June, 2013, Vol. 17, No.10
Text and photos by Mary L. Peachin
Umkomanzi, Zulu for “watering place of the whales” is home to South Africa’s newest marine protected areas, Aliwal Shoal.
Located south of Durban, the Shoal, which is named after an 1800 shipwreck, is more popular as a scuba destination for divers eager to encounter the ragged-tooth shark. Between June and November, there is the opportunity to encounter as many as a dozen sharks between Raggie’s Cove and Cathedral.
Durban, after Johannesburg and Cape Town, is the third largest city and busiest port in South Africa. The city’s warm subtropical climate and Indian Ocean beaches make it a popular destination for tourists.