help wanted for safari/dive trip

[lee3]

So, I know very little about travel in Africa, but would very much like to plan a 2 week trip there next year with my wife with one week dedicated to land based safari tour and the other dedicated to scuba diving. I would greatly appreciate suggestions as to how to get the most for my time and the best experience possible for each week. Mozambique was tossed out there as a suggestion as a great spot to accomplish both, but would love any imput at all. I may try to work in a few days to get down to south africa and figure out a way to spend a few days diving with Chris Fallows and his wife as I notice they do different shark dives throughout the year and I would love to pick their brains about their adventures. Anyway, this is obviously in the begining stages but this site has helped me immensely planning a fabulous trip to Palau earlier this year and one to french polynesia for december. thanks in advance for any suggestions.

BTW, I did search the archives for safari but there isn't a whole lot of info. thx

 

[wandernsoul]

I did a 2 week trip to Tanzania in January, a week of diving on Pemba followed by a week of safari. Great combination! I stayed at Manta Reef Lodge on Pemba, which is at the very northern end of the island. Nice resort, and the whole experience of Pemba was excellent, but I'd have to say I was a bit disappointed with the diving. Some dives were awesome, but there certainly wasn't the pelagic action that I had been expecting. For that reason I think your choice of Moz is better. Most of the divers I met while on Pemba from South Africa say Moz is where they go for great diving. There are lots of members here from that area so you should be able to get lots of info.
As for safari, it absolutely blew me away! If you're able to do it alone, just you and your wife (and guide), do it. I did a solo trip and it was worth every penny.
I'll be interested to see what you come up with. Have fun researching!

Beck

 

[champ]

I'm in the process of a little research on doing a safari/dive trip myself for 2006. A safari can be done in Kenya, Tanzania, Mazambique, South Africa. All 3 have diving as well.

I'm most interested in seeing the wildebeast migration - best in the Masi Mara park in Kenya is Sept-Oct

http://safari.go2africa.com/africa-features/wildebeest-migration.asp

This is also the time to see the whale sharks in the Seychelle Islands. There are two liveaboard boats that opperate in the Seychelle Islands.

Indian Ocean Explorer - has a whale shark expedition Sept 3-10 where they use spotter planes $1520. Other trip dates without the spotter plane Sept 10-17, Sept 17-24 $1895. After Sept 24th they go on longer more expensive trips
http://www.ioexplorer.com/

Other liveaboard - MV Illusions. I know they have openings Oct 2-9, and Oct 9-16. $1995
http://www.mvillusions.com/

General Info on the Seychelle Islands
http://www.sey.net/
http://www.seychelles.com/


I also researched other dive sites in Africa. Here is some info from DIVE - The Ultimate Guide To 60 of the World's Top Dive Locations and some websites

Mozambique-
This is a good time of the year for diving. Great chance to see the ragged tooth sharks.

Best locations - Bazaruto, Inhaca Island, Punta do Ouro
Water temp winter (69 F)
Water temp summer (84 F)
Air temp Maputo Oct 68/77 F

http://www.divewild.com/content1.cfm?AgentsID=7&PageID=50


South Africa
Dyer Island is the best place and sept/oct is the best time to see great white sharks in the world.
Water temp winter 55F
Water temp summer 62F

Aliwal Shoal - lots of ragged tooth sharks
water temp winter 55F
water temp summer 62

Sodwana
water temp winter 66F
water temp summer 84F

Air Temp Cape Town sept 46/66, oct 50/70
Air Temp Johannesberg sept 48/72, oct 54/75

Seychelle Islands - can be a little expensive compared to some of the other locations
Water temp summer 84F
water temp winter 80F

 

[thranx]

Sodwana Bay has nice diving but if you can manage it you'll find better and warmer up in Mozambique. Chris and Monique Fallows are wonderful people and the opportunity to see Air Jaws with them is unique. Bear in mind that the best SA game parks are in the north while the Fallows are in Cape Town. To combine the best of safari and diving in a limited period of time, I would recommend flying into Joburg, going up to Moz to go diving, and returning by way of Kruger National Park in SA for your safari-ing. You don't want to schedule anything too tightly lest you miss a connection somewhere. If you can manage it, consider flying to Victoria Falls for at least a day.

 

[dmdivinia]

Sodwana Bay has nice diving but if you can manage it you'll find better and warmer up in Mozambique. Chris and Monique Fallows are wonderful people and the opportunity to see Air Jaws with them is unique. Bear in mind that the best SA game parks are in the north while the Fallows are in Cape Town. To combine the best of safari and diving in a limited period of time, I would recommend flying into Joburg, going up to Moz to go diving, and returning by way of Kruger National Park in SA for your safari-ing. You don't want to schedule anything too tightly lest you miss a connection somewhere. If you can manage it, consider flying to Victoria Falls for at least a day.

My husband and I are leaving for Joburg in two weeks. We are doing the safari part in Northern SA and then flying to Zimbabwe *edited - typed the wrong country!* (Victoria Falls) for a few days and then Cape Town for a few days. While in Cape Town, we are hoping to see Air Jaws. We tentatively have it on the schedule but are just trying to verify right now that the day the Fallows have available is one of the days we will be in Cape Town.
I can provide follow up on the whole Great White cage dive if it works out. As an FYI, we are doing the safari with Thaba Mmoyo and they are arranging all of our stays after the safari along with flights. Thaba Mmoyo
Hope that info helps.
dawn

 

[AndyT]

Hi

If any of you guys coming to Cape Town need any advice or assistance give me a shout , I'm more than happy to help .

Safe Diving

Andrew

 

[Gabriel75]

lee get in touch with Raf at turkishraf@yahoo.com web site www.swahilidivers.com he is great and runs a discount, backpackers dive opp, with great diving ,great food, good accomodation and company, my names Gabriel i run Dream Divers in Saudi Arabia i met this guy in Germany he is something else.
regards and respect

Gabriel