www.wild-and-free.co.uk
EGYPT - MARSA ALAM
SWIM WITH WILD DOLPHINS
Our clients share their experiences
|
2008 |
2007 |
2006 |
2005 |
2004 |
2003 |
1.
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
All the staff were friendly and helpful, the area is beautiful
and not built up and will hopefully stay that way, the snorkelling is
fantastic, seeing the dolphins and swimming near them feels like we were
honoured, seeing a giant turtle eating a jelly fish, having tea in a Bedouin
cafe in the middle of the desert after being taken there by camel, it
was the most peaceful place I have ever been, seeing my son playing volley
ball with lots of the staff and totally breaking down the language barriers
every time they saw him there would be lots of high fives going on, the
list could go on I just wish we could have stayed longer.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking
this holiday?
You are in the middle of nowhere and although this suits my family it
may not suit everyone. It was quite windy on a few days which made the
sea choppy and when visiting the dolphins you had to be a strong swimmer,
it was fine when it was calm, on the windy days the boat ride was really
rocky my children found that very exciting.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local
people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
The staff were all local and I feel it is a nice place to work, I hope
they get payed fairly. Glass bottles were recycled all rubbish that was
washed up on the shore was cleared away. The tents we stayed in obviously
minimize the impact on the environment as they can be taken down but the
other accomodation is very traditional and fits in well with the surroundings
and local builders and material are used.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Fantastic I feel totally relaxed and wished we could have stayed longer
my son wants to live there. I would love to return there one day and learn
to dive.
*
* * * (4 stars)
Some wonderful memories, I would not hesitate to recommend it to a friend.
Denise Howe and family, UK
Review
courtesy responsibletravel.com
|
This holiday was a real adventure. An introduction to a developing country for all of us. I came with my 4 year old daughter and my brother with Down Syndrome and we all had a super time. If you like boats this holiday is for you. The egyptian guys at the eco resort were exceptionally kind and we were taken out in speed boats every day, as well as the 3 main trips on the boat! Our little gang LOVED the speed boat! We got a taste of being wild and free in quite a few different ways. We took a trip to the desert in a jeep to meet some nomads. I had a bit of culture shock, having not been out of the UK for so long, but brother and daughter, not at all. We saw 3 dolphins close to our speed boat for about 5 mins, that was amazing, on the other days they were too far away to swim with but the fantastic snorkelling made up for that, I saw 2 turtles and all kinds of incredible fish and the most wonderful coral so I wasn't disappointed. There's no tele in the lodges which was a real relief, it meant I could spend proper quality time with my family when we wern't on the beach. This is not a trip to take toddlers on, (you'd be running up and down the boat after them) and it was a litttle rough underfoot on the resort for my brother, but he managed well. The boat is like a real cruiser, I was suprised by how big and comfortable it was. In Febuary the weather was perfect, like a hot summer's day, we were lucky, barely any wind. It's amazing to look into the sea in the shallows and see shoals of fish. If you go make sure you visit the resort of Abudabab, where the turtles are. It's a great beach for kids too. The guys were really understanding of my brother and played lots with my daughter, it was a great success and we came back full of sun, sea and sparkles. It did something for our confidence too! It was really good to know that we could do a holiday like this, and it was great to get away from western culture with all its constraints. We employed Ruth of Wild and Free to help me look after James, she was so easy to be with, really sweet and kind and made me laugh a lot! She was a real help and she also gave me some valuable insights into the culture of Egypt. Jo and family, UK |
1.
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
We had prepared ourselves for not seeing any dolphins, so we were so happy
that we were able to see them! Without a doubt this was the most memorable
part, but the whole package was very good - the accomodation, food, location,
weather - everything was great.
2.
What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Be prepared for absence of dolphins, but also be patient and don't despair,
as we saw them on two out of three days, and even when there were a lot
of people in the water. The dolphin house reef is a great place to snorkel
anyway. You do have to be into snorkeling for this trip to be a success!
You need to bring with you everything you need, and a lot of books (or
whatever you like to do in the evenings) as there is nothing at all to
do at the Ecovillage - this was not a problem for us, it was very relaxing.
3.
Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts
on the environment?
I think so - all the staff were Egyptian, ranging from the manager to
the dive instructors, to room cleaners and kitchen staff. The accomodation
at the Ecovillage is really part of the landscape (it fits into the landscape
rather than the other way around), there is no swimming pool and no trees
etc have been planted, which I imagine would use up a lot of water resources.
There is no air conditioning. I think the impact was fairly minimal, but
I don't know if rubbish is recycled. There was a bit of rubbish in the
water at the house reef at times.
4.
Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
It was the most relaxing holiday we have had for a while. I tried to go
with reasonable expectations, as we really did not know how it would be
when we got there. I think it exceeded my expections for a very quiet,
battery recharging trip. The staff were extremely friendly and helpful,
especially the guys driving the ribs which took us out to the dolphin
reef. It was a very positive experience of Egypt, and I would recommend
the holiday to anyone who is prepared for the "basic" level
of the facilities - it is not a 5 star resort! We would go back. The only
small issue was the late arrival of our transfer back to Hurghada, it
created a little bit of stress on our last day. There was no problem in
the end, we arrive at the airport in plenty of time, but you do need to
have nerves of steel to handle the speed of the driving!
*
* * * (4 stars)
Some wonderful memories, I would not hesitate to recommend it to a friend.
Elizabeth,
UK
Review courtesy responsibletravel.com
 |
October 2007 Well we're back from our holiday and I just wanted to let you know we had a great time. We only managed one trip to the Dolphin House but it was worth it as we both saw and swam with dolphins - it was awesome! The rest of the week was spent snorkelling, swimming with turtles and chilling out - one of the best holidays we've ever had. The
staff at Shagara were awesome - friendly and very helpful but one
guy in particular made a real difference to our holiday - Gama who
worked in the dive centre - he was a real gem. |
October 2007
1.
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Snorkeling up close with dolphins (including mom-baby pairs) and sea turtles,
fantastic diving, peaceful time in the beautiful desert, the fantastic
staff at Red Sea Diving Safari-Nakari, the small/intimate nature of Nakari
(where we felt like we knew everyone there by the end of the week). We
especially loved the friendliness/helpfulness of Ibrahim (restaurant manager),
Hassan (our favorite zodiac driver), and Ashraf (dive instructor). Also
great to stay at a place that is never crowded (due to the small number
of rooms and the isolated location) and where everyone is on the same
wavelength regarding interest in the sea/marine life (everyone is there
to dive/snorkel).
2.
What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
If you love the ocean and its creatures and are looking for a peaceful,
intimate atmosphere for diving/snorkeling/relaxing, this is the place
for you. We are a family of 4 with kids aged 11 and 13 and really had
a fantastic time. No TVs, no video games, no crazy night life, etc. -
just the Red Sea and the desert. We were there in October, which was really
the perfect time to go = hot but not unbearable (32-35C) during the day
and comfortable at night. Water was still very comfortable at 28C.
