Page 14 - Fiji Traveller 7

• BOOKING DETAILS: Day trips or
overnight stays can be booked at
Natalei Eco Lodge in Silana by writing
to booking@nataleiexperience.com or
of about 80 to 100 spinner dolphins rush to our boat, and begin calling +679 9916338.
dancing around us with juvenile energy, appearing as excited to • GETTING THERE: It takes two hours by
see us as we are to see them. It is forbidden by local regulations road to reach Silana village from Suva.
to enter the water while the dolphins are around (as it may Consider travelling in an SUV during the
change their inherent behaviour vis-a-vis humans). So Jay slows rainy season, when the village road may
the boat down to almost a crawl, while Dirk, Karin and I position be swamped.
ourselves on the bow and peer over the hull to get a closer look
at the blithe creatures. • COST: The day package, including boat
Beneath our dangling legs, a bunch of dolphins — numbering fees, guided dolphin safari, morning
more than a dozen at times — keep pace with the boat, swimming snacks, refreshments on board,
only inches ahead of the bow. Literally like guides showing snorkelling and lunch is FJ$380 per
us the way, they dive repeatedly as the boat slowly advances person (half for kids below 12).
through the water. Every once in a while, a couple of them shoot
out of the water and execute a complex series of somersaults,
twists and turns before splashing back into the sea. Others swim
alongside the boat, wiggling joyously through the water before take a few photos of unspoilt coral formations. Jay meanwhile
plunging into the crystal-clear depths of the reef, where we see puts his fishing skills to test, and ends up hooking a five-foot
them congregating and conferencing in circles, before coming barracuda. It’s a perfect prize to round off our stellar day out on
back up to the surface again. the waters.
After more than an hour of watching these splendid animals in A little after noon, we make it back to shore, where we are
their wild habitat, Jay breaks contact and veers the boat away to treated by the ladies of the village to a most sumptuous lunch
the far end of the reef, where a mind-boggling array of hard and comprising local vegetables, seafood and fried chicken. We
soft coral set the underwater scene for a delightful snorkelling stuff our faces until we can eat no more, and then wistfully load
experience. Now that we are far from the dolphins, we enter the ourselves into the car and head back to Suva. Our dream date
water and are immediately awestruck by the stunning beauty of with the dolphins finally comes to an end, but the memories
the reef, resplendent in its primordial glory. Taking advantage of of the encounter remain deeply etched in our minds for
the calm waters, I duck dive down to the shallow ocean floor to posterity.

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