Mtubatuba, Elephant Coast
Mtubatuba, which means ‘he who was pummelled out’, is a small town north of Richards Bay and close to the entrance of the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park.
Initially established as a railway siding in 1903 in a swampland of reeds and papyrus, the town Mtubatuba was almost swept away in 1918 in one of the worst floods the area had seen in over 100 years. It was only in the late 1920s that efforts to drain the swamp began and Mtubatuba became an official village in 1950.
Responsible for much of the town’s battle with water, the Mfolozi River meanders across swampy plains before reaching the sea within metres of the St Lucia Estuary. However, it joins with the White and Black Mfolozi rivers on the boundary of the Umfolozi Game Reserve, potentially more than doubling its strength and explaining its capacity for flooding. The flip side of this same coin is the fertility of the Mfolozi Flats, giving rise to sugar farms and a mill.
Mtubatuba has made its way onto the map of South Africa largely because of its proximity to Lake St Lucia and the Hluhluwe and Umfolozi Game Reserves. Mtubatuba provides a key stopover for tourists and travellers heading inland or to the coast.
This is the land of sugar cane and forests and, further north, a mountainous ridge along the coast that culminates in a series of giant forested dunes. The highest of their kind in the world, they provide the backdrop to the medley of rivers, lakes, freshwater pans and swamp forest that is Lake St Lucia.
Travellers' Reviews
1 Review from SA-Venues.com travellers. All reviews are verified.
Verified review
Mtubatuba is so lush and fertile, it really feels like you've escaped to a different place and time. The beach is awesome. This is a nice spot for families with children who love water (what child doesn't?!) as there's just so much of it here!
Tania Steyn (Hogsback)
In the vicinity
Hotels & other accommodation options
Marula Gardens
Marula Gardens is a gateway to the game parks and beaches of the KwaZulu Natal North Coast. Set in the gated River View Village, Marula Gardens o...
Wendy's Country Lodge
Wendy's Country Lodge is a nature lover's delight and offers Elephant Coast B&B accommodation in a property with bird life in abundance. The gues...
Meet Mekaar Resort
Regard Meet Mekaar Resorts as your new oasis - everything is at your disposal and everything is included for you to bask in the glory of authenti...
Cheese Farm & Lodge
Cheese Farm & Lodge is situated 10km from Mtubatuba and 20km from St Lucia and offer self catering accommodation. Surrounded by green forest, the...
Makakatana Bay Lodge
Makakatana Bay Lodge is a family owned and run lodge offering accommodation on the western shores of Lake St Lucia, within the iSimangaliso Wetla...
Things to do in the area
Visit Chane Cheese Farm
When visiting the Chane Cheese Farm you will have the opportunity to sample a range of fabulous cheeses and purchase your favourite ones in the c...
Noteworthy attractions
Kosi Bay Nature Reserve
The Kosi Bay Nature Reserve is situated on the coast in the northern part of KwaZulu Natal and surrounds the Kosi Bay lake system. The system con...
Lake Sibaya
Lake Sibaya is the largest fresh water lake in South Africa with a surface area of 77 km˛ and an average depth of 13 m. The lake was previously c...
Greater St Lucia Wetlands Park
The Greater St Lucia Wetlands Park was declared South Africa's first Natural World Heritage Site on 1 December 1999. It is considered South Afric...
Mapelane Nature Reserve
Mapelane Nature Reserve is the southernmost reserve within the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. The Mapelane Nature Reserve is situated on the south ba...
Ndumo Game Reserve
Ndumo Game Reserve (adjacent to the Tembe Elephant Park) is a small but impressive game reserve. Proclaimed in 1924 Ndumo Game Reserve is one of ...
Sodwana Bay National Park
The small Sodwana Bay National Park consists of a narrow coastal strip of forest covered sand dunes. Sodwana Bay National Park was proclaimed in ...
Tembe Elephant National Park
The largest African elephants in the world, along with rhino, buffalo, leopard, hippo and antelope species in a 300km˛ park on the South Africa /...
Enseleni Nature Reserve
The Enseleni Nature Reserve is a small reserve of 293 hectares lying just inland from the town of Richards Bay, almost midway between Empangeni a...
Maputaland Marine Reserve
The Maputaland Marine Reserve lies within the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, known as one of the 'jewels' of South Africa's coastline and a UNESCO de...
Find accommodation in Mtubatuba
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