Gidday Zanzibar, In regards to your question, it really comes down to ,what your non kiteboarding wife would want out of a winter escape.

I'm single and after researhing where to take a winter holiday, I'm booked for 2 weeks cococ( keeling)island in July and 2 weeks Fiji( safari lodge) in August.

If I had a not kiteing partner who wanted the mod cons....ie: pool, beach side service ect at a reasonable price,I think I'd be of to Vietnam.

Jen from Zephyr Water Sports has trips to Vietnam, drop her a line and get a promo dvd, Once your wife see's the accommodation on dvd, I dont think you'll be twisting her arm to go.

All the best in your search

All beaches are warm in the right wetsuit.

all the women want is to relax under a palm tree with a drink and for you not to pester them.

Doppleganger is going to spend 2 weeks kiting with about 7 others a boat driver and an instructor.

Yeah

After about 3 or 4 emails over 2 months and not one reply...i gave up waiting for an answer....posted on Seabreeze "Is Go Windsurfing still in business" and finally got a reply.....

Apparently "due to unforseen circumstances" they are not in Fiji this year?

What is all that about?.....how can you run a business by not replying to emails and then explaining to a customer that unforseen circumstances are affecting your business....?

So...i have booked with Safari Lodge - Fiji...check the website www.safarilodge.com.fj heaps of photos, heaps of clients comments...

Roll on August in Fiji...yippee!

See ya
John

GOOD LUCK @ SAFARI LODGE

What a ****house spot !!

Below average riding conditions , sharp coral no launch area.

Got to be better spots in Fiji.

Hey Coolrider,

I hope you realise that you have to hold your own rig above your head and board in your teeth if you want to come on the boat with us Kiters.

Then again maybe we don't want Saiboarders on our boat.

Then again again, you might bring chocolate for the Kiting instructor and all will be OK.

Freed.

PS hey Tony, if I get coolrider too supply extra chocolate do I get some too.

quote:

---

Originally posted by coolrider

Yeah

After about 3 or 4 emails over 2 months and not one reply...i gave up waiting for an answer....posted on Seabreeze "Is Go Windsurfing still in business" and finally got a reply.....

Apparently "due to unforseen circumstances" they are not in Fiji this year?

What is all that about?.....how can you run a business by not replying to emails and then explaining to a customer that unforseen circumstances are affecting your business....?

So...i have booked with Safari Lodge - Fiji...check the website www.safarilodge.com.fj heaps of photos, heaps of clients comments...

Roll on August in Fiji...yippee!

See ya
John

---

Hi John,

what other research did you do? I'm thinking about trying out Fiji as well... Did you email any of the clients on that web site? I heard there was another place to stay there somewhere... Did you check out the other place? I am worried about the client comments as they don't actually mention much about the wind, just the hammocks and the cooks?

What week are you booked for? I need a holiday soon.

Also, what is wrong about a cross onshore wind in Fiji? Is that a good reason to go somewhere else?

What board are you sailing at the moment, and is Fiji good for someone of your level? I'm only learning and it sounds like you are the same level as me.

Roy.

Hi Roy

I checked out Safari Lodge website, emailed Tony from Ralin, read past posts ( I gather there was some political stuff there last year with another operator, who Safari Lodge used to use, but no longer does...hence the crap!) This crap doesn't worry me....i believe i'm intelligent enough to see straight through it....

Safari Lodge don't post emails addresses on their website, probably for legal (releasing private detials), but i am sure if you wanted some info, or wanted to contact past clients - this may be able to be arranged. email them directly....i don't know.

There used to be another location which Go Windsurfing used, but they have No GEAR and NO Instructors...hence No Windsurfing....

They now send all their clients to Safari Lodge for Windsurfing and Kitesurfing...

Check out www.met.gov.fj for uptodate Wind stats...that is the best i can see...it has topographic maps and marine weather...a lot better than sucking my finger and shoving it in the air!

The Vatu-I-ra passage where Safari Lodge is is the windiest place in Fiji....apparently it is 20 knots there and 12-15 knots at Plantation Island, or 15 knots at Safari Ldoge and 10 knots at Plantation...the same day...that must be why it is agreed the wind is less consistent in the touristy islands like Plantation....

I'm booked with ralin in august...contacct him directly, [email protected] i think...

Man i'm only learning..so yes, it wil be fun to experience blasting over the waters...hoping to get hooked in the footstraps before Fiji though! Sailing a Techno 150l 283 now..just picked it up second hand...want to move to a 120-130l board though...before Fiji!

Chocolates..? I don't know anything about having to bribe the instructor with chocolate...he must be fat and round....! Go for a run instead..then i'll pass you a glass of water...

Hooray!
John

Thanks Paul..

I don't think your map is accurate, as the S.E. wind flows from the upwind islands, not over the hill.....Check out a topographic alighment of the island.....it faces the S.E. trade winds....Easterly are right onto it, and the Southerly until it bends at 10am into a S.E. (local thermal affect i am told)...is a little gusty..I can wait until 10am..!

Here's a little excert from Jess, she posted last year on the locatino..

Posted - 05/05/2005 : 10:55:39
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi coranto67,

I recently returned from Nananu-i-Ra Island in Fiji. The island is located off the Northern tip of the main island Viti Levu and is therefore perfectly situated to catch the SE trades. The wind is channelled along the side of Viti Levu by the mountains. Trades only kick in some time this month and apparrently go till Oct/Nov. So it was the rainy season while I was there and although still predominantly SE the wind was clearly frontal and often pretty gusty.

