This is, without a doubt, our favourite combination. Africa at its purest and wildest: whales, sharks, lions, elephants, hippos, crocodiles... the list is endless, and the emotions unforgettable.
We started by diving for 4 days with sharks in two different locations in South Africa, Shelly Beach and Umkomaas, 80 km away from each other. Hammerhead sharks, tigers, bulls, guitarfish, nurse bulls, black-tip oceanic, humpback whales...
With the first leg of the trip over, it's now time for the land experience, a photo safari in the African savannah. We will stop the first night in the village of St. Lucia, located within the iSimangaliso Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site), and whose waters are home to one of the largest populations of hippos and crocodiles in the country.
Can you imagine walking into town for dinner and finding a hippo in the middle of the street?
After a day on the road, we enter the famous Kruger National Park where we will be staying in different camps and getting to know the diversity of fauna and flora it has to offer.
On the last scheduled day of the overland safari we will have a morning game drive, then cross the border into Mozambique and head to the fabulous Naara Lodge in Chidenguele, where we will spend a night and have our much deserved rest.
The next day, having 'recharged our batteries', we will head to Praia do Tofo to dive, once again, into what we like to call the sea of encounter.
Where to fly
We recommend flying into Durban International Airport. Arrival should preferably be before midday. Optionally, we also recommend flying to Margate Airport in South Africa via Johannesburg.
For the return flight we recommend flying with the local airline Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique (LAM) or Airlink from Inhambane to Johannesburg.
We can adjust the itinerary according to your flexibility and preferences.
From your arrival in Africa until your departure, we will always be by your side to accompany you on this experience.
Day 1
ARRIVAL TO SOUTH AFRICA
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Arrival at Durban International Airport or Margate Airport in KwaZulu-Natal, where we will be waiting for you, and after the necessary formalities at the airport, we will transfer by road to Margate, approximately 2 hours from Durban, and only 5 minutes from the local airport.
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On arrival we will check in at the dive centre and accommodation.
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Afternoon at leisure to explore Margate town and Shelly Beach.
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Dinner, which is not included, can be arranged at the accommodation or at a local restaurant.
Day 2 to day 3
SHARK DIVING IN PROTEA BANKS
Daily breakfast at the lodge. Transfers to the dive centre.
We will do 2 dives daily in the morning with sharks, one of which we use bait.
Afternoons are free for rest, optional activities or excursions in the area.
Lunches and dinners are not included, and will be at the accommodation or in local restaurants.
More information about diving in Protea; HERE!
Day 4
TRANSFER TO UMKOMAAS
Breakfast at the accommodation. Morning for relaxation or snorkelling before departing for the next destination.
Lunch, which is not included, will be at Shelly Beach or Margate before departure and then transfer by road to Umkomaas, approximately 1 hour drive.
On arrival we will check in at the accommodation and dive centre and have time to relax before dinner at a local restaurant (not included).
Day 5 to day 6
SHARK DIVING IN ALIWAL SHOAL
We have a light breakfast before getting ready to dive.
We will do 2 dives daily in the morning with sharks, one of which we will use bait. On arrival back at the dive centre breakfast will be waiting for us. The afternoons are free for rest, optional activities or excursions in the area. Lunches and dinners are not included and will be in local restaurants.
More information about diving in Aliwal; HERE!
Day 7
TRANSFER TO ST. LUCIA, ISIMANGALISO PARK (UNESCO)
Early breakfast at the lodge before departure. Transfer to the town of St. Lucia, approximately 4 hours drive. Lunch, which is not included, will be en route or at destination.
On arrival we will check in at the lodge, followed by a boat safari to see crocodiles, hippos and the great diversity of birds that live in the St. Lucia Estuary.
The rest of the afternoon, we will visit the village of St. Lucia, located within the iSimangaliso Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site).
Dinner, which is not included, will be arranged in one of the many restaurants in the village.
Evening game drive through the village in search of hippos!
Day 8
TRANSFER TO KRUGER NATIONAL PARK
Early breakfast at the lodge before departure. Transfer to Kruger National Park (KNP), approximately 9-10 hours drive. Lunch, which is not included, will be en-route.
Once we enter the park, and depending on the time of arrival, we will take the opportunity to do a first afternoon game drive.
The gates to the park and the camps inside the park close between 17:30 - 18:30 depending on the time of year.
The main gate we use to enter the park is the Malelane Gate.
On arrival at the camp we will check into the bungalows and have dinner at the camp restaurant (not included).
Day 9 to day 10
SAFARI IN KRUGER NATIONAL PARK
Daily breakfast early in the morning half an hour before the opening of the camp. We will spend 2 full days on safari in the Kruger National Park (Big 5 territory) where we explore the huge area from the south of the park to the Shingwedzi River area in the north.
During the day we will make several stops at picnic areas and rest areas. We will make the most of the day until we reach the next camp where we will spend the night.
Dinners, which are not included, will be in the camp restaurants, or we will prepare a barbecue for ourselves.
Optional activities that can be arranged are early morning game drives, or a night safari.
More information about the safari day, HERE!
Day 11
KRUGER NATIONAL PARK & TRANSFER TO CHIDENGUELE
Breakfast half an hour before the camp opens. We will then go on a morning game drive in the direction of the departure gate.
Before noon we will leave the park and drive to the next destination, Praia de Chidenguele, approximately 8 hours across the Komatipoort/ Ressano Garcia border.
Lunch, which is not included, will be en route.
On arrival we will check in at the lodge, and dinner will be waiting for us at the lodge's restaurant (not included).
