Isimangaliso Forest Hide-away | 7 Night Forest Romance
There are very few truly unspoilt places left in the world. The area surrounding Kosi Forest Lodge is one of them.
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Duration
7 Days 12 Hours
Tour Type
Adventure
Location
3 Nights Kosi Forest Lodge - 4 Nights Thonga Beach Lodge
Overview
Package #39
KwaZulu-Natal
3 NIGHTS KOSI FOREST LODGE
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
4 NIGHTS THONGA BEACH LODGE
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
3 NIGHTS KOSI FOREST LODGE
To truly appreciate the beauty of the unique surrounding ecosystem of waterways, intertwined lakes, grasslands and ancient forests, you need to spend a few days exploring -either by canoe, motorised boat or on foot. With so much to do, your only regret will be not having booked to stay for longer at this otherworldly paradise.
Kosi Forest Lodge is an idyllic honeymoon destination, offering the bridal couple a romantic haven of calm after a busy wedding. Our Forest Rooms are completely private and allow couples to enjoy the serenity of the surrounding sand forest undisturbed. During your stay, we’ll go to every effort to ensure that the memories you create on your honeymoon will last a lifetime. Our complimentary honeymoon treats include a bottle of sparkling wine, a private dinner and a romantic turndown on the night of your arrival as a newly-married couple.
You can also choose one of our ‘Safari to Sea’ honeymoon packages, combining your forest and lake escape with an exciting African adventure in the country’s oldest game reserve.
4 NIGHTS THONGA BEACH LODGE
Spend 3 days and 1 night exploring the beaches, bush and lakes of KZN and maybe even add in a trip to the mighty Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. Our thoughtfully assembled packages are designed to give you immersive experiences in a diverse range of natural environments.
Walk barefoot on our finely crushed white beach sand and slide into our warm turquoise Indian Ocean waters. Here lies Mabibi beach, with a World Heritage site protected ocean on one side and a canopied forest of ancient milkwoods on her other. Here we return to the open hearted wonder of childhood. Everywhere in nature there is movement in life; day to night, high tide to low tide. Embark each morning on our guided activities designed to nurture a deep sense of curiosity and wonder in you. Or just chill in the hammocks, castaway luxury.
includes:
Kosi Forest Lodge
3 nights’ accommodation, breakfast, lunch and dinner, teas and coffees, canoeing on Kosi lake system, walk in raffia forest, transfers to and from pick up point.
Thonga Beach Lodge
4 nights’ accommodation in an Ocean View Room with private plunge pool, all meals, teas and coffees, use of snorkeling equipment, guided walks, cultural tours, kayaking and sundowners at Lake Sibaya. Nightly turtle walks (Nov – Feb). Complimentary bottle of sparkling wine, chocolates, 15 min back, neck and shoulder massage, private dinner or dune picnic.
excludes:
Park Fees, drinks, laundry, gratuities and items of a personal nature, inter-lodge transfers and 4×4 transfers at Thonga Beach Lodge.
Thonga Beach Lodge
Spa treatments, scuba diving, open ocean experience, dive equipment hire and vehicle driven turtle tracking tours.
Kosi Forest Lodge
Motorised boat trip on Kosi lake system, 4×4 day trip to Kosi Bay Mouth and 4×4 turtle tours.
ABOUT THE LODGES
Kosi Forest Lodge
Kosi Forest Lodge is a haven of crisp, cool comfort in the sand forests and you will find that treading gently is a natural way of life in this soft sand forest. Glamping at its best, here you live amongst the trees, surrounded by birdsong. The perfect combination of thatch, canvas and wood, what sets these forest rooms apart is their unique bathrooms with an outdoor shower and deep, wide bath under a leafy canopy. Oil lamps are lit along the forest paths and in your outdoor bathroom, creating a warm glow and connection with the ancient past of this unspoilt land.
The gentle local staff are anxious to please and love to show off the beauty of this pristine part of the earth, be it gliding through a still river in a canoe, birdwatching, or taking you snorkeling at the Kosi Bay river mouth. They are only too delighted to pack you a generous picnic lunch or organise a private, candle-lit dinner under the stars at the open firepit. Enjoy your favourite sundowner drink at the pool which overlooks Lake Shengeza, where hippos grunt and fish eagles call.
The lodge is situated in a protected part of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park in Northern KwaZulu-Natal, famed for its diverse birdlife which includes forest, grassland and coastal birds. Palm-nut vulture and Pel’s fishing owl are local delights. As you walk lightly on this beautiful part of our earth, you too will become the gentlest version of yourself.
