| 28 October 2021 Video: orca sighting off the KZN South Coast Although the KZN South Coast is renowned for its sightings of humpback and southern right whales migrating in the cooler months, the sighting of two pods of orcas came as a shock to well-known local fisherman and waterman, Rustin Naidoo. On Tuesday morning, Naidoo was aboard his commercial fishing boat, Lucky Lady, 3 kilometres offshore on the deeper line of the world-famous Aliwal Shoal when he and his crew spotted the first pod of around six orcas. As if this wasn’t exceptional enough, the crew then spotted another pod of 15 to 20 orcas just 1 kilometre apart. Coming from a long line of sardine seine netters, Rustin has been fishing since the age of four, and said he can only recall one other sighting of orcas in the area: “I’ve only seen orcas once before when I was fishing on my dad’s boat as a youngster. I’m at sea daily and haven’t seen anything quite like this since. It was really beautiful. They were just cruising and playing in our wake.” Rustin said the cooler sea temperatures could account for the orcas’ appearance, and that they’re often known to settle in an area for a while, giving visitors to the KZN South Coast a rare opportunity to spot this incredible marine animal. Aliwal Shoal is one of two Marine Protected Areas found in the region, and with its Blue Flag Beaches and quality surf conditions, the KZN South Coast is a true ocean-lovers paradise. Check out Rustin’s video capturing the sighting on the ‘South Coast Tourism’ Facebook page or YouTube, @infosouthcoast on Twitter or Instagram, or ‘Info Ugu South Coast Tourism’ on LinkedIn. For more information about USCT, as well as events and activities on the #KZNSouthCoast, download the free ‘Explore KZN South Coast’ app from Google Play and Apple stores or visit www.visitkznsouthcoast.co.za. To watch the video filmed by Rustin Naidoo please click here:
/ENDS About Ugu South Coast Tourism It aint just the odd orca sighting! Ugu South Coast Tourism (USCT) is the official destination management organisation of the Ugu District Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa. The Ugu District comprises four local municipalities that include Umdoni, Umzumbe, Umuziwabantu and Ray Nkonyeni. USCT’s mandate is to grow tourism within the KZN South Coast. This involves implementing marketing and development initiatives that are aimed at showcasing the diverse offerings and experiences of the South Coast as tourist destination. A board of directors oversees USCT, headed by CEO, Phelisa Mangcu. For more information visit www.tourismsouthcoast.co.za About KZN South Coast Known as the ‘Paradise of the Zulu Kingdom’, the KZN South Coast stretches 120 kilometres from Scottburgh to Port Edward and inland to Harding. Here, the spirit of adventure can be discovered among the many cultural experiences, as well as the 35 nature trails and 58 beaches, ideal for activities like river rafting, abseiling, suspension bridges, paintball, surfing, stand up paddling, canoeing, beach horse rides, shark cage diving and free diving. Nicknamed ‘The Golf Coast’, there are 11 golf courses on the KZN South Coast ranging in difficulty, with endless hiking, mountain biking and 4×4 trails for more rugged excursions. Promoting sustainability, the KZN South Coast has a growing agri-tourism sector that offers world-class produce and hosts tours and excursions. The region boasts 5 permanently managed Blue Flag beaches and is home to some of the world’s top diving sites, Aliwal Shoal and Protea Banks. The originality continues with the annual Sardine Run, coined the #GreatestShoalonEarth, which is the largest biomass migration on earth and a marvel to witness. The region’s many nature reserves are inhabited by indigenous bird- and wildlife, and it holds the title for ‘smallest desert on earth’, The Red Desert in Port Edward. The KZN South Coast is a fast-emerging MICE destination which also played host to a number of high-profile events including The South Coast Bike Fest, Ugu Jazz, Ugu Film Festival and the South Coast Fever MTB & Trail Run Series. |