ST HELENA ISLAND ESCORTED WHALE SHARK SPECIAL 2020
Two price options for these great value escorted tours, in pounds (GBP)
Budget:
February 21st to 1st March 2020
Two sharing a double room £910 (approx. $1174)
Single occupancy £1035 (approx. $1335)
Deluxe:
February 28th to 8th March 2020
Two sharing a double room £1695 (approx. $2195)
Single occupancy. £2095 (approx. $2700)
Interactive itinerary here
Flights
Johannesburg – St Helena – Johannesburg from £760 ($990)
We can take payments in GBP, USD, EUR, AUD or ZAR
Budget:
February 21st to 1st March 2020
Two sharing a double room £910 (approx. $1174)
Single occupancy £1035 (approx. $1335)
Deluxe:
February 28th to 8th March 2020
Two sharing a double room £1695 (approx. $2195)
Single occupancy. £2095 (approx. $2700)
Interactive itinerary here
Flights
Johannesburg – St Helena – Johannesburg from £760 ($990)
We can take payments in GBP, USD, EUR, AUD or ZAR
Escorted by pro-UW photographer Christopher Bartlett, owner of Indigo Safaris. Christopher has been involved in whale shark conservation since 2009. He has led trips to the Galapagos and the Maldives with Dr Simon Pierce, founder of the Marine Megafauna Foundation, adviser to the IUCN on whale shark conservation status, and regarded by his peers as the leading whale shark researcher in the world. Christopher brings a decade of fascination with these gentle giants to the show. Bigspottyfish (and their friends the Bigflappyfish) are very close to our hearts, and the MMF is one of the key conservation organisations that we sponsor each year.
Whale shark interaction
St Helena is home to the only known seasonal aggregation of adult male and female whale sharks, from January to March. In March 2019, the first courtship between two whale sharks was documented, and some of the females are clearly pregnant.
They tend to frequent certain dive sites that are sea mounts or ledges. Current regulations prohibit deliberate SCUBA diving with whale sharks, but permits deliberate snorkelling and chance encounters on SCUBA.
On this trip, we have two planned whale shark snorkels, and if they appear on a dive site whilst we are diving, we are free to stay and enjoy. If the whale sharks happen to be on the dive site when we arrive, we will snorkel with them, and dive after.
Diving
The diving on St Helena is diverse and very interesting.
The limestone cliffs on the leeward side of the island host some beautiful caverns, also packed with fish, many of which are endemic, and make for superb photo opportunities. Lava fingers running into the sea attract Chilean devil rays and pinnacle sites are home to schools of Rainbow runner and jacks. There are a handful of excellent wrecks too. See here for a list of dive sites.
Snorkelling
The divers get two afternoon whale shark snorkel trips. Non-divers get two afternoon snorkels and two that we will schedule on site, either AM or PM, depending on conditions and what else you want to do.
Included
For divers
Each trip includes 1 night in Johannesburg, 7 nights on St Helena, the final night in Johannesburg, 10 dives over 5 days, 2 whale shark snorkelling trips, a full day 4x4 land tour, 6 days shared vehicle hire, and transfers. The deluxe version includes 7 breakfasts on St Helena and 4 dinners.
For non-divers
Each trip includes 1 night in Johannesburg, 7 nights on St Helena, the final night in Johannesburg, 4 whale shark snorkelling trips, 2 full day 4x4 land tours, 6 days shared vehicle hire, and transfers. The deluxe version includes 7 breakfasts on St Helena and 4 dinners.
Itinerary:
Day 1: After clearing immigration in Johannesburg, transfer to accommodation. The budget tour uses MoAfrika guesthouse, conveniently 10 minutes from the airport. The deluxe version uses the Premier Hotel, also 10 minutes from the airport. Dinner at your cost.
Day 2: Return to the airport for the 0900 flight to St Helena, arriving 1330 local time. After clearing immigration, you will be transferred to your accommodation. On the deluxe version, dinner is included. After-dinner drinks at the Standard pub recommended for a bit of local colour and music.
Day 3: Today we will do two dives, ton sea mounts or ledges. Afternoon visit of Jamestown.
Day 4: Full day island 4x4 tour to visit the key historic sites and viewpoints of the island.
Day 5: Two reef or wreck dives in the morning, whale shark snorkelling in the afternoon.
Day 6: Two dives, on sea mounts or ledges
Day 7: Two dives, on sea mounts or ledges
Day 8: Two reef or wreck dives in the morning, whale shark snorkelling in the afternoon.
Day 9: Morning free, transfer to the airport at midday for the 1430 flight to Johannesburg. Transfer to Johannesburg accommodation. Dinner at your cost.
Day 10: Transfer to the airport.
Whale shark interaction
St Helena is home to the only known seasonal aggregation of adult male and female whale sharks, from January to March. In March 2019, the first courtship between two whale sharks was documented, and some of the females are clearly pregnant.
