Thonga Beach Lodge - Mabibi
Thonga Beach Lodge is set on the pristine shores of the Maputuland coast, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. This 24-bed luxury lodge is the ideal place to discover one of the most unspoilt wilderness beaches left on the African continent. Mabibi is a magical place of coastal forests, grasslands, bush, shimmering lakes and exquisite sandy beaches. Its crystal clear, warm waters offer unparalleled snorkeling and fantastic off-shore scuba diving.
Set above a secluded bay, Thonga Beach Lodge is nestled into beautiful coastal dune forest with sweeping views of the stunning beach below. The thatched bush suites provide guests with complete privacy and were carefully constructed to ensure minimal impact on the environment. The lodge offers luxurious accommodation, mouth-watering meals and one of the best dive sites in the world. Thonga Beach Lodge is situated only metres from the beach and a 10 minute drive from Lake Sibiya (South Africa's largest freshwater lake), which is part of the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park, now internationally recognised as a World Heritage Site.
Accommodation
Set above a private, sandy beach and nestled into magnificent coastal dune forest, Thonga Beach Lodge captures the essence of a luxury Robinson Crusoe hideaway. Traditional Thonga fishing villages provided the inspiration for this unique retreat that celebrates the true spirit of Mother Nature.
• Main Lodge
Massive coastal Milkwood trees set the scene for the ultimate beach experience. Carefully constructed into the coastal dune forest, Thonga Beach Lodge takes full advantage of its incredible position while being in complete harmony with the environment.
The dining area - a large thatched 'rondavel' - opens on to an expansive wooden deck, where guests can enjoy Maputuland's sultry weather and the lodge's sumptuous meals. Most meals will be served al fresco, or, guests can head for the beach and dine by candlelight on the shores of the Indian Ocean.
The lounge, with its comfortable couches and a cosy fireplace, is the perfect place to unwind after a day at the beach. Located upstairs from the diningroom, it offers spectacular views of the beach as well as the incredible forest surrounding the lodge. It's the ideal spot to relax with a sundowner or catch a breathtaking sunrise over a steaming mug of coffee.
To beat the midday heat, guests can take it easy beside the lodge's swimming pool or enjoy a delicious cocktail at the bar with its unique "ocean" bar counter. For those needing a little pampering, the lodge also has a rejuvenation centre where guests can revitalise body, mind and soul.
The lodge's well-stocked dive centre and curio shop will have everything guests may need for their idyllic beach experience, including snorkeling and scuba equipment to buy or hire.
• Bedrooms
The spacious, thatched suites are hidden in the coastal dune forest and raised on wooden stilts to ensure no harm comes to the sensitive dune soils. Inspired by Thonga architecture, the rooms have been carefully positioned to guarantee guests complete privacy and most rooms offer extensive views of the ocean and surrounding bush from private balconies. Luxuriously decorated, the rooms exude a romantic ambiance. Bleached wood, glass and natural materials have been wisely used to create an open, airy feel. The en-suite rooms have a bathroom with bath, shower and twin vanity
Activities
• Snorkeling
Mabibi offers superb snorkeling opportunities with a great diversity of underwater seascapes and marine flora and fauna. The shallow reefs along this protected stretch of coastline are home to an array of brilliant sub-tropical fish including Moorish idols, parrot fish and blue surgeons. The warm waters of the Indian Ocean make this the ideal spot to snorkel or guests can simply soak up the sun and savour the tranquility of this pristine, sandy beach.
• Guided Canoe Trips and Boat Cruises
Discover the incredible beauty of Lake Sibiya - South Africa's largest fresh water lake. This amazing water system is home to crocodile and hippopotamus and offers exceptional bird watching opportunities. The lodge also offers boat cruises and sundowner cruises on the lake, which has 100km of untouched shoreline and a great diversity of fauna and flora.
• Bird Watching
Birding at Mabibi and its surrounds is excellent and the variety of habitats attracts a great diversity of species. Typical coastal species include Livingstone's and purplecrested lourie, green twinspot, grey waxbill and green coucal. Waders are common along the shoreline, and pinkthroated longclaw and rufousbellied heron frequent the marshy areas. Lake Sibiya has recorded 279 bird species including the Palmnut Vulture, the only fruit-eating vulture in the world. Pel's fishing owl and pygmy goose.
• Guided Wilderness Walks
Guests can head out on foot and explore this natural wonderland through coastal dune forests, unspoiled sandy beaches and grasslands. The wild beauty of Maputuland will enthrall naturalists and photographers alike.
• Turtle Tracking
In summer, nocturnal walks and drives along the beach in search of egg-laying turtles can be arranged. Guests can 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 mid-November to mid-March. Every precaution is taken to ensure these magnificent creatures are not disturbed during the laying process.
• Fishing
The Maputuland coastline is renowned as one of South Africa's most popular fishing destinations. Guests can try their hand at surf fishing or fly-fishing. Hully Point at Mabibi, is a well-known fly-fishing spot. The enthusiastic angler can experience the thrill of bagging the catch of a lifetime from these brilliant waters, which are home to some 1,200 species of fish. Thonga Beach Lodge encourages guests to "catch & release".
• Cultural Experience
Discover the spirit of Africa with thumping drums, rhythmic dancing and singing by the locals. For the more adventurous, visit a traditional healer (sangoma) or tickle those tast ebuds with a sip of iLala Palm wine - a potent brew made from the sap of this indigenous palm.
• Scuba Diving
Mabibi lies adjacent to Africa's southern-most coral reefs making it the only tropical dive site in South Africa. In global terms, Mabibi offers some of the best diving in the world, but it has gone largely unnoticed because of its remoteness. Even in South Africa is has remained secluded and so divers are guaranteed an exciting underwater experience.
More than 1,200 species of fish are found on the reefs off Mabibi, including Moorish idols, parrot fish, blue surgeons and marble and manta rays. The warm Indian Ocean waters also attract huge schools of bottlenose dolphin as well as sharks, whale sharks and turtles. Thonga Beach Lodge, which is part of the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park, falls within a protected marine reserve. Because of its protected status, the reefs boast shoals of fish that don't panic when divers approach and are ideal subjects for photographers. The reefs offer a diversity of underwater seascapes including amazing flora, branching, table and plate corals, beautiful overhangs, drop-offs and mushroom-shaped pinnacles.
Conditions are good throughout the year and on a brilliant day visibility can reach up to 40m. The weather is typically subtropical so the water temperature is usually above 20C and in summer can reach 29C. Thonga Beach Lodge has the exclusive right to launch a boat from its private beach - a mere 75m from the lodge.
Scuba Diving Courses
Thonga Beach Lodge gives guests the opportunity to discover the incredible world beneath the waves. The lodge has a resident dive master and offers a range of comprehensive scuba diving courses. Considered to be the premier dive site in South Africa, Mabibi is the perfect place for beginner divers. The shallow reefs, some at only 18m, are a gentle introduction to this sport. For the more advanced diver, the deeper reefs (up to 120m) provide an aquatic thrill of a lifetime. Apart from the wonderful scuba diving opportunities, there are also popular snorkeling sites at Mabibi. The lodge's highly qualified dive master will accompany guests on all dives and closely supervise you at all times.
Thonga Beach Lodge has a comprehensive dive centre and curio shop where guests can acquire their entire scuba and snorkeling equipment, which is available to buy or hire. Guests at Thonga Beach Lodge who bring their own scuba equipment can have their bottles refilled at the lodge.
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