Besides Mount Kilimanjaro, SkyPalm Travel & Tours is offering to its customers different climbing destinations in East Africa; such as:
Mount Meru, 4,321meters (14,177 feet) in Arusha, Tanzania
Mount Kenya, 5,199 meters (17,057 feet) in Nyeri, Kenya
Mount Elgon, 4,121meters (14,177 feet) in north of Kisumu and west of Kitale, Uganda
A big continent known for big animals however Africa underwater offers scuba divers big thrills as well. Along Africa’s east coast, you’ll find scuba divers exploring amazing underwater seascapes. There are a lot of adventures to choose from when visiting Africa.
Tanzania
True dive enthusiasts are geography experts at heart. That’s because the world’s best scuba diving locations sometimes read like a who’s who of exotic global locations. Tanzania is one of those places; the imagination takes over when destinations like Zanzibar and Dar-es-Salaam are mentioned. As one of the longest continually inhabited places on Earth, Tanzania is a land of extremes, from the Serengeti to the sea. It boasts the highest (Mt. Kilimanjaro) and lowest (Lake Tanganyika) points on the African continent, but, more importantly for scuba divers, it’s bounded on all sides by water: the Indian Ocean to the east, and the great rift valley lakes of Africa– Lakes Victoria, Tanganyika and Malawi – to the northwest, west and southwest. With shore diving, boat diving, liveaboard opportunities and lake diving, there’s a great deal here to keep adventurous divers happy.
Pemba Island – Pemba is Tanzania’s northernmost Indian Ocean island. It offers quintessential Indian Ocean diving, with coral-choked walls, colorful reefs, big bommies and enormous sea fans orbited by an amazing cast of reef fish. This remote Coral Sea atoll is made up of several individual dive sites. But, North Horn is perhaps the most famous for its sharks. There are white-tips, grey whalers, silvertips and the occasional hammerhead, you’ll also see potato cod, bigeye trevally and bumphead parrotfish.
Mnemba Atoll, Zanzibar – The self-proclaimed tropical fish capital of East Africa, this classic Indian Ocean atoll system is teeming with fish and offers drift and wall diving, all with consistent 30-metre/100-foot visibility.
Leven Bank – Far off the northern tip of Zanzibar is the domain of experienced divers looking for a unique thrill in wide-open ocean. Strong currents wash the bank, which is populated by big game fish, tuna, barracuda, kingfish, trevally, a variety of wrasse and huge moray eels.
Mafia Island – After a Tanzanian inland safari, divers still itching for big animal action should head to Mafia Island. If you’re visiting from October through March, the chances are good you’ll be able to hop aboard a dhow and head for a whale shark encounter.
Mesali Island Coral Garden – A vertical drop off here is festooned with coral. Clear water and abundant reef life make this a dive to remember. There are other dives here, including a rapid drift dive in the channel.
Lake Tanganyika – Dive in a crystal clear freshwater lake with literally hundreds of species of cichlid, some of which vie for vivid colors with marine species. This is a great place to combine some different diving with an altitude diver course while staying in an African lodge.
Mozambique
Mention Mozambique and most scuba divers immediately think megafauna. Whale sharks and manta rays prowl the plankton rich water year-round and humpback whales pass by on their way through the Mozambique Channel from the Antarctic. Mozambique, located on Africa’s southeast coast, has more than 2000 kilometres/1250 miles of coastline bathed by the southerly flowing Aghulhas Current. To the north, the Quirimbas Archipelago is home to the recently designated Primeiras and Segundas Marine Protected Area (MPA). The largest MPA on the African continent, it protects rich coral reefs and mangrove forests and is an important nursery for myriad reef fish and five of the ocean’s seven marine turtles among other notable denizens. To the south, the Maputo Protection Area spans the coast from Ponta de Ouro to the Maputo River providing a haven for nesting marine turtles and conserving the offshore reef ecosystems. Off Praia do Tofo, Inhambane, whale shark
alley (a plankton rich current fed corridor) attracts whale sharks all year round. Sightings are almost guaranteed. This alone will put Mozambique on many scuba divers’ bucket lists.
