Sodwana Bay
KwaZulu-Natal

Access
Access from the south to Sodwana Bay goes via Hluhluwe on the R22. Turn right near Mbazwana. The road is tarred all along and usually in good condition, not to mention the occasional pothole. One should, however, not choose to drive via Jozini and Tsongwe.

Diving and Snorkeling
The conditions are good all year round and best from April to September. The water temperatures always range above 20 C degrees, in summer even at 28 C degrees. Diving equipment is for hire in Sodwana Bay. And diving courses are offered.

Diving Grounds
Two-Mile-Reef: the most popular area at the reef's outer ridge. Diving depth between 9 and 30 metres. Also good snorkeling.
Quarter-Mile-Reef: A favourite in January and February, when the rugged-tooth sharks gather here.
Stringer-Reef: small reef 14 metres deep with a great variety of fish.
Seven-Mile: a reef with stunningly beautiful overhangs.
Nine-Mile: the northern-most reef of the Sodwana complex. Diving depth between 6 and 21 metres. Beautiful coral formations.

Marine Turtles
Along the Elephant Coast - between Cape Vidal, Sodwana Bay and Kosi Bay - one can witness in moonless nights during the summer months an exciting spectacle: As soon as the high tide starts coming in, huge marine turtles crawl on land and lay their eggs in the sand. Most of them are Leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea), which can reach a size of 170 cm and a weight of 500 kilos, or the slightly smaller Loggerhead turtles (Caretta Caretta), which grow to a length of 120 cm. The females of both species lay up to 120 eggs in several nests around 40 cm deep in the sand. The offspring hatches after 60 days, digs itself up to the surface and crawls into the sea, where most of them are eaten by predator fish. Only 1 or 2 young ones per thousand survive! Marine turtles grow very slowly. It takes them 15 years to reach maturity.

Leatherback turtles feed on jellyfish, Loggerhead turtles also on sea urkins and crabs. Both species can dive for a long time into depths of 300 metres. Both turtlespecies are endangered of becoming extinct, although protective measures are showing first results. The rangers of KZN Wildlife in Sodwana Bay offer in the breeding season nightly tours for visitors to observe the turtles. Tel (035) 5710051

Accommodation in the Nature Conservation Restcamp
There is accommodation available in campgrounds (with and without electricity) and some log cabins with 5 or 8 beds in 2 or 3 bedrooms, with kitchen and bath.

Sodwana Bay Restcamp
Type	Max. Pers.	Rate
Camping	5	R 65
Log Cabin	5	R 220
Rates per person/night. Plus Conservation Fee of R20 per person and day. (No guarantee on amount)

Reservations and Bookings:
Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife
PO Box 13069, Cascades 3202,
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Tel (033) 8451000, Fax: (033) 8451001
email: info@kznwildlife.com

More comfortable accommodation is available at the private Mseni Lodge, situated within the nature reserve. The Lodge also offers a bar and a good restaurant, which serves lunch breakfast and dinner.

There is more accommodation outside the nature reserve in the little town of Sodwana Bay further inlands.

Peaceful resort in the coastal dune forest; B&B or self-catering; pool; restaurant, bar; beach. Tel ++27 (0)35 5710284. eMail

Malaria Prophylaxis

Northern KwaZulu-Natal (from St. Lucia onwards) unfortunately falls within the malaria area. The risk is not high, but even the dangerous Malaria Tropica occurs here, and one should employ prophylactic measures in time. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for the best remedies.

Because no malaria medication provides 100% protection, rather prevent yourself from being stung by mosquitos in the first place. The mosquito repellent TABARD works well. It is available in most supermarkets and shops in Zululand. It is said that a cure of of vitamine B complex, taken daily starting a week prior to your stay, gives you a smell unattractive to mosquitos.

Sodwana Bay KwaZulu-Natal

Sodwana Bay
KwaZulu-Natal