Diving & Safari: Ponta do Ouro, Sodwana Bay, Hluhluwe & Aliwal Shoal

Day 1

Planet Scuba Guest House

From Maputo, a scenic transfer of around two hours south brings you to Ponta do Ouro, a laid-back border town perched at the southern tip of Mozambique. Planet Scuba Guest House is comfortably situated in the heart of town, just a two-minute walk from the beach and within easy reach of restaurants, bars, and the local market. Diving is with the experienced team at Gozo Azul Dive Centre, with double tank morning dives and the possibility of a third dive in the afternoon. The highlight of any stay here is the famous Pinnacles — one of the finest shark diving sites in the world, drawing divers from across the globe to Ponta's deep blue waters.

Days 2–3

2 dives

Accommodation

Planet Scuba Guest House

Meals

Breakfast

Day 4

Maputo Special Reserve

Experience the wild side of southern Mozambique on a day trip to the beautiful Maputo Special Reserve. Departing from Ponta do Ouro, you'll explore a diverse landscape of coastal forests, wetlands, lakes, and savannah, home to elephants, giraffes, zebras, antelope, hippos, crocodiles, and a wide variety of birdlife. Travelling in an open safari vehicle with an experienced guide, you'll have the opportunity to learn about the reserve's unique ecosystems while enjoying spectacular scenery and excellent wildlife viewing. This full-day excursion offers a wonderful combination of nature, adventure, and conservation in one of Mozambique's most scenic protected areas.

Accommodation

Planet Scuba Guest House

Meals

Breakfast

Day 5

Coral Divers

From Ponta do Ouro, cross the border into South Africa and travel south to Sodwana Bay, one of Africa's premier dive destinations. The drive takes approximately three to four hours, bringing you to the lush coastal forests of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where Coral Divers will be your base for the next few days. Sodwana Bay is renowned for its extensive coral reef systems and remarkable marine biodiversity. Dive the famous Two Mile, Five Mile, and Nine Mile reefs in search of turtles, sharks, rays, and an astonishing variety of tropical fish. These vibrant reefs form part of one of the southernmost coral reef systems in the Indian Ocean and offer some of the finest reef diving in Africa.

Accommodation

Coral Divers

Meals

Breakfast, Dinner

Days 6–7

2 dives

Diving with Coral Divers is typically organised around morning boat launches to Sodwana Bay's renowned reef systems. Most days include two guided dives, usually on different reefs, with boats returning to shore around lunchtime. Dive sites are selected according to sea conditions and may include famous locations such as Two Mile, Five Mile, or Nine Mile Reef. Afternoons are generally free to relax, enjoy the surroundings, or take part in optional activities such as snorkelling, ocean safaris, turtle tours (seasonal), birding, or excursions into the surrounding iSimangaliso Wetland Park.

Accommodation

Coral Divers

Meals

Breakfast, Dinner

Day 8

Coral Divers

One more morning dive with Coral Divers to complete your 5-dive package. The rest of the day is yours to relax, snorkel, or explore the surrounding iSimangaliso Wetland Park.

Accommodation

Coral Divers

Meals

Breakfast, Dinner

Day 9

Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge

From Sodwana Bay, a scenic drive through the KwaZulu-Natal bush brings you to Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge, an intimate luxury lodge set within the heart of the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park — one of Africa's oldest game reserves and a cornerstone of rhino conservation on the continent. Perched on a ridge with sweeping views over the surrounding wilderness, the lodge offers beautifully appointed suites, outstanding cuisine, and the kind of stillness that only the African bush can provide. From here, game drives and guided walks through the park offer the chance to encounter white and black rhino, elephant, lion, leopard, and wild dog — all in a wonderfully uncrowded and authentic setting.

Accommodation

Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Activities

Day 10

Game Walks

A typical day at Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge begins early in the morning with tea or coffee before setting off on a guided game drive into the Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park, one of Africa’s oldest and most iconic Big Five reserves. The early hours offer the best chance of wildlife activity as the bush comes to life. After a few hours in the park, you return to the lodge for a relaxed breakfast overlooking the surrounding valleys. The late morning and early afternoon are at leisure — time to unwind at the pool, enjoy the views from your private deck, or simply relax in the peaceful bush setting. In the late afternoon, guests usually depart for a second game drive, returning to the lodge around sunset. Evenings are spent enjoying dinner under the stars or in the restaurant, often followed by time around the fire, sharing stories of the day’s sightings.

Accommodation

Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Activities

Day 11

Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge

Accommodation

Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Activities

Day 12

Blue Ocean Dive Resort

From Rhino Ridge, a transfer of around three hours south along the KwaZulu-Natal coast brings you to Umkomaas, home to Blue Ocean Dive Resort and the legendary Aliwal Shoal. One of South Africa's premier dive destinations, the Shoal is renowned worldwide for its thrilling shark encounters — ragged tooth sharks, oceanic blacktips, and the occasional tiger shark — as well as its vibrant reef life. A perfect final chapter to an extraordinary journey through some of southern Africa's finest diving and safari destinations.

Accommodation

Blue Ocean Dive Resort

Meals

Breakfast

Days 13–14

2 dives

Diving at Aliwal Shoal is done as a double tank dive, with two dives on the legendary reefs separated by a surface interval on the boat. The Shoal offers a remarkable variety of dive sites — from swim-throughs and caves teeming with ragged tooth sharks to open water drifts alongside schools of tropical fish, rays, and the occasional humpback whale in season. No two dives are ever quite the same.

Accommodation

Blue Ocean Dive Resort

Meals

Breakfast

Day 15

2 dives at Prothea Banks (daytrip)

From Umkomaas, guests can join a day trip to Protea Banks, one of South Africa’s most famous offshore shark diving reefs. Trips depart early in the morning for the drive south to Shelly Beach, where the boats are launched. Protea Banks is a deep offshore reef known for its seasonal and year-round shark activity, including ragged-tooth sharks, hammerheads, tiger sharks, and occasional bull sharks, depending on conditions and time of year. Diving is usually conducted as a double-tank morning trip, with two dives on the reef separated by a surface interval on the boat. After the dives, guests return to shore and transfer back to Umkomaas in the afternoon. This is an early start, full-day excursion and offers the chance to experience one of the Indian Ocean’s most exciting and dynamic shark diving sites.

Accommodation

Blue Ocean Dive Resort

Meals

Breakfast

Day 16

Departure

After breakfast, it's time to say goodbye to the KwaZulu-Natal coast and head to King Shaka International Airport in Durban — a transfer of around one hour. As you make your way north, take a moment to reflect on an extraordinary journey: the shark-filled waters of Ponta do Ouro, the pristine coral reefs of Sodwana Bay, the ancient wilderness of Hluhluwe-iMfolozi, and the legendary dive sites of Aliwal Shoal and Protea Banks. Southern Africa at its very best — above and below the surface.