Day 12
TRANSFER TO TOFO BEACH
Breakfast at the lodge. Morning at leisure to rest or do some activities at Inhampavala Lagoon.
Preferably lunch before departure (not included), and then transfer to Praia do Tofo, approximately 4 hours.
Arrival in the afternoon, check in at the accommodation and at the dive centre. Free afternoon to visit the fishing village of Tofo and the neighbouring Praia da Barra.
Dinner, which is not included, can be arranged at the accommodation or at a restaurant in the village.
Day 13 to day 17
DIVING IN TOFO
Daily breakfasts at the accommodation. Transfers to the dive centre, when necessary. We will do 2 dives per day in the morning, with an optional third dive in the afternoon or another activity.
Lunches and dinners are not included, and will be at the accommodation or in the village restaurants.
More information about diving in Tofo; HERE!
Day 18
DAY OF RELAX
Breakfast at accommodation. Free day without diving.
Relaxation day or optional extra activities: boat trip to swim with whale sharks, dolphins and manta rays, whale watching excursion (July - November), excursion to Inhambane estuary to look for flamingos and snorkel with seahorses, kayaking excursion, sailing or catamaran trip, visit to the islands in the bay, surfing, kitesurfing and stand-up paddle, quad bike trip, visits to local villages, guided cultural excursion, massages and relaxation....
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Day 19
DEPARTURE
Breakfast at accommodation (included). Morning off to relax. Road transfer (included) to Inhambane Airport (20 min). Flight with LAM from Inhambane to Maputo (not included). Pick up at Maputo Airport and road transfer to the guest house. Dinner at a restaurant (not included).Breakfast at accommodation. Morning at leisure.
Transfer by road to Inhambane Airport (20 min).
Optionally we can arrange transfer to Vilanculos Airport (extra charge).
INCLUDES:
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Assistance at the arrival airport
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Transfers en-route KwaZulu Natal - St. Lucia - Kruger - Chidenguele - Praia do Tofo - Inhambane
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3 nights accommodation (double or twin room), in Margate
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3 reef dives with sharks at Protea Banks
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1 bait dive at Protea Banks
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Snorkel with sharks between dives where possible at both destinations.
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3 nights accommodation (double or twin room), in Umkomaas
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3 reef dives with sharks at Aliwal Shoal
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1 bait dive at Aliwal Shoal
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Scuba tanks and weights at Protea Banks and Aliwal Shoal
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Marine Park fees
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Refreshments and snacks on the boat at both destinations
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1 night's accommodation (double or twin room), in St. Lucia
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1 boat safari in the St. Lucia Estuary for approximately 2 hours
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Night game drive in the village to look for hippos
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3 nights accommodation (double or twin bungalow) within the Kruger National Park
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3 full days game viewing game drive in the Kruger National Park
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Private covered 4x4 safari vehicle
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Entrance and conservation fees to Kruger National Park
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Private FGASA-certified safari guide in the Kruger National Park
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Water and snacks during all safaris
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1 night's luxury tented accommodation (double or twin), in Chidenguele
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7 nights accommodation (double or twin) at Praia do Tofo
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10 dives at Praia do Tofo (with option for more)
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Scuba tanks and weights at Praia do Tofo
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Ocean Safaris between dives in search of megafauna
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Snorkelling with marine megafauna when possible
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Refreshments and snacks on the boat
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Reef fees and government fee
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Private and certified Divemaster
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Breakfasts at various accommodations at all destinations
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Local guide
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Transfer to Inhambane airport
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Assistance at departure airport
EXCLUDES:
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International and domestic flights
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Entry visas to Mozambique
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Diving equipment (8€ per dive)
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Enriched air Nitrox (5€ per dive)
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Meals not specified above
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Optional activities during the trip
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Diving and travel insurance (recommended)
TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
• 50% deposit required to confirm the booking of the Experience, and remaining 50% to be paid 60 days prior to arrival • All payments done by providing bank card details will carry an extra 5% (bank fees) • All payments done through PayPal will carry an extra 5% • All payments done by bank transfers to be done using “banking our instructions” (client pays all bank transfer charges) • By paying the deposit you are deemed to have accepted our terms & conditions • Cancellations before 60 days prior to arrival will incur a cancellation fee of 50% of total booking amount (during local public holidays will incur a cancellation fee of 100% of total booking amount) • Cancellations after 60 days prior to arrival will incur a cancellation fee of 100% of total booking amount • Dive trips being cancelled due to bad weather not refundable • If as a result of a major force, such as the current pandemic caused by Covid-19 the trip cannot be made on the scheduled dates, the amount paid is not refundable and the trip will be rescheduled for other dates in accordance with the availability of the client and Mozambique Experience •
3.510€
During the shark diving days in South Africa we will stay in a private house in Margate when we are diving the Protea Banks reef, and in the rooms of the dive center when we are in Umkomaas.
During the shark diving days in South Africa we will stay in a private house in Margate when we are diving the Protea Banks reef, and in the rooms of the dive center when we are in Umkomaas.
During the stay on the land safari we stay in the camps offered by the Kruger National Park. They all have bungalows with capacities from 1 to 4 people, private bathrooms, electricity, barbecue, private and/or community kitchen, laundry, first aid center, shop, restaurant and cafeteria.
Depending on the budget, we can opt for the option of staying in 'huts', which are smaller bungalows with a shared bathroom.
The following are the accommodation options we have in Chidenguele and Praia do Tofo. Both include en-suite rooms with the possibility of a double bed or twin beds, maid service, Wi-Fi, 24-hour security, and some with a swimming pool, bar and restaurant. You have the option of choosing a different type of accommodation, see the various options we have in the accommodation page.
