Take a Ride on the Wild Side

Wildlife Watching White-Water Style

From giraffes to zebras, South Africa is filled with some of the world’s most beautiful wildlife. The best part is that tourists can enjoy the animals in their natural environment while on a safari. But what most tourists don’t know is that South Africa is so rich in wildlife that a safari isn’t the only way to catch a glimpse of these magnificent creatures.

On the East Coast of South Africa, the small coastal town of Umkomaas rests at the mouth of the Umkomaas River. In addition to being the largest river on the South Coast, the Umkomaas River is also one of South Africa’s best white water rivers. Stretching 298 kilometres long, tourists journey from all over to experience half-day and full-day white water rafting excursions on the river. Originating in Giant’s Castle of the Drankensberg mountain range, the Umkomaas River takes a winding route down to the Indian Ocean. It is a hub for water sports including rafting, canoeing, and fishing.  




Take A Ride on the Wild Side

Rafting takes place in the Umkomaas Valley located just 95 kilometres from Durban. Whether you are a first timer or a seasoned veteran, most rafters agree that the Umkomaas River offers a challenging and exhilarating experience. With some of the best rapids in South Africa, the river offers warm, high-volume white water that is intermixed with short pools to provide rafters with an opportunity to catch their breath as they glide past scenic valleys and gorges. 





The section of the river from Hella Hella to Number 8 is considered the largest traversable white water that can be found south of Zambezi.

On average, rafting on the Umkomaas River during the summer is considered Grade 3. However, the mighty African thunderstorms can easily transform the river into a high volume, fast flowing Grade 4 river. Although it is not necessary to have previous rafting experience, it is important to be reasonably fit in order to handle the physically demanding experience of rafting.

Scenic Vegetation and African Wildlife Await

The scenery along the Umkomaas River varies from scenic plateaus to bush country, and tropical-wooded hillsides. Along part of the journey, the river travels through the Duma Manzi Reserve, where rafters can experience sightings of a range of beautiful African wildlife including giraffes, buffalos, white rhinos, waterbucks, clawless otters, impalas, wildebeests, zebra, and the white-tailed mongoose. 

Occasionally, it is also possible to spot the endangered Blue Swallow that breeds in the uplands that overlook the valley. The river is also home to scenic vegetation including acacia trees and wild fig trees. The majority of vegetation is valley bush interspersed with mist belt forests where birdlife exists high in the trees. 



The half day journeys usually cover approximately 5 kilometres of the river while the full day trip travels along 12 kilometres of white water. Although the Umkomaas River is not as challenging from a technical perspective, it’s not a light ride either and if you’re a beginner, this will be an exhilarating ride.




The Grade 3 rapids travelling between the bridge at Hella Hella and St. Josephine’s Bridge are reminiscent of riding a roller coast with huge waves and very little to slow your momentum, while the scenes below St. Josephine’s Bridge are breathtaking with aloe-hung cliffs that drop straight into the river.

Know Before You Go

White water rafting in Umkomaas is not available year round as the river often silts up during the winter dry season and the water levels drop dramatically. The river levels are usually dependent on the rainfall catchment in the region. The mid-summer months tend to be wetter and rafting is usually available between November and April.  The water levels will typically dictate whether you can take a two-person inflatable raft accompanied by other guests and a guide, or whether you will travel in a six-person raft with a guide steering from the back. As white water rafting is an adventure activity with a mild risk of danger, it is always wise to ensure that you are adequately covered should any unforeseen circumstances or accidents arise. When travelling abroad, it is always important to ensure that you are prepared should you require any medical care. Temperatures in the valley can reach in excess of 40 degrees Celsius, which can also pose health risks. Make sure that you bring plenty of sun screen and bottles of water for the trip.

Whether you are planning a half-day, full-day, or multi-day white water rafting adventure, Ocean Park Guest House can be your base camp for this exhilarating South African adventure. Send us an e-mail info@oceanpark.co.za or visit our website www.oceanpark.co.za to find out more about our rates and availability.

