False Bay Park

About False Bay Park

False Bay Park (not to be confused with the False Bay Ecology Park in Cape Town) lies within the iSimangaliso Wetland Park on the western edge of False Bay, in KwaZulu Natal.

Did you know? False Bay Park is best described as low-key beauty. Little hype, but surprisingly rewarding despite the lack of marketing, if you take the time to travel there.

False Bay Parks 2247 hectares are mostly given over to sand forest, woodland and mixed patches of open shoreline. Visitors expound about the bird life, the untamed environment, the proximity to beaches and other game parks as reasons to travel there.

There are self-guided hiking trails that include the Dugandlovu and the Mphophomeni trails that allow one to explore the sand forests, thornveld and open savannah on foot, spotting both wildlife and birds. Trails average 8 kilometres each and meander through forest and along the lake shoreline.

Birders regard this park as one of the better places to spot African broadbills. Use the designated trails to find an area of forest that has an open understorey but closed canopy for best opportunity. And you can also see one of the country's few remaining pink backed pelican colonies.

The park has wild life, most of it shy and retreating, especially the unusual, and rarely sighted little suni antelope. But be aware that hippos do wander ashore at night if you camp within the park – there is both a camp site and a number of rustic rondavels available.

Crocodiles in the lake make swimming a health hazard, but fishing and boating are both possible. And there is a viewing platform on the lake near the camp from which the views over the wetland park are rather magnificent, particularly at sunset.