About Maputaland Marine Reserve
The Maputaland Marine Reserve lies within the iSimangaliso Wetland Park and extends from roughly 11 kilometres north of Jesser Point all the way to the Mozambique border.
Did you know? Malaria is endemic on the Maputaland coast. So if you are travelling to the far north of South Africa, please consult a heath-care professional.
The iSimangaliso Wetland Park, known as one of the 'jewels' of South Africa's coastline and a UNESCO declared World Heritage Site, is an incredible assimilation of beaches, coral reefs, wetlands, swamps, lakes, woodlands, coastal forests and grasslands that used to be known as the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park (renamed in 1997) and stretches from Cape St Lucia in the south to Kozi Bay in the north, on the north-eastern coast of KwaZulu Natal.
Within the park's boundaries (the third largest protected area in the country) lies Lake St Lucia, the Coastal Forest Reserve, Kosi Bay Natural Reserve and the St Lucia and Maputaland Marine Reserves. This unspoilt coastline is famous for a handful of incredibly beautiful and virtually wild areas – the St Lucia Wetlands, Sodwana Bay and the Maputaland Marine Reserve.
Whilst Maputaland Marine Reserve lies within the park, it is also part of Maputaland, a biodiversity hotspot and a sizzling, humid, abundant wilderness that lies in the extreme northeast of South Africa right up against Mozambique's border.
The main reason for its existence is the preservation of a large number of leatherback turtles nesting in the area, which were dwindling in number because of exploitation. Within the reserve only rural people living the Kosi Bay area may harvest intertidal invertebrates, no one else may make use of the resources in the area.
Within the Maputaland marine Reserve lies Sodwana Bay, the only scuba-diving area along this strip of coastline and regarded as one of the top dive sites in the world with a 50 kilometre reef complex and visited by some 35 000 scuba divers a year.
Need to Know
WhereMaputaland Marine Reserve, iSimangaliso Wetland Park, St Lucia, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa
WhenBest during daylight hours.
OvernightStay in Sodwana Bay Accommodation, KwaZulu Natal
Disclaimer
Please note, business details can change. While we endeavour to ensure all information provided by the service provider is correct at the time of publication, we do not assume any liability caused by errors or changes, such as price, cost, time, and location. Please check with the provider that the activity/business is still offered as described, before making any travel plans.
Feedback?
If this is your reserve, you can let us know if anything on this page is outdated or contains inaccuracies, by email. We regret, we do not have any other information, please contact the provider if you have questions.
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In the vicinity
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Toad Tree Cabins
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Things to do in the area
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Scuba Diving with Triton Dive Lodge
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Snorkeling in Sodwana Bay
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Diving with Triton Diving
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Noteworthy attractions
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Lake Sibaya
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Greater St Lucia Wetlands Park
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Mapelane Nature Reserve
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Ndumo Game Reserve
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Sodwana Bay National Park
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Tembe Elephant National Park
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Enseleni Nature Reserve
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Pongolapoort Nature Reserve
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Accommodation near Maputaland Marine Reserve
FIND / South Africa Accommodation / KwaZulu Natal Accommodation / Elephant Coast Accommodation / Sodwana Bay Accommodation