My First Experience of Deep Sea Fishing in South Africa

My first ever trip deep sea fishing in South Africa starts with an early morning wake up call at 4.30am. I am staying at a lovely guest house in Port Alfred situated on the coast of the Eastern Cape. With a sense of excitement, I kick start my day with a strong coffee and prepare food to take with me for what I hope will be a successful days fishing. The night before I took some Stugeron (seasickness tablets) just to be on the safe side as I am not sure what the Indian Ocean has in store for me. We make our way down to the boat and prepare everything. We have taken 2 boxes of fresh sardines for bait.

Port Alfred has a lovely marina with a river that flows into the Ocean. We have timed our exit from the Kowie River mouth to coincide with low tide to ensure we have the smoothest exit to the Ocean. Nevertheless we put on our life jackets and ride the waves at the river mouth out to the vast Indian Ocean. We are riding in a Butt Cat which is superb for the Ocean with the ability to ride over the oncoming waves. Our skipper is Des, an experienced fisherman who knows the waters off this area of the Eastern Cape, and asks us to hold on as he picks up speed crashing over the waves in front of us. This is great and a really exciting start to the day completely taking my mind off any potential seasickness.

We head out for about 30 minutes before we drop our first anchor. Once we are settled we start to bait up our rods and drop our first lines. There are three of us on the boat so Des gives us expert advice on how to bait up and some tips on what to do when you get your first nibble on the line. I can’t believe how far down my line goes before my weight hits the bottom! As soon as my line reaches the bottom of the Indian Ocean I can feel the fish biting. This is amazing I didn’t expect to feel the bites so firmly. I now try and put into practice Des’ tips on making a strike. After a few fruitless attempts I make a proper strike and I reel in quickly. Of course it’s a long way up and my arms are doing all the work but soon I can see the fish on the end of my line. The feeling is amazing! 

Des shows me how to bring the fish on board and then how to remove the hook from the fish. The fish is too small to keep but the taste of the catch has left me wanting more. Having returned the fish to the Ocean I bait up again. We spend about an hour in the first spot before moving on to a new spot. The Ocean is relatively calm and the weather is superb – always remember your suntan cream as the breeze out here can be very deceiving. 

We stop for lunch halfway through the day to enjoy homemade sandwiches and cool drinks. Bobbing around on the Ocean we suddenly hear the noise of a familiar spurt of water made by a whale. Des points out the southern right whale about 200 metres away – incredible to think these mammals are cruising around near where you are fishing. We finish lunch and move on to a new spot. We enjoy in total about 8 hours fishing and catch enough good size fish for dinner later that evening. During the afternoon we spot lots of white water about a mile away from us – Des heads his boat towards the area and we are suddenly surrounded by thousands of dolphins and seals as far as the eye can see. This is an incredible sight and I take lots of photos to capture the moment.

As we return back to Port Alfred I look back on an amazing first experience of deep sea fishing in South Africa. South Africa has miles of coastline with a great choice of accommodation to be found from Guest Houses, Bed and; Breakfasts, Lodges and Self Catering venues. From Cape Town all the way up the Garden Route to beyond Durban there are numerous beach holiday places to stay where you can take a fishing boat charter. 

For more information on other things to do in South Africa and places to stay – see www.Where2Stay-SouthAfrica.com

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Plettenberg Bay – the Monaco of South Africa

Plettenberg Bay is situated along the Garden Route and is hugely popular with visitors throughout the year but especially around the Christmas season. This area has become increasingly popular over the last few years with visitors being attracted by the miles of sweeping golden sandy beaches, rocky peninsula and wonderful climate. There are some fabulous spots here to look out across the vast Indian Ocean. There are three main beaches - Robberg, Central and Lookout. Of these, Lookout is probably the most appealing but they are all excellent for swimming and perfect for families. With over 300 days of sunshine a year Plettenberg has been compared to Monaco by some with its setting and delightful cuisine on offer.

There really is something for everyone to do from Skydiving, Bungee Jumping, Mountain Biking, and Canopy Tours to Whale Watching, Diving or perhaps just a gentle boat cruise. For the keen fisherman amongst you there is some excellent deep sea fishing to be had here. If you like playing golf then you will be spoilt for choice as this area has probably the most golf courses of all the areas in South Africa. Try the signature Goose Valley and Turtle Creek course in Plettenberg Bay, as well as the Country Club, offering golfers a unique experience.

