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Three days Cape Town with cage diving
for 'The great White Shark'.
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Cape
Town
A holiday in South Africa is not complete without
a visit to Cape Town.
Founded by the Dutch VOC (East India Company) in 1652, Jan van
Riebeeck was ordered to organize supplies for the ships sailing
between The Netherlands the East Indies. Gradually, this started
the colonization of what is now known as South Africa.
Castle of Good Hope is still a reminder of those days, as are
the Garrison Gardens. Then there is the adjacent History Museum,
where around 1750 the first Malayan slaves were traded. Another
50 years later, the French Huguenot arrived, fleeing persecution
in Europe. They started interfering with the wine farmers in
The Cape, who couldn’t produce anything decent in those
days and with their help they turned the wines into one of the
biggest export products now. |
Add another 100 years and the
English made their arrival and South Africa changed identity
a few times, from Dutch, to English, to Dutch and back again.
Obviously, there were the local ethnical tribes, who deviated,
were occupied, decimated, suppressed or transformed to ‘Coloured’.
All of this now coexisting makes a colorful mix and leave Cape
Town with an interesting story to tell.
Then locate all this in a beautiful bay, enclosed by massive
rock formations, with a unique vegetation, in a very pleasant
climate, and you have one of the world’s top cities. |
Many
of the sights are easy to visit on your own. The fort, the garrison
gardens, the museums and Green Market Square are all in the
city centre and are best visited on foot. The restaurants and
shops are all to be found at The Waterfront, as well as the
aquarium and IMAX theatre. A range of cruises are offered in
the harbour, the most popular being the one to Robben Island
– where in the old days leprosy would be quarantined,
but what most people know because of Mr Mandela’s prolonged
stay. Table Mountain, if not covered by clouds, is a must. The
rotating cable car guides you up to 1000 meters above sea level
and offers spectacular views.
If you’re into plants, try Kirchstenbosch Botanical Gardens,
20 km out of town and if you want to get a tan; stick you hand
up, jump on a bus and 15 minutes later you’ll find yourself
on the beach at Camps Bay or Clifton.
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Organized
in Cape Town and surrounding:
* District 6; a township tour through the history of apartheid.
* Wine tasting in Stellenbosch and a visit to the historical
centre.
* Cape Peninsula tour, Cape Point Nature Reserve and Cape of
Good Hope, sea lions at Houtbay and penguins at Boulders Beach. |
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Cage
diving at Gansbaai
Pick up is between 05.00 and 06.00 in the morning. It’s
about a 2 hours drive east to Gansbaai, where it is all going
to happen. A nice breakfast is served as we wait for our boat
to be prepared. The boat will take us to Dyers Island, 30 to
40 minutes away. The boat is especially designed and equipped
for cage diving. The skipper is more than happy to elaborate
on the whole event and maybe entertain you with some personal
stories on the ‘Great White’.
Fish is thrown overboard to attract the sharks. The divers can
enter the water as soon as the first shark arrives. This may
happen after 5 minutes, but it can also take a long time; it
is up to Mother Nature. Don’t forget to bring your camera,
as this is good story material to take back home. Wetsuits are
available for those daring to enter the water for a close up,
each taking turns in the cage. If you are certified it is also
allowed to enter the cage with compressed air, but please keep
in mind that that the bubbles might scare off the sharks and
therefore it is actually recommended to snorkel.
Once in the water, should you be lucky enough to actually encounter
‘Jaws’, pushing against the cage, showing teeth,
I can assure you an adrenaline rush that no coaster ride can
match. |
After
the dive it is time for some snacks and to warm up with hot
beverages. Weather permitting, on the way back the boat will
try to approach Dyer Island to have a look (and a smell) at
the seals. Our luck with the sharks determines what time we
set foot ashore again.
Back on the mainland, a lunch will be waiting for us. In the
afternoon you will be transferred back to Cape Town, hopefully
with a big grin on your face after your get together with one
of the most compelling, fearsome creatures of the sea, The Great
White Shark.
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This
tour is weather dependant.
You will be contacted the evening before the pick up to discuss
the last details. It is possible that the trip is cancelled
on short notice.
The cage diving is performed 12 km out onto the ocean and the
conditions are not always suitable.
It is also possible that no sharks occur on the trip, there
are no guarantees in nature. However, the local operator likes
to boast a scoring percentage of around 90 %. Should the sharks
have eluded you, the operator offers you another try the next
day, if there’s space on the boat. No refunds are being
made.
It is advisable to bring seasick
tablets and warm clothes. |
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Accommodation
The hotel is called Ashanti Backpacker Lodge and is situated in the city centre.
It has double rooms and 4 bedded dorms, a bar, a swimming pool,
a travel centre and a launderette. Ashanti is located in the
centre and many attractions can be reached on foot. Other attractions, the beaches, the waterfront and other places to go out or have dinner, can be reached easily by taxi or public transport. (accommodation is dependant on availability) |
Costs
Starting at €300,- pp
Minimum
is 2 people
Price
is subject to change
Including:
• 3 nights in lodge in Cape Town.
• Transfers to and from airport.
• Cage diving in Gansbaai, incl transfers, snacks, gear
Excluding:
Flight, food and drinks, other excursions, personal spending.
It is possible to extend your stay in Cape Town at app. €20 pppn |
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Itinerary
| Day
1 |
Arrival
in Cape Town.
Pick up at the airport and transfer to the hotel in
Cape Town.
Afternoon at your own disposal. |
| Day
2 |
Cage diving in Gansbaai. |
| Day
3 |
Day
at your own disposal or if necessary, another try in
Gansbaai. |
| Day
4 |
Drop
off at airport. |
For
extra info, prices and bookings, please contact Compass
Travel
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