Thonga Beach Lodge
Every now and again something special comes along… like Thonga Beach Lodge, the unspoilt gem of KwaZulu-Natal’s Maputaland coast. Situated in South Africa’s first World Heritage Site, the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Thonga Beach Lodge is mere metres away from the sparkling Indian Ocean. Beneath the breakers lies a treasure trove of marine life, from vivid reef fish to schools of dolphins, and even turtles returning to the beach to lay their eggs. Thonga’s 12 thatched eco-sensitive rooms are positioned for maximum privacy and minimal environmental impact. The rooms are built on raised platforms among the indigenous forest and undulating dunes with expansive glass windows and doors to let in the ocean breeze and sounds.
Make your journey all the more memorable when you enjoy close encounters with nature. Indulge in a spa treatment; track mother turtles laying their eggs; explore the reefs beneath with a snorkel or SCUBA dive; or go on a guided forest walk. Feel assured that you’re travelling with purpose, discovering and helping to preserve one of the last undeveloped wilderness beaches left on the African continent.
Included/Excluded
Transfers to and from pick up point to Kosi Forest Lodge
Walk in Raffia forest
Morning and afternoon Game Drives
3 nights’ accommodation in a Forest View Room upgradeable to Ocean View or Deluxe Ocean View
Dune picnic
Guided canoeing on the Siyadla channel
Kayaking and sundowners at Lake Sibaya
Nightly turtle walks in season (Nov – Feb)
Guided snorkeling and use of snorkeling equipment,
Complimentary bottle of sparkling wine
Chocolates
4 nights’ accommodation in an Ocean View Room with private plunge pool
15 min back, neck and shoulder massage
Private dinner
Teas and coffees
Open Ocean Experience at Thonga
SCUBA diving
Turtle tracking tours in season (Nov- Feb) at both Kosi Forest and Thonga Beach
Boat trip on the lakes
4×4 excursion to Kosi Mouth
Laundry
Drinks
Gratuities and items of a personal nature.
Park fees at both Parks
Itinerary
Night 1
KOSI FOREST LODGE ISIMANGALISO WETLAND PARK, KWAZULU-NATAL
Night 1
KOSI FOREST LODGE ISIMANGALISO WETLAND PARK, KWAZULU-NATAL
Kosi Forest Lodge is a 5.5 hour drive from King Shaka International Airport, Durban. Your journey will begin by travelling to the vibrant African town of Manguzi. For those travelling in a 2×4 vehicle you will be met in Manguzi by a member of staff from Kosi Forest Lodge who will transfer you to the lodge in an open 4×4 vehicle. This is a quick 20 minute crossing but always be sure to keep a warm jacket and hat for these trips.
Kosi Forest Lodge is situated in the Kosi Bay Nature Reserve which is part of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park proclaimed a Unesco World Heritage site. This 20-bed wilderness lodge offers the unique opportunity of exploring a pristine wetland environment by vehicle, guided canoes and boats. The Kosi Lakes are a series of interconnected lakes which stretch over some 18km.
Kosi Forest Lodge guests are accommodated in thatched bedrooms, on raised wooden decks, hidden in the sand forest. All beds have mosquito nets. The unique open-air, reed enclosed bathrooms with the bath and shower sunk into white forest sand, has been noted by many guests as one of the highlights of their stay. Each room has an indoor shower as well to cater for the less adventurous. On arrival you will be shown your tented room and given time to unpack before embarking on your first activity. You will return to the lodge with time to freshen up before coming through to the dining deck to enjoy dinner under the stars.
Night 2 and 3
KOSI FOREST LODGE ISIMANGALISO WETLAND PARK, KWAZULU-NATAL
Night 2 and 3
KOSI FOREST LODGE ISIMANGALISO WETLAND PARK, KWAZULU-NATAL
The dawn chorus of hundreds of birds who live in the sand forest awaken you. You will join the Kosi team at the lodge for a hearty breakfast before leaving on your activity.
The highlight for many at Kosi Forest Lodge is the canoeing trip on the Kosi Lakes. The best time for this activity is in the early morning and lasts for approximately 2 hours. Guides escort you by canoe along the Sihadla channel where the bird life is very rewarding and the scenery peaceful and breathtaking.
You will return for a delicious lunch and a siesta before embarking on your afternoon activity. In the afternoon you can enjoy a walk through magnificent Raphia Palms – the tallest in the world! Home to the Palm Nut Vulture and Pel’s Fishing Owl, the area can be explored by birders at their leisure.
The best way to see the Kosi Lakes system is by boat. This full day excursion leaves shortly after breakfast and travels through the lake system and estuarine waterways. The guides stop along the way and explain the traditional fishing traps and the traditions of the Tsonga community, who live in balance with the lake system. A picnic lunch is served on the banks of the scenic lakeside. After your meal you will continue on to Bhanga Nek beach where you can enjoy one last swim before heading back to the lodge.
