Travel
Travel for 2010:
Thanks for all the enthusiastic responses to the trips planned for this year! A surprising number expressed interest in St Helena Island expedition. At this stage I only have the ship berth costs and itinerary and needs a lot more detail on the diving and island activities and costs. Here are the details of the two 2010 trips, as promised:
Tofo, Mozambique: Mantas and Whalesharks!
As mentioned last week, this year we will fly directly from Cape Town to Maputo where we will overnight and get to spend a bit of time in this very interesting city. Notably the Costa del Sol for the legendary seafood and night spots. The following morning we will fly up to Inhambane and then transfer to our accommodation at Mango Beach, just north of Tofo. We will also head down to the dive centre and sort out kit and paperwork in preparation for the next mornings dives. Then follows 10 days of some of the best Mozambiquan diving with guaranteed sightings of whale sharks and manta rays, as well as a host of fascinating reef life and corals. See www.tofoscuba.co.za for a taste of the diving!
We will also plan a couple of fun non-diving activities for the last day and a half, such as horse-riding, kayaking, surfing and kite-surfing. Accommodation is rustic and comfortable at Mango Beach, with a stunning bar atop a huge sand dune. Perfect for sundowners and early morning sea checks with coffee!
There are two room options: Deluxe Diver will stay in a Casa and have their own toilet and shower attached and Budget Diver will stay in a Cabana and use the communal showers and toilets. Have a look at www.mangobeach.co.za to get a feel for the different room options.
Itinerary:- We depart Cape Town at 09:30 on Tuesday 18th May
- Arrive in Maputo at 11:55
- Day and evening in the city, exploring, drinking and seafooding
- The next day we fly to Inhambane at 11:45 and arrive at 13:05
- 45 minute transfer to Mango Beach
- Our return legs will be departing Inhambane on the 27th May, arriving Maputo at 15:25
- Overnight again in Maputo and fly back to Cape Town at 12:30
- Arriving home at 15:15 on Friday 28th May
- All flights ex Cape Town
- Airport taxes
- 2 nights hotel accommodation in Maputo
- Return airport transfers (Inhambane)
- 8 nights accommodation
- 8 dinners (starter, main, dessert)
- 8 Coffee/tea/fruit for breakfast
- 4 transfers to Tofo on all diving days (5 days)
- 10 dives (including cylinders & weights)
- Far reef charges (currently MT200 per person) Currently 1 MT = R0.25
- Diving equipment
- Drinks
- Lunches
- Additional day activities
Photo: Andrew Taylor
Red Sea Safari: Brother Islands, Abu Nuhas, Daedalus and Elphinstone
We will fly overnight from Joburg to Cairo and then connect immediately to the red sea port of Hurghada, arriving there in the mid-morning. We will get on board our home for the next six days, Miss Nouran, one of the Sea Serpent fleet of luxury liveaboards. Our first area of diving will be the Abu Nuhas wrecks – three fantastic wrecks on one large reef. After Abu Nuhas we head down to the Brother Islands – two mid-gulf islands famed for their pelagics and sharks. There are also two wrecks on the islands, covered in hard corals. Then we will move to Daedalus reef and finish off with Elphinstone reef, both world class sites. We end the safari with two nights and a day at a 4* hotel in Marsa Alam where we can do a couple of optional shore dives or just relax and outgas before the flight home.
The tour includes the following:- Return International Flights from Johannesburg to Cairo.
- Return Domestic Flights from Cairo to Hurghada.
- All transfers and transportation scheduled in Egypt.
- 6 Nights accommodation on board a luxurious Liveaboard in the Southern Red Sea.
- Unlimited diving (day and night).
- Hire of weights and 12L aluminium tanks.
- Excellent meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
- All tea, coffee, soft drinks and bottled water.
- 2 Days, 1 Nights Accommodation in Marsa Alam on a bed & breakfast basis
- Add on flights to Johannesburg if required
- Airport Taxes: R2000 (subject to change without notice)
- National Park Fee (Brothers 55 Euros)
- Hire of dive equipment other than tanks and weights
- Nitrox Fills (6 Euros per fill, Unlimited Nitrox Prepaid package 60 Euros)
- Visa Processing cost (R200)
- Liveaboard Service Charge (50 Euros - divided amongst crew)
- Personal travel, baggage and diving insurance
- Lunch, dinner & drinks in Marsa Alam.
Dates: Depart Johannesburg on the evening of the 7th August, returning to Johannesburg on the morning of the 17th August.
Costs: R16,999 per person sharing (single supplement is available on request)
Photos: Big Brother Island, views from above and below by Geoff Spiby