Shark Tours in South Africa

If a climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro isn't terrifying enough, one common activity for travelers in Africa is shark cage diving. No shark is more popular to view than the deadly great white shark, which lurks off shores of cities like Cape Town, South Africa. Shark tours in South Africa are a relatively inexpensive activity which allow people to get amazing views of these powerful creatures.

Cape Town is certainly the destination for the majority of shark tours in South Africa. Great white sharks, the main attraction on tours near this city, can be seen performing one rare activity for these large fish: breaching. Breaching occurs when a great white shark propels itself out of the ocean water and crashes back into the water. It is usually associated with sharks hunting seals, as the seals are stunned from the force of the mid-air attack. Acts of predation are also a common sight on these tours, as generally a few occur each day at the least.

African Shark Eco Charters hosts some of the most popular shark tours in South Africa. They operate from False Bay, and have been in business since 1995. A single day trip, complete with cage diving as long as weather permits, costs little more than $223 US dollars. The majority of tour groups do not require that participants have any previous diving experience. However, they do recommend taking medicine for sea sickness and bringing a rain jacket. Cameras are another essential provision, though many tours will also sell disposable underwater cameras to those without one. Overall, shark tours in South Africa are a safe but exciting activity for visitors to Africa.