Surf Safari 001: The Best Surf Trip in Africa

A concept can only get you so far. There comes a point – after spending time, money and effort developing your idea – when the only thing left to do is test it. Irrespective of your experience in the field, or confidence in your concept, it’s impossible to be sure of your product until you test it.

We’d spent years enjoying this beautiful stretch of coast, and her glorious waves. If we weren’t soaking up the sunny skies, pristine water, and pumping points of Mozambique, then we were back home surrounded by the lush greenery of KwaZulu-Natal, surfing any one of the endless secluded setups – an embarrassment of riches. Despite our supreme confidence in the wonders of the Southern African surf experience, question marks remained around the viability of our surf tours; would the waves suffice? Had we created a unique experience? Would people be equally enamoured by what this region has to offer?

So, you’ll understand our anxiety when two Capetonian surf enthusiasts arrived for the first-ever Skunk Aversion Surf Safari. Luke and Chris had flown up to Durban, excited by the opportunity to experience a uniquely African surf trip, and we were anxious to deliver. It was five hours into the trip, peaking out at a slice of unspoilt Mozambican sea, that I began to relax. The view, which we are treated to every time we take the single track to the beachfront villa, reminded me of the spectacular scenes and unique experiences that epitomise this region – and why a surf trip here, offers so much more. We wound our way down the dune, arriving at the villa overlooking an empty beach. “This is the life,” exclaimed Luke, clearly blown away by the beauty of Mozambique. That night, while we feasted on peri-peri chicken prepared by our local chef, Rita, the boys commented on an incredible first day and one that exceeded expectations.

(The Mozambican Villa)

With every passing day, they became more awestruck by what Mozambique had to offer. They were shocked that the vibrant culture, rich local cuisine, magnificent weather, and incredible waves had remained untapped for so long. “Man, this is a culinary experience,” said Luke. He was amazed by the quality of the food and variety of flavours on offer in Mozambique, urging us to emphasise the culinary experience that accompanies this ‘amazing surf trip’. We left Mozambique after five firing days of surf, capped off by an all-time session at an incredible sand-bottom point-break. “If you go to the Maldives, you go surf, and then you come back and sit on the boat. Here, there are so many enriching experiences in and out of the water,” “You guys should really try and capture that,” said Luke – final remarks from an unforgettable five days. He’d loved snorkelling the reef a stone’s throw away from the house; sipping sundowners overlooking the lake – no one else in sight; experiencing the atmosphere at sunset beach bar; and surfing enticing peaks, completely alone, straight in front of the villa.

(The Magic of Mozambique)

With tired bodies and satisfied souls, we meandered down the coast, making the three-and-a-half-hour journey to St Lucia. As we explored Isimangaliso Wetland Park, I couldn’t help but marvel – that morning we’d been in Mozambique, scoring pumping surf, and five hours later we were in South Africa, scouring a world heritage site in search of Leopards.

“Watch out for the hippos, they like to walk up this road,” cautioned Bonita, our host, upon our return to camp. You’re joking, I thought. Phone lights shone, as we walked to dinner. If Bonita happened to be telling the truth, then we were certainly eager to avoid a standoff with the two-ton beasts. We weren’t quite sure what to believe when we arrived at the quaint Italian restaurant – our dinner spot for the night. Did hippos really roam the streets? Shock shone on our faces as an English couple confirmed the seemingly tall tale. “Walked right past the window last night,” they said, having watched on in amazement as hippos trotted through the town, and past the restaurant, the previous night.

We woke early the next morning in anticipation. Elephants, rhinos, giraffes and buffalo were all on display as we journeyed through the wild, guided by our expert ranger, Siya. We were exploring Hluhluwe, South Africa’s oldest game reserve, and home to the Big 5. After a picturesque breakfast, surrounded by bushveld and antelope, we continued our guided journey. Siya didn’t skip a beat, using his expert local knowledge to deliver incredible sightings – from spectacular views of the Hluhluwe River to incredible up-close encounters with elephant herds and resting rhinos. As we left for our final destination, we reflected on the incredible diversity of culture and landscape explored on this trip – from the sandy roads and Portuguese influence of Mozambique to the lush coastal bush and rugged veld of northern KwaZulu-Natal.

(Exploring Hluhluwe)

There was, however, no time to dwell on such things because a two-metre swell was marching down the coast, headed straight for Durban. Our final few days were spent in the lush greenery north of Durban. Offshore winds combined with a two-metre swell to deliver pumping waves. We surfed our hearts out, retreating to our tranquil beachfront cottage when we were too tired to carry on. The brief time out of the water, and away from our cottage, was spent exploring the unique cuisine synonyms with the region. After devouring a ‘bunny chow’ – Durban’s quintessential dish – we wished our newfound friends goodbye, signalling the end of an incredible adventure.

(Durban Delivers)

As we waved them goodbye, we thought back on our doubts, which had long since disappeared – how trivial they now seemed in the wake of a life-changing experience. We’d achieved proof of concept not only from our guests and their amazement at what the trip had to offer, but also from our own rediscovery of just how incredible this region is.  The people, the places, the food, and the waves – it’s a privilege to be here, doing what we do!

(Memorable Moments)