Diving:

Shark diving at the Aliwal Shoal still proved to be a truly amazing experience for any diver. We encountered 4 Tiger sharks and lots of Black tip reef sharks! The Raggies are still around with more to come with the Raggies season approaching. Calm oceans and great visibility only makes one appreciate our seas bounty more and more. Beautiful sightings of a variety of fish, turtles, eels and rays make us realize what a wonderful underwater world we have.

InvestorBid Auctioneers and South African Adventure Safaris.

Our holding company, Philip Veldhuizen Enterprises has gone into partnership with Investor Realty/InvestorBid Auctioneers and in the future we will be able to offer bank repossessed properties for sale. Descriptions and details of these properties will be added to our webpage for easy viewing and reference.

Starlight Cruises and South African Adventure Safaris.:

Now you will be able to combine safaris with cruises, a perfect way to end a tour. Touring has never been so exciting and relaxing. For specials and prices enquire now! Add one of the following to your next tour or break away:  

Durban, Durban – 2 Nights 3 Days

Durban, Portuguese Islands, Durban –  3 Nights  4 days

Durban, Maputo, Barra Lodge, Durban –  4 Nights 5 Days

Durban, Maputo, Portuguese Islands, Durban – 4 Nights 5 Days

Durban, Barra Lodge, Portuguese Islands, Maputo, Durban – 6 Nights 7 Days

Durban, Pointe des Galets, Port Louise, Durban – 11 Nights 12 Days

Durban, Cape Town – 3 Nights 4 Days

Cape Town, Durban - 3 Nights 4 Days

Cape Town, West Coast, Livorno –  18 Nights 19 Days

Livorno, West Coast, Cape Town,–  17 Nights 18 Days 

Specials:

4 Adults sharing: Only pay for two –  Prices ranges depending on the cruise destinations!

2 Adults and 2 Children sharing: Children free of charge!

Book and fully pay 6 months in advance and save up to 30% on your cruise! 

The above cruises can be added to your tour between November 2010 and May 2011.  Each cruise runs at a specific date and as space is limited be sure to book now! A warm welcome awaits you on board the MSC Sinfonia, the largest and most modern liner to operate out of a South African port. Top quality cabins, entertainment and facilities will make life on board a cruising pleasure. Make you dream holiday come true!

Technical Specifications:  Gross tonnage : 58.625 tons , Length: 251.25 m, Beam : 28.8 m, Total Cabins : 777, Crew : Approx 700 people, Maximum Speed : 21 knots, Voltage : 110/220 Volts, Stabilizers : Yes, Passenger Decks : 9, Lifts : 9, Swimming Pools : 2 for adults and children / 2 SPA baths , Ship's Registry: Panama

Cabins: 132 Suites with private balcony, 371 Outside Cabins, 2 Family Suites without Balcony, 272 Inside Cabins

Soccer World Cup:

During the last month Philip accompanied a Japanese TV crew around Durban who were filming pre world cup footage. Places visited included the beachfront, city centre, the new soccer stadium and surrounding areas. The Moses Mabhida stadium, which can seat 72000 spectators is a truly world class venue which any city can be proud of. Mr Swanabori, ex Japanese international, was so impressed by the venue that he briefly considered coming out of retirement. With the FIFA world cup fast approaching our clients are reminded to ensure that their trip and accommodation bookings are in place and confirmed.  

Join us for the Sardine Run 2010 in Port St Johns, Transkei!

The Sardine Run occurs between late May and July along the East coast of South Africa when millions of sardines migrate up the East coast of South Africa from the Cape. Their sheer numbers create a feeding frenzy along the coastline in what is one of the largest marine events in the world. This has been dubbed "The Greatest Shoal On Earth" by the Kwazulu-Natal Tourist Board and it is the marine equivalent of the annual migration of the Wildebeest in the Masai Mara in Tanzania, and maybe even more impressive when you consider the amount of prey and predators involved.

It is thought that dolphins (estimated as being up to 18,000 in number, mostly the common dolphin but also the bottlenose dolphin) are largely responsible for rounding up the sardines into bait balls. Once the sardines are rounded up, sharks (primarily the bronze whaler, but also dusky shark, Black Tip shark, spinner shark and Zambezi shark), game fish (like shad or elf, king mackerel, various kingfish species, Garrick, Geelbek and eastern little tuna) and birds (like the Cape gannet, cormorants, terns and gulls) take advantage of the opportunity.

Join us on a Sardine Run Adventure where you can experience the awesome sight of dolphins, whales, seals, sharks, game fish and a myriad of sea birds feeding on these fish.

This swimming fish restaurant and ensuing feeding frenzy is an amazing sight and certainly one of the wildest and most spectacular events to occur anywhere on the planet. During this adventure, we ride the ocean following the sardine activity off the spectacular, untamed Transkei Wild Coast from the sleepy town of Port St Johns.

