Umzimkulu River Cruise

Description

Umzimkulu River Cruise

Umzimkulu River Cruise: a river cruise into nature and wild life, on the Umzimkulu River with us, is an unforgettable experience.

Our big boat is licensed to carry 17 in complete safety. Our skippers have been operating here in these waters, for four decades now.

Wildlife abounds in the benthic zone – life between the tides is complex and engaging. So much is going here and an encounter with any of the following marine and benthic animals is possible, even likely;

Birds

• fish eagles
• crown eagles
• osprey
• terns
• plovers
• wild geese
• kingfisher
• village weaver
• yellow-billed kite
• seagulls
• ibis
• loeries
• this is a very long list…

Turtles

Green, loggerhead and leatherback are spotted often. All of the turtles that frequent our coastline come in here – to be rid of parasites. Using the freshwater of the upper estuary to do so. Turtles have been spotted 12 kms upstream.

Otters

We have a colony of Cape Clawless Otters that think they own this estuary. That is however until the fish eagles strike. We have witnessed this twice and on both occasions, the fish eagles ate the otters up completely – through a low tide. On the sandbank right in front of the lodge.

Recently a pair of teenage otters have been flaunting their safety and swimming in the clear, in the daytime. I think one of them is gonna learn the hard way!

Zambezi Sharks

You will be very lucky to see a free-swimming Zambezi shark. And even luckier to be bitten by one. Only 4 people a year die from sharks biting them. Worldwide! Yet these magnificent fish are hated and hunted. The government kills them with gill nets!

This we have got to stop!

The huge mommas (4m plus) that swim up into the river in flood times use the mighty Umzimkulu Estuary to give birth to 12 or 13 live pups each time. Who are ready to go, with teeth and all at birth. This is pure wildlife happening in this relatively functional free-flowing estuary at the moment.

Bushbuck

Yip, we often enough see this beautifully shy buck in the thick jungle as we drift down the river silently. They are very noise-sensitive and shy. We also have seen recently – an Nyala bull…a young guy…up on the heights near the ghost house.

Rock Hyrax

The closest relative to the elephant according to science, is also the rock python’s best food around here. I am going to hide the rock python section down here under the rock hyrax (aka dassie) section – since the sharks are often already enough to scare some people away.

Monitor Lizard

Looking just like a crocodile, these guys are firmly in the upper class of the estuary food chain. That is until the Zambezi’s find them. Zambezi’s love to eat monitor lizards and we found a half of one of them recently, that bled out on the rocks under the ghost house. It was bitten clean through!

The fish

The fish are always jumping and playing about. Switching between hunter and hunted all day (and night) long. The hard part is catching them. We deploy underwater cameras and our observations from amongst anglers fishing, right when and where they are not catching, there are BIG fish swimming.

How-to-book

Please use the Contact page to get in touch. Or use our WhatsApp button and we can communicate in real-time as we arrange your big day out.

We have card facilities, and we do take cash or EFT.

We require a minimum of R850 for this cruise to set sail. It is a one-hour long cruise, or paid by the hour for longer trips.

Please don’t be late for your departure time!

Umzimkulu Adrenalin Phone App

Download our App (PWA which is a web app that takes zero space on your phone) which will keep you entertained and in touch with us – as we hammer through each season.

Click right here…

https://umzimkuluadrenalin.co.za if you haven’t already!

Install the App to your Homescreen, allow notifications, and you will be in for all kinds of treats, treasures and BIG surprises! Including the odd FREE Ticket discount coupon!

Follow the currents at The Sardine News. Check out a cool new way to kit up for estuary fishing right HERE.