Article contributed by Susie Fellowes

The Wild Coast and the Sardine Run

The Wild Coast of the Eastern Cape earns its name between June and August each year, when the huge migrating sardine shoals arrive, bringing with them the predatory sharks and dolphins. This coincides with the migration of the humpback whales, which are moving north to their breeding grounds. The waters between Port Elizabeth and Durban are alive with activity, with the everyday drama of survival played out between the whales, sharks, sardines and sea birds providing visitors with great opportunities for sightseeing, scuba diving and photography.

The Reef

The Aliwal Shoal, around five kilometres out from Umkomaas, is renowned as one of the best diving locations in the world. It is also something of an anomaly. Unlike most reefs, it is not made out of coral but is formed from an ancient fossilised range of coastal dunes, which survives as a rocky reef rising from the sea bed up to around 11 metres below the surface of the ocean. The reef supports a variety of hard and soft corals, which provide shelter for a great many species of tropical and subtropical fish, not least the many species of sharks, including a huge population of ragged-toothed sharks, which are often seen in groups of up to fifty or sixty strong between July and December after the sardine run is over. This is one of the mysteries of the area—why they congregate at this time in particular—but it means that these waters provide a year round and ever changing spectacle for visitors.

Dive with the Sharks

Durban is one of the most popular city destinations for travellers to South Africa, and is a stop-over port on most Africa and Indian Ocean cruises. Umkomaas is only a half hour’s drive away, making it the ideal spot for a shore excursion to soak up the atmosphere of the beautiful Eastern Cape coastline, its beaches, open spaces and opportunities for witnessing the drama of the wildlife out in the ocean. When the wind is up and the huge waves are crashing upon the shore, the sight of surfing dolphins flying through the spray is one you’ll never forget. The months of the sardine run are comparatively busy along this coast, with many tourists coming for the organised diving vacations to explore the reef and its shipwrecks and to dive with the sharks. Day trips for inexperienced casual divers are also available, providing a memorable experience for anyone brave enough to face these fearsome fish in their natural habitat.

The Ragged Tooth Shark is not aggressive, although it looks pretty fearsome. This makes it a popular aquarium exhibit as well as one of the safest species of shark to meet on a dive. The greatest populations of Ragged Toothed Sharks are found either on the Aliwal Shoal, on the reefs further south—in the dive sites of Chunnel, Cathedral and Raggies caves—or just north of the shoal on the wreck of the Nebo, a 200 ton steamship that has laid on the shoal since 1884. All that remains is a steel skeleton that supports many colourful sponges and soft corals, home to large schools of fish that attract the sharks.

Different Species of Shark require different diving methods. These can be caged or free dives, baited or un-baited. Caged diving is for the brave, although it is perfectly safe. If you want to come face to face with the truly awesome Great White Shark, this is for you. However, some of the other species of sharks are much more docile and you can safely swim with them. Tiger Sharks are shy, inquisitive and intelligent, and are attracted to an area by baiting the water. This is done by working with the currents to create an odour corridor that attracts the sharks to the boat. Once they have arrived, the divers slip carefully and quietly into the water to swim among them. This is not risk-free and only a few countries around the world allow free diving with Tiger Sharks, but safety divers are always there to accompany the group and intervene if any shark comes too close.

Whale Watching

Whales have long been associated with the town of Unkomaas. The name of the river, Mkhomzi, can be translated as ‘the place of cow whales’, so called because of the whales that used to swim into the estuary to shelter and give birth. These days you may be lucky enough to see one in the area during the winter, but the large schools of cow whales have gone. You need to go out onto the ocean to see them.

For those who like to keep their feet dry and stay onboard the boat, just getting out among the whales, dolphins and sea birds during the sardine run is as exciting as any encounter with sharks. You can witness a feeding frenzy without the fear of becoming a part of it. Anyone who has witnessed the magnificent grace of a huge humpback whale at close quarters comes away somehow change by the experience, by this contact with the mysterious intelligence of these giants of the ocean.



