Weather
Where do we start? Maybe we can tell you that two-thirds of the month was wet, cold and gloomy. The weather dealt us a rough hand and for the first three weeks of the month we only had four days of sun, one of which came with a stiff easterly breeze.

Without stating the obvious, the sea was on its head (a commonly used diving term), so much so that huge quantities of jellyfish were blown in from deep offshore. The jellies tend to bank up behind the shore-break until just the right current comes along leaving them stranded in a mat, stretching all the way up the coastline.

Dark olive-green slicks of plankton also found their way to the beaches. In the rough seas the plankton get pounded into a froth, an unusual situation up here, something more commonly associated with the cold nutrient-rich waters off the West Coast.

Despite the bad weather, the guests kept their chins up and made the most of their time with us. The puzzles and board games in the camp finally got some attention, and the bar, well... Let's just say that the barmen were the most popular and hardworking staff members this month.

Marine Life
For most of the month the visibility for snorkelling was limited and the other activities on offer became quite popular, in particular forest walks and trips around Lake Sibaya. The good news is that the sea has notched up a few more degrees and is hovering around 24°C (75°F) now, so if you're on your way to the camp, you can look forward to those wonderful, warm, near-tropical, lazy days on the beach or in the water.

Turtles
The turtles shifted up a gear this month and seem to have got the message that it is in fact nesting season - read more about this in the turtle newsletter.

Fishing
The fishing picked up somewhat and we noticed large shoals of flathead mullet moving up the coast. The mullet are like chocolate to the kingfish and soon enough we will start seeing the savage attacks on these hapless baitfish by the much larger marauding kingies. Other than the kingfish species we are finding the largespot pompano moving back to the shallows, always a good sign as these obliging fish can even be taken by novice anglers.

For the fisher-folk, be sure to contact the camp to get an inside scoop on what to bring if you intend wetting a line.

With November behind us now, we eagerly anticipate the festive summer season! For those that will be making the annual pilgrimage down here or anywhere for that matter, drive safely, and don't forget your hats, sunblock and, though it should be obvious, your bathing costumes!

A very merry festive season to you all!