Sodwana Bay National Park Travel Guide

  Even at the end of winter, it's busy...
by Bushman23
 
  • Even at the end of winter, it's busy...
      Even at the end of winter, it's busy...
    by Bushman23
  • Pretty close call!
      Pretty close call!
    by Bushman23
  • Our beach :-D
      Our beach :-D
    by Bushman23
  • Heike, Brigitte, Dana & Christel
      Heike, Brigitte, Dana & Christel
    by Bushman23
  • Clown Fish
      Clown Fish
    by MikeAtSea
 

Explore Sodwana Bay National Park

Things to Do  

Scuba Diving

Scuba Diving, Sodwana Bay National Park

 camelweed Says:  Sodwana is the ideal diving location, with 3 reefs (2, 5, and 7 mile), Just 5 minutes from the sodwana lodge hotel you are at the beach. From here you will be taken care of, no matter if you have your own gear or need to hire equipment. Lots of marine life from the small to... 

Snorkelling / Scuba Diving

Snorkelling / Scuba Diving, Sodwana Bay National Park

 Bushman23 Says:  We went snorkelling one afternnon on half-mile reef, using one of the companies set up on the beach. The variety of tropical sea-life is incredible (we saw loads of fish, sea turtles, a stingray, and a Whale Shark), and the water is quite warm, and generally pretty clear.... 

Turtles

Turtles, Sodwana Bay National Park

 MikeAtSea Says:  During the summer months leather back and loggerhead turtles come to the beach to lay their eggs. A nature conservation guide takes one on a walk around that can take several hours. I came to witness a turtle laying eggs a process that took almost three hours before she... 

The Beach

The Beach, Sodwana Bay National Park

 MikeAtSea Says:  Sodwana Bay boasts kilometres of unspoiled beaches – if you head out a few kilometres you may find that you are the only person around. Keep in mind that this may change in December and January when South Africans come to Sodwana Bay in their thousands. Also beach driving... 

Lake Sibaya

Lake Sibaya, Sodwana Bay National Park

 MikeAtSea Says:  The wetlands region of St. Lucia and the adjacent lakes north make out the World Heritage Site in this part of the world. Lake Sibaya is a lovely lake home to many crocodiles and hippos as well as several hundred species of birds. Several view sites along the lake allow you... 

Diving - Bikini Reef

Diving - Bikini Reef, Sodwana Bay National Park

 MikeAtSea Says:  Bikini Reef is a stunning little reef which runs parallel to 2 Mile. It is mainly flat with some caves and little valleys. Manta Rays often visit here, and on my dive I was accompanied by a Manta Ray for over an hour. Many reef fish hide in the cracks of the reef and due to... 

Diving – Uniform Reef

Diving – Uniform Reef, Sodwana Bay National Park

 MikeAtSea Says:  This deep dive offers a complete different world. When we descended to Uniform it was like arriving on a different planet. The reef is almost entirely covered with Plate Corals and is home to many fish and exceptional large crayfish. 

Diving – Two Mile Reef

Diving – Two Mile Reef, Sodwana Bay National Park

 MikeAtSea Says:  The reef is about 1.7 km long and up to 900 m wide. It is one of the most popular reefs to dive at, since it is only a few minutes away from the launch area. Many different corals, reef and mid-water fish can be found here, with eels and other creatures hiding in the many... 

Diving – Five Mile Reef

Diving – Five Mile Reef, Sodwana Bay National Park

 MikeAtSea Says:  The reef has the most diverse coral community at Sodwana, hence it is a dive area reserved for advanced divers who have good buoyancy control. Extensive beds of staghorn, mushroom and plate corals ensure a fascinating community of reef inhabitants can be found here. 

Transportation  

Road to Sodwana Bay

Road to Sodwana Bay, Sodwana Bay National Park

 MikeAtSea Says:  The main highway in KwaZulu Natal is the N2 – coming from Durban drive as far as Hluhluwe – the turn off to Sodwana Bay is signposted. Coming from Johannesburg one would join the N2 (North - South) again the turn off to Sodwana Bay is signposted. 

Shopping  

Sodwana

Sodwana, Sodwana Bay National Park

 Renando Says:

Warnings Or Dangers  

Idiot off-road drivers

Idiot off-road drivers, Sodwana Bay National Park

 Bushman23 Says:  Anywhere on the beaches at Sodwana, be aware of drivers using off-road vehicles... some have to use the beach in order to unload their boats into the water, which is fair enough, but others simply use the sand as an off-road adventure, tearing along at ridiculous speeds. We... 

