Becoming a South African adrenaline junkie
Meet a great white shark at close quarters:
Are you game to stare down a shark as it comes swimming toward you under water at high speed? While it sounds extreme, many who do the dive report a feeling of peace and serenity when they are in the sharks' domain.
Shark cage diving operates along the Garden Route drive, with the dives mostly taking place in Hermanus and Gansbaai. And you can rest assured that it is a strictly controlled activity. On a Marine Dynamics trip, a marine biologist onboard will educate divers about distinguishing between a male and female as well as between different species. An expert bait handler places a lure into the water that is smeared with tuna. Two platforms above the cage allow handlers to keep the sharks near to the divers.
If you want a tamer experience, try a sea safari of the big marine five. It still incorporates sharks but the other four species are somewhat gentler – dolphins, seals, whales and the hardly intimidating penguin.
Run with sardines:
Imagine being one among millions in a movement so immense it can be seen from space. You can when you swim with, or should we say be swamped by, sardines in their annual migration. Between May and July tens of millions flee the cold waters off Cape Point for the warmer waters of the KwaZulu-Natal coast. Proving the metaphor of being packed in like sardines, the shoals travel in clusters that reach up to 15 kilometres in length, three kilometres in width and forty metres depth.
But that's just the sardines. Imagine the predators that see this as one giant bait ball. Massive squadrons of birds wheel overhead while dolphins, sharks and seals arc through the water for the easiest feast on record. You can snorkel, surface view or scuba dive with an operator like Seal Expeditions during this unrivalled experience. If you're lucky you will see with your own eyes what others have only seen on David Attenborough documentaries, as schools of dolphins cunningly deploy the tactic of herding the sardines from deeper water, trapping the fish at the ocean's surface before closing in for the coup de grace.
Kloofing between canyons:
There's no rush quite like the one that comes from climbing cliffs and jumping without a parachute or a bungee cord. When you kloof the biggest adrenalin surge comes from a freefall undertaken in the hope that the water beneath is deep enough to cushion your landing.
Kloofing is an extreme sport that combines rock-climbing with diving and swimming. It is also definitely as much fun as it sounds. You're guaranteed to get wet on a kloof expedition, so the best time to make the leap of faith is in summer. Kloofers make like the river they are following by using all methods necessary to work their way down or upstream.
Kloofing began life in the Western Cape however the most thrilling kloof is said to be in Kwa-Zulu Natal at the Mfongosi River, which has a number of rock slides. Unlike other kloofing trails at no point along this river are you forced to either jump or be stuck mid-river. So for the indecisive among us, this is a great option as there's always an exit strategy for those that suddenly come over height phobic.
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
adrenaline sardines sharks south africaLatest News
Get ready to roll the marketing dice with Susan Coghill: Travel DAZE EXEC 2024
It's heating up in Cairns and we're not talking about the weather! Get ready for a marketing masterclass with Susan.
Aranui Cruises slashes prices with No Single Supplement and Half Price offers
French Polynesian cargo cruise line Aranui Cruises is slashing thousands off its 2025 Austral and Marquesas Islands cruises with an autumn sale offering 50 per cent off the second guest in a twin share room and no single supplement for solo travellers. On sale until June 21, 2024, Aranui’s 12-day roundtrip voyage from Papeete to […]
Cebu Pacific campaign aims to boost Aussie trips to the Philippines
Cebu Pacific's bouncy singalong ad campaign 'Fly to Happy, Fly to the Philippines’ aims to get more bums on seats.
Tauck’s new river and small ship ocean cruises, plus increased Seine capacity
Tauck adding itineraries like it's going out of fashion, which cruising certainly isn't.
Railbookers and La Dolce Vita Orient Express partner up for new luxury Italian itineraries
Fancy a luxurious trip through Italy? Who are we kidding, we know you do. Start your daydream here.
Luxury Travel Collection’s Nikki Glading spills all on member network perks: Travel Weekly TV
We urge you to enjoy this in true LTC style and lift a glass of bubbles with lunch today.
Auckland’s new domestic terminal comes with all the modern gadgets
We're not talking about drones or VR goggles, but these updates will change the game in Auckland.
Air New Zealand crew sign up for Sign Language Week
Have you signed up for Sign Language Week? Let this be your sign to do so!
Holland America Line gives one lucky winner the Ultimate Alaskan Cruise Experience
There's only one winner, so it's sort of like the Hunger Games of cruise prizes... but no one gets hurt.
