Sure Travel Journey Vol 5.1 Summer 2019 | Page 52

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P I C K
Left:The waters surrounding St Helena are
prime grounds to swim with whale sharks.
© ADOBESTOCK.COM
The rich seas surrounding St Helena
offer superb marine adventures, from
deep-sea fishing to scuba diving
©
HOLMES
©SHEVCHENKO/SHUTTERSTOCK
the annual Festival of Running, with the
record currently standing at a shade over
five minutes. It took me twice that long to
reach the top.
It’s worth the effort, though, with
spectacular views down into the rocky
valley surrounding Jamestown and out over
James Bay. In the skies below me, red-billed
tropicbirds wheeled in updrafts, their long
white tails streaming out behind them.
From these remarkable seabirds to
the endemic wirebirds that nest on the
windswept Deadwood Plain, there’s
52 // MAKE MEMORIES FOR LIFE
certainly plenty to keep twitchers happy.
But rather than pack my binoculars, I had
a date with a mask and snorkel.
The rich seas surrounding St Helena
offer superb marine adventures, from
deep-sea fishing to scuba diving. Daily boat
trips skirt the sheltered northern edge of
the island in search of the resident pod of
pan-tropical spotted dolphins, while from
June to December, humpback whales are
often spotted in these waters.
On our first morning at sea, we
encountered playful dolphins not far from
Jamestown and spent an entertaining half
hour watching these energetic cetaceans
surf our bow wave and perform acrobatic
jumps mere metres from the boat.
It was a magical experience, and a prelude
to a bucket list item I’d long been trying
to tick off. St Helena is one of the best
places on the planet to swim with whale
sharks, and between December and March
dozens of these gentle giants congregate
in the warm, clear waters that fringe the
island. My first attempt was thwarted by
bad weather, so on my last morning on the
island I decided to give it one more try.
With masks and snorkels at the ready, we
sped out of James Bay to Barn Long Point,
where a seamount rises up through 80
metres of deep blue water.
Before long, we had found our prize
and slipped quietly into the water. Off
to one side, eight graceful metres of
mesmerising Rhincodon typus finned
benignly through the Atlantic Ocean.
The whale shark was unperturbed by
our presence, and we swam alongside
the largest species of fish in the
sea, marvelling at its markings and
staying out of reach of its enormous,
scimitar-shaped tail. After nearly an hour
in the water, it gave a languorous flick of
its tail and disappeared off into the deep
blue. In my last hours on St Helena, I’d
found my memorable view.
TO STAY:
Q WHERE
Numerous family-run B&Bs and
guesthouses are scattered across
the island, with plenty in Jamestown
itself. Here you’ll also find the Mantis
St Helena. Set in a restored army
barracks, this 30 room hotel is the
smartest on the island.
INSURANCE MATTERS:
Due to its remote location and limited
medical facilities, comprehensive
travel insurance is compulsory
for all visitors to St Helena. Island
authorities recommend minimum
evacuation cover of £500 000
to cover an emergency medical
evacuation flight from the island
to South Africa. Proof of adequate
travel insurance will be inspected at
check-in in Johannesburg and again
on arrival at St Helena. Sure Travel
Journey recommends TIC for all your
St Helena insurance needs, which
can be arranged through your Sure
Travel consultant.
GO THERE WITH SURE:
Contact your nearest Sure Travel
consultant to book your trip of a
lifetime to St Helena. Visit www.
suretravel.co.za to find your nearest
agency, or call 0861 47 48 49.