Mbotyi River Lodge

I Swam With Dolphins and Billions of Fish During One of the World's Most Astonishing Natural Migrations — Here's How You Can, Too

"I spent four nights at Mbotyi River Lodge, which overlooks a sweep of golden sand on the Wild Coast and served as our home base for sardine spotting; we rose at dawn, had light breakfasts, then spent five or six exhausting but thrilling hours on the water, often lying flat on the bow as dolphins swam within touching distance (one even shot a spray of salt water in my face). The operation was aided by a microlight pilot who spotted bait balls, humpback whales, and common dolphins from above and relayed coordinates by radio, making the lodge a convenient launching point for intense days of snorkeling and boat-based wildlife encounters." - Heather Richardson Heather Richardson Heather Richardson is a journalist based in Cape Town, South Africa. She writes about travel, conservation, and environmental science for publications such as National Geographic, Nature, BBC Future, and The Guardian. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines