“For us this was a trip of a lifetime with many memorable moments!
South Africa is a big, beautiful country with a great diversity of landscape, vegetation, birdlife and animals and we were able to sample much of this through our varied itinerary.
The people of Tanzania were warm and welcoming and the memory of bright, happy children will remain with us. Away from the chaotic traffic of Dar es Salam, we enjoyed some wonderful wildlife encounters and an insight into the simple village life of Tanzanians.”

What was the nicest surprise of the trip?

We had a long drive from L’Agulhas to Tsitsikama, arriving into the unknown in the dark. Next morning we awoke to find ourselves amongst lush green vegetation on the edge of a spectacular gorge filled with bird sounds, and soon discovered lovely walks through the estate and by the lake (which had a bird viewing area).

Describe the most amusing character you discovered?

Father Chahali at Itete village is a wonderful character with a wicked sense of humour and a passion to bring the best for the local people.

What was the most interesting thing learnt on the trip?

Visiting two different African countries, we were able to consider their histories and current political situations.

What was your favourite wildlife encounter and why?

It was exciting to track rhino on foot and to eventually find a handsome black rhino and hear him munching the grass.
On a boat on the Jazine Lake, it was lovely to have a number of hippos to pop up out of the water in a crescent around us.
To see the elephants in their family groups at the waterhole at Mikumi enjoying the water and mud.
To see three lionesses relaxing under a tree, their regal look and soft colouring blending into the grasses behind.

“To explain the many magical moments of my trip to Tanzania is no easy task … there were so many. To describe the feelings of exhilaration and adventure I felt looking out at the African landscape for the first time is near impossible. I feel so privileged to have experienced Tanzania with African Space….their knowledge of the land & people, the organization and the unique personalities of the staff made it very special. I camped on a mountain-top and then in the middle of the savannah. Journeyed to remote villages and spent the morning with a witch doctor. I swam with massive whale sharks and sat ten feet away from a lion and his lioness. All in one trip. I really do feel I had a glimpse of the “Real Africa”. It was an incredible experience that I will never forget.”

What was the nicest surprise of the trip?

Waking up at dawn at the top of Sange Falls in Udzungwa Mountains National Park. Quite possibly the most breathtaking place I have ever seen. Camping in the mountains with a roaring fire, listening to all the beasts in the night was incredible…. Then awaking the next day high above the valley with a roaring waterfall behind you, sipping on hot coffee watching the most brilliant sunrise I have ever seen was the highlight of my African experience. A truly majestic moment.

Describe the most amusing character you discovered?

So MANY funny characters on that trip! However, if I had to choose, it would have to be seeing my first giraffe. (all affectionally named Gerry) I’m not sure why I love them so much but it was quite special to see one of those curious, awkward but beautiful beasts in their natural environment. Lovely.

What was the most interesting thing learnt on the trip?

Something I mentioned to Mark and Jamie multiple times was the fact that I very much regret leaving my notepad and journal back in Dar es Saalam….the intimate knowledge of the land, sea and everything in between that everyone at African Space has is quite remarkable. I wish I wrote down all the fascinating stories I was told. I cannot describe just one! Everything from learning about the amazing qualities of the African elephant from Mark, to the many incredible marine species of Mafia Island from Jamie…All from people who know Tanzania so well – it was fantastic!

What was your favourite wildlife encounter and why?

Sitting less than 10 feet away from a lion and his lioness, just 15 minutes into our safari. We were at Mikumi Nationa Park and heard that there was a lion nearby. We found them resting under a tree….I didn’t really expect to see a lion on this trip as I was told they can be very difficult to find. Being able to get so close to one of the greatest predators on Earth was incredible!

“It is difficult to define such experiences, as they were so rich in quality and so vast in nature. The trip as a whole was eye-opening; I felt I discovered a world and culture so unique from any other that it was hard not to feel saddened by the limit of my own experience. The diverse culture and friendly people, as well as the sheer number and type of animals observed was clearly something that I feel privileged to have witnessed and that hopefully I will one day see again, since I believe there is just so much more to understand about the world around me.”

What was the nicest surprise of the trip:

How well the group got on as a whole! There was no arguing and I found that I became close to people I had never really spoken to before and it meant sharing experiences and enjoying them even more. As much as the trip was about discovering Tanzania, I felt I also discovered a vast amount about myself, and it helped to put my own life into perspective.

Describe the most amusing character you discovered:

The most amusing character I discovered was our waiter choppy Chuppy chide. I think he found meeting a group of people from the western culture fascinating and, despite having a clear language barrier between us, his humour managed to entertain us for the evenings of the second week of the experience.

What was your favourite wildlife encounter and why?

I enjoyed seeing the dolphins on the ‘dry day’ because we were able to observe them while relaxing ourselves on the boat and we were able to follow them without disturbing them. I also liked that the day was spent looking at aquatic life both from a boat and in the water ourselves with snorkels. The encounter was much less intense than driving in a safari truck and more enjoyable.

What was the most interesting thing learnt on the trip?

The most interesting thing I learnt was about the interaction between the local Tanzanian people and the surrounding wildlife. I found it amazing how much these people knew about how the animals behave and we were able to learn a lot from our own experiences with wild animals. It was bizarre to observe how closely people lived to leopards, crocodiles and hippos etc. with little protection and how many different species can live in harmony due to the lack of human intervention.

“A sensational, life-changing experience. All I want to do is help others less fortunate than myself and I feel very privileged to have been a part of that experience. I have been lucky enough to visit many countries in my life time, but nowhere else has made the same kind of impact that Africa has. The trip offered so much, the first day in Dar Es Saalam was somewhat unnerving to say the least, but the excitement was mixed in with the tranquillity of Sanje falls and the happiness of the children in Itete. All I can say is thank you African Space; you have changed my outlook on life and provided me with an experience I can never forget!”

What was the nicest surprise of the trip?

Would have to be the 7.00am game drive in Mikumi national park and spotting a pride of 9 lions only metres away from me. I have never been so happy in all my life!

Describe the most amusing character you discovered?

It would have to be Mark and Jamie. We had some great laughs. With mark it was when we were sitting around the campfire in Itete and we were giggling because of the depressing songs everyone was singing. And with Jamie, when we were on Sinda Island and he decided it would be amusing to continually splash me!

What was the most interesting thing learnt on the trip?

I think for me personally, it must be how much an experience like this can change a person. I have always been interested in helping others, but since Tanzania all I want to do is give to charity and hop on the next plane back to do some more aid work. This has really changed me and it is quite interesting to me how people can be so ignorant if they haven’t experienced first- hand these kind of conditions. I thank you for that more than anything else.

What was your favourite wildlife encounter and why?

There were a number of things that have stood out for me. I remember when we drove through Mikumi the first time on the way to Itete and everyone was on the look out for the first animal- it didn’t matter to us what it was. (I’m going to sound a bit like a parrot now) – the greatest animal encounter was the pride of nine lions. I don’t think I’ve ever cried with happiness so much – just to add, lions are my favourite animals, I don’t cry at everything!

“An absolutely awesome trip that was full of adrenaline activities both on land and underwater. Outstanding food and drink. Jamie and Louis were great guides who provided us with loads of different options for activities and kept us all entertained! If we could do it all again tomorrow we would!”

What was the nicest surprise of the trip?

The accommodation in Pongola – White Elephant Lodge. Beautiful setting, excellent staff; guides and facilities.

Describe the most amusing character you discovered?

Big Willy – a quietly spoken chap but with a very dry sense of humour who had the group in fits of laughter many a time!

What was the most interesting thing learnt on the trip?

Loads of interesting information gained – history of South Africa and townships; all information about the wildlife – both underwater and on land.

What was your favourite wildlife encounter and why?

Cage diving with Great White sharks. What an adrenalin rush!

“From the buzz of Cape Town to the sublime surroundings of White Elephant Lodge the whole South Africa experience can only be described as the trip of a life time. Without time to think we spent our first day, eye to eye with Great White Sharks and our last diving in the company of the incredible shark man of South Africa, Mark Addison. It is impossible to pick one moment, the whole adventure was a series of incredible moments.”

What was the nicest surprise of the trip?

Experiencing the friendliness and openness of everyone we met.

Describe the most amusing character you discovered?

The South Africans seem to universally share a dry sense of humour. I have huge respect for the boat skippers who, always with great humour, battled their way through the waves to get us out into the blue for another days superb diving.

What was your favourite wildlife encounter and why?

I was enchanted by the white tiger cubs at the Cango Wildlife Ranch but seeing the White sharks close up was mesmerising.

What was the most interesting thing learnt on the trip?

That elephants have bad days too!

Day 2
Landing in Durban International Airport, you will be met by your African Space guides and, once all the luggage has been happily reclaimed, you will drive four hours north (in air conditioned mini-buses) to Hluhluwe in Zululand, the borders of Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve, the former hunting grounds of King Shaka and one of Africa’s oldest conserved areas. Your home is Albizia Camp. Here you will receive your initial briefings and an introduction to the Environmental Awareness Course that forms the first part of your trip.
ALBIZIA CAMP – TENTED ACCOMMODATION – FULL BOARD

Day 3
After breakfast the first day is our Environmental Awareness Course – an introduction to ecology African style. Highly experienced field guides will begin to tell the story of the bush, weaving in basic ecology principles, an introduction to the habitats of Southern Africa, antelope dissection and snake talks. You will discuss issues of importance to contemporary rural Africa such as animal control and poaching. The course follows the Field Guides of Southern Africa (FGASA) entry qualification and so provides a perfect introduction to what lies ahead.
ALBIZIA CAMP – TENTED ACCOMMODATION – FULL BOARD

Day 4
You take the road north, through the hills of Zululand to Mdoneni Cheetah Rehabilitation Centre. Here you will be introduced to the conservation of serval, caracal, african wildcat and cheetahs, with the chance to get up close and personal to some of them. After lunch, at Ilala Weavers, a community development project, you will have the opportunity to buy crafts and souvenirs. In the late afternoon you will move north once more into Swaziland; your destination: Hlane Royal National Park, Swaziland’s largest game reserve. Now you are really going wild.
HLANE ROYAL NATIONAL PARK – LODGE ACCOMMODATION – FULL BOARD

Day 5
You are in Hlane to put your new-found knowledge to good use. You are going to explore the bush – on foot and in vehicles – searching for, observing, recording and reporting the behaviour of the species you found. Full briefings will precede every activity, so listen carefully and then enjoy. After breakfast you will walk out into the wildlife trail (how far?) to set up your camp for the night. In the afternoon you will learn to read the tracks and signs of the bush before setting out in small groups to complete initial wildlife surveys of the large mammal species you find.
HLANE RNP – FLY CAMP – FULL BOARD

Day 6
After a night under the stars and the obligatory early breakfast (fresh air makes you hungry), you will go out for a simulated anti-poaching patrol where you will look for snares used to capture the reserves antelope and other, larger, species. After lunch, you will break camp and walk back to the lodge. As you walk, remember to look out for the spectacular birdlife and the equally fascinating life to be found around your feet. In the evening you will have a briefing on the techniques and challenges of elephant research, the challenge for tomorrow.
HLANE RNP – LODGE ACCOMMODATION – FULL BOARD

Day 7
Today it is all about the elephants. It was only in the 1960s that scientists really began to understand the elephant and you will be using the techniques developed since then that have allowed us to learn so much. Exploring the Park in vehicles, you will search for elephant groups, which, when found, you will seek to identify and record their behaviour, sharing your discovery with the rest of the group when you return to camp. After an elephant filled day, you will receive a briefing on the rhino – your target for tomorrow.
HLANE RNP – LODGE ACCOMMODATION – FULL BOARD

