Since time immemorial dolphins have captivated the hearts of men and woman the world over. In Ponta do Ouro on the southern most shores of Moçambique, our hearts have been captivated too. Join Africa’s longest running wild dolphin swim program for a purposeful holiday. Programs are scheduled throughout the year and cater for families, solitary seekers and holistic workshops!
Dolphin Encountours invites you to experience dolphins wild and free where you will have the opportunity of coming face to face with the Dolphins of Ponta, a population in southern Mozambique who have been swimming with africa’s wild dolphin swim pioneer Angie Gullan since the mid 90’s. Encountours have been featured extensively in print and media and offer an experience that can be profoundly life changing! Ethical Marine Mammal Tourism is followed to ensure the highest regard is had for the dolphins at all times.
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A highly commended program that 99.9% guarantees that you will swim with the dolphins while actively contributing to their wellbeing!
Start days most Mondays and Thursdays. |
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Dolphin Encountours offers three to seven night dolphin encounters whereby one can connect with the resident Dolphins of Ponta through a structured, ethical and educational experience. Early mornings will find you on the water and thereafter the days are yours. Encountours include accommodation, brunches and potentially life changing experiences with wild dolphins.
The program is structured and guided by DolphinCareAfrica’s on-site biologist Diana, long term skipper Mitchel and program founder Angie. Programs include pre-training with snorkeling & swim code of conduct, interesting conservation & research presentations, tribe t-shirt, image downloads, membership to DCA & early morning encounters with the dolphins. A highly commended program that 99.9% guarantees that you will swim with the dolphins while actively contributing to their wellbeing! Start days most mondays and thursdays.
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Angie has been swimming with a pod of wild inshore bottlenose dolphins that go by the scientific name of Tursiops aduncus for almost two decades! During the mid 90’s she was honored to be able to share the space of this gregarious species who welcomed her into their watery realm. Although that first encounter was brief, it triggered a response that what was soon to become a lifelong commitment to the well being of dolphins.
Educational and ethical practice have been the foundation of encountours since its inception and participants gain a special insight into the realm of the wild dolphins of Ponta through an program that identifies dolphins as non-human persons. Bo, a now adult female introduced Angie to the concept of conscious interaction between dolphin and man in 1999. Since then she has identified a number of dolfriends who choose to socially engage with participants. Bouts of circle swimming, direct approaches and trust allows us to observe the dolphins in the most intimate way. One on one in the big blue…..
Participants follow the DolphinCare in-water code of conduct that was formulated in collaboration |
with the Natural History Museum in Maputo and other experts in the field. This creates a safe space for both human and dolphin to socially engage and limits the potential stress caused to the dolphins.
Educational and ethical practice have been the foundation of encountours since its inception and participants gain a special insight into the realm of the wild dolphins of Ponta through an program that identifies dolphins as non-human persons.
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Bo, a now adult female introduced Angie to the concept of conscious interaction between dolphin and man in 1999. Since then she has identified a number of dolfriends who choose to socially engage with participants. Bouts of circle swimming, direct approaches and trust allows us to observe the dolphins in the most intimate way. One on one in the big blue…..
As part of our long term commitment to the wild dolphins, we have been active in promoting the sustainable growth of dolphin tourism in the area. The research and conservation arm DolphinCare.Org was established in 98 and has resulted in the consistent collecting of data for the natural history museum in maputo as well as the creation of a photographic fin id program were some 250 semi/resident bottlenose dolphins are recorded. The operations’s work has greatly contributed to the Partial Marine Protected Area that was proclaimed in 2009.