"contributed by Susie Fellowes" 

Making Room For the Past: Umkomaas

Ocean Park Guest House under construction 2007

Our guest house is situated in one of the most beautiful towns in South Africa. However it seems that it is also quite the unknown little gem too. So Ocean Park Guest House has decided to make accommodation to share a bit of the town’s history with you, and some of its most famous events. It may not be on the scale of the big cities, but in its own way our quaint town of Umkomaas has such a flavourful past that it has contributed to the establishment of a fiercely loyal local community, one that holds a great sense of love for the town and its surroundings. We introduce to you our town, Umkomaas, love it like a local, we know you will.

In 1861 a harbour was built on the KZN South Coast primarily as a place to ship the local harvests of sugar; with all the activity surrounding the harbor, the town of Umkomaas formed around it. The local people named the river uMkhomazi, which means “The Place of Cow Whales” because of the large number of whales that used the shallow estuary as a place to give birth to their calves. Unfortunately with the development of the ports in Durban and Port Shepstone, the Umkomaas harbor fell into disuse, but the town itself, as you can see, continued unhindered.

Named ‘South Barrow’ until 1924, the river itself was literally teeming with wildlife, including hippos and crocodiles well up until the mid-1860s when attempts to establish a harbor in the river mouth began.

In the 1860s a Mr. Greenacre established a general dealer store and small inn on the hill overlooking the uMakhosi River in order to capitalize (as did his family years later in West Street Durban) on the passing trade.

Aside from the sugar trade, Umkomaas is known for a few interesting historical events such as the WW2 Kitty Hawk that was involved in a mid-air collision and crashed in the Umkomaas river as well as the establishment of the local chemical cellulose manufacturing business in the 1950s. An Italian group invested in the business, attracting many Italian people to the area; because of this it is said that the Italian community in Umkomaas is the largest in South Africa.

At the age of 17 (around 1870), Sir Cecil John Rhodes who was diagnosed with a lung disease, possibly consumption, and was sent to stay with his brother, Herbert Rhodes who was attempting to farm cotton in the Umkomaas Valley. (The land was later considered unsuitable for cotton farming, and the farming venture failed.)

Umkomaas has also attracted a few more modern celebrities; among these is PGA golfer, Tim Clark who is credited with designing Umkomaas golf Course. The course proved to be quite a challenge as it was set in the middle of a densely forested area that features a delightful waterfall and a number of bush walks.

Then we have Swedish-born tennis player Mats Wilander, who although not originally from South Africa, is rumored to have invested in a well known property in Umkomaas.

Literary reference to the Umkomaas river valley is found in an early chapter of Alan Paton's 1948 novel Cry, The Beloved Country.  “From Ixopo the toy train climbs up into other hills, the green rolling hills of Lufafa, Eastwolds, Donnybrook. From Donnybrook the broad-gauge runs to the great valley of the Umkomaas.”

We all know that Umkomaas is most renowned for the superb diving opportunities created by the Aliwal Shoal, 4 kilometers off Umkomaas. Aliwal shoal is named after the sailing ship ‘Alawal’ that was almost wrecked in 1849 during a storm. Aliwal shoal is about 1,5km long and 1km wid. It’s a fossilized sand dune of soft and hard coral and sponges, which hosts an astounding variety of marine life, most notably the Ragged Tooth Shark.  Aliwal shoal also sports few adventurous wreck dives on the 'Produce' and the 'Nebo' and great reef drift dives.  The local dive scene is not only famous for these but also baited open water shark dives where divers can get up close and personal with Tiger sharks, Black Tips and Bull Sharks - locally know as Zambezi Sharks,  which are abundant in the area.

Umkomaas is also honored by the South African Navy with the naming of a mine countermeasure vessel being named after it, the SAS Umkomaas.

Rich with history, and a future filled with interesting activities, Ocean Park Guest House looks forward to sharing our beautiful town with you.

Bookings can be made online or by emailing our guest house manager, Lana on info@oceanpark.co.za.

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Secrets of Umkomaas: The Mystery of the Missing WWII Plane in the Umkomaas River

Not many people know about the WWII plane that is buried in the marshy waters of Umkomaas river. Here’s what we found out for you!