3.
Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts
on the environment?
Yes - the lodge is locally owned and employs local people. Impact on the
environment seemed minimal.
4.
Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Really fantastic - this kind of ecolodge/dive camp holiday is not for
everyone, but it really had the perfect vibe for our family - days spent
snorkeling and diving; nights spent relaxing amid the peace of the desert.
It was great to find a place that allowed us to have fun as a family and
to get some diving in as well.
*
* * * (4 stars)
Some wonderful memories, I would not hesitate to recommend it to a friend.
Chris
Watt & family, UK
Review courtesy responsibletravel.com
Fifth time out to Samadi Reef (Dolphin House), saw Five pods before 1:00pm.
I
went to Samadai Reef again for the 5th time. I encountered more synchronicities
that are blowing me away.
As the boat was entering the area to moor at the corals just outside the
protected area in the open waters, I was sitting at the helm in my ‘spot’
with my feet propped up on my pillow, covered by a towel (went to doctor
on Sat and found I had muscle fatigue as my ankles were swollen pretty
bad and sore but was not going to let this stop me from a trip to Dolphin
House).
Heshem (the instructor diving guide) was at the wheel and shouted to me
“Pamela, do you want to snorkel?” I said I wanted to wait
until we got to the Reef inside to swim with the dolphins and to keep
my feel elevated as much as possible.
He said, “Well, look in front of you, there are dolphins”.
I turned and straight ahead, sure enough, the dolphins were ‘out’
of the reef and in the open sea! Loads of them. Thank goodness I had my
camera! It was a sight to see really because like synchronistic swimming
they came and caught the ‘wave’ of the boat. It is what they
call: “Flying in the Bow Wave”. Words are useless to describe
the feeling of witnessing this.
I then passed my things to Ashraf and he said ‘go’. We all
got in the ‘zodiac’ and dropped into the water. The next ½
hour – 45 minutes was magical. There were three people from Holland
and an Egyptian family of 3 adults and 6 children from Alexandria, who
were lovely and one woman from England who had club feet and hands.
We swam with about 60 dolphins. They were in a very playful mood. The
light of the sun's rays were shining and glistening in this beautiful
blue water.
I watched as Edwin and Mirjam (Holland) dove deeper into the water and
swam with them as the sun's rays danced upon this scene. We were completely
surrounded. I had two dancing with me swimming right in front of me going
from left, then looking me right in the eyes, then right, doing the same,
it is indescribable. They eventually swam ahead of us out further into
the sea. Too fast for us to keep up.
We went back to the boat. It was a couple from Holland (Edwin and Mirjam)
and a friend Kathryn and a lady from England (Patricia) who were diving.
I went in the zodiac with the driver to drop the dive team off at their
designated location. I said to them “Wouldn’t it be great
if they came back while we were in the water to see them again?"
We watched as the divers went under and the driver took me to the corals
and dropped me off to snorkel. He left me. I began snorkeling along the
reefs which were to my right and passed the boats that were moored on
my left. I was about 5 minutes past the boat and looking at something
specific in the corals, as I was thinking about the dolphins. Then it
was as if something tapped my consciousness which made me turn and look
to my left. I could not believe it. There, swimming right alongside me,
was a whole school of dolphins! It was another very surreal experience.
The timing and chance of this happening was obviously very rare. I swam
with them all by myself until they eventually were too fast for me.
I put my hand up to wave the boat. The zodiac came and picked me up. We
headed towards the direction of the dolphins but we now entered the Samadai
Reef which you need life vests on in order to get in the water, therefore
we had to go back to the boat for them. It was only myself and the children
(5) because the others were going on a dive. The zodiac took us back to
the Reef after getting our vests but the dolphins were inside now resting.
We headed back to the boat.
I kept a watch out to see if they would come out. I then saw them. We
got in the zodiac (just myself and 4 of the children). Now, this was interesting.
We headed towards the snorkelers who were waiting for the dolphins. Before
we reached them our guide said ‘Pam, the dolphins are here. I could
not believe it. The dolphins slipped under the other snorkelers and surfaced
just to the right of our zodiac heading out to the open sea! It was really
funny. This day was in our favour all the time. We got closer to them
and dropped in the water, and again, I was all alone with them. The children
stayed in the boat for some reason. I looked down and there were about
60-75 with a few babies in the group.
I was simply swimming with them as they headed out to sea for food. They
were not really into playing at this time. Although I had one swimming
with me and looking me in the eye. He got real close like before, almost
touching me, swimming right in front of me with his tail just under my
shoulders moving it from left to right with each slight turn looking me
in the eye. And I was moving with it. Like a dance. So very beautiful.
They began to move faster than I could keep up.
As I hovered in the water I looked down and what I saw coming almost stopped
my heart from beating, it was so beautiful. Time stood still once more.
Another group of about one hundred dolphins were coming just under me
heading out to sea. I swam with them too. They began to rise in unison
to take ‘air’ and it was here they got real close. I always
had one or two swimming with me as before right in front, looking at me
the whole time. I was in love. It took my breath away. They eventually
swam too fast for me to keep up and off they went to sea to feed.
Took the zodiac back to the boat. There was one last time we saw them.
Sea was getting a bit choppy now and was not as easy to swim in the water.
Still was able to see and swim with this group of dolphins which was another
60 or so. They were swimming too fast for us to keep up and I felt instinctively
to leave them alone especially after I had two of them swimming with me
again and could hear the zodiac’s motor and hear the children in
it, even with my head under the water, so I could imagine what the dolphins
could hear? As soon as the zodiac came closer these two lovely dolphins
that I was connecting/swimming with, took off. I put my head up and waved
to the zodiac to come and get me. I said I felt the dolphins just wanted
to be left alone now. They live in a very tranquil world most of the time.
I could feel that they had had enough and just wanted some peace and quiet.
Pamela, USA.
| June
2007
1. What was the most memorable
or exciting part of your holiday? 2. What tips would you give
other travellers booking this holiday? 3. Did you feel that your
holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment? 4. Finally, how would you
rate your holiday overall? Tiggy
Greenwood, UK |
Many thanks for a fantastic holiday.
Having
travelled for over an hour through the desert and passed two police check-points,
it was with some trepidation that we five females aged from 4 - 64 arrived
at NAKARI.
However this soon turned to delight. The chalets were spacious and the
traditional cube house was wonderful with brick doomed ceilings and terraces
with beautiful sea views.
The food was good, varied and plentiful. The service attentive and the
restaurant itself very well designed with a wonderful view.
