SODWANA BAY
Provincial Wildlife Park Accommodation
in Sodwana Bay, Zululand & Maputuland,
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Renowned for its sport fishing, scuba diving and snorkeling, Sodwana Bay Resort is situated on the coast within the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, South Africa`s first World Heritage Site.The reserve lies adjacent to Africa's southern-most coral reefs. The Maputoland and St Lucia Marine Reserves are linked to each other to form a continuous protected area stretching 150 km from the Mozambique border southwards to Cape Vidal and 3 nautical miles out to sea.

In summer, loggerhead and leatherback turtles come out of the sea to nest on the beaches. Aside from Sodwana’s wealth of opportunities for diving , boating and angling, a five kilometre self-guided walking trail for nature lovers and bird enthusiasts leads around the coastal forests and dunes and the area is rich in cultural history with evidence of ancient shell middens still found along the coastal dunes. Malaria precautions are necessary. Sodwana Bay Resort with its many exciting coral reefs and outstanding climate, has distinguished itself as one of the premier sport diving destinations in the world. This wonderful resort set in a sheltered bay on the Maputaland coast attracts many visitors all year round to discover its many hidden treasures. Many popular dive sites with a great diversity of underwater seascapes and marine flora and fauna including branching, table and plate corals, beautiful overhangs, drop-offs and mushroom rocks, as well as spectacular night dives.

Scuba diving equipment is available for hire. Sodwana Bay Resort features ten five-bed Swiss-style log cabins, which include two bedrooms, a bathroom with shower, lounge/dining room and kitchen together with barbecue facilities and ten eight-bed log cabins including three bedrooms, a bathroom with shower, lounge/dining room and kitchen all with barbecue facilities. The camp also provides extensive camping facilities.

Accommodation
Sodwana Bay with its many exciting coral reefs and outstanding climate, has distinguished itself as one of the premier sport diving destinations in the world. This wonderful resort set in a sheltered bay on the Maputaland coast attracts many visitors all year round to discover its many hidden treasures.

A five kilometre self-guided walking trail for nature lovers and bird enthusiasts leads around the coastal forests and dunes and the area is rich in cultural history with evidence of ancient shell middens still found along the coastal dunes. Many popular dive sites with a great diversity of underwater seascapes and marine flora and fauna including branching, table and plate corals, beautiful overhangs, drop-offs and mushroom rocks, as well as spectacular night dives.

Scuba diving equipment is available for hire. Sodwana Bay camp features ten five-bed Swiss-style log cabins, which include two bedrooms, a bathroom with shower, lounge/dining room and kitchen together with barbecue facilities and ten eight-bed log cabins including three bedrooms, a bathroom with shower, lounge/dining room and kitchen all with barbecue facilities. The camp also provides extensive camping facilities.

Camping and Caravaning
Sodwana Bay with its many exciting coral reefs and outstanding climate, has distinguished itself as one of the premier sport diving destinations in the world. Many popular dive sites with a great diversity of underwater seascapes and marine flora and fauna, corals, beautiful overhangs, drop-offs and mushroom rocks, as well as spectacular night dives have made this place a not-to-be-missed destination for the scuba diving enthusiast. Scuba diving equipment is available for hire.

Sodwana Bay camp grounds feature 413 open space campsites that accommodate both caravans and tents, set into shady surroundings in the coastal forest. Campsites have shared coldwater taps and barbecue facilities.

A number of campsites feature electrical plug points. The ablution facilities provide hot and cold running water, flush toilets, showers, baths, dishwashing , and laundry facilities. A smaller, more modern camping area is available with 33 electrified campsites that can take caravans or tents, each with their own barbecue, electric lights, running water and modem communal ablution blocks.

What to do in Sodwana Bay
Sodwana Bay is a paradise for fishermen (shore and ski-boaters), Snorkellers and scuba divers

Fishing

Ski-boaters and shore anglers have the opportunity to catch a number of different game fish. Popular ski-boat fishing competitions are held regularly. Sodwana has produced record billfish and sailfish.

Snorkellers and scuba divers

The diversity of fish and invertebrates on Africa's southern-most coral reefs attract many scuba divers and there are excellent snorkelling spots along this Sodwana Coast. Conditions are good throughout the year, but the best diving is from April through to September. On a good day visibility can reach up to 30 metres. The weather is typically subtropical. The water temperature is usually above 20°C and can reach 29 degrees C in summer.

There are a number of dive sites to choose from:

- Two-mile Reef is the most popular with dives ranging from 9 metres to over 30 metres on the outer edge.
- Quarter Mile Reef is dived most often in January and February when the Ragged -toothed sharks congregate here.
- Stringer Reef is a small reef at a depth of 14 metres and has the greatest diversity of species.
- Four/Five Mile is eight kilometres from Jesser Point. This deeper reef has a predominance of branching, table and plate corals.
- Seven Mile is 11 km north of Jesser Point and has beautiful overhangs, drop-offs and mushroom rocks.
- Nine Mile is the northern-most reef of the Sodwana Complex and ranges from 6 m to 21 m. There is a beautiful creation of hard coral- the green coral tree on the drop-off on the seaward side of the reef.
- Night dives offer a whole new world. The coral polyps come out to feed and the invertebrates use the cover of darkness to clamber over the reefs.
- Turtles - During the summer months loggerhead and leatherback turtles come out of the sea at night to nest on the beaches.

Vital Information
Gate Opening and Closing Times:
The gate is open 24 hours a day

Office Hours:
The office is open from 08h00 to 16h30 from Monday to Thursday.
The office is open from 07h00 to 16h30 from Friday to Saturay.
The main reception office closes at 15:00 pm on Sunday Afternoons.
Should guests arrive after office hours they are to please proceed to the camp gate, where they will be asisted.

Check Out time: 10h00
Check In Time: 14h00

Facilities:
Diving, fishing and boating.
Horse riding (beach & reserve) and micorlighting are also avaialble.

Shop:
The shop in the reserve is run by a concessionaire and stocks curios, groceries and fishing tackle.

Special Precautions:
Sodwana Bay is in a malaria area and special precautions are necessary.

The nearest town which has a full range of services is Hluhluwe which is 80 kms away.

How to get there:
The tar road from Hluhluwe to Mbazwane town is now complete.
Upon arrival at Mbazwane follow the signs, turning right through town and right again at the T-junction from there it is another 13km of tar to the main gate of Sodwana Bay National Park. We recommend this route to all our visitors, as it is the safest and even slightly quicker when coming from the north.

Pets are not permitted into the reserve.

"No entry fees will be charged for visits by KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Primary and Secondary School groups, from KZN Schools to KZN Protected Areas and St Lucia Crocodile Centre provided that such visits:
1. are authorised by the Head of the school
2. are booked in advance with the Officer in Charge of the Protected Area or Crocodile Centre
3. do not take place over weekends, during KZN Provincial school holidays or Public Holidays".

Facilities for people with disabilities: Nil

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