Encountours are structured and run over a minimum of three nights. Encountours are offered at different venues, each chosen for the unique atmosphere and attentive service. |
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Dolphin Encounters Rates Card, March 2013 |
DOLPHIN BEACH VENUE |
Package Dolphin Encountour Retreat |
Rack Adult |
Rack Adult |
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3 night 3 launch encountour brunch LS |
R3 000,00 |
R2 700,00 |
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3 night 3 launch encountour brunch HS |
R3 600,00 |
R3 240,00 |
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4 night 4 launch encountour brunch LS |
R3 780,00 |
R3 402,00 |
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4 night 4 launch encountour brunch HS |
R4 536,00 |
R4 082,40 |
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5 night 4 launch encountour brunch LS |
R4 280,00 |
R3 852,00 |
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5 night 4 launch encountour brunch HS |
R5 136,00 |
R4 622,40 |
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7 night 4 launch encountour brunch LS |
R5 280,00 |
R4 752,00 |
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7 night 4 launch encountour brunch HS |
R6 336,00 |
R5 702,40 |
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7 night 4 launch research encountour brunch & late lunches |
R8 680,00 |
R7 812,00 |
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A Dolphin Xmas 4 night 4 launch with special dinner |
R4 886,00 |
R4 397,40 |
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A Dolphin New Year 4 night 4 launch with special dinner |
R4 886,00 |
R4 397,40 |
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Bed and Brunch LS |
R500,00 |
R450,00 |
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Bed and Brunch HS |
R600,00 |
R540,00 |
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Single occupancy room additional per night |
R250,00 |
R225,00 |
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30 night volunteer program full board tent |
R14 600,00 |
R13 140,00 |
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90 night internship program full board tent |
R21 900,00 |
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OLAR DO OURO VENUE |
Package |
Rack Adult |
Rack Adult |
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3 night 3 launch encountour brunch/dinner LS |
R3 159,00 |
R3 159,00 |
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3 night 3 launch encountour brunch/dinner HS |
R3 213,00 |
R3 213,00 |
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4 night 4 launch encountour brunch/dinner LS |
R4 014,00 |
R4 014,00 |
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4 night 4 launch encountour brunch/dinner HS |
R4 086,00 |
R4 086,00 |
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7 night 4 launch encountour brunch/dinner LS |
R5 823,00 |
R5 823,00 |
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7 night 4 launch encountour brunch/dinner HS |
R5 949,00 |
R5 949,00 |
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Dinner Bed and Brunch LS |
R603,00 |
R603,00 |
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Dinner Bed and Brunch HS |
R621,00 |
R621,00 |
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Dinner Bed and Brunch LS single occ |
R747,00 |
R747,00 |
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Dinner Bed and Brunch HS single occ |
R747,00 |
R747,00 |
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PLANET SCUBA VENUE |
Package |
Rack Adult |
Rack Adult |
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3 night 3 launch encountour self catering |
R2 550,00 |
R2 295,00 |
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4 night 4 launch encountour self catering |
R3 180,00 |
R2 862,00 |
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5 night 4 launch encountour self catering |
R3 530,00 |
R3 177,00 |
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7 night 4 launch encountour self catering |
R4 230,00 |
R3 807,00 |
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Single occupancy room additional per night |
R250,00 |
R225,00 |
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SELF LODGING |
Package |
Rack Adult |
Rack Adult |
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3 launch encountour |
R1 500,00 |
R1 350,00 |
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4 launch encountour |
R1 780,00 |
R1 602,00 |
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CASUAL DOLPHIN SAFARI |
Package |
Rack Adult |
Rack Adult |
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boat based viewing [possible in-water] |
2,5 hrs casual dolphin tour surfari min 4 |
R350,00 |
R315,00 |
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2,5 hrs casual dolphin tour surfari (less than 4) |
R1 400,00 |
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3 night 2,5 hrs casual encounter 3 launch dolphin tour special DBH HS |
R2 800,00 |
R2 520,00 |
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2,5 hrs casual encounter 3 launch dolphin tour special |
R1 000,00 |
R900,00 |
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OTHER |
Package |
Rack Adult |
Rack Adult |
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Return transfers Kosi Bay Border |
R200,00 |
R180,00 |
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Return transfers Maputo - book direct with Sandra |
R3 500,00 |
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Gear Hire per set (mask, snorkel & fins) per day |
R80,00 |
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• Please be advised that Ponta abuzz with tourists during these dates.
Please attempt to come out of these dates OR book on an encountour to ensure early morning slots when our finned friends tend to be more sociable and sea state calmer.
• Try stay for longer as this gives us time in case the weather is not on our side.
• We offer a Special Tour Operators rate of 10% on encountours.
• Please note: The Dolphins of Ponta are wild population of dolphins and therefore there are no guarantees, however the likelihood of an in-water encounter is probable.
• Dolphin Encountours are governed by a specially formulated code of conduct that ensures the dolphins are not traumatized when in-water observations of them take place.
Founded in 1994, Encountours is the longest structured wild dolphin swim program that is internationally recognized as a leader in the field of ethical marine mammal tourism. Our project includes the long term monitoring & research of the Dolphins of Ponta
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HIGH SEASON DATES
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09 Dec to 12 Jan |
18 March to 10 April |
22 April to 02 May |
14 to 20 June |
24 June to 17 July |
05 to 09 August |
23 to 26 September |
30 Sept - 09 October |
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