The East side of the island where Safari Lodge located gets a cleaner wind, Realistically the conditions are choppy as you need a decent water depth to protect yourself from the coral.

The launch is difficult regardless of tide level. Beacuse of the lay of the land the SE wind is almost directly on shore. I wouldn't recommend this side of the island to beginners and cautious intermediates unless you have a boat to take you out to safer locations.

Another kiteable spot is at the Nanau-i-Ra Island Lodge (Backpackers) on the NW tip of the island. It gets the SE as well but cos it is coming over the island it was very gusty. At all water levels it was deep enough to kite safely but is also therefore very choppy. At high tide the launch is also tricky as the wind is almost directly on shore and the trees also grow outwards. With a reliable boat you can get to spots that have clean wind, genuine flat water and sometimes both.

Most accommodations offer kayaks and snorkels and lovely patches of grass/beach to lay on for the non-kiter partner. Take heaps of good books and solid walking shoes to go exploring as you can only stomach so much snorkelling and kayaking. You will like the 25kn plus though so take a small kite and a flexy board to deal with the chop.

Jess

That's pretty clear....and if you look at a map, you can see the wind doesn't come over the hills, but along the coast onto the beach at Safari Lodge...Line up S.E. for yourself...

Jump in the Safari Lodge boat every day...yippee! Can't wait to give it a shot!

John

Been there. Nananu-i-ra is a crap hole.
I can honestly say that i would never go back.
Wind is ****, accom was ****.
Way to overpriced for what is there.
Don't waste your hard earned dollars. Go and holiday somewhere else.
Go to coral coast of fiji or even better go new cal.
Better still stay in OZ and go north.
My 2 cents anyway.

Make sure you take heaps of mossie spray, i couldn't believe how bad those little buggers where.

Terry

To user,
It's no secret that i was there on that trip, i'm hiding nothing. Just giving my honest opinion on the kiting location.
Also we left safari lodge, we were not asked to leave.
If we where so bad why would the morrisons let us stay there for free?
Also my name is always at the bottom of my posts, nothing to hide i say it like it is!!

Paul j

port douglas is good from my experience in june, july.

paul.j


Australia
82 Posts
Posted - 29/04/2006 : 03:24:52
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

for all those innocent kiteboarders who are looking to go to safari lodge or should i say warrens hell hole this winter.
Please read all this topic from the top!!!!

Warren f is a con. All who have crossed paths with him know what i am talking about!!!

paul j


>> RE: this and past posts about Safari Lodge
IMO - This could be considered defamation - be careful!
Keep it real but cover yourself against litigation Paul.J.
cheers

Thanks guys for all your comments. I'm still checking things out and even managed to get quite enthusiastic about "doppelganger's" suggestion about going to Vietnam as this seemed to fit the bill in most departments. I've just been advised however by Jen from Zephyr though that the trip to Vietnam has been cancelled due to low numbers !! I then thought Townsville looked promising until I read that crocodiles were frequently spotted in a number of locations. As a beginner who spends more time in the water than most of you, this would not be an appealing addition to the holiday. I haven't ruled out Fiji yet but the apparent lack of beach launching and the generally less than ideal nature of the winds (2 week cycle ??) still makes me nervous.

I'm looking at http://www.choicekitesurfing.com.au/ at the moment which runs trips to the Monkey Mia region. They haven't put the 2006 trips up on the website yet but "soon" apparently. Does anyone have a view on this operator ?

Just for the record I have a GK Sonic 11 m and a Cabrinha 58 board. Sometimes I can get back to where I started but it's the walk of shame on those other occasions ! I would really like to get in a couple of weeks kiteboarding to improve the skill level and a little tuition probably wouldn't go astray either.

I was in Mauritius last November for 3 weeks. I didnt kite much then but my friends did and we went to almost every spot on the Island. Best was Le Morne which has a great hotel very close to the water. As a beginner though I didnt like it. To many people jumping to close to me or swearing at me in French or German. Plus the wind blows you straight into a reef about 500m downwind if you cant relaunch. I got rescued about 3 times then gave up. They have a beach around the corner for beginners but I was told you need to be having a lesson to use it.

Great place though. Im going back again this year and hopefully will conquer le morne.

Hi,

Im from The Netherlands. I'm already happy with the Oz winter in perth!!! This year i wanna go up on monkey mia (Shark Bay) Denham where choicekiteboarding is going (not going with em cuz i dont have that much $) i come over @ the 22st of june and go back @ the 23st of july. I think i will chill a bit in perth and than go up north for about two weeks.

You have awesome flat shallow water spots around sharkbay and REALLY nice waves too. And if its not good enough...than you can go up to Gnaraloo. I haven't been there but the temp is around 21-29 and you just can surf without a wetsuit! I really can't wait to get there!

Distances:

Monkey Mia 850KM
Gnaraloo 1400KM

Good luck!

P.S. if someone got some advise about spots i really should go than im thankfull to know about that! i checked out around Denham and Useless Loop on Google and Google Earth and some info of other websites!

Cheers, Rens

In holland we are happy as long our kitelines dont freeze....i start in water of 6 degrees and air temp of 10 degrees than you need to use boots, 5/3 streamer, cap and gloves....so i'm pretty jelous about you all!