Swimming with the Whale Sharks – A Small Group Journey (2021)

Upon arrival into Perth Airport, you will be met by your Abercrombie and Kent guide and transferred by private vehicle to your accommodation, where the remainder of the day is at leisure. Explore Perth or relax by the hotel pool.

A welcome dinner with drinks is included at one of the hotel restaurants.

Embrace 5-star luxury hotel and signature service in Perth and take in scenic vistas of Perth’s famous Swan River. This luxury 5-star hotel will offer a refreshing and revitalising experience.

The property is a very short distance away from the river and a short walk from the city’s main retail, dining and entertainment precincts, Westin Perth provides the perfect location for a relaxing and indulgent stay.
Westin Perth | Meals: D

After a leisurely breakfast, meet your Abercrombie & Kent driver in the lobby of the hotel and transfer by private vehicle to the Perth Domestic Airport (flight not included). 

Upon arrival, meet your Sal Salis representative and transfer to Sal Salis; a journey of approximately 1 hour, 30 minutes. 

The remainder of the afternoon and evening is at leisure. Dinner is included in the main lodge. 

Overlooking a spectacular beach, Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef is a unique safari camp nestled in the dunes of the Cape Range National Park. Relax and enjoy the sounds of birdlife and the ocean waves from one of the 16 luxury tents that overlook the beach and bush, surrounded by rugged natural beauty. At Sal Salis you will discover the magic of true eco-luxe camping.

Enjoy an early morning swim in Ningaloo's crystal clear waters. During the day, explore Ningaloo Reef, home to over 500 species of colourful fish and 250 coral species. Just beyond the Reef, swim with the mighty giants of the ocean - whale sharks, humpback whales, orcas, manta rays and dolphins.

As the sun sets at Sal Salis, the true wonder of the incredible night sky emerges. Sal Salis is located in a designated Dark Sky area, where uninterrupted views of the night sky and Milky Way are a spectacle to behold. With camp lighting kept to a minimum, you can take in the beautiful and vast starlit skies in all their glory as you dine on heavenly food from the deck of the main lodge. 
Sal Salis | Meals: BD

After breakfast, head out on an adventure of a lifetime in search of the world’s largest sharks. Each year between mid-March and July these slow-moving, gentle, filter-feeding giants migrate past Ningaloo Reef. Whale Sharks can grow to lengths of 12 metres or more and has a healthy appetite in order to sustain its immense size. Fortunately for most sea-dwellers (and for us) they feed primarily on plankton and krill, taking in huge gulps of water and filtering out their microscopic meal. Whale sharks are found in tropical and warm oceans world-wide and can live to almost 70 years.

Snorkelling alongside their huge 1.5 metre-diameter mouths is a once in a lifetime experience! Scientists know little about these creatures but you can identify individuals by looking at their unique spots, similar to fingerprints in humans. Ningaloo is one of the only places in the world whale sharks appear regularly in large numbers, with over 235 individuals recorded. Each year scientists photograph the whale sharks as they pass through our area and some have been identified as having visited Ningaloo for 17 years and counting! 

Your whale shark experience begins with our transferring you to Tantabiddi Boat Ramp (about 25 minutes drive) where you will meet your experienced skipper and crew for the day. Morning tea is usually served as you motor out into the Indian Ocean to being the search, this is aided by a spotter aircraft that relays sightings to our skipper. The crew will help you get kitted out in wetsuits and snorkel gear, they will also provide a thorough briefing.

During the course of the day your crew will keep an eye out for turtles, dolphins, dugongs, rays and sea birds and there is usually time for a snorkel at the back of the Reef. A delicious lunch featuring fresh Western Australian produce is provided.

Following your full day out on the ocean, return to Sal Salis for an evening at leisure and dinner in the main lodge.
Sal Salis | Meals: BLD

Today is yours to enjoy at leisure and partake in the various activities offered by the lodge.

The coral reef is literally on your doorstep and the guides of Sal Salis love showing you their backyard; home to over 500 species of fish, 250 coral species and 600 species of mollusc. Ningaloo is known as one of the best places on earth to see and swim with whale sharks and manta rays. It is also a major breeding area for hawksbill, green and loggerhead turtles, which are seen daily at camp.

The Cape Range National Park allows excellent wildlife and bird life viewing as you explore at a leisurely pace. Red kangaroos, wallaroos, rock wallabies and Gould’s goannas are regularly sighted along with many of the 100 bird species that exist in this area. For seasoned birders, fairy wrens, zebra finches, honeyeaters, reef herons and ospreys can all be found either in or close to the camp.

During your stay, the guides will share information about the resident & migratory birds, the animals that frequent the camp and the Ranges. They will provide an understanding of the geology that makes up the area and explain the ecology of the fauna and flora that manages to exist in such an arid environment. Then after dinner you might like to do a little star-gazing and learn of the constellations that fill our southern skies.
Sal Salis | Meals: BLD

After breakfast, check out and meet your Sal Salis representative for the transfer to the airport.

All accommodation as detailed on a double/ twin share basis with private facilities; meals as specified; bottled water during transfers and touring; airport welcome; assistance with luggage and group transportation by private airconditioned vehicle; all entrance fees, planning, handling, operational and communication charges.