On the 30^th March 1944 during a routine practice battle formation, two Kittyhawks (5067 piloted by FO Brown) and 5006 (piloted by PO Smith) collided in mid air.

5006 managed to make a forced landing next to the river and pilot Smith escaped with his life. The second plane was not so fortunate; Brown was unable to bale from the plane and went down with the craft on the south bank of the Umkomaas river near the site where Saicor is today.

In the 1980s a group made numerous attempts to recover the wreckage of the craft but at the time the exact location of the plane was unknown and the site simply not found. After much speculation about the whereabouts of the sunken Kittyhawk, another group managed to locate it but the wreckage has been left in place because the pilot is still aboard and at the request of his family the site was declared a war grave and therefore it cannot be moved.

The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk was an American single-engine, single-seat, all-metal fighter and ground attack aircraft that first flew in 1938. The P-40 design was a modification of the previous Curtiss P-36 Hawk which reduced development time and enabled a rapid entry into production and operational service. The Warhawk was used by the air forces of 28 nations, including those of most Allied powers during World War II, and remained in front line service until the end of the war. It was the third most-produced American fighter, after the P-51 and P-47; by November 1944, when production of the P-40 ceased, 13,738 had been built, all at Curtiss-Wright Corporation's main production facilities at Buffalo, New York.

Warhawk was the name the United States Army Air Corps adopted for all models, making it the official name in the United States for all P-40s. The British Commonwealth and Soviet air forces used the name Tomahawk for models equivalent to the P-40B and P-40C, and the name Kittyhawk for models equivalent to the P-40D and all later variants.

6 × .50 in (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns with 150-200 rounds per gun

250 to 1,000 lb (110 to 450 kg) bombs to a total of 2,000 lb (907 kg) on three hardpoints (one under the fuselage and two underwing).

The South African air force had three squadrons of Kittyhawk deployed during WWII.

Famous South African kittyhawk pilot

Jack Frost: SAAF, the highest scoring air ace in a South African unit, with 15 victories (seven on the P-40); missing in action since 16 June 1942.

Umkomaas is a gem of history and interesting places to visit. When you book your accommodation and stay at Ocean Park Guest House,  speak to Lana about the local places of interest; we’d be happy to point them out.

Sources:

http://avcom.co.za
http://www.saairforce.co.za
http://www.fad.co.za
http://en.wikipedia.org

Mini Breaks Make You Live a Longer Healthier Life -Ocean Park Guest House - Accommodation Umkomaas

Photo credit: 11th

According to leading psychologists, people who take short mini breaks throughout the year maintain an overall better state of contentment and happiness than those who save up for one big holiday per year.

Romantic get-aways and mini breaks make for many more happy memories than extended holidays. According to Dan Ariely, a behavioral economist, Professor at Duke University North Carolina and author of "The Upside of Irrationality" suggests that holidaymakers rather break up the big holiday time by doing work in between; this allows them to have a better appreciation of the time off.

It also comes down to the ebb and flow of holiday enjoyment apparently. As a person becomes accustomed to being on holiday and the lifestyle that comes with it, the less they tend to enjoy it. Professor Ariely says:"On a long vacation, day seven is less good than day one because it's not as exciting. That's why in general, going away four times [a year] provides more benefit than you would expect, and going away for one week provides less benefit than you would expect." So you'll enjoy more of your mini break than you would of an extended holiday, overall.

Short trips and mini breaks also have some wonderful health benefits such as:

Improving your overall cardio health. According to research, people who took only one vacation once every six years or less were almost 8 times as likely to develop heart disease as those who took at least 2 holidays annually. The Framingham Heart Study followed 12,000 men listed as "at risk" for heart disease over nine years and those who took more vacations lived longer.

It will improve your mental health: In a study published by medicalnewstoday.com people who took frequent mini breaks were less likely to become depressed, tired, or tense. The same study showed that those who took holidays less frequently tended to have more insomnia and general stress at home.

