Sea-safari
An environmentally responsible experience of the maritime wildlife
and nature in Naturpark Svanegrund – Svanegrund Nature Park
What is a Sea Safari?
Nature education at sea. Click for large version.
A Sea Safari in Naturpark Svanegrund is a guided boat trip in a stable RIB boat—gentle, exploratory, and up close with nature. We seek out nature’s quiet moments: a seal curiously lifting its head to observe us, a harbor porpoise smoothly breaking the ocean surface with its sleek dorsal fin, and a white-tailed eagle majestically taking flight from its hiding place. All of this is set against a backdrop of rolling, blue waves.
But we are also out to understand what we are seeing.
What lives in the sea?
Why is the water green and murky in some places, and what does that mean for life out there?
What can we do to help the marine environment?
Before departure, our guides—who are biologists and nature interpreters—will introduce you to onboard safety and share the stories of coastal culture and the marine environment connected to your specific departure port. The trips are for anyone who wishes to experience and understand the East Jutland coastal landscape from the water—adults and children from 6 years old.
Praktisk information
- Tours take place July 7th – 31st
- Tuesday to Friday
- Meeting time: 12:30 PM
- Ticket price: DKK 375 per person
- Minimum age: 6 years
- Max. 12 participants per tour
The tours start from 5 different locations: Hou, Kolby Kås, Mårup Havn, Snaptun and Horsens, see the map below.
You can buy tickets via the button below. During checkout, please make sure to select the specific date and location you have decided on. There are certain conditions for participation that you must agree to. Please read them below.
Afgangshavne og datoer
The map shows the departure ports marked with a compass rose.
Click for a larger version.
Information about the different tours
See the dates for the individual tours below, along with a brief description of each tour. The map is showing where they start.
If a tour sells out, an extra tour may be arranged on that date starting at 3:30 PM. Check this page or the ticket site to find out whether that’s the case.
Overview of the tours – click on the image for a larger version.
The tours have slightly different content depending on the port of departure, as it determines where we can sail to.
Click on the name of the port to see what you can expect on your Sea Safari.
From the harbor, we sail directly out to the seal sanctuary on the Svanegrund shoal, which the nature park is named after, where we will make a stop. If time permits, it will be possible to sail down to the northern tip of Endelave to experience the beautiful island from the sea. Look forward to a wonderful trip with the chance to see seals, white-tailed eagles, and many different seabirds.
From the harbor, we sail directly south to the seal sanctuary on the Svanegrund shoal, which the nature park is named after, where we will make a stop. If the weather is unfavorable, the tour will head towards Tunø, where you will experience the beautiful island from the sea. Look forward to a wonderful trip with the chance to see seals, white-tailed eagles, and many different seabirds.
From the harbor, we sail east to the seal sanctuary at Møllegrund, where we will make a stop. Afterward, there will be an opportunity to explore the western end of Endelave from the water. Look forward to a wonderful trip with the chance to see seals, white-tailed eagles, and many different seabirds.
From the harbor, we sail towards the protected island of Vorsø, then continue east towards Alrø and Borre Knob, and onward to Hjarnø. In the sound between Alrø and Hjarnø, there will be a beautiful view of Gyllingnæs. Look forward to a beautiful trip filled with diverse sights and storytelling.
From the harbor in Hou, we sail past Hou Røn and continue south towards Søby Rev. From there, we head to the large shoal, Svanegrund, where the seals breed and after which the nature park is named. On most tours, we will make a stop at all three locations. Look forward to a wonderful trip with the chance to see seals, white-tailed eagles, and many different seabirds.
What awaits you at sea
We can meet seals in many places. They are often curious and may just check out who we are. They often lie and sunbathe on the sandbanks in the area.
Click for larger version.
We sail quietly into the East Jutland Archipelago and Horsens Fjord towards nature areas such as Svanegrund, Møllegrund, and Hjarnø. Along the way, your guide will tell you about life beneath the surface, the connection between what we see on the surface and what happens on the seabed, as well as the coast’s culture and history. We approach the animals with respect and on their own terms. Depending on the tour’s destination, there will be great opportunities to experience:
- Seals, harbor porpoises, white-tailed eagles, and wading birds in their natural surroundings.
- Nature interpretation about the marine environment and biodiversity for children and adults.
- Insight into the marine ecosystem—from the surface to the seabed.
- Beautiful, shallow waters with unique and fragile nature.
Good to know
The tours are undertaken at your own risk. Read more below. For safety reasons, pregnant individuals and people with back, neck, or similar injuries cannot participate.
On nature’s terms
Eider bird passing the wind turbines at Tunø Knob. Click for larger version.
All tours are conducted in accordance with Naturpark Svanegrund’s Code of Conduct. This means we always keep a proper distance from animals and birds, never disturb them unnecessarily, and slow down—or stop completely—when wildlife presents itself.
Included in your Sea Safari
- Nature interpretation about the marine environment and biodiversity
- Approx. 2-hour boat trip
- Loan of a life jacket and windbreaker jacket
- All safety equipment
- A mild sea spray and a fresh breeze in your hair
A sea in transition
The porpoise is a great experience. Click for large version.
The water we sail through carries a history. Decades of nutrient runoff from land have made the water murky—and murky water means light cannot reach the seabed. Without light, eelgrass disappears, and without eelgrass, fish, crustaceans, and birds lose their most vital habitats and food sources. It is a domino effect that still affects the fjord and the archipelago. In Horsens Fjord, the picture is complex. In addition to runoff from the catchment area, marine aquaculture (fish farming) is one of the factors contributing to the total nutrient load—a topic that remains under political and academic debate.
Steps toward a better marine environment
In many places, work is underway to reverse this trend. The Naturpark Svanegrund Foundation works purposefully to restore a healthy and thriving marine environment, with initiatives including:
- Establishing stone reefs to create new seabed structures and boost biodiversity.
- Planting eelgrass, which helps bind CO2 and nutrients to the seabed.
- Establishing mussel beds—mussels act as natural filters that clean the water and improve conditions for life on the seabed.
During your Sea Safari, the guide will share more about the history, biology, and the many nature restoration efforts.
Conditions for participation
Requirements for participants
Minimum age: 6 years old
Maximum number of passengers per trip: 12
Guidelines for the experience
Children from 6 years old may join from spring to early autumn (when the water temperature is above 5°C).
Participation is at your own risk, so you must ensure that you have insurance that covers this activity.
There is a zero-alcohol policy on board, and intoxicated passengers will not be permitted.
Participants with physical injuries or ailments (such as bad backs, whiplash, etc.), as well as pregnant individuals, may not participate, as sudden, jarring movements can/will occur when speeding over wave crests. Additionally, participants must be fully mobile and functional to join the tour.
Electronic devices are brought along at your own risk.
Other information
The boat trip itself lasts 2½ hours, but please set aside 3 hours for the entire experience.
The tours are sailed in RIB (Rigid hull Inflatable Boat) vessels. These are advanced inflatable boats built to military standards, making them heavier and far more stable than standard rubber boats or motorboats.
If there are non-Danish speaking participants on the tour, the guide will speak English, unless there are children on board who only understand Danish.
The tours are organized by Naturpark Svanegrund but operated by Århus SeaRangers, departing from the Nature Park’s harbors: Snaptun, Koldby Kås, Mårup, Horsens, and Hou.
Please note
By purchasing a ticket, you accept that the tour is undertaken at your own risk.