Doodles, Ponta do Ouro – This is a long, interesting reef, with small drop-offs and sand patches. Schools of juvenile reef fish, shrimp, snappers, boxfish and turtles call the colorful hard and soft corals home. You often share the reef with friendly potato bass, which can reach a length of 2 metres/6.5 feet and can weigh as much as 110 kilograms/240 pounds. Game fish and dolphin are sometimes also sighted.
Pinnacles, Ponta do Ouro – This deep reef is known for Zambezi and hammerhead shark sightings. Big potato bass patrol the waters and formations of rays floating past are not uncommon. Thick coral formations hide eels and reef fish, and various game fish species are almost always in attendance, prowling the frequently strong current on the lookout for their next meal. The Gap, Pemba – This spectacular wall dive is located on the edge of the continental shelf on a drop-off of that plunges to 80-120 metres/260-390 feet. It’s a prolific feeding ground for big game fish. The dive starts at around 10 metres/33 feet and features dramatic structures adorned with large gorgonian fans at about 37 metres/120 feet. Sunfish and devil ray encounters are a real possibility here. Edge of Reason, Medjumbe Island – According to the charts, this drop-off goes straight down to more than 850 metres/2750 feet – obviously well past recreational scuba depths. Overhangs and caverns at 20-30 metres/70-100 feet harbor species such as humphead wrasse, groupers, reef sharks, snappers and unicorn fish. The dive site gets its name from the sensations that flood you as the wall plummets to the deep blue.
Kingfisher Reef, Inhambane – There are many dives sites on this reef off Praia de Jangamo. The reefs offer a huge diversity of marine life, including lots of tropical fish species and numerous giant manta rays visiting cleaning stations.
Manta Reef, Tofo – This is the area’s showcase dive site, famous for a couple of manta cleaning stations. It’s a gentle drift dive that begins with a descent into 26 metres/85 feet of water in the middle of a small amphitheater teeming with life. The first cleaning station is reached in a shallower sandy area at 21 metres/70 feet. Here, mantas circle overhead to be cleaned by goldies, cleaner wrasse and butterflyfish. In good visibility it’s possible to watch upwards of ten mantas circling overhead.
Kenya
Diving in Kenya is generally good all year round, although visibility lessens during July and August due to silting and high seas. The weather is consistently warm and sunny, with excellent water temperature that makes for great diving conditions. October to March is the best time for diving. Divers visiting Kenya typically dive in one of the large marine reserves: Watamu Marine National Park – a well protected and managed area. This is an important area for egg laying for the endangered Green sea Turtle, which lay on the beaches at Watamu several times a year and they are often seen around this reef.
Nearby Moray Reef has a breathtaking overhang dropping 28 metres to a sandy bottom. The coral here is a refuge for octopus and eel and a massive semi-tame moray. Whale sharks pass through each year from October to February, with good sightings reported each day.
Kisite Mpunguti Marine Reserve – for some of the largest Manta Rays on the East African coast.
Mombasa Marine Park And National Reserve – Mombasa, a coral island off the coast of Kenya, has beautiful coral reef and marine life; this makes the whole experience of diving and snorkeling fabulous.
The Malindi Marine Park – between the shoreline and the two main reefs, North Reef and Barracuda Reef, runs Barracuda Channel.
In the island archipelagos of Northern Kenya, around Lamu and Manda, new dive sites are currently being explored and made accessible. The reefs along the Kenya coast are extremely diverse and all standards of diving can be found to suit even the most fastidious diver.
Deep Sea Fishing
Tanzania; Zanzibar & Mafia & Kilwa
Fishing is an integral part of African culture, in a world where self-sufficiency is at the heart of the economy you can witness many fishing boats bobbing against the flaming sunrise and the sparkling Indian Ocean. Off the beautiful island of Zanzibar the sea life is abundant, rich and satisfying. Fishing enthusiasts will be in their element as they sail out to the midst of the deep green waters and cast their lines to catch some spectacular fish.
Pristine Waters
Many of the waters around the southern tip of the Island, between Mafia Island and Latham Island are practically untouched with only a handful of locals taking to the seas with their nets in hand. This means there is plenty to go around and it’s very rare you will step foot on land without a trophy to show for your big day indulging in deep sea fishing.