They tend to frequent certain dive sites that are sea mounts or ledges. Current regulations prohibit deliberate SCUBA diving with whale sharks, but permits deliberate snorkelling and chance encounters on SCUBA.
On this trip, we have two planned whale shark snorkels, and if they appear on a dive site whilst we are diving, we are free to stay and enjoy. If the whale sharks happen to be on the dive site when we arrive, we will snorkel with them, and dive after.
Diving
The diving on St Helena is diverse and very interesting.
The limestone cliffs on the leeward side of the island host some beautiful caverns, also packed with fish, many of which are endemic, and make for superb photo opportunities. Lava fingers running into the sea attract Chilean devil rays and pinnacle sites are home to schools of Rainbow runner and jacks. There are a handful of excellent wrecks too. See here for a list of dive sites.
Snorkelling
The divers get two afternoon whale shark snorkel trips. Non-divers get two afternoon snorkels and two that we will schedule on site, either AM or PM, depending on conditions and what else you want to do.
Included
For divers
Each trip includes 1 night in Johannesburg, 7 nights on St Helena, the final night in Johannesburg, 10 dives over 5 days, 2 whale shark snorkelling trips, a full day 4x4 land tour, 6 days shared vehicle hire, and transfers. The deluxe version includes 7 breakfasts on St Helena and 4 dinners.
For non-divers
Each trip includes 1 night in Johannesburg, 7 nights on St Helena, the final night in Johannesburg, 4 whale shark snorkelling trips, 2 full day 4x4 land tours, 6 days shared vehicle hire, and transfers. The deluxe version includes 7 breakfasts on St Helena and 4 dinners.
Itinerary:
Day 1: After clearing immigration in Johannesburg, transfer to accommodation. The budget tour uses MoAfrika guesthouse, conveniently 10 minutes from the airport. The deluxe version uses the Premier Hotel, also 10 minutes from the airport. Dinner at your cost.
Day 2: Return to the airport for the 0900 flight to St Helena, arriving 1330 local time. After clearing immigration, you will be transferred to your accommodation. On the deluxe version, dinner is included. After-dinner drinks at the Standard pub recommended for a bit of local colour and music.
Day 3: Today we will do two dives, ton sea mounts or ledges. Afternoon visit of Jamestown.
Day 4: Full day island 4x4 tour to visit the key historic sites and viewpoints of the island.
Day 5: Two reef or wreck dives in the morning, whale shark snorkelling in the afternoon.
Day 6: Two dives, on sea mounts or ledges
Day 7: Two dives, on sea mounts or ledges
Day 8: Two reef or wreck dives in the morning, whale shark snorkelling in the afternoon.
Day 9: Morning free, transfer to the airport at midday for the 1430 flight to Johannesburg. Transfer to Johannesburg accommodation. Dinner at your cost.
Day 10: Transfer to the airport.
Budget accommodation
We will be staying in two and three-bedroom cottages in Half-Tree Hollow, built in 2014, located above Jamestown with a magnificent view of the coast and the ocean. Each cottage has a small lounge, kitchen and a bathroom. Single occupancy guests will share a three-bedroom cottage. There is a small supermarket in Half-tree Hollow and other food shops in Jamestown. Fresh fish can be purchased in Jamestown, a five-minute drive away.
Deluxe accommodation
The 4-star Mantis Hotel is a combination of restored historic buildings dating from 1774 and a new contemporary building situated in the heart of Jamestown, a few minutes’ walk from the sea front, swimming pool, museum, Jacob’s Ladder, public library, archives, shops, and bars.
The buildings originally served as an officer’s barracks for the East India Company, who administered the island at the time. They served as military accommodation up until the last garrison left the island in the 1900’s. The original buildings were constructed from stone, bonded together with mud and mortar, pointed and rendered with lime which also formed the whitewash, with teak and iroko joinery and flooring. This 30-room boutique hotel has a large restaurant, the best on the island, bar and guest lounge and two outdoor terraces.
We will be staying in two and three-bedroom cottages in Half-Tree Hollow, built in 2014, located above Jamestown with a magnificent view of the coast and the ocean. Each cottage has a small lounge, kitchen and a bathroom. Single occupancy guests will share a three-bedroom cottage. There is a small supermarket in Half-tree Hollow and other food shops in Jamestown. Fresh fish can be purchased in Jamestown, a five-minute drive away.
Deluxe accommodation
The 4-star Mantis Hotel is a combination of restored historic buildings dating from 1774 and a new contemporary building situated in the heart of Jamestown, a few minutes’ walk from the sea front, swimming pool, museum, Jacob’s Ladder, public library, archives, shops, and bars.
The buildings originally served as an officer’s barracks for the East India Company, who administered the island at the time. They served as military accommodation up until the last garrison left the island in the 1900’s. The original buildings were constructed from stone, bonded together with mud and mortar, pointed and rendered with lime which also formed the whitewash, with teak and iroko joinery and flooring. This 30-room boutique hotel has a large restaurant, the best on the island, bar and guest lounge and two outdoor terraces.