South Africa - Apex Predators Photo Safari - July 2012

MalaMala promises some the finest game viewing on the African sub-continent and regularly provides the subject matter for a veritable collection of international and local wildlife documentaries (including National Geographic). Many of these documentaries have won international accolades amidst critical acclaim. Several publications are available, showcasing the treasures that make the property one of the most sought-after on any traveller's itinerary.

It is a near-impossible task to bring to life a MalaMala safari through the written word, but the annual statistics published by the property serve to prove the frequency and consistency of Big 5 sightings experienced by visitors.

Why such phenomenal viewing success? Simply put, it’s due to:
1. Size and human habitation: 33,000 acres (13,500 hectares) lie undisturbed, but for two safaris which meander through the wild with no more than 6 silent observers per vehicle each day (note - our safari will have just 4 guests per vehicle). Human densities which have a direct impact on the environment have been kept to an absolute minimum. Only guests accommodated at one of the MalaMala camps enjoy this privately-owned game land.
2. MalaMala has practiced sound environmental management policies for years, well before “responsible tourism became the contemporary catch phrase.
3. Photographic safaris are conducted in open 4-wheel drive vehicles, allowing for total freedom of movement and the ability to leave the road and track down Africa's unique animals including the legendary Big Five - Lion, Leopard, Rhino, Elephant and Buffalo.

Every aspect of the Main Camp is designed to appreciate and enjoy the view of the surrounding wilds. Pathways wind their way along the perimeter of the camp to reveal individual ochre colored units tucked into the greenery which flanks the Sand River. Massive trees and rolling green lawns are filled with birdsong, with the occasional antelope or elephant which seeks the succulence of greenery.

The camp comprises 18 rooms.  The camp facilities include:
• The impressive lounge, air-conditioned dining room and historic bar are conducive to good companionship - safari style;
• Air-conditioned library with satellite television, internet connectivity and DVD player - affectionately referred to as the Monkey Club;
• A large wooden safari deck, in the shade of a Jackalberry Tree - the ideal vantage point from which to observe the steady flow of animal life at the Sand River's edge;
• A large filtered infinity pool with magnificent views across the river;
• A well-appointed safari boutique with quality clothing, jewellery and artefacts;
• A small fitness facility with stationary bicycle, treadmill, multigym machine, rowing machine, sit up benches, pull up bar, free weights, mats and a steam room;
• A massage service is available on request;
• A fully stocked wine-cellar houses a selection of some of South Africa's finest wines.

Today after our last morning game drive at MalaMala, we will be transferred by light aircraft to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport in time for our scheduled flight to Cape Town. On arrival at Cape Town International Airport, we will be met by our local representative, who will transfer us by road to Four Rosmead.

Situated on the slopes of Table Mountain in the select residential suburb of Oranjezicht, Four Rosmead enjoys 360º views of the mountain, Lions Head, Signal Hill, Table Bay and the city. The guest house is within walking distance of the city centre, vibrant Kloof Street, which is well known for its restaurant and café culture, and is 5 minutes by car from the V&A Waterfront, Clifton and Camps Bay beaches.

Built in 1903, Four Rosmead is a classified provincial monument that has been sensitively and stylishly remodelled. The result is a Cape contemporary classic with a rich history - an ideal venue for self indulgence and to use as a base to explore Cape Town. Interiors are chic with a subtle, yet distinctive African spirit. Landscaped gardens, a pamper spa offering a variety of massage treatments, and a patio overlooking the pool deck and herb garden all contribute to an urban sanctuary for guests to relax and unwind.

After check-in we will have the early evening to settle in and perhaps walk around the vibrant neighborhood with our cameras before dinner.

GREAT WHITE SHARK TOURS
Our stay in Cape Town will include THREE Half-Day White Shark Excursions to view and photograph Great White Sharks. We work exclusively with Apex Shark Expeditions.

