The Big Five |- Above and Below Expedition

The big five above and below the African waters – is an exciting and popular expedition.

This 14-night trip includes 16 dives & 2 safaris with special emphasis on Whalesharks, Manta Ray, Dolphins, Tiger Sharks, Bull Sharks, Hammerhead Sharks and in season Humpback Whales.

Our eyes are also firmly focused on Land Giants in the latter stages of the expedition with Lion, Elephant, Giraffe, Cheetah, Leopard, Wild Dogs & Hyenas at the forefront of a personalized safari.

Our aim is to blend together experiences that will be remembered for a lifetime.

Meet the Team

Utilizing 20 years of Southern African Diving Experience Nick & Steve will be offering friends new and old the chance to Safari, Drive & Dive the BIG FIVE above and below the African waters!

MOZAMBIQUE 

Showcasing the newest diving destinations of Morrungulo, Tofo and Ponta Do Ouro with the BIG FIVE above game viewing at the Krugar National Park.

DIVE SITES

This expedition not only takes in the coastal beach towns of Morrungulo, Tofo, Ponta do Ouro and Durban but mixes in some of the best dive sites these vibrant Southern African towns can deliver. Diving with sharks represents the pinnacle for most underwater enthusiasts and this Dive & Drive expedition fulfills all of those bucket list sightings in three top diving destinations stretching the Mozambican coastline.

Programme

⚓14 NIGHTS 

⚓16 DIVES EX EQUIP

⚓2 x 10HR KRUGER SAFARI

Arrival from Vilanculos airport into the lodge at Morrungulo, check in followed by a well-deserved drink with relaxation on the ocean deck.

Your evening buffet dinner with a variety of mains will be prepared while you take in the sights.

Truly untouched reef with an abundance of rays (Manta, Eagle, Whiprays), thick with shoaling game fish, swathes of Sharks, Turtles, Dolphins and fantastic Humpback whale diving (July – late October) this place will quickly become a highlight of Mozambican diving.

Morrungulo is one of the three top diving destinations you will visit on this spectacular expedition. The newest beach on the block and soon to be the N°1 spot on the inhambane dive map, Morrungulo boasts a truly breath taking, unspoilt ,pristine beach and reef system.

The highlight for any serious diver is having the opportunity, especially in todays chaotic world, to scope out and design a new diving destination.

Over the last three years the team at SDD have done just that. The reef systems are raw, the marine life abundant and the opportunity to bump into some breathtakingly big megafauna can easily accomplished. 

Located in the peaceful coconut plantations of Inhambane’s Morrungulo beach, with the Indian Ocean at its doorstep Peri Peri dive camp is a stunning beach vacation, built overlooking immaculate and untouched beaches and is geared for a variety of activities.

The beach is within 300m walking distance from the resort and is a safe swimming beach. 

Breakfast is served from 6:45 – with hot and cold options available. After breakfast we kit up for you're first mornings Double Tank Dive. With it being the first day our launch time is a little later , around 9 am returning to the beach 2 pm onwards.

The days to follow are quicker and we plan to be on the water by 8:30 am daily. Sandwiches , fruit, water, Snacks, tea, coffee or hot chocolate are provided daily in between dives. 

A traditional fishing community turned diver’s paradise, Tofo Beach is a coastal town in southeastern Mozambique. At first glance, it seems like your typical African backpacker destination with sandy, palm-lined roads, friendly local people, and a profusion of affordable beach bars and restaurants.

Tofo is renowned as one of the best places in the world to swim with whale sharks, the world’s largest non-cetacean animal. Adult whale sharks average around 32 feet in length, and yet despite their colossal size are harmless to humans. Unlike most other destinations where whale sharks are seasonal visitors, these spotted giants are resident all year round off Tofo Beach. 

Your accommodation is a three storey building on tofo main beach and offers spectacular views right up to Barra Point.

The Guest House offers  luxurious ensuite bedrooms with verandas overlooking the beautiful ocean. The sundeck and swimming pool area offers guests privacy and the opportunity to relax and soak up the sun while listening to the sea.

Enjoy a drink on the veranda overlooking the ocean where whales and dolphins are a regular sight.

Once we arrive from morrungulo your guide will give you a quick show of the area surrounding your lodge and diving centre. Which is followed by a well-deserved drink and some chill time on the ocean deck.

The first evening we can eat sea facing on the deck and prepare dive gear and cameras for the nexts days excursion.

Breakfast is served from 6:45 on the ocean deck with some of the finest bay views – hot and cold options are available. 7:30 am meet at the diving centre where your equipment is already prepared, A quick briefing and we are on to the sea for 2 dives. Sandwiches , fruit, water, Snacks, tea, coffee or hot chocolate are provided daily in between dives.

