Umkhanyakude: Coast, Lakes and Wilderness

Umkhanyakude brings together marine nature, wetlands and wildlife with places of historical significance. Within iSimangaliso Wetland Park, the protected area includes South Africa’s largest marine protected area. Sodwana Bay, Kosi Bay, Lake Sibaya and False Bay each have their own distinct character. This diversity is a good starting point for planning your trip: consider whether you want to focus mainly on reefs, lakes and birds, wildlife viewing or history.

The sea, reefs and guided experiences

Licensed operators offer guided tours in all areas of iSimangaliso Wetland Park. This provides a guided perspective on the park’s different areas, although not all tours necessarily focus on the same natural features. Sodwana Bay is particularly associated with the sea: the bay is home to the southernmost coral reefs on Earth and is internationally regarded as one of the world’s ten best diving destinations.

During nesting season, visitors can join guided turtle tours in Sodwana Bay. Guided night walks in Kosi Bay offer another opportunity to see turtles. There, they provide encounters with nesting loggerhead and leatherback turtles. The difference lies in the nature of the experience: in Sodwana Bay, guided tours are tied to nesting season, while the description of Kosi Bay focuses on the night walk and the two species.

Lakes and wetlands

Kosi Bay consists of four interconnected lakes, characterised by raffia palms and mangroves. Alongside this landscape, visitors can experience first-hand the traditional sustainable fishing practices of the Thonga and their reed fish traps. Here, the natural experience is combined with an insight into a local tradition.

Lake Sibaya is the largest natural freshwater lake in southern Africa and a Ramsar wetland of international importance. It is also classified as an Important Bird Area, and 279 bird species have been recorded there. These figures give birdlife a special place in the picture of the lake. Another detail is important when navigating by vehicle: the sandy tracks along the shores of Lake Sibaya are suitable only for four-wheel-drive vehicles.

False Bay forms part of the western shore of Lake St Lucia, Africa’s largest estuarine system. The area protects rare sand forest ecosystems, wetlands, hippos, crocodiles and numerous bird species. For walks, False Bay offers three self-guided trails: the Mphophomeni Trail, the Ingwe Trail and the Dukandlovu Trail. This lets you distinguish between an independent walk and a guided tour in another part of the destination.

Wildlife viewing and history

uMkhuze is home to the Big Five, cheetahs and African wild dogs. At the waterholes between the kuMasinga Hide and the Ramsar-listed Nsumo Pan, wildlife and bird sightings offer another perspective on the area. On the banks of the uMkhuze River is also Africa’s only untouched indigenous fig forest of its kind. The combination of wildlife, birdwatching and this distinctive forest makes uMkhuze a destination in its own right alongside the coastal and lake landscapes.

History may also be one of your interests when planning your trip. Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park is steeped in history, dating back to the Early Iron Age and the heyday of the Zulu Kingdom under King Shaka. This gives you a clear focus for starting your search, rather than a generic idea of the region.

Discover more destinations: Mtubatuba, Mkuze, Hluhluwe, Santa Lucia, Durban Metro, East Griqualand, Sisonke, Indlovu DC.

For the regional travel overview: Kwazulu-Natal.