Sodwana Bay, Elephant Coast
Sodwana Bay, meaning ‘little one on its own' in Zulu, lies within the Greater St Lucia Wetlands Park, a World Heritage Site, and forms part of a continuous protected area stretching 150 km from the Mozambique border south to Cape Vidal and 3 nautical miles out to sea.
Sodwana Bay is best known for its deep sea diving and beautiful coral reefs, regarded as the southern most coral reefs in the world and the only tropical dive site in South Africa.
Only 4 hours drive from Durban and easily accessible from Johannesburg, Sodwana is considered the scuba diving mecca of South Africa.
Divers can expect to see an abundance of tropical fish, moray eels, large schools of pelagic fish, hard and soft coral, sponges and, at certain times of the year, whales, whale sharks and dolphins. The water temperatures range from 24 degrees Celsius in summer and are seldom colder than 19 degrees making diving is a year round pastime. Visibility is rarely less than 15 metres and depths vary between 12 to 50 metre sites. The reefs themselves are thought to be over 4 000 years old and have plenty of caves, overhangs and pinnacles.
It isn't only diving that makes this beautiful area, covered with dense coastal forest, so special. Fishing, boating, bird watching and hiking - there is a 5 km self-guided trail for nature lovers - make this a destination for the whole family. Great snorkelling reefs are found in Sodwana Bay, Kingfisher Bay, Adlams, Algae Reef and Mabibi - all accessible by 4-wheel drive along the beach.
In summer, loggerhead and leatherback turtles come out of the sea on to the Sodwana Bay beaches to lay their eggs. Sodwana is also within easy driving distance of a number of game reserves, including the Hluhluwe Umfolozi Park.
Travellers' Reviews
1 Review from SA-Venues.com travellers. All reviews are verified.
Verified review
Sodwana is any outdoorsman's dream destination! We didn't much feel like leaving the solace of the beach, but we tore ourselves away to explore the surrounds and were glad we did. This is a quiet destination, with not much in the way of commercial attractions. But the natural sights are enough to keep everyone more than occupied. Fresh air and sunshine were the order of the day as we did trails, fished a little and relished the time just enjoying nature's artwork.
Mitchell Heathers (Cape Town)
In the vicinity
Hotels & other accommodation options
Toad Tree Cabins
Toad Tree Cabins at Sodwana Bay is a fully equipped, birder friendly, rustic camp which serves as holiday accommodation for scuba divers and natu...
Triton Dive Lodge
Triton Dive Lodge offers accommodation in a natural pine forest, just far enough off the beaten track to ensure peace and tranquility. Accommodat...
Vis-Agie Resort
Vis-Agie Resort caters for local and international tourists and offers bed only and self catering accommodation in a selection of cabins. Vis-Agi...
Crafters Lodge
Fully serviced and staffed, air-conditioned and pet friendly, Crafters Lodge is designed for privacy and comfort. This small secure complex offer...
Things to do in the area
Scuba Crew
Explore the world beneath the water when you sign up for a SCUBA diving course with Scuba Crew in Pretoria. This is a PADI (Professional Associa...
Sodwana Bay Beach
Very little compares to the magnificent beach that is Sodwana Bay Beach, which is idyllically perched on the Elephant Coast in KwaZulu-Natal. Whe...
Scuba Diving with Triton Dive Lodge
When on holiday in Sodwana Bay, Triton Dive Charters is not only special for the fantastic SCUBA courses and experiences on offer, but also for i...
Snorkeling in Sodwana Bay
Experience the thrill of swimming with a dolphin or a whale shark, and many snorkelers have been delighted with the abundance of tropical fish li...
Diving with Triton Diving
The beautiful Sodwana Bay, home to Triton Diving, is situated within the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park in KwaZulu-Natal. This park is one of Sout...
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 Sodwana Bay
FIND / South Africa Accommodation / KwaZulu Natal Accommodation / Elephant Coast Accommodation / Sodwana Bay Accommodation