Evenings are spent experiencing Tofo’s fantastic musical and culinary nightlife.

Ponta do Ouro has been identified by scientists around the world as being one of the most incredibly bio-diverse ecosystems in the world. Our Focus on the next 2 days will be diving with big sharks and the best place to see them is on Pinnacles.

Pinnacles is a stunning dive site, and has over the years been the place to see some of the most beautiful sharks up close.

After dropping down and exploring the depths of 30-40m below you will begin a slow ascent and cruise through the big blue waiting to see what appears.

The accommodation is centrally located in Ponta Do Ouro, Mozambique, just a 2-minute walk to the beach & nearby restaurants. Enjoy your afternoons relaxing by the pool, on the beach or at the bar, overlooking the ocean and miles of sandy beaches.

Rooms are available as Single, Twin or Double. Our evenings will be spent at some of the finest eateries that Ponta can offer. 

Once we arrive from Tofo Beach, we will quicky drop the prepped diving equipment at the centre ready for the following days shenanigans. Book into the lodgings and then your guide will give you a quick show of the area surrounding your lodge and diving centre and settle you all down to some fine dining at one of the many restaurants ponta has to offer. 

Breakfast is served from 6:30 on the terrace facing the sea where hot and cold options are available. 7:30 am meet at the diving centre where your equipment is already prepared, A quick briefing and we move onto the sea for 2 dives. Our Focus is the famous shark site that is Pinnacles and like all other places a third dive is available to you at an additional cost. Sandwiches , fruit, water, Snacks, tea, coffee or hot chocolate are provided daily in between dives. 

The Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve is a protected area located 280 km north of Durban in northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is the oldest game reserve in Africa, and it covers almost 96000 hectares. This is the only place in KwaZuluNatal where the Big Five can be found (lion, rhinoceros, leopard, buffalo, elephant).

The reserve is famous for its Southern White Rhino population, the largest in the world as of 2011. The species was first considered extinct before being rediscovered along the Umfolozi River, and thanks to numerous conservation efforts the species now numbers about 14,530 individuals.

Nestled in a lush forest setting, our lodging options vary depending on the number of guests, but all are delicately furnished to blend in with the surroundings. Our accommodations offer spectacular views of Lake St. Lucia, providing beautiful scenery and an ideal environment for bird watching.

This little piece of paradise is the perfect place to relax and recuperate in the heart of nature. Our lodge is perfectly situated, close to the Hluhluwe Game Reserve, allowing you to leave early in the morning to see the big five.

After Breakfast in Ponta we make a quick stop at the diving centre to collect equipment and finalize any extras then we are on the road to Hluhluwe. A short drive of 2 hrs brings us to the border of South Africa, with out lodgings a mere 1 hour over. Hopefully arrival before sunset will see us catch the evening sounds of the African bush with a glass of wine overlooking the famous Lake St. Lucia.

Collecting us at around 4:45am we enter the park at 5:15am just as the animals are gearing up for breakfast. We'll stop for breakfast around 8am, lunching around 12pm at two of the parks secure eating stops overlooking the river banks.

The safari is around 10hrs total leaving the park around 3pm and arriving back just in time for some sunset drinks. The focus of our land giants is close interactions  with the famous BIG 5 of Africa 

Durban is one of the biggest cities in South Africa. Rich in cultural diversity, it's the perfect place to end your stay, eat in some great restaurants and stock up on souvenirs.

Although Durban is a very developed city, its coastal fauna remains very consequent. It is one of the most sharky destinations in Africa where you can easily swim with up to 30 sharks in a single dive.

You will experience the exciting bait dives that attract many sharks including the famous tiger shark.

Located on a beautiful plot of land overlooking the Indian Ocean and the Umkomaas golf course, our accommodation also has its own restaurant and bar with sea view. The diving center is located in the heart of our hotel for your convenience.

You will have a wonderful time here with the possibility to have a braai (barbecue) party, sitting around the fire, having a relaxing drink, showing great pictures and discussing the day's diving.

A full breakfast will be served from 6:30 am onwards with a view on the sea. At 7:30 we will meet at the dive center for a quick briefing and we will head out to sea for 2 dives.

The first dive will be a famous bated dive hoping to attract arround 20  sharks including the massive Tiger shark. The second dive will be a reef dive where we can observe other sharks like the Ragged Tooth Sharks and white tip reef sharks.

2023 DATES

⚓1 JULY – 15 JULY

⚓16 JULY – 30 JULY

⚓1 AUG – 15 AUG

⚓16 AUG – 30 AUG

⚓1 SEPT – 15 SEPT

⚓16 SEPT – 30 SEPT

⚓1 OCT – 15 OCT

⚓16 OCT – 30 OCT