The cafe on the beach - FREE soft drinks, tea and coffee. This saved an
amazing amount with children around.
ALL the staff were extremely friendly and helpful and unbelievably child
orientated.
The beach was ideal for the children with calm waters and it enabled them
to learn to snorkel, which was fantastic, and the varieties of fish we
saw was amazing.
The desert trip was exhilarating and yet at the same time evocative and
relaxing.
To
the main part, the dolphins, well how can I describe this experience?
Imagine having dolphins, beside you, below you, and almost leaping over
you because they wanted to not because they had to.
An incredible holiday that we hold very dear to our hearts and we hope
to return again soon.
Thank you so much.
Tamsin, Rachel, Megan, Erin and Rowen, UK
| May 2007
|
I have recently returned from Marsa Alam with my partner and although we would want to want to keep this paradise all to ourself it’s only fair that we share our experience for those considering this amazing opportunity. Please note I have asked to write this review as I am just overflowing with happy thoughts of our time in Marsa Alam and am craving to return. We had the most incredible time - in fact I can not express just how fantastic, wonderful and outstandingly breathtaking everything was - words cannot even begin to describe our experience – but I will try…. The team (every single one we met and we knew quite a few by name) could not have made us more welcome, they are like family the most wonderful people - they treat everyone as though they are the most important people ever to arrive so welcoming and genuine in their attention, without being invasive. We met Khaled from Wild & Free within hours of arriving and we knew we were in safe hands - the time and attention he gave so freely to enrich our experience was much appreciated, we spent good times with him every day and learnt so much. What a wonderful ambassador for the Red Sea and Wild & Free. The passion evident in everyone about preservation of the reef, the red sea, the marine life and conservation was truly an inspiration. Although that should be no surprise as the sheer beauty and diversity of the reef and the marine life is just breathtaking and so addictive, we were water bound every moment possible (says she who detests the sea and never ventures in). It truly is like you are swimming in a tropical fish tank. It was just amazing to be with the marine life in their world, we respected their space and their environment and they went about their business not minding our presence in the slightest. Every time we were in the water we saw something different and have 650 photos to testify (that’s some going for a week, about 100 per day!) We stayed in Shagra and it was just so perfect, in every way. We approached the trip in the knowledge the location was out of the way and things would be very basic, things were far from basic, in our eyes everything exceeded our expectations. In fact we tried to think of something that could be improved and we could not think of anything. I just hope the RSDS and Wild and Free can preserve what they have created as it appears Marsa Alam is on the verge of becoming a toursit hotspot which may damage beyond repair, the Red Sea and the environment. Oops, I nearly forgot to mention – our sole purpose for this trip was to swim with dolphins in their world - on top of all the wonderful things mentioned above I was privileged to accomplish my lifelong wish to swim with the dolphins!! However, if I had not done I certainly would not have been disappointed but it was the icing on the cake and really is something you have to experience to appreciate these most beautiful creatures. They slow down for you to pace them and to have one look you in the eye is just beyond words. Thank you Wild and Free, for carefully selecting the most wonderful place to base your clients and for creating the opportunity for us to have the most amazing experience of our life and thanks Tracy for all your support with the booking. Cyndy & Marc, UK |
Back
in England after a great holiday in Nakari. The accommodation, food and
staff were absolutely brilliant at the camp and we were lucky enough to
swim with dolphins on one occasion out of the 3 - on the other days we
saw them but they did not come into the snorkelling zone and on the 3rd
occasion they were nowhere to be seen. We did get some reasonable photos,
but the real icing on the cake was that on our return to camp on the day
the dolphin joined us we decided to snorkel the north reef gettting a
rib out to the centre of the bay. Luckily we spotted 4/5 dolphins and
jumped overboard and had the pleasure of swimming literally 1ft away from
them if not closer - it was amazing. Also on our last full day we saw
a Manta Ray in the bay approx 9 foot across.
Jan & Paul Hoskins, UK
April 2007
We
were a bit unlucky with the dolphins at first, but on our last evening
I was chatting to Akhmed, one of the RIB drivers (we have common interests
as I have worked on boats all of my life) and he promised to take us out
the next day and show us something special. He lived up to his word, with
about 3 hours before we had to leave he found us 6 dolphins and a baby,
just outside the house reef. My daughter said she has never seen anyone
put on a wetsuit and leap off a boat so fast, Akhmed saved the day and
I got to swim with the dolphins. Fantastic.
All the staff seemed to have one goal, which was to make sure we had the best possible time and enjoyed to the full our time in their part of Egypt. Please thank them all from us.
P.S The best reef and marine life that I have seen anywhere in the world.
Many thanks,
Trevor Finnigan, UK
Apart
from the flight, it was a great holiday. I guess it would have been nice
to have swum with dolphins on the 2nd and 3rd trip but the wind was very
stong which meant the dolphins kept away. We also swum with the dugon
which was incredible and I have never seen so many turtles in one go!
The accomodation was good, the rooms were clean and the staff were friendly. The food was OK but nothing special.
It was a great 7 days which just seem to speed past.
Thanks for organising it all for us!!!
Simon and Vicki, UK
We would like to pass on our thanks for a truly wonderful holiday. It was all we imagined it could be plus a lot more. I really don't know where to start.
From the moment we got in the taxi at the airport we knew it was going to be different. Lights, no lights, Right side of the road, left side of the road, Stop for a coffee (well it was Ramadan and sunset) and a smoke, blind summit, ok we'll overtake!! We arrived at Nakari (thinking it was Shagra) a little tired, fairly stressed and somewhat anxious. 24 hours later we realised we were at Nakari, and it was dawning on us just how lucky we had been. Slowly other members of our new family began to arrive. Simon and Nicole, Rick and Felicity, Alf, Chris, Debbie and Woody. Somehow we just gelled together, but I think that was all part of the magic of Nakari. The staff were just great, friendly, happy, relaxed, caring, smiling and appeared genuine as well.
The boat lads, Tebe et al couldn't do enough for us, taking us round the reef, picking us up, hauling us into the Zodiac!! Abdeen and his dolphin searches, fins put on our ears in the rush to get in the water then we paddled madly after him. The dive instructors who helped me enjoy the amazing magical wonderful underwater experience of diving, particularly Ashraf who put up with the occasional panic on my part and seemed to share my somewhat childish excitement at discovering new fish (well it was my first clown fish). Rede in the restaurant, ever smiling, cooking up new cakes, Khaled in the cafe and particularly Mido with his slow soft shoe shuffle, slowly organising a motley crew into some order.( I mean us - the guests).
Our trip into the desert will never be forgotten, I am running out of words to describe the peace we felt that night.
I hesitate to say it but I even enjoyed riding in the back of a truck like a camel!!!
All in all
what an experience, and on top of all that we saw and swam with the dolphins!!!
