Regretfully the increase in fuel and more recently the wage determinations for the hospitality sector together with all other annual overhead costs, have forced us once again to add R10-00p.p to our Hippo / Croc Boat Rate.

This increased rate of R140-00 p.p. will be in effect as from 1 January 2008, please make sure to write the new rate on your tickets if you issue them so that people don’t feel embarrassed if they get to the boat and are asked to pay in the extra R10-00...

The rate increase ensures that we are able to guarantee a high quality tour and boat that you and your clients have been used to.

Keep in mind that I myself and my relief skippers/guides are keen photographers, we will do our very best to give your client the best 2 hour tour and have them leaving the boat with new information on the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, St Lucia and surrounds. We do our tours with enthusiasm and pride, and customer satisfaction is our main priority.

IF over the holiday season you do have large families’ with a mom,dad,3-4kids ,gran and granpa just phone us and we will give a better rate , as we do understand that our local families don’t earn as much, and if only dad is the breadwinner it’s quite expensive for the whole family to go on a boat ride.

The WHALE WATCHING will also increase with 10 % in 2008, bringing the rate to R660-00p.p….inevitably again mostly due to enormous fuel and extreme expensive overhead costs, the WHALE WATCHING operation is really not a cheap operation to run ….

One is always so scared of implementing higher rates , but when we compare ourselves with our colleagues in Cape Town, we are still competitive in rate with them, and St Lucia offers other beautiful areas in the surrounds , and a GUARANTEE on sightings which not all places offer!

Please like always keep in touch if there is anything that is unclear.

Jaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa….I KNOW we don’t want to believe that it’s already the end of the year, but such is life –reality!

Advantage Cruiser will NOT BE operating on the 25th of December. ( 1 day off to go to church and eat a lot and spend time resting )

We will however have trips on the 24th and 26th as normal.

Compulsory ( ha ha ) we will answer telephone calls on the 25th if you need to make bookings for the 26th , pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease just don’t phone toooooo late in the afternoon, we’ll also have some quality time with our family.(and sleep after having toooo big a Christmas lunch)

THEN ….I (Riëtte Bennett) don’t drink, so do some of our other skippers also not drink alcohol at all, so I will be sober to do trips on the 1st of January, we do however as a family enjoy to go to the main street in St Lucia on the evening of the 31st to see the festivities, so yes, we do get to bed quite late and won’t want to get up at 07h00 on the 1st, and then we do have a problem on the 1st with sooooooooooo many people in front of our offices, so our offices will not be open on the 1st of January. You can however get hold of us via telephone.

I think I’ll only do two or three trips on the 1st of January , so it’s absolutely 1st come 1st serve , we won’t take any bookings without pre payment .Please make sure if you phone us from a lodge that your clientele HAVE in fact paid , we don’t want to sit on the boat with no-shows….

Please contact me at any time if you’re unsure about anything!

The Umfolozi Rover is coming down again , therefore the ocean in front quite fleeeeeeken d.i.r.t.y. ….So maybe a good idea to let your guests know it's not ideal conditions for swimming/bathing .

This morning's Whale Watching trip had an extra bonus of 2 huge whale sharks right behind the backline !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

P.A.C.K.E.T of B.I.S.C.U.I.T.S , BOTTLE OF WATER OR JUICE , either NO shoes , OR S.L.O.P.S , a towel , c.o.m.f.o.r.t.a.b.l.e clothes …

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr….

Read this story :::::

Lots of whales out there still !!!!!! ….

We’ve been fortunate now to go out 5 consecutive days to do Whale Watching !

Between the trips that went out , on average about 5-7 Humpback Whales spotted per trip , and this week had some huge Dolphin sightings as a bonus !

The weather seems to be kind to us for the last couple of days , and we’re just taking it day by day and enjoying it tremendously …