Blogs from Shelly Beach, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, Africa - page 2

So...Sunday morning was in Shanghai, than on to Saigon to drop Leslie and Tiffany where they are spending few weeks. On Tuesday I was in Bangkok...time to re-register for the school, find a new flat and sort out the movers...all done! Wednesday was...business as usual in Hong Kong...and from Thursday it was Congo...for a good 11 days of great fun...ok, and some work too. Don't ask me how I deal with it...it's done, that's the most important part. Than this Sunday, it was Lubumbashi-Joburg-Durban...and the drive south to Shelly Beach. I know, one more blog about one of my preferred place in the world...for the diving, the golfing, and obviously few friends... This is hammerheads season...and I mean...middle of the hammerhead sharks season...big time! These guys are shy...and travel in groups...big groups. But at the same ... read more

Next stop after Umkomaas was Shelly Beach. To do some more diving. This time, in Protea Banks. Protea Banks is one of the most famous spots in South Africa to do shark diving, just like Aliwal Shoal. Before arriving there, I asked a few contacts and I was recommended "Aquaplanet Dive Center". The dive center is owned and run by Kym Pollard. And so far, it's been the best dive center I've been diving with in SA (out of a total of 5 dive centers in the past month). For the whole week I stayed in a place that they recommended to me at Aqua Planet: "Cathy's Cove". This place is in a town called Margate, which is just 5km from Shelly Beach. Cathy's Cove is managed ... read more

We were in Cusco on a Monday morning...and ready to re-settle in our flat on Monday night. Than Tuesday morning, I left for 2 weeks to Africa...via Sao Paolo and Johannesburg...direction Kinshasa. Everything should have gone smoothly, but it simply didn't. Congo, aka DRC is seemed to be ranked 192nd for "ease of doing business" by the UN...out of 192 countries....yes, doing business or simply travelling here is actually more complicated than trying to reach places like Afghanistan or Iraq....even if most of Congo is actually way safer. There is no Embassy of DRC anywhere close to where I live...so forget about applying directly for a visa. The solution is actually pretty simple...you've got the right paperwork and "they" apply for you for a "visa on arrival", valid 7 days once you enter the country...visa that ... read more

I realize this is my third entry about Shelly Beach, so there must be something about the place. But before this, a little sense of place....welcome to Africa....I'v just uploaded the pictures in Joburg airport...and the text is actually written in Addis Ababa few minutes before my flight back home...did I say Welcome to Africa! Someday you'll have to remind me that Africa, back in 2007 was simply not on my radar. I spent two months in Africa in 2011....and this figure could go up in 2012 and 2013.... I've just spent 6 great days in RDC. Original plan was 8 days....than it went down to 7...and my little "Malawi excursion" cut it by one more day. This resulted in running a lot to see a lot of people, but as always, had a great time ... read more

"This diving is not for everyone". These are the words used today by the divemaster in charge. I first planed to do a single blog entry about the South of Durban...till I found out that Shelly Beach is actually 80km south of Umkomaas...not really next door. I agree, I could have done my homeworks better before coming here. Shelly beach is a lot less geared to divers and more to holidaymakers. I stay at the Tropical Beach B&B...an amazing place, an amazing host, Jackie has done a wonderful work of this lovely place with great service, at a very reasonnable price, a true jewel to recommend. Jackie recommended me a great restaurant on the beach for diner, where I enjoyed some nice wine and lovely seafood. Early morning wake up again, starting by a nice cooked ... read more