Swimming with whale sharks in jibuti

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Von: wom87

Swimming with whale sharks in Dschibuti promised to be the highlight of our trip - but would it be the hype?

I am a pessimist and Peter the opposite, so when he was full of anticipation for the view of swimming in Dschibuti with whale sharks, sadly in a corner and asked me whether we a) would see a whale shark at all and b) whether I could keep pace.

I am not a water baby, as I might have mentioned in the past. I grew up in London and sensible people don't swim in the Thames. That shouldn't mean that I avoid sea adventures completely; Diving on the Galapagos Islands and humpback whales in Tonga are two of the best things I have ever done - but would swimming with whale sharks in jibuti do justice to the hype?

Alt = "DSchibuti is one of the best places in the world to see whale sharks"Atlas & BootsJibuti is one of the best places in the world to see whale sharks

We met Ken from Rushing Waters Adventures and two other guests at 8 a.m. for the two -hour trip to our starting point in the Bay of Ghoubbet. There we checked our snorkels and fins and made ourselves ready to embark.

On board our boat, Peter Fröhlich chatted with the other guests, while I mentally prepared myself and mentally prepared for swimming. Go step by step, breathe slowly, use your fins, I said to myself.

After about 20 minutes we stopped next to three other boats. I was pleased to see that it was small boats and not the urgent monsters we saw in Mirissa. One held a dozen people and the others had smaller groups like ours.

The air pulsed before expectation when we combed the water, masks and fins attached. Our spotted showed north and we jumped into the water and swam wildly in the recommended direction. To hell at the pace. I had to keep up with the crowd.

I dipped my head into the water and out again to make sure I swam in the right direction. As I feared, I fell behind. I stepped around wildly, finally caught it and dipped my head back into the water. There, a few meters below me, was a whale shark, the largest known fish in the world.

I screamed up with shock. The mass and shape was like nothing that I had seen before. The stains of the Walhais caught the light so that they glowed. He slid calmly in the water without paying attention to those floating above him.

In some places people swam into me and crowded over unabashedly, which was not pleasant, but I was ready to forgive in view of the fervor of the moment. What I couldn't forgive was the man from another group who decided that he wanted to touch the shark, damn the protocol.

old = "bad behavior of another group swimming in Dschibuti"Atlas & BootsBad behavior from another swimmer

He dipped and hit the whale shark's fin before shot up again and hit other swimmers. This kind of behavior is annoying because it disturbs whale sharks, spoils the view for other swimmers and gives a terrible example. I wish I could have talked to him afterwards and ask him not to be an idiot abroad.

Back on the boat, Ken advised to take a lunch break and continue our search when the others had gone. We went to a remote beach and spent a while to snorkel on a reef.

We enjoyed a nice picnic on the beach, while Ken, a native of Wisconsiner who had long since settled in Dschibuti, told amusing anecdotes about his time in the country. (Ask him about the Djibouti Kayaking Society.)

Alt = "A picnic lunch on a remote beach"Atlas & BootsA picnic lunch on a remote beach

After plenty of time to rest and group, we went back to the search. It didn't take long for us to find another shark, this time with just another boat. Our spotted showed a few meters forward and Peter and I jumped in directly.

Unfortunately, the Walhai headed in the opposite direction and the two boats followed him and put the passengers much closer to him. Peter and I looked at each other. We had made the mistake of jumping too early.

At that moment, a movement aroused my corner of my eye. The Walhai headed directly towards us. I dipped under water, certainly knowing that these creatures are gently. The shark swam right towards me when I hovered in the water as if I were floating in time.

His skin glittered in the light and I held my breath when he swam so close that I thought his cock would hit me when he turned. His enormous mass slid past quickly and I breathed out, long, gentle and slow.

Alt = "A whale shark swims past Kia"Atlas & BootsA whale shark comes a little too close

It was one of my biggest wildlife experiences, just up there with the Galápagos and Tonga. These great creatures are enchanted both in their beauty and their behavior and it was an absolute privilege to share their space.

It is clear that with increasing tourism in Dschibuti, the authorities have to issue and comply with stricter regulations for the number and behavior of swimmers. In the meantime, tourists are obliged to book renowned companies such as Rushing Waters Adventures that regulate visitor behavior.

Jibuti is one of the best countries that Lonely Planet should visit in 2018, and with the opening of a railway line from Addis Ababa, access to the country will only increase. So if you want to swim with whale sharks in Dschibuti, don't wait with it.

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Atlas & Boots

Swimming with whale sharks: tips

  • Avoid a visit to the weekend when the waters are fullest
  • Do not dive down to the whale sharks and never touch them
  • Try to keep a distance of four meters between you and the whale sharks
  • Drink a lot of water and apply sunscreen regularly
  • Pay attention to other boats in the water because the different skipper swimmers cannot always see
  • Book your trip with a renowned company
  • Finally, remember that experiences with wild animals are never guaranteed

Swimming with whale sharks in jibuti: the essentials

What: swimming with whale sharks in jibuti.

Where: We stayed in the Sheraton Dschibuti with a view of the Red Sea. The rooms are clean and comfortable with excellent WiFi and beautiful sea view on one side of the hotel. The outer pool is located on an elevated platform above the sea and conveys the distinctive feeling of being on board a boat.

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Atlas & Boots

Breakfast is worth mentioning in view of the special pancake station and the large selection of delicious dishes. There are several restaurants on site and an excellent Indian restaurant, Sings, around the corner.

The hotel offers a number of amenities, including a free airport transfer, a business with the most necessary, a business center and a fully equipped fitness center. Of course we preferred the cozy lounge area, perfect to enjoy a whiskey sour in the evening and watch the sunset over a gentle rippling sea. Overall, it was a welcome touch of comfort with which we could end our trip.

When: The Walhai season in Dschibuti lasts from November to January when the weather is cooler. The temporary season from October and February to April is also a good time for a visit, but you will not see whale sharks. May September is extremely hot.

Like: We were swimming with Rushing Waters Adventures in Dschibuti with whale sharks, which is currently number one in Dschibuti on Tripadvisor. Rushing Waters is operated by the Ken from Wisconsin, who has lived in Dschibuti for over seven years (and can even speak Somali!).

Our day tour was well organized and included collection and return, snorkeling equipment, a picnic lunch and non-alcoholic drinks. Overall, it was an excellent way to see these majestic creatures. Book over Ken at Rushing Waters Adventures: www.kayakdjibouti.com, kgradall@kayakdjibouti.com, +253 77 79 49 58.

Jibuti is a small country, which means that it is pretty easy to move on. Taxis from the airport require fixed driving prices to hotels in the city (approx. 2,000 DJF / $ 11). Check the board outside the airport to ensure that you are not calculated too high. Some hotels, including the Sheraton, offer free shuttles, so find out beforehand.

Book international flights via skyscanner.net at the best prices.

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Lonely Planet Ethiopia & Dschibuti is a useful travel guide for jibuti, ideal for those who want to explore the most important sights and take the less busy road.

Mission statement: Atlas & Boots
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