Day 8
No trunks today, just very impressive horns. The survival of the rhino is once more threatened by large scale poaching and so it is essential that these beasts are understood and protected as well as possible. After full briefings on their behaviour and ecology, you will join the monitoring teams, exploring the park to find out what is going on in the world of the rhino. Remember: the more you record, the more you understand – so get writing!
HLANE RNP – LODGE ACCOMMODATION – FULL BOARD

Day 9
We saved the carnivores until last; this morning you are hunting lion – with cameras only, of course. The King of the Savanna never loses the ability to enthral and so keep your eyes peeled as you venture into the bush once more for this most impressive of cats. Then it is time to leave the Park. You will return to South Africa and head to the beautiful seclusion of Kosi Bay. There, staying in purpose built accommodation, you will be welcomed into the Amangwane Community, here the main focus will be coastal ecology with four days of exploration, fishing and community interaction. Welcome to yet another African lifestyle.
KOSI BAY – AMANGWANE CAMP – FULL BOARD

Day 10
The camp is a joint project with the local community, which makes you valued guests. Everything here is done on foot. And the coast is yours to explore. Numerous trails take you through the hills, around the lakes to the sea breaking massive on a long sandy beach. Here you will have the chance to take bird walks, introductions to the local botany and snorkelling expeditions in the local waters.
KOSI BAY – AMANGWANE CAMP – FULL BOARD

Day 11
This is not a wild landscape: local people have farmed the seas for centuries. Their specialised, intricate traps and nets are a perfect example of sustainable utilisation, but their lifestyle is under threat. We will introduce you to the fishermen and their techniques before a return to the beach and the snorkels – or just a little sun time.
KOSI BAY – AMANGWANE CAMP – FULL BOARD

Day 12
Today your focus returns to the local community and a chance to get to know your hosts a little better. The warm welcome offered by the neighbouring school offers the perfect opportunity. Activities in the community vary according to the time of year and particular group requirements, but they involve providing teaching support in the areas of environmental studies, English language, history, geography and life skills. But by far the most important aspect is to spend time with your peers, enjoying Zulu hospitality and sharing your lives.
KOSI BAY – AMANGWANE CAMP – FULL BOARD

Day 13
Although rural Africa is often remote and struggling with the demands of development, it has not been left untouched by the 21st century. The schools of Zululand have started to receive computers, with the aim of doing their best to prepare their students to succeed in contemporary business and administration. Today, you will use your inherent knowledge to provide the students with some expert tuition. Make no mistake, in one day you can make a massive difference. Tonight, to mark the end of a memorable trip there will be a little party. Enjoy it; Africa parties well.

It is not all work; sport is immensely important in Africa and yet physical education is often a neglected when time and resources are tight. Today you will lead the children in simple games, developed by therapists, to improve motor skills, co-ordination and teamwork – whilst also having plenty of fun. Surrounded by the imposing hills of Zululand, this is impressive PE.

KOSI BAY – AMANGWANE CAMP – FULL BOARD

Day 14
All good things come to an end. After a final breakfast you will return through the bush and cane fields to Durban International Airport in time for your return flight to the UK. Don’t forget to come back; Africa is waiting for you.
AIR TRAVEL

Day 15
Land in the UK; we’d love to see your photos.

Day 2
Landing in Durban International Airport, you will be met by your African Space guides and, once all the luggage has been happily reclaimed, you will drive four hours north (in air conditioned mini-buses) to Hluhluwe in Zululand, the borders of Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve, the former hunting grounds of King Shaka and one of Africa’s oldest conserved areas. Your home is Albizia Camp. Here you will receive your initial briefings and an introduction to the Environmental Awareness Course that forms the first part of your trip.
ALBIZIA CAMP – TENTED ACCOMMODATION – FULL BOARD