Thank you so much to everyone, we feel very grateful, it was a once in
a lifetime experience and will stay with us for ever. Everyone should
go. Thank you again and please pass on these thoughts to the team at Nakari.
Liz and John, UK
October 2006
My
wife and I just got back from the most memorable holiday we ever had.
We had a fantastic time and we both felt that one week was not enough.
The welcome from the staff at Nakari Lodge (00:30 am) couldn't have been
better and we felt right at home straight away. The accommodation was
great, the weather was perfect, very sunny but not "too" hot
and on the whole the food great (but please no cold fries!!) and the beers
cold.
We were very glad to have been lodged at Nakari as this is the point of departure for the dolphin house boat and offered exceptional snorkelling at the house reef without early morning truck rides. A huge thank you to Mido, Ashraf, Abdul and the rest of the staff and snorkelling guides at Nakari for making sure that we "did" and "saw" everything we wanted, and much more besides. The snorkelling everywhere was outstanding; we swam with turtles, saw barracuda, sharks, lionfish , and hundreds of other multicolored, multi shaped and multi sized fish. We were also lucky enough to swim with the dolphins on two separate occasions on the same day - what a fabulous experience. So graceful. So powerful.
The desert trip to ride camels, eat fresh baked bread and drink freshly ground beja coffee as the stars came out was fabulous and very well organised.
Finally
a huge thank you to Ashraf who made sure that a bit of toothpaste and
some spit could actually keep my mask from fogging up allowing me to see
perfectly for the last 5 days.
We will be coming back soon, but next time with our children.
thanks again
Simon & Nicole, UK
Julia:
My mother paid for me to go on this trip for my birthday as I have always
wanted to swim with dolphins. We were very, very lucky to see and swim
with so many dolphins on our first snorkel at dolphin house. I can't tell
you how amazing it was, the images are so vivid in our minds. It wasn't
just about the dolphins, but all the other amazing sea life that we were
privileged to see.
Gil: This was one of the best holidays we have ever been on and will continue to talk about it for a long time yet. I have been to Egypt many times, I love the people and the culture and will certainly be returning ... especially to Captain Mido's camp ... we will of course be travelling with Wild and Free!
Kindest regards, Julia and Gil, UK
I want to thank you for the best holiday I have ever had. I don't have the words to express how much I enjoyed any single moment of my holiday - from the location to the staff it was perfect.
I
stayed in a tent but spent most of the time sleeping outside under the
stars. I really only used my tent to store my luggage!
While I had three trips to Dolphin house I never used them because the dolphins came to me. Woke up in the morning to see a group of 15 dolphins swimming in the bay. I ran into the sea and was the only person swimming with them. It was something else. I can honestly say it was the best experience I have ever had, and that is coming from someone who has caged dived with great whites and been on numerous safaris across Africa.
Having said
that I would have come home happy if the dolphins had never showed up.
I spent hours in the sea each day and saw everything from lion fish to
turtles. I have come home raving about my holiday and saving every penny
to come back next year. I hope it is the same staff because I could not
fault them. They really made the holiday.
Thank you so so so so so much
Sara, UK
I was very sad to come back from Egypt. The build up, then the holiday was so great that coming home was rather depressing! We had a great time, everything was to our expectations and more.
We
had 3 dolphin trips and saw 5 or more dolphins each time. We have some
great pictures of them too. When I was out there with the dolphins everything
seemed to happen so fast, one minute they were there, then almost in the
next minute they were swimming off. They were fascinated by us. I think
because of the excitement of seeing them and that it happened so quickly
my memory seems a bit blurred. My only disappointment was that I didn't
get to touch them. I was amazed at how close they swam near us.
We saw a baby dugong and turtle. They were fascinating.
The
zodiac drivers at Shagra reef and the dolphin reef were really helpful,
friendly and keen to get you to the dolphins. One guide, Hatem, was very
chatty, friendly and informative. He came with us twice to the dolphin
reef. The other guide who came with us only once, I can't remember his
name, was a little bit more reserved.
The accommodation and food was very good, although on the last day we
all came down with stomach cramps and diarrhea which lasted for quite
a few days afterwards.
We
took two excursions. First one was to Shelatin. This was very well organised.
We were taken around a camel market by our guide Saied, who was a very
pleasant man, (and a policeman) then we had some refreshments in a restaurant.
Then we walked round the market, there were two interesting shops. A spice
shop where they sold incense sticks, spices, henna and perfume. The other
shop was a bit like an Aladdin's cave, they sold sarongs, jewellery and
ornaments. In the main part of the market they sold practical things like
water pipes, pots, pans, and batteries. After that we went back to the
restaurant for some lunch. The food was ok. Everyone ate camel, I didn't,
I had chicken. Then on the way back to Shagra we stopped at a little fishing
village by the sea. There were quite a few small children there selling
bracelets and necklaces. After that we went straight back to Shagra.
Our
second excursion was the Sunset tour. This was very well organised too.
We went on a truck drive into the desert were eventually we met up with
a group of camels that were sitting down waiting for us! We took a 20
min camel ride further into the desert were finally we stopped near a
Bedouin village. There was a Bedouin woman baking bread over a fire, there
was another Bedouin woman weaving a rug. There were 2 Bedouin men making
the tea and Bedouin coffee, which was rather strong!
I think the only thing that was a bit of a struggle out there was the early departures. For 5 mornings of our stay we were leaving the ecovillage by 7.30am. We learnt that there was a reason for this. We were more likely to see the dolphins earlier in the morning - and we did!
I had also written at least 10 postcards, stamped them and handed them into the cafe where I'd bought them from. None of them have been received, so I'm not sure what happened there.
We would definitely go again. In fact my husband is interested in going diving next time. But it means we have to start saving now!
Thanks for
everything.
Regards Robyn and family, UK.
I'm
addicted ! I've been lucky to be able to visit Shagra 3 times over the
past 13 months resulting in 8 visits to Dolphin House. I have been so
lucky to have swum with the dolphins on 6 of these visits with 5 of the
visits having multiple swims. I'd like to share the experience of my last
day with them. There were four people on the boat which had the main priority
of going out for two dives and then snorkelling with the dolphins as the
added bonus. It didn't turn out that way for them!
We got to the reef early to find a pod of around 60-80 dolphins swimming outside the reef - this was great because it meant that we could get straight in to play and not wait until the 10.00 am "official snorkel time". We were the only people there at that time and they wanted to play, it was truly wonderful. The dolphins slowed down so that they could swim within touching distance of us (even though we all knew not to touch them), I even had one swimming in circles around me whilst I "twizzelled around" in the water. The dolphins were so playful that even the divers forewent one of their dives to continue snorkelling. We all agreed that it has been a magical day that no-one would forget.
