Nature | Beaches | Lakes | Culture | Birdwatching | Diving | Dolphins | Horse Riding | Whalewatching | Elephants | Turtles | Fishing | Canoe | Hiking | 4x4 | Quads

Activities and Attractions 

Overview

The First important thing to know about Kosi and Maputaland is that attractions in the region can only be reached with a 4x4 vehicle. Therefore you have to go on daily excursions provided by your accommodation establishment or explore with your own your own 4X4.

IMPORTANT THING NO.2:

A second thing to remember is that most accommodation establishments are located far from the beaches. Development is not allowed inside the Isimagaliso Park (a World Heritage Site) unless it is authorised by the Park Authority. Visitors have to pay for day entry permits into the Park. There are a limited number of permits available daily.

IMPORTANT THING NO.3: Day entry Permits

Only a few accommodation establishments provide daily excursions for guests who do not have a 4X4 vehicle and only a few accommodation establishments can obtain permits for you to go to the beaches. Please ensure you book with a reputable Tourism establishment beforehand.

What is in a name?

Maputaland, Elephant Coast and Isimagalso Wetland Park are all one and the same place

Maputaland is the name for a big region which includes along its coast places like Sodwana Bay in the south, Lakes such as Sibaya lake, Kosi lakes and beaches such as Mabibi, Lalanek, Rocktail Bay, Black Rock beach, Dog Point, Bhanga Nek and Kosi Mouth as the most northern beach.

Elephant Coast is the marketing name that Tourism KZN picked for the region and Isimangaliso is the name for the Park situated all along the coast of Maputaland. Thongaland is the new fashionable name because the local population are called the Tembe-Thongas.

Manguzi or Kosi Bay?

The main town in Maputaland is called Kosi Bay. This is a misnomer because there is no bay and the town known as Kosi Bay is still 30 km from the coast. Kosi Bay is also known as Manguzi (or eManguzi) situated in the KwaNgwanase district. The region signposted as Kwangwanase

The attractions

  • Kosi Bay Lakes excursions are an experience to remember. The four interconnected lakes spill into the Indian Ocean. In the Kosi mouth you will find a reef in the estuary which is excellent for snorkelling. When boating on the lakes you will encounter hippo’s.
  • Another sight worth seeing in the Kosi lakes is the ingenious fish traps by the Thongas using stick kraals (enclosures) to harvest fish.
  • Turtle Tours - During turtle season (November to February) these amazing creatures, leatherback and loggerhead turtles; come back to the same place every year, after crossing oceans, to lay their eggs. It is an unforgettable experience and privilege to witness a giant leatherback (nearly 2 metres in length) or loggerhead turtle as she performs this miracle of nature.
  • Tembe Elephant Reserve is a conservation area where only a few privileged tourists are allowed daily to enter this remote 30 000 hectares. It is accessible only to guests with 4X4 vehicles or on a guided game drive with Tour operators in the region. It features magnificent elephants, lions, giraffes and both white and black rhinos. Among the many species of antelope is the Suni, the smallest antelope. 
  • Birdwatching - You’ll find prolific bird life in Ndumo and Tembe Elephant Park - more than 400 species - 60% of all bird species in South Africa are found here. You might be lucky enough in Kosi Bay to find the Palmnut vulture and a Pell’s fishing owl. 
  • Canoe at Siyadla and Amanzinyama will give you a jungle thrill to remember. This is the only place in South Africa where the five major species of mangrove occur, and over 300 bird species have been recorded. These include the rare and endangered palm nut vulture - the only fruit-eating vulture in the world - and Pell’s fishing owl. The raffia palm forest and Siyadla riverbanks in particular are a birder's delight. You will encounter crocodiles in the river and hippo’s in the 4th lake.
  • Boat excursions - You can experience the best bird watching and fishing on the boat excursions on the lakes. Along the way you may spot the hippos. This system consists of four lakes, which change from crystal clear salt water in the estuary through to black hippo waters in the Raffia Forest on the fourth lake, and a series of inter connecting channels, which eventually drain via a sandy estuary into the Indian Ocean. It is home to a large variety of birds and animals including hippos and crocs.
  • Snorkel at Black Rock, Mabibi or Lalanek beaches is recommended. You can also snorkel in the Estuary
  • Fishing - Kosi is famous for fishing.  
  • Hiking - Go on short (half day) guided hiking trips. You cannot help to marvel at the knowledge of the guides when they explain the Thonga culture and the way they have lived off the land for centuries using what is available in nature.
  •  Horse Riding - Go on guided horse trails. Beginners to experienced riders are welcome. Non-riders are welcome to join a trip in the game drive vehicle. Experiencing the best of the area from the back of your trusty horse during two hour out-rides or 3 and 6 day trail riding going from camp to camp.
  • Whale watching, Swim with dolphins or go scuba diving. The reefs off the Northern Maputaland coast are nothing short of spectacular. Along just 40 square miles of reef, over 1,250 different species of fish have been identified (compared with 1,600 species along the entire 1,200 miles of Australia's Great Barrier Reef).

 
Navigate the top portal site to find information on Kosi Bay, also known as Maputaland, northern Elephant Coast, Isimangaliso Wetland Park, Manguzi, Kwangwanase, Thongaland, Tembeland, including such fabulous sites such as Kosi Lakes, Kosi Mouth, Bhanga Nek, Rocktail Bay, Black Rock, Lake Sibaya, Mabibi, in fact anything north of Sodwana and south of Ponta de Ouro, Ponta Malongane andf Ponta Mamoli in Mozambique.




 IMVUBU INFO LAPHA - Maputaland Tourism Information | +27 35 5929925 | +27 727273079 | mail@maputaland.net 

Copyright© W. Labuschagne 2008