Day 3
After breakfast the first day is our Environmental Awareness Course – an introduction to ecology African style. Highly experienced field guides will begin to tell the story of the bush, weaving in basic ecology principles, an introduction to the habitats of Southern Africa, antelope dissection and snake talks. You will discuss issues of importance to contemporary rural Africa such as animal control and poaching. The course follows the Field Guides of Southern Africa (FGASA) entry qualification and so provides a perfect introduction to what lies ahead.
ALBIZIA CAMP – TENTED ACCOMMODATION – FULL BOARD

Day 4
You take the road north, through the hills of Zululand to Mdoneni Cheetah Rehabilitation Centre. Here you will be introduced to the conservation of serval, caracal, african wildcat and cheetahs, with the chance to get up close and personal to some of them. After lunch, at Ilala Weavers, a community development project, you will have the opportunity to buy crafts and souvenirs. In the late afternoon you will move north once more into Swaziland; your destination: Hlane Royal National Park, Swaziland’s largest game reserve. Now you are really going wild.
HLANE ROYAL NATIONAL PARK LODGE ACCOMMODATION – FULL BOARD

Day 5
You are in Hlane to put your new found knowledge to good use. You are going to explore the bush – on foot and in vehicles – searching for, observing, recording and reporting the behaviour of the species you found. Full briefings will precede every activity, so listen carefully and then enjoy. After breakfast you will walk out into the wildlife trail about 13-18 km to set up your camp for the night. In the afternoon you will learn to read the tracks and signs of the bush before setting out in small groups to complete initial wildlife surveys of the large mammal species you find.
HLANE RNP – FLY CAMP – FULL BOARD

Day 6
After a night under the stars and the obligatory early breakfast (fresh air makes you hungry), you will go out for a simulated anti-poaching patrol where you will look for snares used to capture the reserves antelope and other, larger, species. After lunch, you will break camp and walk back to the lodge. As you walk, remember to look out for the spectacular birdlife and the equally fascinating life to be found around your feet. In the evening you will have a briefing on the techniques and challenges of elephant research, the challenge for tomorrow.
HLANE RNP – LODGE ACCOMMODATION – FULL BOARD

Day 7
Today it is all about the elephants. It was only in the 1960s that scientists really began to understand the elephant and you will be using the techniques developed since then that have allowed us to learn so much. Exploring the Park in vehicles, you will search for elephant groups, which, when found, you will seek to identify and record their behaviour, sharing your discovery with the rest of the group when you return to camp. After an elephant filled day, you will receive a briefing on the rhino – your target for tomorrow.
HLANE RNP – LODGE ACCOMMODATION – FULL BOARD

Day 8
No trunks today, just very impressive horns. The survival of the rhino is once more threatened by large scale poaching and so it is essential that these beasts are understood and protected as well as possible. After full briefings on their behaviour and ecology, you will join the monitoring teams, exploring the park to find out what is going on in the world of the rhino. Remember: the more you record, the more you understand – so get writing!
HLANE RNP – LODGE ACCOMMODATION – FULL BOARD

Day 9
We saved the carnivores until last; this morning you are hunting lion, with cameras only, of course. The King of the Savanna never loses the ability to enthral and so keep your eyes peeled as you venture into the bush once more for this most impressive of cats. Then it is time to leave the Park and head south for a change of focus: it is time to go into the community. You will return to South Africa and the Zulu community that borders the northern gates of the Hluhluwe Game Reserve. There, staying in purpose built accommodation, you will be welcomed into the Mbonise Community for four days of shared discussion, interaction and, yes, a little hard labour!
MBONISE COMMUNITY ACCOMMODATION – FULL BOARD

Day 10
Activities in the community vary according to the time of year and particular group requirements, but they involve providing teaching support in the areas of environmental studies, English language, history, geography and life skills. But by far the most important aspect is to spend time with your peers, enjoying Zulu hospitality and sharing your lives.
MBONISE COMMUNITY ACCOMMODATION – FULL BOARD

Day 11
As the caretaker will tell you, there is always work to do at school. If the government is unable to provide the necessary support, then the school community must work together to maintain its facilities. Today, perhaps, you will join the students in painting classroom blocks or clearing the grounds. Many hands make light work.
MBONISE COMMUNITY ACCOMMODATION – FULL BOARD

Day 12
It is not all work; sport is immensely important in Africa and yet physical education is often neglected when time and resources are tight. Today you will lead the children in simple games, developed by therapists, to improve motor skills, co-ordination and teamwork – whilst also having plenty of fun. Surrounded by the imposing hills of Zululand, this is impressive PE.
MBONISE COMMUNITY ACCOMMODATION – FULL BOARD

Day 13
Although rural Africa is often remote and struggling with the demands of development, it has not been left untouched by the 21st century. The schools of Zululand have started to receive computers, with the aim of doing their best to prepare their students to succeed in contemporary business and administration. Today you will use your inherent knowledge to provide the students with some expert tuition. Make no mistake, in one day you can make a massive difference. Tonight, to mark the end of a memorable trip there will be a little party. Enjoy it; Africa parties well.
MBONISE COMMUNITY ACCOMMODATION – FULL BOARD

Day 14
All good things come to an end. After a final breakfast you will return through the bush and cane fields to Durban International Airport in time for your return flight to the UK. Don’t forget to come back; Africa is waiting for you.
AIR TRAVEL

Day 15
Land in the UK; we’d love to see your photos.

Day 1
Term time has drawn to a close once more and the airport waits for you to take your flight south to Africa. A simple sentence seldom sounds so good. Just hope the passenger next to you doesn’t have very broad shoulders.
AIR TRAVEL

Day 2
Landing in Durban International Airport, you will be met by your African Space guides and, once all the luggage has been happily reclaimed, you will drive four hours north (in air conditioned mini-buses) to Hluhluwe in Zululand, the borders of Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve, the former hunting grounds of King Shaka and one of Africa’s oldest conserved areas. Your home is Albizia Camp. Here you will receive your initial briefings and an introduction to the Environmental Awareness Course that forms the first part of your trip.
ALBIZIA CAMP – TENTED ACCOMMODATION – FULL BOARD

Day 3
After breakfast the first day is our Environmental Awareness Course – an introduction to ecology African style. Highly experienced field guides will begin to tell the story of the bush, weaving in basic ecology principles, an introduction to the habitats of Southern Africa, antelope dissection and snake talks. You will discuss issues of importance to contemporary rural Africa such as animal control and poaching. The course follows the Field Guides of Southern Africa (FGASA) entry qualification and so provides a perfect introduction to what lies ahead.
ALBIZIA CAMP – TENTED ACCOMMODATION – FULL BOARD

Day 4
You take the road north, through the hills of Zululand to Mdoneni Cheetah Rehabilitation Centre. Here you will be introduced to the conservation of serval, caracal, african wildcat and cheetahs, with the chance to get up close and personal to some of them. After lunch, at Ilala Weavers, a community development project, you will have the opportunity to buy crafts and souvenirs. In the late afternoon you will move north once more into Swaziland; your destination: Hlane Royal National Park, Swaziland’s largest game reserve. Now you are really going wild.
HLANE ROYAL NATIONAL PARK – LODGE ACCOMMODATION – FULL BOARD

Day 5
You are in Hlane to put your new found knowledge to good use. You are going to explore the bush – on foot and in vehicles – searching for, observing, recording and reporting the behaviour of the species you found. Full briefings will precede every activity, so listen carefully and then enjoy. After breakfast you will walk out into the wildlife trail, (about 13 –18km) to set up your camp for the night. In the afternoon you will learn to read the tracks and signs of the bush before setting out in small groups to complete initial wildlife surveys of the large mammal species you find.
HLANE RNP – FLY CAMP – FULL BOARD

Day 6
After a night under the stars and the obligatory early breakfast (fresh air makes you hungry), you will go out for a simulated anti-poaching patrol where you will look for snares used to capture the reserves antelope and other, larger species. After lunch, you will break camp and walk back to the lodge. As you walk, remember to look out for the spectacular birdlife and the equally fascinating life to be found around your feet. In the evening you will have a briefing on the techniques and challenges of elephant research, the challenge for tomorrow.
HLANE RNP – LODGE ACCOMMODATION – FULL BOARD

