South Africa - Featured Trips

This Shark & Seal Scuba-Dive Safari showcases some of the best diving in South Africa. Starting with an exciting dive programme in the Western Cape with shore & boat dives (incl. seal & wreck dives), shark tank dive in Cape Town's Two Oceans Aquarium and a Great white shark cage dive in Gansbaai.

For the second part you will fly to Kwa-Zulu Natal and dive the famous Aliwal Shoal and Protea Banks. The excitement keeps coming! During June to October you are sure to see the Ragged Tooth Sharks as they congregate to mate. It is not uncommon to find 15-150 of these ferocious looking, but docile animals on one single dive. During November to February you can expect to see Hammerheads and the Zambezi sharks, the latter staying on until about May-June.

On arrival at Cape Town airport you will collect your rental car (Group B Toyota Yaris 1.4 Sedan or similar) and make your way to your accommodation in Cape Town. Overnight at Cape Paradise Lodge on BB basis

Over the next two days you will do 2 shore dives and 2 boat dives, including a wreck and seal dive along the coast of Cape Town (dive locations are weather dependent).

For example, the Schuilenberg (1756) was wrecked in 3 June 1756 during a North-West gale. She was carrying provisions from Table Bay to False Bay. This is not a scenic dive but 3 cast-iron cannons identify the wreck as they lay buried in the sand.

Another possible dive site is Seal Island. Not a very deep dive (max depth 8 m), but certainly one of the most exciting. Why look for seals if you have hundreds right here! Most of the dive gets spent on your knees at the bottom whilst the seals give you a spectacular display of their swift and playful ballet. Overnight at Cape Paradise Lodge on BB basis

Visit Cape Town's Two Oceans Aquarium and do a Shark tank dive. The shark tank contains some 2.2 million litres of seawater and is perhaps the most dramatic exhibit in the Aquarium. Ragged-tooth sharks, shoals of yellowtail, garrick, several species of rays and a turtle are visible through an enormous 11 metre wide by 4 metre high acrylic panel. However you will dive and experience a close encounter with its inhabitants.

Rest of the day at leisure to explore the shops at the nearby V&A Waterfront, relax on one of the beaches or explore the Cape Peninsula with amongst others Cape Point National Park, The Boulders penguin colony and the scenic Chapman's Peak drive. Overnight at Cape Paradise Lodge on BB basis

Today will be an early start, travelling to the coastal town of Gansbaai for your full day shark cage diving excursion with Marine Dynamics. A most exhilarating and rewarding experience. The trip starts around 09.00 hrs after breakfast and the boat returns early afternoon. Lunch, snacks and drinks on board are all included and equipment is provided. Cameras and specialist photographic equipment can be hired.

A 20-40 mins boat ride from Kleinbaai takes you out to the renowned Shark Alley between Dyer and Gisa Islands. This is known to be the most successful area to view the Great white shark. Although this trip can be run all-year round, the best time of the year is the SA winter season (Jun-Oct), when the sharks are particularly active in their feeding patterns.

Cage diving is strictly regulated by the authorities and conducted in an ethical way in accordance with international standards. It is absolutely safe with the cage securely attached to a platform on the back of the boat. The top of the cage floats about 25cm above the water. It is constructed of steel bars and is closed off at the top by means of a gate. They allow only up to 20 people per boat, to avoid intrusion on the marine habitat and allow best time below water in the steel shark cages. Five divers are allowed in the cage at one time. Overnight at Cape Paradise Lodge on BB basis

Return to Cape Town airport to return your rental car and catch an early flight to the coastal city of Durban. Here you collect another group B hire car and travel the short distance south to the village of Umkomaas. Overnight at Umkomaas Lodge or similar on BB basis.

Over the next three days you will be doing 2 dives on Protea Banks and 4 dives on Aliwal Shoal.

On Aliwal Shoal during the months of June through to October you are sure to see Ragged Tooth Sharks as they congregate here to mate. During the other months you can find Tiger, Zambezi and Hammerhead sharks. Other species, depending on the season include Manta, Devil and other Rays, schools of pelagic fish, whales, dolphins, and many, many more!

Described by Jacques Cousteau as the best shark diving site in the world, Protea Banks offers exciting drift dives with (depending on the season) Ragged Tooth Sharks, three species of Hammerheads, Zambezi (Bull), Tiger, Thresher, Copper, Dusky, Mako, the occasional Great White and many other species of shark. Overnight at Umkomaas Lodge or similar on BB basis.

Spend the day relaxing and exploring surrounding area. Most days the diving will be done in the morning, so you will have most of the afternoons to explore the local area. Visit the crocodile farm, kayak down the Umkomaas River, visit the fantastic Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve to do a 112-odd meter gorge swing or just go shopping in Durban. Overnight at Umkomaas Lodge or similar on BB basis.

Return to Durban for internal flight to Johannesburg and your connecting flight home

As with all our itineraries, this trip can be fully tailored to suit your own unique requirements and interests. We can add and/or change destinations and activities to include for example a few days reef diving in Sodwana Bay.

However if you would like to get to know the real South Africa and enjoy some more off-the-beaten track experiences, please check out our Stay Another Day suggestions below. All of our Stay Another Day options create jobs & social upliftment and are as environmentally friendly as possible. They are also carefully chosen for their sustainability and many are FTTSA accredited.

Stay Another Day - Cape Town
Stay Another Day - Western Cape
Stay Another Day - KwaZulu Natal

£1,650 per person sharing in Low Season (generally May-Sep)

Prices based on min of 2 people travelling and Peak Season supplements may apply.
* This itinerary is available with an International Flight. Prices vary according to date of departure so please contact us for an exact quote. BAOBAB Travel is an ATOL bonded tour operator (ATOL 9168)

Terms and Conditions apply. Price is subject to availability and subject to change due to currency fluctuation.

10 Nights accommodation on B&B basis
11 Days car hire Group B (Toyota Yaris 1.4 Sedan or similar) with Super cover (nil excess)
10 Dives with air & weights (weather dependent and on use it or loose it basis)
1 Shark tank dive
1 Day shark cage diving
Internal flights Cape Town-Durban and Durban-Jo'burg

Meals and activities not stated in itinerary
Items of a personal nature
Tips and gratuities
Travel insurance
Visa cost
* International British Airways flight incl. airport taxes and fuel supplements