'Sodwana' means 'Little Paradise On Its Own' in Zulu'.
Sodwana Bay is a paradise for everyone with an interest in the ocean & great outdoors. : the angler, the fisherman…the scuba diver. Lying just south of the Mozambique border (only 1hour away) on the South African Zululand East Coast, Sodwana Bay lies within the Isimangaliso Wetland Park (previously named Greater St Lucia Wetland Park). To the North is Kosi Bay & to the South is Cape Vidal & St Lucia. The Wetland Park has a large & varied biodiversity encompassing many ecosystems (coral reefs, wetlands, beaches, subtropical dune forests & savannah) and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Wetland Park is the third largest protected area in South Africa.
The Isimangaliso Park offers a unique opportunity to view Africa's traditional Big 5 (lion, black rhino, elephant, buffalo, leopard) as well as humpback whales, Leatherback & Loggerhead turtles. St Lucia is home to healthy populations of hippos & crocodiles. At depths of over 100m the pre-historic Coelacanth can be found at Sodwana.
Marine life in Sodwana is healthy and invites many divers to view its beauty. Underwater visibility is on average 12-15m & can exceed 40m! Boasting beautiful brightly coloured coral reefs, crustaceans, fish, manta rays, dolphins, whale sharks, visiting ragged tooth sharks & humpback whales Sodwana is well deserving of its World Heritage status.
Major annual events such as the Bill Fish, OET & Myn Manne fishing competitions and the underwater Photo Shoot Out take place here.
Sodwana enjoys splendid subtropical weather. Summer is from October –April. During the hottest months (January-March) daytime land temperatures can reach 38°C. The coldest winter months are July & August when night time temperatures can drop to 5°C . Summer rain fall is typical but bring a light rain jacket as rain can fall anytime.
When diving in summer (December -April) a 3mm shorty or a full wetsuit will suffice with water temperatures approximately 27°C. In winter a 5mm full wetsuit will be better when the water temperature is around 20°C.
The abundance and variety of hard and soft corals with some 1200 species of Indo-Pacific tropical fish ensures the diver a unique and colorful experience. Sodwana is the nesting site for Loggerhead and Leatherback turtles which can be seen laying their eggs at night on the beach from November to January, and marveled underwater throughout the year. Seasonal visitors include humpback whales, whale sharks, nurse sharks and manta rays. Marlin, Sailfish and Dolphins are spotted at anytime throughout the year.
Shops & restaurants
Sodwana Village is 4km from the National Park & beach. The village has a small supermarket, tuck-shops, bottle store, curio shops, vegetable market, art gallery, dive shops, auto garage, bars, a coffee shop, selection of good restaurants & a seasonal take away serving 100% genuine Italian Pizza & an experience to go with it. Inside the National park there is a well stocked mini-supermarket, ATM, fuel station, take away & traditional African craft market. Nearby Mbazwana has a bigger supermarket & fuel station, chemist & doctors.
Sodwana is accessible by car, a 4x4 will be useful for visits to the surrounding areas. Check out Activities for guided trips to these areas. Petrol & diesel are available inside the National Park.
Our nearest airports are Richard's Bay (3hours) & Durban (4hours). Hire a car from these locations or use the minibus taxi system to get to Sodwana. There are bus services from all major towns to Richards Bay.
Mini bus taxis are cheap & leave from just about anywhere. Ensure you select one that is roadworthy & keep your luggage in site at all times. Please contact us for advice.
Directions (some GPS systems take alternative routes – we recommend the route below)
Turn off the N2 at Hluhluwe (last fuel stop before Mbazwana) and follow signs to Sodwana Bay (passing through the town of Mbazwana). Once in Sodwana, 100m after you pass Maak 'n Jol bar (on your left), you'll see the turn off to Sodwana Bay Lodge on your left. Turn into this road & immediately turn right into Natural Moments car park. Park your car & make your way to the very right along the road fence into our camp.