, Its real Africa!
DOLPHIN & GREAT WHITE SHARK TOURS
South Africa is without a shadow of a doubt, the best and most productive destination for experiencing the GREAT WHITE SHARK and WHALES at close quarters anywhere in the world. Not only is the large population of whales and sharks unparalleled elsewhere, but the locations are so accessible and in close proximity to land, that you are virtually guaranteed to witness numerous animals engaging in what they come here to do – the sharks to feed, the whales to mate and to calve. Our competitive pricing and the favourable South African exchange rate make it even more affordable and irresistible. Are YOU ready to experience the greatest moment of your life?
Enjoy a Plettenberg Bay dolphin cruise along one of the most spectacular coastlines along the Garden Route. Dolphin trips take place in Plettenberg Bay, roughly an hour and a half from Fancourt. Boat cruises are environmentally friendly and you will be presented with opportunities to spot both dolphins and whales.
Boats can normally take 12 - 24 people and cruises are normally 2 - 2.5 hours in length. Refreshments are served on board and cruises are guided by a fully qualified skipper. Life jackets are provided and all funds go towards eco-tourism.
Should you wish to obtain more information about this day activity please complete the enquiry form.
Popular Areas for Whale and Dolphin Tours
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NAMAQUALAND DAISY TOURS
6 Day Namaqualand Wild Flower Coach Tours
Departure Date: 01/09/2009
Tour Highlights:
Sutherland - Paarl, Drakenstein Mountains, Worcester, Kleinplasie, Great Karoo, Matjiesfontein
Nieuwoudtville - Calvinia, Aloe Forest, Waterfall, Matjiesfontien Wild Flower Farm, Glacial Pavement
Lutzville - Vredendal, Namaqa Wines
Clanwillaim - Ramskop Flower Reserve, Rooibos Tea Board, Strassberger Shoe Factory
Cederberg Mountains - Leipolt's Grave, Biedouw Valley, Gentleman's Lodgings
Lamberts Bay - Piketberg, Citrusdal, Bird Island, Gannets
Vanrhynsdorp - Succulent Nursery
Namaqualand - Skilpad - Namaqua National Park, Kamieskroon Mountains
Saldanha Bay - Velddrif, Fossil Park
West Coast - Mamre Mission, Darling, Ysterfontein, West Coast National Park, Postberg Nature Reserve
Day 1: Sutherland
Departure 07:00 from Southern Sun Waterfront Cape Town and travel up on the
N1 to Sutherland via Paarl, we will continue over the Drakenstein Mountains
to Worcester where you visit Kleinplasie, a living open-air museum depicting
the lives of the early settlers.We will have lite lunch at Matjiesfontein.
Then onto the Great Karoo with its unspoilt beauty and its flowers.
Overnight in Sutherland LDBB.
Day 2: Lutzville
Departure 08:00 towards Calvinia and Lutzville. We will visit the Calvinia
Museum, Waterfall and Aloe Forest near Nieuwoudtville. We will also visit
the and the Matjiesfontien Wild Flower Farm for the best bulb display you
have ever seen. We will also visit the church and the glacial pavement.
Overnight in Lutzville LDBB.
Day 3: Lamberts Bay
Departure 07:00 from Lutzville. We will visit Gentleman's Lodgings in
Graafwater for a look back as far also 1686. We will to the coastal town of
Lamberts Bay to visit the Bird Island favorite haunt of cormorants, gannets
and other bird species. We will also visit a Rooibos Tea Farm for some tea
and the Strassberger Leather Shoe Factory to view local industry. We will
then travel into the mountains to see Leipolt's Grave and visit the Biedouw
Valley to see the most flower filled place in the Cederberg. Overnight in
Lutzville LDBB.
Day 4: Kamieskroon Mountains
Departure 06:00 then travel northward on the N7 through the fields of wild
flowers - the heart of the Namaqualand. Stop en route at the Skilpad -
Namaqua National Park and the Kamieskroon Mountains. We will return to
Lutzville. Overnight in Lutzville LDBB.
Day 5: Saldanha Bay
Departure 08:30 we will visit the Namaqua Wines for a wine tasting and onto
the Succulent Nursery at Vanrhynsdorp. We will travel to Clanwilliam for a
visit to the Ramskop Flower Reserve for a walk in the flowers and to get
some seed. We will visit the Dutch Reform Church in Piketberg. Overnight in
Saldanha Bay LDBB.
Day 6: Cape Town
Departure 07:00 from Saldanha Bay. We will travel to Laaiplek and the Fossil
Park to view 60000 years of local history. We will also visit Langebaan and
enter the West Coast National Park and the Postberg Nature Reserve to see a
wonder filled flower display. We will also visit Ysterfontein, Darling and
the Mamre Mission to view the church. We will head for Cape Town on the N7.
Drop off at Southern Sun Waterfront Cape Town. Arrive back approximately
18:30 LB.
OVERNIGHT TOUR PRICE:
Per person sharing: R 7,600.00
Single supplement: R 1050.00
Departure Date: 1/09/2009
Included: Luxury 30 Seater Coach Transport with toilet and air-conditioning,
professional tourist guide, Guest House and Hotels Accommodation, entrance
fees, 5 Breakfasts, 5 Dinners, 6 Lite Lunches, Porterage, Photographic Guide
to Wild Flowers of South Africa - Braam van Wyk flower guide book and maps.
Excluded: All cost of a Personal Nature, Laundry, Airport Taxes, Drinks.
Please take note: We do travel on dirt roads to see the best flowers on this
tour.
Patch of Namaqua Daisies growing on granite rocks in the Kammiesberge