And guess what? I'm checking the finances to see when I can go again.
Cheers!
Sharon, UK
| June 2006
We were a bit concerned that the weather would be too hot for us, going in June, but even though it was between 35 & 40 ° C the heat was so dry that it was bearable. It helped that we spent most of our time in the sea, which was a very warm - by British standards - 28 ° C.
And just to put the icing on the cake, we had several very heart-warming encounters with the ancient and gentle green turtles at Abu Dabab bay! On our last night we were taken up into the mountains behind Shagra by jeep, up into a dry river bed where we rode for nearly an hour on camels through the silent wilderness of the desert. There was a wonderful timeless feel to that slow amble through the ancient rocks that took our breath away, and touched us almost as deeply as the dolphins and turtles had.
If there is anything we can do to help support any conservation or environmental awareness programmes in that area please let us know… let’s not lose such a precious example of the miracles of life on earth! Many many thanks, Claire and Kia Lucas, UK |
Our
holiday was SO WONDERFUL that I didn’t know where to start,
or whether it’s possible to put into words how magical it
all was! I’d arranged the holiday for myself and my daughter
as a celebration of her 18th birthday. She had always wanted to
swim with dolphins, so I had been looking on the internet for holidays
where this was possible. I found Wild and Free through Responsible
Travel. I was so excited to find such ethical companies, and both
web sites were really easy to use, and informative. I must admit
that part of the reason I chose to book the Swimming with Dolphins
in Marsa Alam holiday was because it was the cheapest holiday I
could find where swimming with dolphins was involved! It was an
added bonus that it was based in an environmentally-friendly, ecological
centre. All admin was smooth and hassle-free. Tracy at Wild and
Free was very efficient and helpful, especially as I had to leave
booking ‘til the last minute because of cash flow!
We
stayed at Shagra Village, in one of the huts (Bungalow). We had
debated about staying in a tent, but were glad we’d opted
for a hut as the fan was much-appreciated. We also heard that tent-dwellers
were being eaten by mosquitoes a lot more than we were! The setting
is breathtaking… huts and tents right on the beach, just a
few yards from the sea. The whole place was beautifully laid out,
immaculately clean, and so welcoming and friendly. From Joseph in
reception to our lovely cleaner, Ayman (who made a different origami
sculpture out of our towels every day), and the sweet young zodiac
drivers, the service was exceptional… nothing was too much
trouble, and everything was done with a smile. And the food... well,
we went expecting to lose weight, but although we might have managed
it if we’d restricted ourselves to the plentiful and beautifully
presented salads, we were unable to resist the amazing array of
breads, pastries and desserts! As vegetarians we’re used to
finding rather a lack of choice when we go on holiday, but not so
here... we were spoilt for choice!
Most
of the people staying at Shagra were there to dive (out of the 60
or so guests there were only about 6 of us who were just snorkelling).
This meant that we often had the entire reef surface edge to ourselves.
We were unable to go out to the Dolphin House Reef for the first
three days. This worked to our advantage as it gave us time to get
accustomed to our fins and snorkels, and to fully appreciate the
House Reef. This reef, which literally starts at your doorstep,
is breathtaking. It’s like being immersed in the best nature
programme you’ve ever seen… we couldn’t believe
how beautiful the coral was, or how varied the fish. We lost count
of the types of fish we saw… never dreamt there were such
wonders to be seen! Even if we hadn’t seen the dolphins we
would have gone home happy! We only managed to have 2 trips, however
we were extraordinarily lucky, because the only two days the dolphins
were at the reef in the week we were there were the two days that
we went! I can’t even begin to put into words the feelings
I had as I watched a group of 20 spinner dolphins approach us, turn
to swim alongside us and beneath us, and when I turned to check
my daughter had as good a view of them as I did I found she was
flanked by them, literally inches away from her. I can only say
that joyful sobbing into a snorkel is not the easiest thing to do!!
They came and swam with us 6 times over the 2 days… in groups
of between 10 and 30+. We will always treasure the memory of them…
and were lucky enough to get some pretty good photo’s too!
Whilst
I have absolutely nothing but praise for Wild and Free, and the
guys at Shagra, I do have to say that I have some concerns about
the other companies operating in that area. As with many beautiful
spots, particularly with international airports close by, there
is a great deal of development going on in the Marsa Alam area.
A lot of this development is not at all environmentally-friendly.
More and more all-inclusive package holiday hotels are being built,
and great swathes of the reef trashed by the builders, the uneducated
holiday-makers and the pollution from the boats that service them.
At Shagra we were given thorough briefs before we ventured into
the sea, or anywhere near a reef. There were lots of rules, all
backed up with very well-explained reasons (the dive-guides were
great linguists!), and rather than feeling limited by these rules,
they helped us to fully respect the fragility and preciousness of
the natural world. All our dive guides and boat drivers were so
respectful of the natural world that when we came across boats and
snorkellers from other resorts we were appalled by their behaviour.
