Wilderness Safaris positions coastal lodge for families
ROCKTAIL Camp in
the lush Maputaland
Coastal Forest is a
prime diving destination.
The lodge is also geared
towards children, with an
array of activities. The
camp can accommodate
34 guests and 14 children
in 17 units that include
seven family canvas tented
rooms.
Ocean safaris
Mokarran Dive Charters is
adjacent to Rocktail Camp
and offers boat trips in
search of Humpback
whales, Bottlenose
dolphins, Manta rays and
Whale sharks. The halfday
excursion sets off in
the mornings, departing
from the dive centre.
The boat trip includes
some snorkelling, with
the chance of spotting
turtles. Flippers, snorkels
and goggles are provided,
as are wet suits for those
who feel the water is too
cold. This activity is at an
additional cost.
Other activities available
for kids include guided
nature walks, sand
boarding, arts and crafts
and baking.
Scorpion walks
Scorpion walks take place
in the early evenings before
dinner. Guests are taken for
a walk into the forest that
surrounds Rocktail Camp
to search for scorpions. A
qualified guide leads the
walk with the use of a UV
flashlight. Under the light of
the UV torch the scorpions
glow, making them easier to
spot (see right). The guide
will also share information
about the different species
of scorpions. The walk is
roughly 45 minutes and is
suitable for children and
adults.
Snorkelling
Snorkelling trips take place
in the mornings at Lala
Nek. Flippers, snorkels and
goggles are provided and
a guide accompanies the
swimmers. Lala Nek has an
emerged sedimentary rocky
reef that forms a secluded
pool just off the beach,
giving easy and safe access
and peaceful waters that
are suitable for swimmers of
all ages. The reef is teeming
with an array of tropical fish
and marine life.
Turtle trips
From mid-October to
mid-March, guests
have the opportunity
to watch Loggerhead
and Leatherback turtles
nesting. The beach is
one of only two places in
Africa where Leatherbacks
breed. The turtles come
ashore and dig nests
where they lay eggs. The
sight of a turtle nesting
is not guaranteed but
thrilling if the experience
actually takes place. A few
months later, guests have
the opportunity of seeing
the eggs hatch while the
little turtles scurry into the
water. Rocktail partners
with Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife
to protect the turtles and
Rocktail guides patrol the
beach on summer nights,
monitoring the turtles.
This activity is at an
additional cost.
Durban works to keep beaches clean
ETHEKWINI Municipality has
employed 75 staff members
– 50 day staff and 25 night
staff – to clean the Durban
beachfront and coastline as
visitors flood to the city for
the holiday period.
The day shift is between
06h00 and 14h00 and
the night shift is between
14h00 and 22h00.
The city also plans to
ensure that public toilets
are open at night. Toilets
generally open at 06h00
and close at 18h00 in
winter and are open until
22h00 in summer.
Mayor, Cllr James Nxumalo
has condemned the littering
on Durban’s beaches and
appeals to holidaymakers
and residents to use
the receptacles provided
and become responsible
for their waste and the
environment. “A positive
attitude can transform the
social ills, poor economic
and environmental
conditions in our city,”
he says. “It takes a
concerted effort from all
stakeholders to keep a
city clean and we must
all become ambassadors
of our beautiful city. A
clean environment leads
to a positive attitude and
better quality of life. This
positive approach attracts
investment, which enables
growth and job creation.”
The mayor will implement
by-laws early next year
that prohibit anyone from
depositing, dumping or
discarding waste in a public
place, to give time for Metro
Police officers to be trained
to enforce the laws.
On October 16, eThekwini
Municipality, in partnership
with various stakeholders,
cleaned up the beachfront
and coastline, from Virginia
Beach to the Blue Lagoon
river mouth.
The clean-up campaign
also educated members
of the community on the
importance of preserving
marine life and the impact
of pollution on the economy,
tourism and everyday life.