Day 7
Today it is all about the elephants. It was only in the 1960s that scientists really began to understand the elephant and you will be using the techniques developed since then that have allowed us to learn so much. Exploring the Park in vehicles, you will search for elephant groups, which, when found, you will seek to identify and record their behaviour, sharing your discovery with the rest of the group when you return to camp. After an elephant filled day, you will receive a briefing on the rhino – your target for tomorrow.
HLANE RNP – LODGE ACCOMMODATION – FULL BOARD

Day 8
No trunks today, just very impressive horns. The survival of the rhino is once more threatened by large scale poaching and so it is essential that these beasts are understood and protected as well as possible. After full briefings on their behaviour and ecology, you will join the monitoring teams, exploring the park to find out what is going on in the world of the rhino. Remember: the more you record, the more you understand – so get writing!
HLANE RNP – LODGE ACCOMMODATION – FULL BOARD

Day 9
We saved the carnivores until last; this morning you are hunting lion. With cameras only of course. The King of the Savanna never loses the ability to enthral and so keep your eyes peeled as you venture into the bush once more for this most impressive of cats. Then it is time to leave the Park and head south for a change of focus: it is time to get wet. You will make the journey (about 4 hours with stops) seawards to Sodwana Bay and the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, one of South Africa’s hidden jewels. After dropping off your bags at the lodge, you will go to the dive centre for kit collection and an initial briefing; then the evening is yours to anticipate four days of African diving.
SODWANA BAY LODGE – FULL BOARD

Day 10
There are few better places in the world to qualify as SCUBA divers. After an initial refresher in the dive centre’s pool, you will head to the beach for your first open water dive – it sure beats a gravel pit in the UK. In the afternoon there will be a marine ecology lecture to provide the background knowledge for the new world being revealed beneath the waves.
SODWANA BAY LODGE – FULL BOARD – OPEN WATER DIVE 1

Day 11
Growing in confidence, this morning you will complete open water dives 2 and 3. The more time you spend under water the more natural it becomes; your breathing slows and you begin to really see the reef life sharing the water with you. Look out for the sleeping turtles. In the afternoon there will be an introductory lecture to butterfly fish species, the reef’s most numerous inhabitants.
SODWANA BAY LODGE – FULL BOARD – OPEN WATER DIVES 2 & 3

Day 12
The big day: today you qualify as Open Water Divers and by now you are pretty good at RIB entry – an ability definitely not shared by all divers. After completing Open Water Dive 4, you will also do a ‘peak performance buoyancy’ dive; this is an essential skill to master if you are to dive on coral reefs without causing damage as you go. Not a good thing for marine conservationists to do. In the afternoon there will be a lecture on marine surveying techniques, the maritime equivalent of your work in Hlane.
SODWANA BAY LODGE – FULL BOARD – OPEN WATER DIVE 4 & PPB DIVE

Day 13
Today you put your recently learned survey skills to the test, completing a reef fish survey on one of your favourite dive sites. This will be followed by a fun dive. Yup, no work, no surveys, just you and the big blue – keep your eyes open, you never know what’s out there. Oh, don’t forget your peak performance buoyancy.
As this is your last afternoon ‘in the field’, you will be taken for a closing party and BBQ (or ‘braai as the South Africans call it) to Lake Sibaya, a place of astounding natural beauty and the perfect close to a thrilling journey.
SODWANA BAY LODGE – FULL BOARD – REEF FISH SURVEY & FUN DIVE

Day 14
All good things come to an end. After a final breakfast you will return through the bush and cane fields to Durban International Airport in time for your return flight to the UK. Don’t forget to come back; Africa is waiting for you.
AIR TRAVEL

Day 15
Land in the UK; we’d love to see your photos.