TAG’s Byron Carr excited about K-Pop induced Asia expansion
Carr to go all Gangnam Style with TAG's Asian expansion
CATO commemorates 25 years with anniversary dinner
CATO's putting on a fancy spread to celebrate 25 years as other 25 year olds celebrate their HECS debt being cut.
Fiji Tourism Exchange 2024 opens with a vibrant ceremony at Sofitel Fiji Resort, Denarau
Two days in Fiji! If you didn't attend this conference we're sure you've got FOMO.
Raes on Wategos celebrates 30th birthday and guests get the presents
World famous luxury boutique hotel Raes on Wategos, in Byron Bay, has launched its 30th birthday celebrations with a Raes Indulgent Escape package. Available for all stays of two nights or more, from June to August, the curated package offers an invitation to indulge in a shared celebration of Raes 30th birthday, whilst revelling in […]
Seabourn’s two new value-add offers for 2024-25
Seabourn's doing a two for one deal. Kind of like a fast-food promo but its luxury cruising.
PONANT commercial team expands to meet growing demand in APAC
Can't remember that Ponant contact you met at a networking event? Good chance they're included in this update.
Gen Z and millennials on track for rise in Europe rail trips, says TruTravels
Despite what you think, Gen Z and Millennials are not 'off the rails', but instead want a fast track to Europe.
$230m joint Novotel & ibis Styles Melbourne Airport hotel prepares to open
Dear all business travellers, you're Melbourne experience just got a whole lot better.
Envoyage premieres Worldwide 2024 in Santiago
There has been a warm reception for 300 attendees at Envoyage's gabfest in Santiago, Chile.
Disney Destinations launches epic Aussie agent incentive
Everyone needs a bit of Disney in their life (apparently) and agents can get their next dose for free here.
IPW 2024: 960,000 Aussies took the trek to the Land of the Free last year
Nearly 6,000 travel industry reps descend on LA. Thankfully for all of their bosses, it's not in Vegas.
Nauru Airlines offers new direct flights from Brisbane to Palau on ‘Paradise Express’
No more island hopping to Palau as Nauru Airlines hits this boundary six.
Etihad Airways boosts connectivity with five interline partnerships
Etihad high fives itself with interline partnerships announcing a handful of new airlines, including Rex.
Discover the enchantment of India – A tale of timeless cities
Whether you're game enough to test out the street food or not, we recon India should be top of your list.
Qantas cops $100m penalty with passengers to get $20m back over cancelled flights
Qantas cops a $100m civil penalty, passengers to get back $20m over cancelled flights to resolve ACCC court battle.
Body found off Sydney Heads suspected to be missing cruiser
Tragic developments onboard Pacific Adventure this morning.
Wendy Wu Tours ‘Wonderlust Sale’ offers the wonders of the world for less
More for less... Great news for all apart from Wendy's wallet.
Booking.com launches AI Trip Planner in Australia and New Zealand
Booking.com launches new AI feature in Aus. We're hoping AI never gets the nuance involved with writing these jokes.
Voyages celebrates 40 years at Uluru with two new immersive experiences
No plans for celebrating your 40th this year? Here's a hot tip from us.
SkyDeck: The inflight entertainment you could never have imagined
Forget those external cameras you can live stream while in the air... With SkyDeck you can check it out for yourself.
Second Boeing whistleblower dies of ‘mystery infection’
Joshua Dean died from a fast-growing mystery infection on Tuesday.
Aussie winners of American Airlines ‘Sell Your Way to the USA’ announced
Show me the money! For the winners, Sell Your Way to the USA was worth getting involved in.
ANZCRO celebrates 30th with special edition of iconic New Zealand Book
Choice bro! ANZCRO celebrates its 30th with a special edition of its iconic New Zealand Book. Chur!
Room to move at Cairns Harbourside Hotel with ‘spacious’ new family package
Moody teens can eat two-minute noodles while younger brothers and sisters get to eat free with mum and dad. Win, win!
A&K unveils lavish around the world wildlife adventure in private jet
The kind of holiday that if you need to ask the cost, you probably can't afford it.
Flight Centre and Reforest hit one million trees target early
Nice one Flight Centre, we think you've earned an early Friday knockoff.
New cruise options spearhead stacked APT 2025 program
Just in case you thought you were running out of cruise itineraries, APT's here with a fresh batch.