Year Round Feasts of The Sea
From dazzling Striped Marlin to Yellowfin Tuna, Shortbill Spearfish, Boardbill and Sailfish – these are just a few of the floundering friends that swim beneath the green surface of the waves. Whilst there are endless opportunities to fish throughout the year, there are two main fishing seasons that throw up big game fishing opportunities. The Yellowfin Tuna season runs from August until October and then the Marlin season is at its best between December and March. However the Boardbill and Sailfish are up for grabs all year.
The real challenge of the day could be trying to catch one of the fastest fish in the sea, the Wahoo fish. This slippery sea critter travels at an amazing speed of 85km per hour and is a real test of a fisherman’s prowess.
Tag and Release Policy
Unless you manage to catch a record breaker or the first ever fish of your life many companies encourage a catch and release method. This ensures the water stays full of life for everyone to enjoy without damaging the delicate eco system of the Indian Ocean.
A Truly Rewarding Experience
There is nothing more rewarding than drifting out onto the blue horizon as the sun gleams of the surface of the water and the silence of nature envelops you. Sea birds call from overhead and dive at the waters in the hopes of catching a silvery scaled fish for breakfast. The soft breeze caresses your skin and as you cast your line out you understand the true meaning of rest and rejuvenation.
Yet despite the calming nature of deep sea fishing there can be moments interspersed with high action where plenty of energy is needed. For example if you happen to snap a lone Barracuda on your line, the big fish is sure to strike hard and throw itself out of the water in a panic, causing your line to stretch taut and all your strength will be needed to reel it in.
Mnyera and Ruhudji Rivers, Tanzania
You want to catch a tigerfish of a lifetime? Simply put: The Mnyera and the Ruhudji rivers is the best it gets. This is the only destination on the planet where you can target tigerfish that consistently reset the bar as to what is possible tigerfishing. In the past, trophy tiger fish have been classified as fish above 10 lbs. This bench mark has been shattered with the average fish in this system coming home at just under 8lbs. Here fisherman have a real opportunity of landing tiger fish of over 20lb’s, with shots at multiple trophy fish on a daily basis in fresh water this is almost unheard of. Now combine this fact with the speed, strength, aerial antics and aggressive nature of the tiger fish, and dump it all in two rivers flowing through one of the words last true wilderness areas, home to big game, and then you may begin to get an idea of just how unique the twin fisheries of the Mnyera and Ruhudji Rivers really are.
The Fishing Experience
The majority of the fishing is done off the drift. Here our attentions are focused on the river structure which comprises logs, long sand banks, steep drop-off’s and rocky outcrops. When conditions dictate, we also make use of sand anchors and tying up to structure mid-stream to focus our attention on a specific stretch of water. All fishing is done off 16ft aluminium boats. This river has received very little fishing pressure over the centuries. KNS and TF have strict fisheries and anti-poaching controls in place to ensure that this system remains as pristine as it was 100 years ago. The system is also extremely rich in bait fish (predominantly red finned barbs). The combination of these factors has resulted in this population of tiger fish obtaining otherwise unheard-of sizes. Trophy fish in this system are measured above 20lbs. Be prepared to have you fly fishing paradigms shifted!
Tanzania; Along the Mainland Coast & Zanzibar
Windsurfing, Kitesurfing and Parasailing in Tanzania has much to offer. Coco Beach, Bagamoyo, Pangani, Paje, Jambani, Nungwi, Kiwengwa, Uroa, Matemwe… The names roll off the tongue like a roster call of Tanzania’s most alluring surfing destinations, all packed into one country. Resonating with hints of the wild and exotic, these nine alone are reason enough to justify packing your bag and heading off to surf in Tanzania. If you are lucky you can windsurf, kitesurf or parasail beside the reef accompanied by dolphins and a wide variety of species while glancing at the sea bed through the turquoise colour waters. Off the water relaxing on Zanzibar’s quiet beaches makes an ideal choice for a romantic windsurfing, kitesurfing or parasailing holiday.