Swimming with Dolphins

Myth or Truth?
Magical healing power of dolphins

For thousands of years dolphins have fascinated people with their magical healing powers, even though there is no scientific proof for it. After all, we can assure some truth to the myth and the supernatural power, which is related to dolphins and which lifts them above other animals in the peoples’ minds.

Legend is that a female dolphin (Ganadja) survived an attack by a shark, and the shells offered her a shelter for safety. The male dolphin was killed and later reborn as a human. Walking on the beach, his dolphin wife recognized him and turned herself into a human as well and they lived a happy life with plenty of kids, who form the people of Groote Eylandt. They only remember to be descendants of the dolphins. The offspring that Ganadja left in the sea never forgot that the humans are their relatives. That’s why they look for contact to humans to play with, as they did in ancient times. (Breier/Reiter 1992).

Join us on a trip full of adventure and let yourself be enchanted from the fascinating world of dolphins:

Itinerary:

Day 1: Arrival Johannesburg/ Marc’s Treehouse Lodge

You will be welcomed by our qualified tour guide and start your journey with an air-conditioned bus via the Highveld farmlands to the picturesque Lowveld and onwards to Tremisana Game Lodge in the Balule section of the Kruger National Park. After a short break, during which you may unwind at the bar, enjoy a refreshing dip in the sparkling pool and relax in the beautiful tropical gardens, we will board the open Landcruiser for a Sunset Drive. Your guide will facilitate your first exciting opportunity to experience the varying fauna and flora of Africa. Watch the magnificent African sunset and, after darkness falls, use spotlights to locate nocturnal animals. Dinner in the boma will be a traditional South African meal. Spend the night in comfortable, air-conditioned en suite thatch-roofed chalets.

Accommodation: 3x dinner, bed and breakfast in Marc’s Treehouse Lodge

Day 2: Marc’s Treehouse Lodge/ Kruger National Park

Drive to the Orpen Gate of Kruger, where we change transportation to a custom-built open-sided Game viewer. The open vehicle allows enjoying a magnificent wildlife opportunity - exceptional sight, sound and scenting experiences. You will not only have an amazing chance to view game but also to listen to and smell the African bush and its denizens. The absence of windows and your elevated vantage position promise excellent photographic opportunities. We have regular stops at picnic spots, rest camps and places of interest.

The Orpen-Satara-Nwanedzi regions have open plains that support large herds of zebra, giraffe and antelope that attract numerous predators. In fact, this zone has the highest concentration of lions in Africa.

Day 3: Marc’s Treehouse Lodge / Kruger National Park

Spend another fun-filled day of game-viewing and bird-watching in one of the greatest Game Reserves in the world. Your guide will drive to a different part of Kruger and use intimate knowledge of the Park in an attempt to show you the Big Five (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo). We shall make every effort to find every animal that have eluded us thus far, for your unforgettable wildlife highlight.

Day 4: Marc’s Treehouse Lodge / Kruger National Park

A quick cup of coffee before you go on an early morning Sunrise Game Drive, after which you enjoy an adventurous bush walk with our armed ranger. The signs of elephants are everywhere – an exceptional adrenalin surge. After a hearty breakfast, there will be opportunity to purchase some memorabilia from our shop and take photos of the luxuriant luscious gardens at Tremisana. We then drive to the awesome Blyde River Canyon and view scenic wonders such as the Three Rondawels.

In the late afternoon you proceed to Swaziland. The kingdom combines 17.000 qm and is one of the smallest sovereign countries in the world. The Swazi, people of the Nguni- language, populated the country in the mid of the 18th century. Swaziland, besides the capital Mbabana is quite rural, so the population mainly lives on agriculture. People are friendly and open minded. The Khahlamba Mountains in the west are up to 1.800 m high and form the natural border to South Africa. Your accommodation for tonight is situated round about 27 km from Mbabane. There are 30 nicely furnished double and family rooms with a wonderful forest view. Calm and tranquil situated, far away from streets, ideal to relax in the refreshing pool in a beautiful garden. The award-winning restaurant is famous throughout the country.

Accommodation: 1x dinner, bed & breakfast in Forester Arms

Day 5: Swaziland/ Mozambique/ Swimming with Dolphins

After breakfast we cross the border to Mozambique. There, we will be picked up by our hosts from the Dolphin camp. After a quick drive of just 15min, you will arrive at the camp. After lunch you will learn more about the upcoming events in the next couple of days and some first basic facts about the dolphins.