Jump to Map of Cape Peninsula

White Sharks with Apex Shark Expeditions
• The tours depart from Simon's Town, which is just 45 minutes from Cape Town & close to oceanic areas that provide the best shark cage diving in the world.
• The famous Boulders Beach Penguin Colony is just five minutes from our launch site and Cape Point Nature Reserve is 15 minutes away, sowe may plan to visit these famous attractions before or after our shark excursion.
• As seen on 'Planet Earth' and 'Air Jaws', both filmed from our vessel, Seal Island is world famous for unique activity where the sharks breach out of the water. Apex predators offer more than shark cage diving, our area offers the chance to see breaching (sharks jumping out the water) and predation (sharks hunting seals). This happens most frequently at Seal Island, and June, July and August are the peak months for seeing this behavior.
• Besides natural predation and breaching, we also offer shark cage diving on our trips in South Africa. You can therefore have the possibility to see and do all three in one shark trip
• This is a great opportunity to experience all aspects of Great White shark behavior and witness these creatures in their natural habitat.
• All shark cage diving is on snorkel so a dive certification is not required.
• We specialzse in small groups and take a maximum of 12 guests per trip with four guides on board. This small group size means a high quality experience is guaranteed and our guides can make your shark cage diving trip educational and informative. Smaller groups also allow for a longer cage dive for each member of the shark cage diving trip (20 to 30 minutes per dive).
• We have a specially constructed three-man cage but choose to dive only two people at one time for a more comfortable experience.
• We are an official permit holder for Great White shark cage diving. As such we operate in an eco- friendly manner and no shark livers are used to attract sharks.
• Seal Island is located in False Bay, which is protected from the prevailing winter wind and swell, allowing for more comfortable sea conditions at this time of year.

Quick Info About the Shark Trips
Morning: 7am to 12:30pm – Activities include all in one trip (breaching, shark cage diving and natural predation).
Afternoon: 1pm to 5pm – Activities include shark cage diving and breaching on the decoy.
Departure: Simon's Town – 45 minutes from Cape Town.
Maximum number of guests per trip: 12
Size of Cage: 2 divers per 20-30 minutes dive time – No experience required.
Included in trip: 4 well trained crew, educational booklet, dive gear, light meal, snacks & refreshments.

Early this morning we will be collected from Four Rosmead and taken on a shared half-day Shark Excursion with Apex Ahark Expeditions..

06h50: Meet the boat crew at Simon’s Town Pier.
Guests are welcomed aboard and a full safety and weather briefing is given before departure.

07h00: Depart for Seal Island, False Bay. (25 to 35 minute boat ride)
07h35: Arrive at Seal Island, False Bay shortly before sunrise. This is the optimum time to have a chance of observing the natural predation behavior that makes Seal Island so unique.

The great whites of Seal Island are now world-famous for their highly athletic breaches in pursuit of Cape Fur seals which they hunt in the area.

We will observe natural predatory behavior for as long as possible; however it is usually the first hour and a half that is the most intense. After this period we will try a short decoy tow using a fake cut out carpet seal where we try to get the sharks to breach. It is a very unique way to elicit predatory behavior and has been very useful to help us identify different strategies adopted by the different sharks

After the decoy tow, we do an inspection lap around Seal Island looking for any signs of bitten or injured seals. These observations are recorded for research & conservation purposes. This is a great opportunity to get close to the 64,000-strong Cape Fur Seal colony that has made Seal Island their home.

Thereafter we choose the best spot to anchor up based on weather conditions and attract sharks to our vessel. Once a shark approaches, a small bait is put in the water to keep the sharks interested around the boat for identification and viewing purposes. At no point are the sharks purposefully fed or handled. We do not use shark livers or any other attractants that have a negative impact on the environment and all efforts are made to avoid the sharks coming into contact with our vessel.

If the weather conditions are favorable, i.e. good visibility and workable seas, the cage is lowered into the water for shark cage diving.

Safety precautions and operational procedures are then explained to the diver wishing to enter the cage. It is important to know that the sharks come very close to the boat so it is not necessary to dive in order to see them. So for those guests not wishing to dive they will still have excellent views of the Great White Shark.

Lunch which usually consists of rolls with cold meats as well as a vegetarian option, accompanied by soft drinks, fruit juice, bottled water and a variety of snacks are available throughout the course of the day.

12h30: Boat will arrive back in Simon’s Town Harbor depending on the weather conditions and shark activity.

12h30 onwards: Tea and coffee available at our home base in Simon’s Town and you will also have an opportunity to browse through our unique range of shark related merchandise.

Afternoon Itinerary
This afternoon after lunch we will head to an area along the coast where we will photograph African Penguins.

The African Penguin is the only penguin to inhabit the African continent and its coastal islands. It used to be known as the Jackass Penguin, due to the braying sounds which it makes on land, but the name 'African Penguin' has now been adopted to distinguish it from the Jackass Penguin found in South America, which is slightly different in appearance and behaviour

African penguins inhabit twenty-seven sites. Most are on inshore islands, of which the best known is Robben Island. There are only three of them on the mainland sites. The largest existing colony is on St Croix island near Port Elizabeth, with about 50,000 birds. Dassen Island off Yzerfontein, once home to over a million penguins, now has about 30,000, while Dyer Island near Gansbaai has about 20,000. The most remarkable of the mainland colonies is Boulders Beach in Simon's Town with over ,2500 birds.