It was particularly alarming to see zodiacs chasing the dolphins,
a large group of Italian snorkellers screaming, shouting, splashing
and swarming straight towards the dolphins whenever they saw them,
and another group hounding a green turtle every time it came up
for air… they reminded me of the paparazzi… so invasive
and disrespectful. We are already saving up to return to Shagra,
but are worried that unless the Egyptian government intervenes,
in liaison with environment agencies, there is little hope of this
magical wonder of the natural world surviving intact to see another
generation. photo Amber Melville-Brown |
Think of a perfect dolphin swimming holiday, communing with these magnificent creatures, from swimming among a pod of up to seventy spinner dolphins to enjoying a one-to-one experience with an individual who circles you slowly, checking you out with his big, dark, dark inquisitive eye before dancing and playing with you as if you were one of his best friends. Now do a reality check because, as the Wild and Free web site makes clear, these are wild dolphins. You can’t guarantee that the dolphins are even going to be there let alone that they are going to want to have anything to do with you if they are. So put any romantic ideas of that perfect dolphin swimming holiday out of your mind. |
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| HOLD THE FRONT PAGE! That perfect holiday is the one that I just had! An encounter with a wild dolphin is an amazing thing. You may think it’s not for you because you don’t believe “all that nonsense” about it being a spiritual experience. However, having an inquisitive, totally wild animal in a completely alien environment want to engage with you is to say the least a rather exciting experience. So too is being invited to swim with his entire pod, seventy strong – they actually slow down to let you do so – as they go about their daily business! My trip to Nakari was I have to say, one of the best holidays that I had ever had. And I’ve been lucky enough to do some amazing things; I’ve looked into the eyes of an Orang Utan in Borneo; I’ve fed orphaned elephants in Sri Lanka; I’ve narrowly avoided becoming a small bedtime snack for a couple of lions in Tanzania. Perhaps it was that I didn’t have too many preconceptions as to the reality of the holiday as I’ve said; or the fact that my fellow travellers, strangers all to start with – Kim, Paul, Mark, Thomas and Sarah – were such wonderful holiday companions; perhaps it was the ease with which the whole trip was booked; or the laid back relaxed atmosphere generated by Mido and those who run the eco lodge; or the fun yet professional attitude of those who looked after us on our swims, Ahmed and Omar; or Mustafa’s fine food; or the excellent care of the captain and boat crew. Or perhaps a combination of all of them. |
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 photo Amber Melville-Brown |
I don’t want to recommend Nakari to anyone. I want to keep it as my own private getaway, relaxed and quiet and only for me! But I’m not a selfish girl, and it is only right that others enjoy such a fabulous experience. I have no doubt that those who run the lodge will ensure that its distinct relaxed and welcoming atmosphere will remain. We should all have somewhere that we can go to in our heads when life gets you down, when work gets too much or when the pressures of every day life takes the smile off your face. That place for me is Nakari. Or to be more precise, I the middle of the Red Sea where I am lying in miles and miles of open sea, laughing my head off as scores of dolphins swim in front of me, behind me and everywhere underneath me. And one is slapping his tail and laughing back at me. It’s enough to put a smile on anyone’s face. Amber, UK |
 photo Amber Melville-Brown |
| May 2006 From the first sunrise to the last sunset as we were flying home, we have to say a big THANKYOU to Nakari Village, Mido (the boss), Ahmed (the best) Omar (the loveliest), Hamada (Sarah’s special friend) Mustafa, the boat crew and all the other staff who treated our family as their own. As the week went by it became more wondrous, we had such “special” company in Amber and Kim (honorary Roberts family members), the perfect CAGMAG (thanks Granny M-B) accompaniment to our holiday. We were truly lucky and “SPECIAL PEOPLE” in seeing the dolphins on our five visits to Samadai Sanctuary. We cannot express our joy and happiness that this experience has given ourselves and our children Thomas 8 and Sarah 6. Nakari is truly place of solitude and closeness to nature. We think nowhere else could have given us a fabulous first taste of Egypt and a great celebration week of my (Paula’s) 40th birthday. With thoughts of next years visit to home (Nakari Village) in our minds it will make going to work a little more pleasant. A little piece of our hearts will always be at Nakari. Again many thanks. Paula,
Mark, Thomas & Sarah |
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May 2006
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That was the best holiday that I've ever had! I
went on my own and was lucky enough to meet up with some truly lovely
people, Amber and the Roberts family. We had the best time at Nakari,
the staff were fab, the place was beautiful and peaceful, the food
was just as described - basic but wholesome and there was most certainly
enough of it!!! I was really impressed with the way that the staff
were with Mark and Paula's children. They were very obviously entertaining
the children because they wanted to, not because it was expected
or a chore. And that pretty much says it all. It felt as though
everyone who worked there was doing something that they loved, rather
than just trudging about doing a 'job'. It made a really big impact
on me that the people were so genuine. Warmest regards Kim,
UK |
I went to Nakari Ecolodge in April 06 with my mum (Carole) my sister (Heva) and my mum's boyfriend (Paul.) My mum has already written you a review but I just wanted to say a special thanks to all the staff at Nakari as they were amazing and I miss them all soooooooooooooooo much. When we had to leave Nakari and travel on to Hurghada for the second week of the holiday we were all really depressed and didn't want to leave the ecolodge and our new found friends. We will definitely be going back sometime. I have been away since and it doesn't feel like a holiday now it just seems to be the same as any normal holiday unlike the time I spent at Nakari which is one holiday I will never forget. People have said they don't want to recommend Nakari and I feel exactly the same way because there was only 8 guests (including us 4) the Staff and Guests were like one big Family, but seen as we had such a good time I think that I should let someone else have a turn and it's also a holiday for the whole family. Me and Heva were like "OMG we are going to be so bored at night time there's going to be nothing for us to do at night" (because on our previous holidays are usually the nightlife type) however, the staff are so entertaining me and Heva were always busy doing something or laughing our heads off at one of them, and the other family that were staying at the ecolodge had children who were 8 and 12 and they never seemed to be bored the staff always had something for them to do. Anyway I could go on all day about the people so before I do I'm going to go. Just a MASSIVE THANKS to Abdeen (the dolphin man) / 'Captin' Mido (the manager) / Mustafah (the extremely funny guy who made our amazing towel designs) and of course everyone else who I miss and love loadsssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss.
I would go back now, if i could, and go and live over there with them all and have the amazing job that they have.
Love Sarah, UK
| April 2006 We went on the Silver Wave all 3 times to Dolphin House - After the first trip we were so impressed with the personal service & care provided by Captain Abdeen and the rest of the staff we insisted on going with them for our other 2 trips. Abdeen was wonderful. He is an expert on the dolphins and cares for them deeply - hence his nickname the dolphin man. The zodiac driver Ahmed is also very experienced and helpful. Our trips to Dolphin House wouldn't have been the same without them. Swimming with the dolphins was awesome. Our initial induction to the house reef was with Ayman who was informative, helpful & friendly. We were sorry to see him leave for Shagra part way through the week. The house reef at Nakari is beautiful - like swimming in an aquarium, and the diving staff are obviously dedicated to the conservation of the reef. Abdeen, in his own time, showed us the house reef on our first day. On our last day he took us snorkelling at 6 in the morning to show us various fish, sharks and barracudas. Sarah and Heather especially enjoyed the Egyptian dancing on the beach. There were only a small number of guests at the village - the staff, at times, out numbered the guests - which made us feel like one big family. We came as guests, however, due to the wonderful personal service from ALL the staff we felt we were leaving our friends behind when we had to leave. We were sorry to leave Nakari and would like to express a huge thank you to everyone for making our holiday a five star holiday of a lifetime. Special thanks from me (Carole) for making my life long dream of swimming with dolphins come true. Carole and family, UK |
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Just wanted to tell you that I had an amazing time at Nakari. I am boring everyone with how special it was. I will definitely be going back, sometime in the autumn I hope. Thank you for all that you did.
