- Ballito and Shaka's Rock
The bay is just half an hour from Durbs, has all the restaurants, cinemas and social paraphernalia you could need and is a lovely place to spend a few days.
- Gingindlovu
British soldiers called it ‘Gin gin I love you’. The name is Zulu and means ’the swallower of the elephant’. Go here just to stay at Inyezane.
- Eshowe
Eshowe has a quiet, colonial feel to it that reflects graceful feelings of yesteryear. It’s almost as though time slowed down here and the town has not quite reached this century.
- Mtunzini
Mtunzini is a quiet coastal town blessed by nature and with a colourful history. It is 132km from Durban and a great place to get into the heart of Zululand culture.
- Kwambonambi
Meaning “the place where chiefs gather”, Kwabonambi is a little town in the middle of nowhere which makes a good base for exploration into the surrounding areas and its game parks, wetlands, rivers and coastline.
- Mtubatuba
Matubatuba is just off the N2, this little town is a convenient stop over between reserves. it is located only 25km from St Lucia.
- St Lucia
St Lucia is a cool town. It’s got everything you need to have heaps of fun but is surrounded by so much wilderness that you can walk out of a bar door and into a hippo... The best time to visit St Lucia is in winter when it is cooler.
- Sodwana Bay
This is one of South Africa's premier dive sites.
- Hluhluwe
Hluhluwe has three backpackers surrounding the park. The main attraction here is the Hluhluwe/Umfolozi game reserve which is an incredible piece of nature that teems with game. The big five are prolific.
- MkuzeKZN
This is probably the best base you could choose for exploring Maputaland, and area rich in unexploited wilderness where local people still live according to generations of traditon.
 |  |
Kosi Bay is a unique and magnificently varied eco-system ranging between lake wetlands and marine coastal reserve. There is a great backpackers in the village.
Kosi Bay Nature Reserve is part of the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park (which is a World Heritage site). The reserve is made up of a series of lakes connected by channels which drain through a sandy estuary into the sea. The Tsonga live here, and have trapped fish in handmade traps (that look like reed fences) for generations.
As only 4x4 vehicles can access to the reserve the area is relatively unspoilt. It’s also stunningly beautiful.
In December and January the endangered loggerhead and leatherback turtles come to the beaches to lay their eggs and humpback whales pass here as they migrate along the coastline.
Kosi bay is the gateway to Mozambique.
The awe with which the Tsonga regard their surroundings is encapsulated in a ritual called “ukubonisa inyanga” (the moon beholds the child). Soon after a baby is born it is taken down to the sea. A wave is allowed to wash over the child before it is shown to the first moon that rises over the ocean after its birth.
Places to Stay
- Kosi Bay Inn
A great opportunity for backpackers to visit an unspoilt part of South Africa
- Kosi Bay Lodge and Backpackers
A - framed huts await your coming.
- Thobeka Backpackers Lodge
This Kosi Bay backpackers is close to the magnificent Kosi Bay lake system and beaches where endangered turtles nest.
Feeling lucky?(randomly selected service providers from all regions)
MozVolunteers is a small volunteer organisation based in Xisondwe, Zavora.
(Zavora,Mozambique)
Spice up your Big Five holiday with a generous measure of local culture and vibrant music
(Hoedspruit,Limpopo)
Khotso backpackers are in the Drakensberg and offer backpackers peace, horses, cows and adventure sports for nature lovers.
(Southern Drakensberg,Drakensberg Backpacker Hostels)
Situated within a vibrant Xhosa community overlooking a spectacular untouched beach, this is a true glimpse into rural Africa.
(Coffee Bay,Wild Coast)
Jikeleza backpackers in PE offers advice on everything and do bookings for anything, to anywhere.
(Port Elizabeth,Sunshine Coast)
This area is a hiker’s wet dream and rock climber’s secret fantasy.
(Cederberg,Cederberg)
Minutes away from the Orpen Gate.
(Hoedspruit,Limpopo)
You can see the shark boats launch from here. From your armchair, actually.
(Gansbaai,Overberg )
A comfortable Durban backpackers hostel run by seasoned travellers.
(Durban ,Durban)
For Backp[ackers a convenient spot for sun, sea and sand worshippers to park off, being a shell’s throw from the beach.
(Port Elizabeth,Sunshine Coast)
