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Provincial Parks/ Beaches
Sodwana Bay National Park
Province: Kwazulu Natal
Region: Zululand
Main Attractions: Scuba Diving, Snorkelling
Renowned for its sport fishing, scuba diving and snorkeling, Sodwana is situated on the coast within the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park. The reserve lies adjacent to Africa’s southern-most coral reefs.The Maputaland 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. Guided turtle tours are popular with camp visitors. Aside from Sodwana’s wealth of opportunities for diving , boating and angling, a five-km self-guided trail is available for the enjoyment of nature lovers and bird enthusiasts. Malaria precautions are necessary.
ACTIVITIES
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°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. Night turtle tours are provided during December and January. Departure times vary with the tide.
ACCOMMODATION
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.
GENERAL 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 Sunday.
Camp Telephone Number: (035) 5710051/2/3
Camp Fax: (035) 5710115
Check Out time: 10h00
Check In Time: 14h00
Facilities:
Diving, fishing and boating.
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:
From the north turn off the N2 at Jozini and follow the signs to Mbazwana and on to the park.v From the south turn off the N2 at the Ngweni/Sodwana Bay turn off and travel through to Mbazwana which is 80 kms away on a gravel road.
The alternative is to turn off the N2 into Hluhluwe village and take the new SDI road which will eventually be tar all the way to Mbazwana.
Pets are not permitted into the reserve.
Concessions:
Education groups from KwaZulu-Natal are admitted free to the reserve.
Facilities for people with disabilities: Nil
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