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Surf trips to Tofinho

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Surf trips to Tofinho

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Ozzie ripper Lucy Small, captured here in a ray of glory, surfing at Tofinho Point with our crew (c) Xonalanga

Since 1991, we have been surfing up and down the East African Seaboard, hauling surfers old and young, beginners and jaded…through some of the finest surfing conditions that the world has to offer. Surf trips to Tofinho and beyond are an email away…

In winter time, our beat is to wait for a solid cold frontal system, and chase it from Cape Town to Pemba, Cabo Delgado, Mocambique – thousands of kilometres of travelling and chasing swell. There are so many spots along this route, that many spots have no name – and like Africa – it’s gonna stay that way!

In summer, it’s all about cyclones – and if the stars line up, and the right swell sneaks in just skirting the southern reaches of Madagascar, it lights up all the usually dormant superbanks littered all over the Mozambican coastline. There are just sooo many!

These two situations do occur seasonally as described, but also at odd times, so once you book, we will plan your trip with the most chance of catching it all – ON!

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The sharks of the Umzimkulu

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A little baby Zambezi taken on rod and line in the Umzimkulu River. It was released healthy and spitting mad! About 7kgs. At 20 to 30cm per year, this Zambezi in the Umzimkulu would be about 30kgs, two years later.

The sharks of the Umzimkulu Another sighting down at the Umzimkulu Marina this weekend, confirms that the family of Zambezi Sharks who have taken up residence in the Umzimkulu River, are alive and well. This last one was spotted giving a big blue tailed mullet hell, chasing it around and around, right off the jetty. Zambezi … Read more

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Third Africa Marine & Leisure Expo delivers a fun-filled weekend with a strong conservation message

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Third Africa Marine & Leisure Expo delivers a fun-filled weekend with a strong conservation message

 

Young anglers who took part in the catch and release fishing competition with TV fishing show stars Dean Pretorius and Craig Thomassen
Young anglers who took part in the catch and release fishing competition with TV fishing show stars Dean Pretorius and Craig Thomassen

November 1 and 2 saw the much-anticipated return of the Africa Marine & Leisure Expo to the beaches of Scottburgh and Rocky Bay, marking the third year of this UGU South Coast Tourism sponsored event. Previously, the Africa Marine & Leisure Expo has not only celebrated the beach lifestyle for which the South Coast is so famous, but also shone a spotlight on marine conservation groups acting to safeguard coastal environments both in the province and throughout South Africa. This year’s event was no different, focusing equally on informing and inspiring the crowds about conservation issues, and making sure everyone that attended had a fantastic, fun-filled day out.

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The Battle of Lonehill

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The Battle of Lonehill

“Sometimes, thesardine.co.za has to venture inland. Even as far inland as The Big Smoke – Johannesburg. But it’s not all traffic and trouble…the fishing is actually loads of fun, as this papgooi showdown played out at the Lonehill Dam demonstrates.”

The Lonehill Koppie in Gauteng stands tall as a significant and historical landmark. It is one of the finest archeological sites in Africa being the custodian of artefacts and evidence of communities living there as far back as the 1600’s and earlier. Presumably the San or Bushmen occupied the site on which there is a large furnace below ground. It was most likely used to make cement from the ferricrete found all over the area. The koppies is made up of Tor rocks, which are weathered out veins that leave these huge rocks stacked up against one another.

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Lonehill Koppie as seen from our vantage point on the edge of Lonehill Loch

During the Anglo-Boer war, it is reported, that a Dutch Squadron were trapped on Lonehill by the British. As the siege waged on, the Dutchmen’s bullets were running low, so they ingeniously started dislodging the huge rocks and raining them down over the Redcoats. It was a good tactic, typical of the guerilla warfare style the Dutch invented in that struggle, but it was not enough. With numbers, the British won over Lonehill Koppie.

To today. Just north of Lonehill Koppie, is Lonehill Loch…the scene of yet another epic battle.

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Wavepools with waves a reality

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Wavepools with waves a reality The first wave pools were a bit of a joke but they certainly inspired some great thinking, and along the right lines. There is a bit of debate as to who thought up the foil idea. The first I heard was Kelly Slater dragging one behind a marlin boat and … Read more

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