Malaria!

Malaria!, Sodwana Bay National Park

 MikeAtSea Says:  I have had it twice and it is not fun...! If you are traveling in this region take precautions towards Malaria. If you do not take medication in prevention and you have the following symptoms after your return go straight to your doctor and tell him you were in a Malaria... 

Tourist Traps  

The Main beach

The Main beach, Sodwana Bay National Park

 Bushman23 Says:  The main beach at Sodwana is very nice, a big, sweeping expanse of sand starting at the river mouth, and running around the coast to the North. But even in winter (at the weekend, in particular) it's pretty crowded, as most of the scuba diving companies run their business... 

Off The Beaten Path  

Secluded Beach and shell collecting

Secluded Beach and shell collecting, Sodwana Bay National Park

 Bushman23 Says:  If you're in Sodwana for peace and quiet, and a little relaxation, the main beach maybe isn't so great. Head down south a wee bit, bout 5 - 10 minutes walk, around the 'point', you'll find an amazing stretch of deserted beach...take a walk along this beach and you'll come to... 

Incredible Quad Biking adventure

Incredible Quad Biking adventure, Sodwana Bay National Park

 Bushman23 Says:  Just outside of Sodwana ther are a couple of places that offer quad biking trips, from 1 - 3 hours long. We took the 3 hour option, and had the most amazing trip through the fields, plantations and forests, almost entirely on dirt track and paths, to lake Sibaya (South... 

Humpback whales breaching

Humpback whales breaching, Sodwana Bay National Park

 Bushman23 Says:  After our day of snorkelling, we took a lovely stroll on the beach at sunset, and sat for about an hour watching the sea... during this time we saw at least 5 whales passing by, and it really is the most amazing site, to see such a large animal looking so graceful.... 

Sports & Outdoors  

Dive Locations

Dive Locations, Sodwana Bay National Park

 MikeAtSea Says:  The enclosed map shows most of the dive sites along the coast of Maputaland as well as some of the attractions surrounding the region. 

Reefteach

Reefteach, Sodwana Bay National Park

 MikeAtSea Says:  Diving is one of the reasons why one would come to Sodwana Bay. The best operator which I have experienced in Sodwana is Reefteach who run a small operation with very personalized and professional touch. Megan one of the Dive Masters is a walking library in terms of Fish ID... 

Favorites  

Pineapples

Pineapples, Sodwana Bay National Park

 ratherton Says:  On the drive from Durban to Sodwana Bay, there are various areas of farmland and one of the crops grown are pineapples.I don't know why, but I never knew want pineapple plants looked like. Now I know. 

The Place

Plan a Sodwana Bay National Park vacation with reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and Sodwana Bay National Park locals

Experience Sodwana Bay National Park
  •   34 Tips and Reviews
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The People

 
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 The enclosed map shows most of the dive sites along the coast of Maputaland as well as some of the attractions surrounding the region. 

 

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Top Sodwana Bay National Park Writers

1

Divers Paradise of South Africa

MikeAtSea profile photo

 Sodwana Bay is undoubtedly the diver’s paradise in South Africa. Boasting the most southern coral reef in the world many reefs can be found off the coast. Because of its warm waters brought down from... 

2

Unforgettable week!

Bushman23 profile photo

 We weren't even supposed to go to Sodwana on our holiday. We had arranged a house on the beach just north of the border, in Mozambique, and were so excited! 2 days before we left on our trip, the... 

3

Sodwana Bay, KwaZulu-Natal

diver-x profile photo

 Our third stop in South Africa was Sodwana Bay, in KwaZulu-Natal province. Sodwana Bay is on the east coast of SA, north of Durban, not far from St. Lucia. There's not a whole lot there except sand,... 

4

Sodwana Bay - Kwa Zulu Natal

ratherton profile photo

 Sodwana Bay is 400km north of Durban and is a must for any scuba divers. I was only there for 4 nights and I wish I could have stayed for longer. I took a transfer by car from Durban which took... 

5

Scuba in Sodwana

Dakasor profile photo

 I went to Sodwana to scuba dive, and stayed at Mseni lodge. Tho it has a private beach, the dive area is probly a 20 minute walk or so, and so I drove over to the launch site every day (a few minutes... 

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