Kwazulu-Natal
Thonga Beach Lodge
Situated in the greater iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a World Heritage Site on the pristine shore of northern KwaZulu Natal. This small luxury lodge is set within the coastal dune forest, with views of the unspoiled Mabibi Beach below. With all the makings of a perfect seaside lodge: thatched roofs; ocean blue décor; and glass doors; all surrounded by the sound of the sea, choose Thonga as a chance to relax in luxury and privacy. The elevated lounge is in line with the forest canopy, offering panoramic ocean views. Al fresco meals are served in the dining room or expansive wooden deck area and sundowners are sipped on the beach or on the cool deck under the milkwood trees.
The food at Thonga Beach Lodge has received international acclaim, and the chef prides himself on finding the very best of local, seasonal produce. Sustainable fish, an array of healthy and delicious salads and vegetables, not to mention decadent teas and desserts are served in dappled shade on an open deck with ocean breeze.
The map could not be loaded. Please contact the site owner.
Facilities
The 12 thatched suites are raised on wooden stilts ensuring minimal impact to the environment. All the suites are air-conditioned and the sitting areas have ceiling fans and mini-bars. The king or twin beds are draped with mosquito netting and the en-suite bathrooms have separate baths as well as indoor and outdoor showers with views. These spacious suites have private balconies with breath-taking views of the ocean and the natural surroundings.
Local Wildlife
Lake Sibaya has 100km of untouched shoreline and, at 70 square kilometres, is South Africa’s largest freshwater lake. The lake falls within the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, now a World Heritage Site, and the Ramsar Convention assures its international conservation status. The lake’s diverse flora provides a variety of habitats for birds, mammals and aquatic life. Research reveals that hundreds of years ago the lake was once connected to the sea and with the natural closure of the estuary, numerous fish and aquatic creatures were trapped in a fresh water environment. Lake Sibaya contains the second largest population of hippopotamus and crocodile in KwaZulu-Natal and is an important breeding, feeding and roosting area for a host of bird species. Surface water in the surrounding coastal plain often disappears completely during dry spells, making the lake the only source of permanent water for birds and mammals.
Optional Activities
There are many exciting activities on offer at Thonga – indulge in a rejuvenating sea-weed based treatment at the Sea Spa, or relax at the secluded swimming pool. Get active with scuba diving, snorkelling and kayaking, or relax on the ocean on a sunset cruise or dolphin and whale watching excursion. Be sure to go on an incredible turtle-tracking excursion, when the females come ashore to lay their eggs between November and January.
Alan Godwin
Area Specialist
Try to visit during turtle hatching season for a truly unforgettable experience!
If you have any questions regarding our South Africa tours, please feel free to contact me on +44 (0)1803 866965
We have just received the feedback form from you for our recent trip to South Africa which I will fill out shortly but I also wanted to thank you personally for organising us such a fantastic trip. The sheer variety of scenery and activities was amazing and the accommodation was uniformly excellent. We enjoyed good weather for our first few days in Cape Town allowing us get the best from Table Mountain as well as travel down to the Cape of Good Hope. A storm front did give a couple of wet days but this had little impact on our wine tasting in Franschhoek. In Hermanus we were fortunate to spot an early southern right whale as well as a humpback. We absolutely loved Montusi mountain lodge – what a view! We were also glad we visited the battlefields and the drive to Fugitive’s Drift lodge was quite enjoyable although I will never complain about potholes in the UK again. The suites at Tanda Tula were amazing and well beyond anything we have previously experienced on safari. The wildlife viewing for mammals was excellent with great sightings of lions and rhino in particular. Once again, many thanks and it’s now time for us to start our diet as we ate and drank rather too well.