• 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.
  • 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.
  • Kosi Bay

    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.
  • 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.

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Sodwana Bay

This is one of South Africa's premier dive sites.

The best diving in South Africa

Sodwana is the big name on the lips of divers around South Africa and literally thousands of people drive huge distances to get here.
Humpback whales pass Sodwana en route to their northern breeding grounds and turtles return every year to follow an ancient nesting ritual. Marlin, whale sharks, sailfish and manta rays are found in the warm Mozambican Current and the underwater world is superb with spectacular coral formations.

A Sports-Fisherman's paradise
Sport fishermen record catches of marlin, sailfish, tunney, barracuda, king fish, queen fish, and Dorado.
The Loggerhead Turtle
The coastline is a breeding ground for the rare loggerhead turtle.
The convenience newtork
There are no banks in Sodwana Bay. The nearest is in Hluhluwe (102km away by road). The nearest garage and Post Office are in Mbazwana (19km). The nearest doctor is in Hluhluwe (102km), although there is a first aid room in Sodwana Park for the stabilisation for badly injured people.
Sodwana Water
The water treated at a purification plant is fit for human consumption although it is a little discoloured. Perhaps you would like to take a couple of bottles of drinking water
Malaria at Sodwana
It is advisable to take precautions against malaria especially during the hot summer months (October - May).

Places to Stay

  • Coral Divers

    Sodwana backpackers accommodation close to the beach and dive courses for everyone.
 Feeling lucky?
(randomly selected service providers from all regions)

Loerie Backpackers
Loerie Guest Farm is a peaceful country haven
(Hazyview,Mpumalanga)

Khaya Travel and Volunteer Projects
Volunteer projects in South Africa
(Port Elizabeth,)

Afrique du Sud Backpackers
Located in the bustling heart of Sea Point with easy access to city amenities, public transport and (yippee) the Sea Point swimming pools by the sea.
(Sea Point,Cape Town)

The Africa Travel Centre
This is Cape Town's longest running travel centre.
(Cape Town City Bowl,Cape Town)

Starling Village Backpackers
At Starling you’ll experience all the beauty, wildlife, culture and all the adventure that you came to find in South Africa.
(Plettenberg Bay,Garden Route)

One World Lodge and Travel Centre
They offer a small lodge and a travel centre.
(Cape Town City Centre,Cape Town)

Kruger View Backpackers
Stop over here if you're on the road between SA and Mozambique, or want to go from Mozambique to the Kruger and Swaziland and need to restock.
(Komatipoort,Mpumalanga)

Marcs Camp
Marc's Camp is set in a private game reserve
(Hoedspruit,Limpopo)

Masiphumelele Township Tours
Deal directly with a township guide.
(Scarborough and Kommetjie,Cape Town)

Wild Lubanzi Backpackers and Trail Lodge
Walk, hike or drive to the wild side of being in the Middle of Nowhere
(Lubanzi,Wild Coast)