Recommendations for accommodations in Plettenberg Bay include:

Madon Studio Self Catering Apartment If you’re looking for accommodation in a peaceful and tranquil setting look no further! This sunny North facing open-plan apartment forms the ground floor level of a resident artist’s home; from the private garden with its own entrance, overlooking a dense indigenous forest, home to a variety of bird life, you enter a spacious lounge and well-equipped kitchen; the bedroom has a king-size bed and en-suite bathroom with a shower - all you need for a relaxing stay in Plettenberg Bay, the jewel of the Garden Route. Prices start from R250 per night.

Crescent Country Hotel - The Crescent Country Hotel is situated on 8 hectares surrounded by beautiful rose gardens. The hotel offers 39 luxurious en-suite rooms, some with their own private garden terrace. The Crescent Country Hotel is a great base to explore the Garden Route - there also many wonderful activities on site and in and around Plettenberg Bay. Visit the Birds of Eden, Monkeyland, Game Reserves or take a boat trip to view whales, dolphins and sharks at close range. For Golf enthusiasts, there is a golf course over the road from the hotel. Paddle by canoe to the beach which is just 1km downstream or motor down 2kms away. Prices start from R520 per night sharing.

A Little Stint in Paradise - A tastefully furnished 4-star graded fully-equipped 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom ground floor holiday apartment located in the heart of Plettenberg Bay with the focus on luxury, comfort and style. Prices starting from R190 per night.

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Whale Watching in South Africa

Did you know that there are approximately 37 different varieties of Whales and dolphins found off the coasts of South Africa?

The official Whale Route stretches all the way from Doringbaai, to the west of Cape Town, all the way up to Durban, in KwaZulu-Natal, a distance of some 1,200 miles. The route takes in some of South Africa's most beautiful coastline including the famous Garden Route, the National Park at Tsitsikamma and the Transkei. The whale watching season tends to be July to November each year.

The whales choose these waters for the purpose of calving and bringing up their young. There are many spots along the coastline where you can watch these whales from land or if you choose you can take a boat trip and get even closer. The licensing of these boat trips is strictly controlled to ensure the safety of the whales especially during the calving season. The coastal waters attract many Southern Right Whales, Humpbacks, Brydes and Killer whales as well as an abundance of dolphins. It is believed that there are some 3,000 to 4,000 Southern Right Whales in the world and the coast of South Africa is one of the best places from which to observe these marvellous creatures. Humpback whales tend to be seen during the months of May to November as they travel north to Mozambique and Angola.

Great places to see whales:

To the west of Cape Town:

• Lamberts Bay
• Elandsbaai
• Yzerfontein
• Saldanha Bay
• Cape Town

To the east of Cape Town:

• False Bay - the protected waters here mean whales are often spotted playing here
• Bettys Bay
• Hermanus - they even have a Whale Crier here to inform you when whales are sighted
• Gansbaai
• Cape Agulhas
• Struisbaai
• Arniston
• De Hoop Nature and Marine Reserve
• Witsand
• Still Bay - Southern Right Whales give birth here
• Gouritzmond
• Vleesbaai
• Dana Bay
• Mossel Bay
• Hartenbos
• Great Brak River
• Ballot's Bay
• Herold's Bay
• Victoria Bay
• Wilderness
• Sedgefield
• Kynsna
• Plettenberg Bay - whales often come in close here

For more information on the above, other activities across South Africa and places to stay - see: www.Where2Stay-SouthAfrica.com

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Top things to do in and around the Western Cape

Suggestions on things to do in and around the Western Cape including wine tasting, visiting Boulders Beach for the African Penguins, the Garden Route, Robben Island, Cango Caves, oysters at Knysna, whale watching, Table Mountain, shopping at the V&A Waterfront, exploring Cape Town and much more...



• Enjoy world-class wine tasting in the Cape Winelands - the area is known for its wonderful natural beauty, rich cultural heritage and world-renowned wines.



• See the African Penguins that live and nest at Boulders Beach.



• Have a picnic at Cape Point – see the views of the Atlantic and False Bay – do watch out for the Baboons!