When you return from your afternoon or full day activity you will have time to freshen up before coming through to enjoy a delicious meal on either the main deck or in the Boma. The lodge is charming as the pathways and dining areas are lit by lanterns and create a warm atmosphere to enjoy the sounds of the night.
Night 4
THONGA BEACH LODGE | ISIMANGALISO WETLAND PARK, KWAZULU-NATAL
Night 4
THONGA BEACH LODGE | ISIMANGALISO WETLAND PARK, KWAZULU-NATAL
After your breakfast and morning activity you will check out of Kosi Forest Lodge and either self-drive directly to Thonga Beach Lodge in your own 4×4 vehicle or return to the pickup point at Manguzi from where you will self-drive or be transferred in a 2×4 vehicle to the pickup point for Thonga Beach Lodge. Here you will be met by a Thonga Beach Lodge representative who will transfer you to the lodge in a 4×4 vehicle (1hr). The total travel time from Kosi Forest Lodge to Thonga Beach Lodge is approximately 2.5 hours.
On arrival you will be welcomed with a refreshing drink and given a brief orientation of the lodge before being shown to your room. You will be given some time to unpack and relax before coming through for lunch.
After enjoying one of the many activities hosted at Thonga Beach Lodge, you will have time to freshen up and enjoy canapés and a cocktail at the bar before settling down for a delicious meal under the stars.
Night 5 to 7
THONGA BEACH LODGE | ISIMANGALISO WETLAND PARK, KWAZULU-NATAL
Night 5 to 7
THONGA BEACH LODGE | ISIMANGALISO WETLAND PARK, KWAZULU-NATAL
Thonga Beach Lodge is set on the secluded Mabibi Bay, in the heart of the iSimangaliso (formerly Greater St Lucia) Wetland Park, an internationally recognized World Heritage Site. With direct access onto the pristine shores of the Maputaland coast, this lodge is the ideal place to discover one of the last unspoilt and undeveloped wilderness beaches left on the African continent. Mabibi is a magical place of tranquil swimming bays and snorkeling reefs, coastal forests, grasslands, bush, shimmering lakes and exquisite sandy beaches. It’s clear warm waters offer superb snorkeling and fantastic offshore SCUBA diving.
The 12 thatched en-suite rooms have been carefully constructed in the coastal dune forest to ensure minimum impact on the environment and maximum guest privacy. Each room has a double vanity, indoor shower, bar fridge, air-conditioning, ceiling fan and mosquito net. Deluxe rooms have private plunge pools and both Deluxe and Family rooms have freestanding baths.
Activities at Thonga Beach Lodge include SCUBA diving, Open Ocean experiences, kayaking and sundowners at Lake Sibaya, guided snorkeling, seasonal turtle drives/walks, cultural tour of local Tsonga village and guided forest walks. Whether you are a walker or a diver, take advantage of the wealth of activities that await you in this beautiful hideaway, or simply relax with a Spa treatment or on the beach deck.
SCUBA diving at Mabibi is phenomenal. Our professional lodge diving team can accommodate enthusiasts, from the beginner to the veteran. For those who don’t dive, we have an Open Ocean Experience. An exciting launch through the surf in front of the lodge takes you beyond the breakers to a world of dolphins, whales and many other creatures. The warm Indian Ocean supports a myriad of fish and marine life.
In summer there are nocturnal walks and drives along the beach in search of prehistoric turtles laying their eggs. Witness the culmination of an incredible journey as giant Leatherback and Loggerhead turtles come ashore to lay their eggs in carefully prepared nests.
Turtle tracking is offered in the evening from November to the end of February. The turtles lay their eggs from November to February. Hatchlings arrive from the end of December to the end of February.
Every precaution is taken to ensure these magnificent creatures are not disturbed during the laying process and data collected from the turtle drives is submitted to the Ezemvelo Turtle Monitoring program.
End of arrangements
THONGA BEACH LODGE ISIMANGALISO WETLAND PARK, KWAZULU-NATAL
End of arrangements
THONGA BEACH LODGE ISIMANGALISO WETLAND PARK, KWAZULU-NATAL
After breakfast you will check out of Thonga Beach Lodge and either self-drive to your next destination in your own 4×4, or be transferred in a 4×4 vehicle (1hr transfer) to the 4×4 pickup point from which you will continue your onward journey.
Travel Styles
Nature & Adventure
Activities
Facilities
Wifi
Mountain Bike
Satellite Office
Aerobics Room
Tour Location
There are very few truly unspoilt places left in the world. The area surrounding Kosi Forest Lodge is one of them.
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