Kosi Forest Lodge is a 5.5 hour drive from King Shaka International Airport, Durban. For those guests travelling in 2x4 vehicles you will leave your vehicle in a secure parking area in the nearby town of Manguzi from where you will take a 20 minute transfer to the lodge. Remember to keep a hat/cap and warm jacket out as the transfer will be in an open 4x4 vehicle.

On arrival you will be shown to your thatched, canvas & wooden forest cabin to unpack and relax before coming through to enjoy dinner on the dining deck.

Accommodation

Kosi Forest Lodge

You wake up in the morning to the sounds of a myriad of bird calls. The beautiful trees are a haven for prolific bird life. Enjoy a hearty breakfast on the main deck whilst deciding what to do that day.

One of Kosi's highlights is the canoe trip on the Kosi Lakes. The best time for this activity is in the early morning and lasts for approximately 2 hours. Guides escort you by canoe along the Sihadla channel where the bird life is very rewarding and the scenery peaceful and breathtaking. You will return for a delicious lunch and a siesta before embarking on your afternoon activity.

In the afternoon you can enjoy a walk through magnificent Raffia Palms, the tallest in the world! Home to the Palm Nut Vulture and Pel's Fishing Owl, the area can be explored by birders at their leisure. When you return from your afternoon activity you will have time to enjoy a sundowner on the pool deck over looking Lake Shengeza and maybe spot a hippo or two.

There will be time to freshen up before coming through to enjoy a delicious meal on either the main deck or in the Boma. The Lodge is charming as the pathways and eating venues are lit by lanterns and create a warm atmosphere to enjoy the sounds of the night.

Optional Activities

• Canoe Trip On The Kosi Lakes
• Walk Through Raffia Palms

Accommodation

Kosi Forest Lodge

After breakfast and an early morning activity you will be transferred to the pickup point in Manguzi from which you will either self-drive or be transferred (40 minutes last 5 kms on a gravel road) to the pickup point for Thonga Beach Lodge. A representative from Thonga Beach Lodge will meet you at the pickup point and transfer you in a 4x4 vehicle to Thonga Beach Lodge (1 hr transfer time).

On arrival you will be welcomed with a refreshing drink and given a brief orientation of the lodge. After enjoying one of the many activities hosted at Thonga, simply relaxing on the beach or pampering in the sea spa you will have time to freshen up, enjoy canapés and a cocktail at the bar before dining under the stars.

Accommodation

Thonga Beach Lodge

Thonga Beach Lodge is set on the secluded Mabibi Bay, in the heart of the iSimangaliso (formerly Greater St Lucia) Wetland Park, an internationally recognised World Heritage Site. With direct access onto the pristine shores of the Maputaland coast, this lodge is the ideal place to discover one of the last unspoilt and undeveloped wilderness beaches left on the African continent.

Mabibi is a magical place of tranquil swimming bays and snorkelling reefs, coastal forests, grass lands, bush, shimmering lakes and exquisite sandy beaches. It's clear warm waters offer superb snorkelling and fantastic offshore SCUBA diving.

Activities at Thonga Beach Lodge include SCUBA diving, Open Ocean experiences, kayaking and sundowners at Lake Sibaya, guided snorkelling, seasonal turtle drives/walks, cultural tour of local Tsonga village and guided forest walks. Whether you are a walker or a diver, take advantage of the wealth of activities that await you in this beautiful hideaway, or simply relax with a Spa treatment or on the beach deck.

SCUBA diving at Mabibi is phenomenal. Our professional lodge diving team can accommodate enthusiasts, from the beginner to the veteran. For those who don't dive, we have an Open Ocean Experience. An exciting launch through the surf in front of the lodge takes you beyond the breakers to a world of dolphins, whales and snorkelling. The warm Indian Ocean supports a myriad of fish and marine life. Guests can sometimes swim with dolphins or whale sharks, or snorkel with Manta rays and giant turtles.

In summer there are nocturnal walks and drives along the beach in search of pre-historic turtles laying their eggs. Witness the culmination of an incredible journey as giant Leatherback and Loggerhead turtles come ashore to lay their eggs in carefully prepared nests. Turtle tracking is offered in the evening from November to the end of February. (The laying takes place from Nov to Jan and hatchlings arrive from end Dec to end February.) Every precaution is taken to ensure these magnificent creatures are not disturbed during the laying process and data collected from the turtle drives is submitted to the Ezemvelo Turtle Monitoring program.

Activities

• Snorkelling

Optional Activities

• Scuba Diving
• Kayaking & Sundowners At Lake Sibaya
• Seasonal Turtle Drives Or Walks
• Cultural Tour Of Local Tsonga Village
• Guided Forest Walks
• Spa Treatments

Accommodation

Thonga Beach Lodge

After breakfast you will check out of Thonga Beach Lodge and be transferred in a 4x4 vehicle (1hr transfer) to the pickup point from which you will continue your onward journey.

Activities

• Transfer To Pickup Point