Amazing Facts
Loggerhead and Leatherback Turtles
Every year during our warm summer months(October – March), some of the world’s most endangered animal species, loggerhead and leatherback turtles, slowly struggle up the beaches of the northern KwaZulu-Natal coastline to nest.
All of the world’s seven species of marine turtles have unique lifestyles in that they travel great distances and take decades to mature. This makes turtles important indicators of ocean health.
Of the five species found off the KwaZulu-Natal Coast, only the loggerhead and leatherback turtle females nest along our shores at night.
They use the medium to coarse-grained sandy beaches that are backed by high dunes with well-developed primary vegetation. Steep beach faces make it easy for loggerhead turtles to swim through the surf over low-lying rock ledges. The females emerge from the surf and rest in the wash zone on the beach. It is here when they assess the beach for any danger by lifting their heads and scanning the beach. Satisfied that there is no danger they then proceed up the beach to well above the high water mark.
All of the world’s seven species of marine turtles have unique lifestyles in that they travel great distances and take decades to mature. This makes turtles important indicators of ocean health.
Of the five species found off the KwaZulu-Natal Coast, only the loggerhead and leatherback turtle females nest along our shores at night.
They use the medium to coarse-grained sandy beaches that are backed by high dunes with well-developed primary vegetation. Steep beach faces make it easy for loggerhead turtles to swim through the surf over low-lying rock ledges. The females emerge from the surf and rest in the wash zone on the beach. It is here when they assess the beach for any danger by lifting their heads and scanning the beach. Satisfied that there is no danger they then proceed up the beach to well above the high water mark.
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Sardine Run
One of nature's most grand annual extravaganzas, a vivid drama epic in scale and 'made-for-spectators' to rival any listed Wonder of the World.
Countless millions of tiny silver fish heading north from spawning and feeding grounds off the Eastern Cape moving up the east coast of South Africa past Durban in the north, pursued by the most well-equipped and voracious predators on earth - both ocean-going and airborne. These relentless hunters occasionally drive splinters of the giant sardine shoal ashore, where equally frenzied human 'extras' gleefully join the cast of this wide-screen blockbuster. The showing runs for several weeks, at its most intense along the southern KwaZulu Natal coast, then gradually lessening as the constantly harvested shoal continues its lemming-like migration northwards. Despite this insistent hunting attention, the last surviving sardines have usually managed a 200-kilometre journey - beyond the golden beaches of Durban - before final oblivion in the 'smiling' mouths of our aptly named Dolphin Coast's star attractions.
Countless millions of tiny silver fish heading north from spawning and feeding grounds off the Eastern Cape moving up the east coast of South Africa past Durban in the north, pursued by the most well-equipped and voracious predators on earth - both ocean-going and airborne. These relentless hunters occasionally drive splinters of the giant sardine shoal ashore, where equally frenzied human 'extras' gleefully join the cast of this wide-screen blockbuster. The showing runs for several weeks, at its most intense along the southern KwaZulu Natal coast, then gradually lessening as the constantly harvested shoal continues its lemming-like migration northwards. Despite this insistent hunting attention, the last surviving sardines have usually managed a 200-kilometre journey - beyond the golden beaches of Durban - before final oblivion in the 'smiling' mouths of our aptly named Dolphin Coast's star attractions.
Namaqualand Flowers
Namaqualand is a wilderness strewn with mines and mission stations, diamonds and dust. However, for a few frivolous weeks in spring, the granite hills and lava lowlands erupt with flowers.
About 4 000 species of plant lie dormant amongst the sand and stone, their germination dependent upon weather conditions. Each year's floral display is therefore unique, enticing flower-gazers from Cape Town northwards to the Namibian border.
About 4 000 species of plant lie dormant amongst the sand and stone, their germination dependent upon weather conditions. Each year's floral display is therefore unique, enticing flower-gazers from Cape Town northwards to the Namibian border.
Whale Whatching
Every year from August to end November, these gentle giants flock to our shores to calve and mate, and inevitably, every year, thousands of visitors come out to look at them.
It’s not hard to see why. No matter how many whales you’ve seen, spotting another will always give you a thrill. And the whales have astonishingly good taste too, picking some of the most beautiful stretches of coast for their activities, making the prospect of a whale watching trip all the more inviting. Guess when you spend most of your year in Antarctica you feel the need of a summer holiday more than most.
It’s not hard to see why. No matter how many whales you’ve seen, spotting another will always give you a thrill. And the whales have astonishingly good taste too, picking some of the most beautiful stretches of coast for their activities, making the prospect of a whale watching trip all the more inviting. Guess when you spend most of your year in Antarctica you feel the need of a summer holiday more than most.
Some Interesting Facts.
Some interesting facts and amazing natural phenomena occurring here.
- South Africa has a coastline of 2 954 km (almost 1 800 miles).
- South Africa is as large as Texas and California combined, or larger than Germany, France and Italy combined.
- South Africa is home to more mammals than North and South America combined.
