KZN North Coast

Rich and diverse in plant and animal life, the Northern KwaZulu-Natal coastline boasts one of the world’s great wetland and marine sanctuaries and is a haven for ocean and freshwater marine animals. Long sandy beaches fringed with dense coastal forests give way to expansive wetlands where lakes filled with hippos and crocs and hundreds of species of birds and smaller wildlife provide pristine safari environments. Whales can also be seen off the coast during June to September as they slowly make their way southwards.

Excellent luxury accommodation, like that of Rocktail Bay or Thonga Beach Lodge, is perfectly suited to the region. The area also suits itself to combining a beach vacation with a Big 5 safari. Take a look through our tour and safari suggestions for the area to help you get some ideas on how best to plan your vacation.

This vast wilderness boasts 20 different ecosystems, including three lake systems (including Lake Sibaya, South Africa’s largest natural freshwater lake, and the Kosi Bay lakes) where the fish and birdlife is concentrated like nowhere else in South Africa.

One of the more famous regions in the area is the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park. Awarded World Heritage status the area comprises an intricate mix of lakes and lagoons, pans, marshland and swamps,sandyforests, dunes, beaches and offshore coral reefs. The centrepiece of this huge conservation area is Lake St Lucia which teems with pelicans, flamingos, spoonbills, crocodiles, fish eagles and hippos and is an experience of a lifetime. On the surrounding coastline the sea turtles – loggerheads and leatherbacks – come ashore to lay their eggs on the beaches.

Rich and diverse in plant and animal life, the Northern KwaZulu-Natal coastline boasts one of the world’s great wetland and marine sanctuaries and is a haven for ocean and freshwater marine animals. Long sandy beaches fringed with dense coastal forests give way to expansive wetlands where lakes filled with hippos and crocs and hundreds of species of birds and smaller wildlife provide pristine safari environments. Whales can also be seen off the coast during June to September as they slowly make their way southwards.

Excellent luxury accommodation, like that of Rocktail Bay or Thonga Beach Lodge, is perfectly suited to the region. The area also suits itself to combining a beach vacation with a Big 5 safari. Take a look through our tour and safari suggestions for the area to help you get some ideas on how best to plan your vacation.

This vast wilderness boasts 20 different ecosystems, including three lake systems (including Lake Sibaya, South Africa’s largest natural freshwater lake, and the Kosi Bay lakes) where the fish and birdlife is concentrated like nowhere else in South Africa.

One of the more famous regions in the area is the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park. Awarded World Heritage status the area comprises an intricate mix of lakes and lagoons, pans, marshland and swamps,sandyforests, dunes, beaches and offshore coral reefs. The centrepiece of this huge conservation area is Lake St Lucia which teems with pelicans, flamingos, spoonbills, crocodiles, fish eagles and hippos and is an experience of a lifetime. On the surrounding coastline the sea turtles – loggerheads and leatherbacks – come ashore to lay their eggs on the beaches.

Sodwana Bay and Kosi Bay are nearby coastal towns (Sodwana Bay borders the St Lucia Wetlands). Sodwana Bay’s warm oceans are rated among the top ten scuba diving sites in the world which in itself would be enough to put this tiny town on the map. However the intense beauty resulting from the combination of the wetland, forest and ocean reserves elevates the area to a rare level, turning it into a destination that needs to be visited at least once in your life.

The Sodwana Bay Coastal Reserve provides an ocean wonderland where undersea coral forests, thick with brilliantlycoloured tropical fish, keep divers mesmerized, and in deeper waters divers can come face to face with ragged tooth, hammerhead and tiger sharks, as well as whale sharks, mantaand eagle rays, dolphins and turtles. They don’t call this South Africa’s diving mecca for nothing …

Further north the unspoilt natural area of the Kosi Bay Nature Reserve combines a marine sanctuary with a wildlife reserve where footprint-less beaches and the soul-stirring call of the African Fish Eagle bring you into an instant harmony with nature. Local Thonga fishermen set wooden palisade fish traps which scar the waters in wavy curves, adding to the timeless beauty of the region and create postcard perfect scenes. The reserve combines giant-leaved Kosi Palmswith Natal Forest Mahoganytrees and all of South Africa’s five mangrove specieswhichflourish in the swamps and marshes.

Our Travel Experts are always on hand to help with ideas, and to advise you on which lodges best suit your tastes. Contact them for any help you require. They have all travelled the region extensively and can offer you really sound advice on what to do and how to successfully put together your African itinerary.