We offer a boat-based adventure for all nature lovers, including photographers, bird watchers, dolphin and whale enthusiasts, snorkellers and scuba divers. This is an unforgettable experience suitable for most members of the family. Because of the manner of the boat launching and beaching as well as possible uncomfortable sea conditions it is advisable that those of limited mobility, frailty or with back problems limited themselves to land based viewing. 

From our land base at Port St John, we cruise the ocean each day in search of sardine activity - normally located from sightings of large flocks of sea birds or huge schools of common and bottlenose dolphins. We also communicate with the Sharks Board, other boat operators and micro light pilots. The action is huge and involves a massive feeding frenzy involving the entire food chain.

Once the Sardines are located and we have established the bait ball is not moving too fast, snorkellers and divers are invited to enter the water to view the activity first hand, while those that prefer to stay dry can witness this amazing phenomenon from the boat, which is just as spectacular. Join us for an adventure of a lifetime. The Accommodation in Port St Johns, for the Sardine Run 2010.

Port St Johns is reached by tar road and is 360 km South from Durban. We have booked accommodation at the newly renovated “Jetty River Lodge” it is beautifully situated on the banks of the Umzimvubu River, just five kilometers from the town of Port St Johns, and set in the grounds of a tropical fruit orchard, The Jetty lodge is the ideal holiday retreat for jaded city slickers and nature-lovers alike. Relax around the sparkling pool and Braai area under century old pecan nut trees. The Lodge offers: Swimming Pool, Tea/Coffee facilities in room, Bar Area, Self-Braai area, Pool table & games room, Fans in room, DSTV, Credit cards accepted, Babysitting, Hikes, Safe in room/reception, Mountain bikes or trails, Safe open off-street parking, Fishing, Laundry Service, Bird Watching, Ironing service, Wheelchair friendly.

Join us anytime from the 13th June to the 17th of July 2010. Past records from the Natal Sharks Board and our experience indicate that this is the optimal period in which to view the sardine shoals.

5 Day / 6 Night Package Dates: (Only 14 Spaces available per trip) - R 11 000.00 per person sharing

Itinerary:

Price includes: Five full days boat based viewing of sardine run, six nights accommodation on a full board basis (incl. all meals), picnic lunch and refreshments on boat trips, cylinder & weight-belt hire, qualified skipper and guide to conduct trip and inform passengers

3 Day / 4 Night Package Dates: - Only 7 spaces available per trip - R6,600 per person sharing

Itinerary:

Price includes: Three full days boat based viewing of sardine run, four nights accommodation on a full board basis (incl. all meals), picnic lunch and refreshments on boat trips, cylinder & weight-belt Hire, qualified skipper and guide to conduct trip and inform passengers

Both Packages Excludes: Transfers to and from Port St Johns all transfers add an additional R 1000.00 per person per transfer, equipment hire of: BCD, Regulator, Wetsuit, Mask & Fins, Beverages.

All excursions are conducted on Department of Transport approved boats and have all the required safety equipment on board.

For more details and prices email us at: bookings@southafricanadventuresafaris.co.za

Gearing Up for the 2010 Soccer:

Soccer World Cup:

Everybody is slowly getting more and more excited as the 2010 world cup is fast approaching. We are now in the position to offer two self catering accommodations that can be used as home base to travel from on your stay in South Africa. This will include your transfers to and from the airport every time you will need to fly to your next game. We will even throw in your transfer to the game at Durban and return you safely back to Umkomaas!

As Umkomaas is in close range of many different destinations this makes it easy to take a day or two in between and see the country side, (however this will be at extra cost).

1. Flat: Consist of two bedrooms one with double bed and main en suite bathroom, 2nd room double bed, sleeper couch sleeps two in the lounge. Open plan kitchen (fully fitted) with dining room and lounge. Wooden deck facing the sea. Walking distance to the shops, banks, restaurants and beach. Fully fenced and safe for children.
2. House: Swimming pool, barbeque area, big garden, Jacuzzi, fully fenced, Big screen TV entertainment area, Kitchen and 4 bedrooms.

- All prices are quoted in South African Rand and prices may change according to exchange rates and increases from service providers -

We are proud to say that South African Adventure Safaris has all legal requirements stated by law. We are members of Sapphire Tourism and Tourism Kwazulu Natal also known as TKZN.

- Be Aware of Scams and Fly By Night Operators -

2009 South African High and Low Seasons:

Low Seasons:
21 January to 03 April, 15 April to 26 June, 20 July to 23 September, 05 October to 11 December 2009

High Seasons:
4 April to 14 April, 27 June to 19 July, 24 September to 4 October, 12 December to 20 January 2010

DONT MISS OUT!

SEE YOU SOON FOR A TRULY AMAZING EXPERIENCE!