Blessings,
Kitty, UK
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We have just returned from a holiday (in the third week of December) with Wild and Free to swim with wild dolphins in the Red Sea in south Egypt. They were a great company to go with, well organised, polite and helpful on every little item, I cannot recommend them highly enough. They use a site near Marsa Alam which is a dive centre for people from all over the world. The centre uses local people as staff for everything and local food is provided. They are very careful about the environment, following the very strict conservation rules about the Red Sea to the letter. Although the litter in the surrounding desert area is truly a blight on the landscape, but that is not under their control of course. The site we went to had traditional style accommodation consisting of Bedouin style chalet bungalows with en-suite shower-room and bungalows and tents with shared bathroom facilities. We are a family of 7, granny, mum dad and four kids aged 5,7, 10 and 11. The children and parents stayed in tents on the beach of the Red Sea, granny had her own chalet! Very clean accommodation and the loos were spick and span throughout the week. Egyptian food suited even the fussiest palates and no-one came home with tummy bugs. The Egyptians are a lovely people who love children of all ages and made us so welcome. They went out of their way to make us feel at home and help us in every way. I didn't see the children much all week as they were always being entertained by the lovely staff at the site: football, speed boat rides and the like! Once they are 12 they can do diving for which tuition and support was available on site. There's always sandcastle building but paddling is not really available as the reef is right off the beach. Snorkelling was amazing for all of us and to see our five year old confidently bobbing around in the middle of the Red Sea was a sight I shall never forget! If anyone is considering doing this I would highly recommend it, but do take all your own children's snorkelling kit and wetsuits if you are going in the winter as they do not have any small sizes to hire. The sea was very cold! Also you and your children need to be quite confident and fit, as there's a lot of walking about, with chalets being quite a walk from the centre's cafe, restaurant and beach. I felt very safe about the children being on their own running about anywhere on site and felt no concerns about this, which was a blessed relief! It also helped that they are all strong able swimmers. Thanks again for a lovely time. Selina and family, UK |
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Although
we were unable to swim with the dolphins and turtles, we always
knew this was a risk as they are wild animals and not subject to
any command performances.... This was disappointing but overall
we returned rested and relaxed from a very happy holiday which was
ideal for a family. For this reason it was a four star holiday rather
than five! 
Hayley and I had the most fantastic time on the trip. We got to see the
dolphins and, like a drug, I just want to go and see them again and again!!
Thanks
Penny, UK
Have just arrived home from the airport and wanted to e mail you straight away so I didn't forget. Thank you all for such a fantastic holiday. We have had the most amazing week away. Only went to Dolphin House the once, as most mornings there was a pod of about 70 dolphins swimming off the house reef. Swam with them four times, once for over an hour on our own! Completely unforgettable.
Thanks again
Maxine
& James, UK
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Fantastic week! Not sure what to expect - your write-ups sounded almost too good to be true, but the whole holiday exceeded our expectations. Staff were brilliant and friendly. We were lucky to have a group that got on very well, never had to worry about the children. One trip to see Dugong was a disaster with big waves. We were allowed a second trip - saw dugong, turtles and guitar shark. Enjoyed the trips on the back of the truck. On our 3rd day, the pod was in Shagra Bay and we swam with them a few times - about 30+. The inflatables dropped us along the reef and we could swim back amongst them. We were very lucky. Even if we had not been so lucky, snorkelling around the reef was unbelievably beautiful. It was a hectic week and we came back exhausted - would love to go for longer and space out excursions more as did not spend much time in the house reef. We all suffered a tummy upset as some time, but did not at any time believe it had anything to do with hygiene - everything was spotless and the food lovely and fresh. My children are 9 and 12 and they never complained once about not having a TV etc. They spent most of the time playing cards and learning tricks, with other visitors and staff. I suggested some cheap, relevant curios should be sold at the shop that the kids could take back for friends. I also think they should sell playing cards - they would surely make a profit with cards. The staff were all lovely. We were very lucky to have Basta most of the time, he was brilliant and an amazing personality. Hassan who took us on two outings at the end when Basta was busy, was also very nice. We were very fond of Gamma (from Dive shop). He explained a lot to us about Egypt and the driving laws, and was very knowledgeable and kind. My younger daughter is very friendly and blonde, the staff just loved her! They did all make a lot of fuss over the kids and ensured everyone had a great time. The boat people where such a good laugh. I cannot remember everyones' names to give them credit. Thanks again and will hopefully get back to Shagra in the near future. Kenny, Jean, Skye & Amy, UK |
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August 2005
Just a quick comment to say I think it was great. The place, Shagra, was very natural and untouched, and I hope it remains that way. I think the tour guides and people that worked there made the trip what it was. They were very approachable, friendly, helpful and very, very good with the kids. The guide we had, Basta, was exceptional - a real gent, very respectful, very good with the kids, took the upmost care that everyone was involved and happy, followed through all queries and requests, and was a great laugh as well.
Bina, UK
Have
just returned from 2 weeks at Marsa Alam and will never be the same again..
we, as a family, have totally fallen in love with the place and as I write
this feel a deep sadness in my heart to have left it all behind, you have
an incredible set up there, that is clearly a cut above the rest in the
area...
We did 5
trips to Dolphin House and were lucky every time, the last 2 trips were
a dream come true, in the water surrounded by them all so close to us
you could have reached out!! the staff were amazing too, all so so friendly
and seemed genuinely sad to see us go, the kids were very popular!! they
could not have been nicer or more helpful and welcoming.
Jenny Harris, UK
The dolphins were great! Swimming very close to us, about 40. We spotted them as soon as we arrived. Swam with them for about 45 minutes, and a smaller group stayed a bit longer. We have had 100% success rate! Words cannot describe how I feel to finally swim with dolphins...