Accommodation: 3x dinner, bed & brunch in Dolphin Beach Lodge

Day 6: Mozambique (Ponta Do Ouro) / Swimming with Dolphins

Early morning, certain free-diving techniques will be shown to you. Also, detailed training with your equipment (mask, snorkel and fins) assures safety for the upcoming events. After that, the boat launches from the protection of Ponta bay and we go to sea with Harry, the Dolphin skipper, who has experience in reading dolphin behaviour and identifying individual dolphins, and is also a Dolphin Swim facilitator. It is the swim facilitator’s job to lead the swim through knowing how to interact with and hold the dolphin’s attention and to aid anyone who needs assistance in the water. On water time is dependent on the dolphin’s location and behaviour but usually we are not longer than 90 minutes at sea. Please note the type of swim you have is totally dependent on the dolphins’ behaviour. After all, they are wild animals, meaning that there are no guarantees for their daily mood.
It is not unusual to see humpback and southern right whales as well. Those huge animals stay from June to January in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean to give birth.
Back at the camp you can enjoy a huge brunch. You have plenty of opportunities to spend your afternoon. Spoil yourself with a massage (opt) or walk the endless sandy beach.


Day 7: Mozambique (Ponta Do Ouro)/ Swimming with Dolphins

Once again you start early in the morning for another dolphin cruise and keep a lookout for the wild living dolphins. Also today you will learn a lot about these fascinating mythical animals. Back at the camp, you will enjoy a full brunch and spend the afternoon as you wish:

Riding along the endless sandy beach or through the bush. Explore the surrounding area; visit the dolphin centre or the dolphin library. For dinner you will visit the close by village.

Day 8: Mozambique/ Durban/ City tour

Bid farewell to your hosts and we start our tour back to the South African border and proceed to Durban. More than 4 mil people live in the metropolitan area of Durban. The population of three different groups originating from Africa, Europe and India are create the unique cosmopolitan character of Durban. After a short city tour, we take you to the hotel, just opposite the “Golden Mile”. You just need to cross the promenade to get to the beach. Having dinner you can enjoy the skyline with the most fantastic views over the harbour.

Accommodation: dinner, bed & breakfast in Tropicana Hotel, Durban

Day 9: Durban/ Drakensberg mountains/ Royal Natal National Park

Today you proceed travelling to the beautiful Drakensberg Mountains. The region is dominated by unique mountain ranges, deep ravines and valleys. Waterfalls and steep cliffs offer a great variety - a paradise for nature lovers. The Drakensberg Mountains are the highest mountain range in southern Africa. Everyone that has been there has fallen in love with the great atmosphere of the Drakensberg Mountains. The name derives from ancient legends, when there was the myth of dragons in the mountains.

Accommodation: 2x dinner, bed & full meals at Cavern Drakensberg Resort

Day 10: Drakensberg Mountains

After breakfast you have the opportunity to go on a guided walk into the mountains. You will see bushman paintings, evergreen forests, where woodcutter chopped the very famous yellowwood trees more than 100 years ago, as well as the most fascinating landscape of the Drakensberg Mountains, where time and stress seizes to exist.
Should you wish to just relax and do nothing, you are welcome to do so. Or you might go on a walk along one of the endless hiking trails. A special highlight: A helicopter flight with Champaign on a mountain plateau high over the clouds (opt).

Day 11: Drakensberg Mountains/ Golden Gate National Park

Today we head towards the Golden Gate Highlands National Park, which is one of the highlights of the Freestate. Main attractions of the park are the massive colourful sand stone formations, that give a golden shine, especially in the early evening hours and thus give the name to the park. Vegetation in the park mainly consists of grassland. Endless hiking trails lead through the tranquil mountains and provide a relaxing adventure holiday. The Brandwag Resort offers a variety of leisure activities such as horse riding, tennis, table tennis or billiard.

Accommodation: dinner, bed & breakfast at Brandwag Resort

Day 12: Golden Gate National Park/ Lesotho

Early morning just after breakfast, you leave the National Park and head towards Lesotho. The kingdom Lesotho once called Basutoland is a parliamentary monarchy in southern Africa. Lesotho is an enclave in South Africa, being surrounded completely by its one neighbouring country. Lesotho never used to belong politically to South Africa. Translated into English, Lesotho means: „country of the Sotho speaking people“. Due to its altitude the country is also called: “The Kingdom in the Sky”.

On the way to the lodge you will pass traditional villages and see young shepherd boys with their large cattle and sheep flocks. In Lesotho fences don’t exist. You have an endless view over magnificent nature. In the afternoon you will visit a close by Basotho village and the Basotho school, built up with collected donations.

Accommodation: 2x dinner, bed & breakfast in Malealea Lodge

Day 13: Lesotho

After breakfast we go horse riding. On this 2 to 3 hour trip, you will visit the Echo caves and see some bushman paintings. The horses and ponies are hired from Basotho families and no riding experience will be required. Beginners can even have their horse guided by Basotho kids for a little gratuity. In the afternoon, you will visit a Sangoma, a traditional healer, who with the help of bones, roots and diverse other things can cure any disease. In the evening you will be entertained by the local children choir and the children band, playing with home-made instruments. Dance and sing with the kids and be delighted by their spirit.

Day 14: Lesotho/ Johannesburg

Today you leave Lesotho and head back to Johannesburg, from where you will start off to your return flight.

Arrival

Landing back home. By now, you will be convinced to visit Africa again, because you have been enchanted. Remember the words of Sir David Livingstone, "Whoever once drank out of the waters of Africa, will always come back again…”

 

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