Saturday started early with a breakfast by the pool on a veranda platform with amazing views. Then off on a bus to the Sodwana Bay National Park.
It was a hot and lovely day. As the bus arrived, two 4×4’s were waiting for us. We jumped in and the driver raced us up the dune and down on the other side we saw an amazing stretch of sandy beach and bay.
The vehicle zoomed onto the sand and down towards the water and turned South where I saw some tents in the distance.
As we arrive there was another welcoming committee from Phinda, a bar and savoury snacks served in 6 thick leather small carry cases.
At 1030 we all decided to have a G&T as a marine expert went through what was to happen that day.
I decided to have massage under one of the canopies. It was bliss, relaxing and all the more wonderful for hearing the sea and feeling the breeze.
By the time I had finished the boat was ready to take me and two others out looking for whale sharks.
The breeze had turned into a high wind and although the sun was still out the sea was getting very choppy. We were in a semi ridged inflatable with 2 enormous outboard engines.
(example photo, not of actual group)
We struggled to push the boat out but managed to catch a wave and jumped on board, then bumped and crashed our way through the surf.
Meanwhile a 3 seater plane was loading up with 3 passengers to take off and go whale shark hunting.
We started to make our way, following the coastline of beautiful sandy beaches. The skipper shouted out against the noise of the engines that he had seen a humpback whale with her baby near the shore just a little way South of where we were.
I couldn’t believe it, we were 10ft away from the mother whale. The water was only 8m deep and the baby was playing, diving down vertically and then when it’s tail was sticking out in the air it flapped it down hard onto the surface of the water with an almighty splash.
We watched quietly so we didn’t disturb them.
What a sight! Luckily the marine expert had a waterproof camera and as the mother’s head shot up and out from the water he managed to get some pictures.
By now, the plane was overhead. The weather was changing. The waves were getting higher and the wind had increased but just as we were about to turn back, when the radio com went and the pilot shouted out.
”We’ve spotted a whale shark”.
I looked up and the plane was banking heavily, turning a circle. It seemed much further out to sea than we were, then our skipper pushed the throttle flat forward and the engines roared as we took off towards the plane.
The pilot was shouting “It’s on the tip of my wing, the tip of my wing!!”
We were weaving our way towards the plane… then I saw it. A huge shadow under the water a little to the right of me.
The engines were cut, the plane dipped it’s wing as a goodbye as it headed back….and suddenly everything was silent.
“He’s there, 7ft from us!” cried the skipper.
Wow….the huge fish was right in front of me. I wanted to get my mask and flippers on ready to jump in and tag but the ‘marine man’ said it was too dangerous for us in the high waves.
He jumped in instead as did another brave member of our team, John, and they managed to take a photo. They then used the swell of a wave to carry themselves almost onto the boat then leapt back in.
We rolled around on what were now large waves and the wind was turning to a Force 7, so it was time to head back. We had drifted a very long way South. The skipper threw the throttle down hard again, the engines roared, the front of the boat lifted and we were off.
I had to move from sitting on the side of the boat with my feet strapped and holding onto ropes, back to the centre engine hatch where I strapped my feet in and clung onto the ropes from the kit rack. It was like riding a bucking bronco.
The waves were getting bigger and bigger and cresting in the high winds. As we came around the head land each wave towered above us, suddenly there 6 dolphins swimming around us jumping in and out of the surf.
The skipper who incidentally was a professional surfer, weaved the boat though the waves with expertise speeding up and slowing down when a particularly high wave approached. Eventually, exhausted we launched on a high wave which surfed us onto the beach…..what a fantastic ride!!
The 4×4 took us back to the beach camp and a BBQ lunch. My face stinging from the wind and the salt, we made our way back to the coach for the return to Phinda.
I just had time to take a hot bath and change ready for our CSR Forum.
During the next 3 hours we all discussed our personal highlights of the week and how the industry and our own companies are tackling CSR issues internally and externally.
The CC Africa area manager stood up and told us about their work.
Although there seemed to be a huge contrast between the build at Mziki Agri Village then Phinda, it’s important to recognise that the tourist industry in SA is very important for the local inhabitants as well as the economy.
In Phinda for example, CC Africa have 14,000 hectors of land which was originally farm land for cotton employing just 13 people. Now 360 people are employed at Phinda. CC Africa have also built schools and employed teachers, helping to create better, more sustainable lives and business.
Yes, in undertaking this challenge we have produced carbon emissions, however, the benefits of our trip, and our efforts in helping to produce a positive, sustainable impact on the environment we visited, I believe, goes a long way in balancing the negative impact our journeys will have created.
The forum continued for an extremely useful and interesting 3 hours.
Later, we followed the rangers by torchlight for a Boma Dinner within a reed enclosure lit by torches and a campfire in the middle. We were entertained by a local choir and then thoroughly enjoyed a sumptuous BBQ of fresh fish and wonderful beef.
It was a wonderful farewell to Phinda and we enjoyed the wine and the conversation into the night.