This morning we will be collected from Four Rosmead and taken on a private half-day tour of Table Mountain, inclusive of all entrance fees.

Table Mountain and City Tour
We take the short drive to the Lower Cableway Station to board the revolving cable car for a 5-minute ride to the top of Table Mountain. At 1,036 meters above sea level, it affords bird’s-eye views of both the city and peninsula as you walk its summit.

Next we return to the city via the old Cape Malay Quarter, for a walk through the Company Gardens, the fresh produce gardens for ships and locals from the mid 17th Century and today, home to the SA Museum, Cultural History Museum, Houses of Parliament, National Gallery and St George’s Cathedral. Stroll through the city to Greenmarket Square to browse African mementos at its bustling market stalls.

Drive to the Castle, the oldest building in South Africa with its collection of Old Cape paintings and take in the Grand Parade where Nelson Mandela addressed the nation on his release in 1990.

Move on to the District Six Museum to view a moving collection of stories, pictures and memorabilia highlighting the colourful life of this suburb which now stands empty, thanks to the destruction of homes and forced removal of residents during the height of the Apartheid era.

Lunch is at one of the popular nearby restaurants, before we head back for more sharks...

1:00pm - Meet the boat crew at Simon’s Town Pier.

Guests are welcomed aboard and a full safety and weather briefing is given before departure.

1:15pm - Depart for Seal Island. (25 to 35 minute boat ride)

1:30pm - The best spot to anchor up based on weather conditions is decided and we attract sharks to our vessel. Once a shark approaches our boat a small bait is put in the water to keep the sharks around the boat for identification and viewing purposes. At no point are the sharks purposefully fed or handled. We do not use shark livers or any other attractants that have a negative impact on the environment and all efforts are made to avoid the sharks coming into contact with our vessel.

If the weather conditions are favourable, i.e. good visibility and workable seas, the cage is lowered into the water for cage diving.

Safety precautions and operational procedures are then explained to the diver wishing to enter the cage. It is important to know that the sharks come very close to the boat so it is not necessary to dive in order to see them. So for those not wishing to dive they will still have excellent views of the Great White Shark.

Snacks accompanied by soft drinks, fruit juice, bottled water are available throughout the course of the afternoon.

5:00pm: Boat will arrive back in Simon’s Town Harbor depending on the weather conditions and shark activity.

This morning we will depart our hotel for the helicopter base at the V&A Waterfront where we will board a helicopter for a flight starting with spectacular views over Table Bay and Robben Island.

Note that each helicopter will have only 3 guests so that each guest will have a window view for ease of photography over one of the world's most scenic peninsulas.

Our flight continues past the Twelve Apostles Mountains towards Hout Bay fishing harbour. From here, the flight passes the majestic Chapman's Peak drive and the vast sweep of Noordhoek beach and the seaside village of Kommetjie.

Next comes the beautiful coastline leading up to Scarborough and the Cape of Good Hope section of the Table Mountain National Park. Admire the rocky outcrop of the most south-westerly point of Africa - the Cape of Good Hope. Sir Francis Drake described the region as "the fairest cape in all the circumference of the earth" and his love for this Cape is shared by most who see it.

The helicopter touches down on the False Bay coastline, on the east side of the Peninsula, where our driver and vehicle awaits us.

We will enjoy a superb lunch at a seaside restaurant near the penguin colony (cost of which is included). Thereafter we will continue along Cape Peninsula, stopping for photographs as we go and including a funicular ride to Cape Point, before returning to the city along the eastern side of Table Mountain.

Great White Shark Afternoon Itinerary
This afternoon we will once again join Apex Shark Expeditions for a private group excursion into False Bay to see and photograph Great White Sharks. You will have the opportunity to photograph the sharks from on board the boat or from the cage (using snorkel).

Same itinerary as per previous day:

1:00pm - Meet the boat crew at Simon’s Town Pier.

5:00pm: Boat will arrive back in Simon’s Town Harbor depending on the weather conditions and shark activity.

On this day we travel to the small settlement of Lambert's Bay where we visit a reserve established to protect an important breeding site for Cape gannets. The colony has a hide overlooking the main grouping of birds, and excellent opportunities exist for taking pictures of these charismatic birds, both on the ground and in flight. Several other bird species may be seen, along with Cape fur seals. Lamberts Bay is 2.5 hours by road from Cape Town, so we leave early and come back in the late afternoon.

There is an authentic fishing harbor adjacent to the island where the birds breed and several excellent restaurants specializing in seafood in the town.