Holidays tend to increase your energy levels and improve relaxation. Getting in some extra sleep on a mini break helps jumpstart good habits and may lead to maintaining higher energy levels and general fitness even after the break.

The benefits of short breaks don’t stop there. Taking mini breaks throughout the year provide excellent opportunities for family gatherings and activities. Going away as a family two or three times a year allows you to spread the quality time you spend together over a longer period of time. According to http://www.noholidaynolife.com: "Booking holidays in this way also means that some members of the family who may not be able to make it to one vacation through work or study commitments might be able to go to another and therefore don’t miss out."

Low season is upon us, and Ocean Park Guest House is inviting you to take advantage of our very special Mini Break offer.

(Valid until 5 December 2012)

Monday to Thursday 20% discount

Friday – Sunday 15% discount

Normal rates between R 370 – R 400 per person sharing & R 440 – R 470 per person single.  Rates are inclusive of a delicious continental and cooked breakfast.

Contact Lana on info@oceanpark.co.za  or +27 (0) 39 973 2657

Umkomaas: Your Gateway to the KZN South Coast

Umkomaas can certainly be best described as the gateway to the KZN South Coast. It also boasts one of the premier Dive Locations in the world - Aliwal Shoal. Ocean Park Guest House was established with all this in mind, this luxurious Accommodation venue in central Umkomaas is perfectly situated to use as a base to explore the South Coast.

With its old colonial style grace and charm Ocean Park Guest House is a Four Star establishment, graded by the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa and Superior Accommodation by the Automobile Association.

The rooms are classically appointed with all the amenities one would expect from superior accommodation. Top quality Percale Linen, Air-conditioning, Satellite TV, Hospitality Tray, Mini Bar, Safe and Wireless Internet is standard in all rooms. The property is fully secure with electric fencing, secure off road parking, alarm system linked to an armed response company and each room has its own key alarm.

The house also offers Guests the opportunity to practice their golfing skills on its own private 6 Hole Putting Green before a round of golf on the oldest Golf Course on the South Coast. Shops, restaurants, beach and dive centres are all within walking distance. A stunning entertainment area complete with a fully stocked bar, Lapa, Braai facilities and a large swimming pool to relax by.

Meals are served in a lovely dining and lounge area, outside on the balcony or around the pool if you prefer. Ocean Park Guest House is Diver ‘friendly’ with facilities to wash and hang wetsuits, as well as safe storage for dive equipment.

Personal service is given to assist with all your holiday and diving requirements.

Contact Us Email: info@oceanpark.co.za
 Tel: +27 (0) 39 973 2657 Fax: +27 (0) 39 973 2898 Cell: +27 (0) 76 627 5747
Web: http://www.oceanpark.co.za

Directions to Ocean Park Guest House: 
N2 going south from Durban or the airport Craigieburn / Umkomaas exit Turn left (Turn right and go over the bridge if coming north from Port Shepstone) Follow the road until you reach a four way stop. Turn right into Robinson Street. Over the hill ... and you can’t miss us on the left. 12 Robinson Street, corner of Harvey Street – opposite the soccer field.

 Local Attractions 

 Umkomaas is famous for the internationally renowned Aliwal Shoal, a fossilised sand dune of sponges and corals which is home to the Ragged Tooth Shark, Tiger Sharks, Whale Sharks and the wrecks of the “Nebo” and “Produce”.

 There are various dive operators in Umkomaas and dive courses, shark dives and speciality dives can be arranged. The "Hope Shop" is in the heart of Umkomaas and is very popular with locals and tourists alike.

This gem of a shop offers exciting and unusual shopping with a magical mixture of funky clothing, jewellery, local handcrafted gifts, African curios, art & drums and decor – an absolute must and well worth a visit!

Umkomaas golf course is an 18 hole course which is heavily wooded and bunkered and is well regarded to test players whilst providing stunning sea views. Between the rolling green hills and sparkling ocean you will find 'Croc World', Scottburgh’s beautiful swimming beach, craft shops and markets, world class surfing breaks, nature reserves and deep sea fishing from Rocky Bay.