Debbie, UK
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We
cannot speak highly enough of the whole holiday. The staff were extremely
helpful and friendly, and always ready for a laugh and joke. The food
was absolutely delicious and, being a vegetarian, there was more than
enough to choose from. The accommodation was spotless and we enjoyed seeing the different objects that the cleaners would make the towels into. As for the dolphins, this was an experience never to be forgotten. We were lucky enough to swim with approximately fifty dolphins on two of the trips and on the other trip the dolphins were playing and jumping, although they didn't venture outside of their special area. On the second trip we must have swam with them for at least twenty minutes and they swam right alongside us, too close to photograph. It is wonderful to see dolphins in their natural surroundings and the lengths that the Egyptian Authority are going to to conserve the environment is commendable. The zodiac crew always dropped us as near to the dolphins as they were allowed and had no hesitation in pulling us unceremoniously in and out of the boat - what a laugh we had!! We were especially fond of Abdy (don't know how to spell his name!) who swam with us to the coral reef and pointed out all the different fish, clams and coral. The food on the boats was unbelievable, how they managed to prepare such a variety of tasty food in quite a small area is amazing. On the last day, we decided to take the zodiac to the south reef and snorkel back. Imagine our shock when we came face to face with three sharks, we're not sure if they were whitetips or silvertips, about 1.5m long - thankfully, they were curious enough to swim under us before heading peacefully on their way. On Tony's 50th birthday, we went on the Sunset Tour you kindly organised for us. It felt like we had gone quite deep into the desert on the jeep, before having a camel ride to the camp. The Bedouins were very friendly and welcoming and Tony enjoyed the coffee and bread they had made. The peace and quiet was wonderful, so relaxing. We also went to the Bedouin cafe on the beach and our new Dutch friends introduced us to the fragrant shisha pipe, what an experience! We sat and watched the stars and listened to the sea until the small hours of the morning. The
shopping trip really finished off our holiday perfectly. When we
drove back through the village in the taxi, a lot of the shopkeepers
were waving, we felt like royalty!! The presents went down very
well with everyone and we have our new camelhair rug taking pride
of place in front of the fireplace. |
| My sister and I planned a holiday of peace - a chance to empty brains somewhere we could swim and chill out and relax and this was just what we needed. Nakari is a small-scale encampment with little domed huts and tents, very comfortable beds, staffed by friendly and helpful people and utterly uncommercial. It has the most beautiful place to eat, at tables set in sand in the shade just a few feet from the sea. I loved the way the village has been chosen, when it's available, as the most low key, natural and peaceful place possible. We had a windy week (hot in the sun, pleasantly cooled by the wind) and the dolphins weren't in evidence on our first two visits but to my amazement we did some exciting open water coral reef snorkeling in challenging conditions. It greatly improved my confidence in the sea states I can snorkel in! We were guided by one of the boat crew who watched out for the safety of everyone in the group and pointed out fish and corals of particular interest with a pleasure and excitement in coral reef life that was infectious. On the day of our final trip we woke to a calmer sea, the wind was down, we made the boat voyage, sparkling sea and flying spray, in gathering anticipation, had a more extensive morning snorkel than usual then they moved the boat to the spot nearest the dolphin meeting zone and the cry of dolphins went up - we could see them in the distant curve inside the reef. Some pulled on wetsuits, all grabbed masks, fins and life-jackets. I pulled a life jacket over my swimsuit - in the warm water it feels elemental and more real somehow, though a wetsuit keeps you buoyant which can be comforting. We jumped from the zodiac and swam into the dolphin meeting zone. I had my head up and saw the dolphin fins drawing near, then put my mask in the water and looked down and forward - within seconds I saw a column of moving dolphins, about twenty of them, some near the surface, some lower down, a couple of babies among them, they almost seemed in slow motion in the cobalt blue water, sun shining through from above. I heard a call from the air above and lifted my head up to check that all was OK - and when I looked back seconds later, they were just a suggestion in the water, then they had gone. Soon after more fins approached and I looked down again to see 5 dolphins diving down in an arc in front of us just a few metres away, then we had a more distant sighting, then they were gone and it was time to return to the boat. It was wonderful sharing the same bit of water with them and seeing them underwater. It wasn't actually swimming alongside a dolphin but it was perfect all the same and made the holiday seem like a dream! Sue, UK |
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THANK YOU
we both thoroughly enjoyed our week. It provided more than we had anticipated
and although we may not pass that way again, the memories of that week
will remain for ever.
regards
Heather and Colin, UK
Safely
returned from the most fabulous time in Marsa Alam - all expectations
surpassed. They looked after us brilliantly and we swam with the dolphins
really close up which was amazing. 100% happy with the trip and the resort
and everything.
We both definitely want to go back - I just need to work my socks off
now!
Thank you so very much - I cannot fault anything that Wild & Free
have done for us and be assured that how things work out there is just
perfect.
Best regards,
Liz and Jade, UK
The whole experience was fantastic and I can’t wait to get the photographs back, it’s a shame I didn’t get one of the shark but I will never forget what that looked like!
Thanks once again.
Susan, Sebastian and Charlotte, UK
We had a great time and saw dolphins, the dugong and turtles. We are recommending it to all our diving friends.
Many thanks again.
Xenia and Hester, UK
We had a wonderful time in Eygpt. It was very funny but I had actually been to the Eco-Village at Shagra 9 years ago. Well, things have changed a bit since then. Nine years ago, there were no hotel developments at all on the coast; there was one communal tent (no dive shade, no showers, no buildings etc) - so it was rather luxurious.
The Eco-Village was done tastefully and in keeping with the surroundings (unlike some of the hotels) and it was good to be in such a relaxed and unpretentious environment. Divers are pretty easy going people.
As it was a scuba place, I was able to do my first scuba diving in 9 years. It was brilliant to have the chance to do some diving again. Margot was able to do her first ever dives.
Thanks for the arrangements and I would be happy to recommend your company to other people.
Ed, UK
I had a lovely break thank you. The sun shone, it was quiet, I snorkelled everywhere - fantastic. Met the dolphins on 1 of the 3 days - quite a large group - and some were interested enough to swim along side me which was nice. The reef was extremely interesting on the other 2 days - saw a large eel. Accommodation and food at Nakari Village was great. Also did a night swim and saw many other interesting fish - so many that in the end I bought a book with some photos in to tick them off. Saw some turtles and a 'spanish dancer' but missed the 'sea cow'. Airport transfers fine.
Simon, UK
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We
had a fantastic holiday and did see the dolphins on one of our trips
to Dolphin House. The location (Nakari) was excellent and the staff
could not have been friendlier. What made the holiday for us was
that there were only 11 of us staying in the week that we were there
- 5 of us from Wild & Free and we all got on very well. |
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Fantastic staff at Nakari and the food was amazing as was the presentation and service - all of which was immaculate.
Our chalet was lovely and clean and the maid service in the mornings was great, as was the shower / toilet block although never any hot water - always tepid! But actually surprisingly refreshing!
Made lots of friends as there were few of us, I learnt to dive which I wasn't expecting to do either - also roped Mum into trying it hehe!
We did the visit to the Dugong which was about 20 metres out from the shore at the time - we both snorkeled out there but I couldn’t make it as the sea was quite rough that day so we missed it! But luckily the divers we were with videoed the whole thing which also included my first dive the day before.
We did the camel excursion to see the Bedouin family and we danced and sang with them and it was lovely - again the guides were fantastic.
The first two trips to Dolphin House were in the afternoon (after the diving / snorkeling on the reef in the morning) we saw a few bottlenose dolphins jumping but did not get to swim with them as they stayed in their zone, there was about 2 or three that day.
On our last trip we were all snorkellers so our boat was taken straight to Dolphin House where we spent the day. We were very lucky and there were 8 spinner dolphins all morning playing in the snorkel zone and coming out past our boat and back again and we swam with them - they stayed with us for around 20 mins and it was amazing, we both cried with joy!
Took lots of photos so am attaching a few - unfortunately my underwater camera leaked which is a shame! The quality may not be the best but the experience was certainly worth it and we will always have that, that was our last full day in Egypt - but certainly the best to end our experience and made the trip worthwhile!
Lisa, UK
The dolphin trips were wonderful. The first day we were lucky enough to meet almost the whole pod coming in as we made our first zodiac trip, and then in the afternoon a smaller group of adult dolphins came out to have a good look at us :-))
Four