• Explore the Garden Route with its beautiful coastline and little towns – great for adrenalin junkies and nature lovers.



• Visit the infamous Robben Island which has now been turned into a museum and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. An important symbol in South Africa of triumph of good over evil, of democracy over apartheid.



• Do a day drip to the Cango Caves and ride an ostrich near Oudtshoorn.



• Take the cableway up Table Mountain and see all the way across to the Cape Flats and the Hottentots Holland Mountains. Great for a romantic picnic or to see the City’s lights.



• Do some shopping or eat at one of the many wonderful restaurants at the V&A Waterfront.



• Take the Hop on, Hop off Bus and explore Cape Town and get a taste of the rich history.



• Sample some delicious oysters at Knysna and take a boat trip to the dramatic Knysna Heads.



• Go bungee jumping at the world’s highest commercially operating Bungee (216m) at Bloukrans.

• Hermanus – see whales spy-hopping, breaching and lob-tailing – don’t forget to take lots of photos to show your friends and family back home.



• Take a boat trip in Hout Bay to see the seals – don’t forget the fish and chips takeaway!



For more information on things to do, accommodation and information on the Western Cape, see www.Where2Stay-SouthAfrica.com

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Visiting South Africa

Visiting any country for the first time is an exciting experience and that is no exception for South Africa. When considering visiting a country as large as this, it’s really important to plan your trip well in advance. Think about what you would like to do and all the places you would like to visit while you are there. To truly make a trip here worthwhile it is recommended you spend at least 3 weeks here. Any shorter and you will be struggling to fit in your itinerary. South Africa covers an area of 471,000 square miles and has a population of 42.7 million. Getting about once you are here is actually quite simple. There are a number of low-cost airlines that serve the country and fly between the main airports and can be booked online prior to your trip. Once you are there it’s easy to hire a car and to travel between towns but just beware of distances as it’s easy to underestimate the time required to drive. For instance, Durban to Cape Town is 1,753 miles.
Driving during the day is recommended, although the roads are good, you will need to watch out for wild animals on some roads and even baboons on the major routes. A couple of excellent driving routes are the Route 62 which runs between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth and the Garden Route which runs between Heidelberg and Stormsriver. Both these routes have some of the best views and scenery.

Let’s consider for a moment some of the top experiences that anyone should be considering as part of their visit. Obviously Big 5 game viewing is very popular but there is also the Drakensberg Mountains. The wonderful coastal life set against the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, the magnificent wine regions, Table Mountain, the famous Garden Route, great sporting and adrenalin activities, superb top class golf courses and the nightlife available in top cities such as Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town. You can now see the importance of planning your trip and staying for at least 3 weeks.

Of course South Africa is gearing up for the World Cup in 2003 and this is involving considerable upgrades to infrastructure as well as the main stadia that are being built. The plus side is that major rail improvements are being made particularly between Johannesburg and Pretoria. For visitors there is going to be a brand new huge Rio-style carnival in Cape Town which kicks off on March 18th 2003. For 2 days Cape Town will come alive to the sound of music and parades through the streets. This is to become an annual event capturing the heart of the diverse communities found here.

Another great attraction for visitors is the deep sea fishing to be found here. Whether you are a novice or an expert you will have an amazing time. There are of course numerous charter trips to be found to view the many types of whales that migrate here each year. The Garden Route is particularly well served for this. Of course for the brave, you can also take a dive in a cage to view sharks up close and very personal!

It’s important to plan your trip so that you have a chance to explore the culture and people in South Africa. There is of course great history, with many museums and monuments harking back to times gone by.

If you are a keen walker or hiker then there are some amazing places to visit such as the Drakensberg area. The scenery here is stunning and there are many guided hikes or camping trips that will take you through some of the most stunning backdrops. Many people choose to visit Kruger for their Big 5 game viewing but to be honest, you can do this almost anywhere in South Africa. Perhaps more exciting is the many different ways that you can view game - on horseback, on quad bikes, in your own car - the choice is amazing.

Choosing accommodation early is important and is especially wise during World Cup year. There is accommodation to suit all budgets and some of the guesthouses that you find here are really good quality and will not break your budget. The owners are generally very helpful and will assist you with advice on local attractions.

For more information on the areas, events, activities and accommodation in South Afriica, visit www.where2stay-southafrica.com

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