Thonga Beach Lodge

• Property TypeResort
• Guests38
• Rooms/Units12
• Minimum Stay2-3 Nights
• + 
• • FEATUREPool

Thonga Beach Lodge is a highly recommended Mabibi hotel providing accommodation in 12 guest rooms for anyone visiting the Elephant Coast region.

About Thonga Beach Lodge

This intimate, luxury 24 bed lodge is nestled on the pristine coast of Maputaland, Northern KwaZulu Natal, within the Isimangaliso World Heritage Park an internationally recognized World Heritage Site. It's the ideal place to explore unspoilt, wilderness beaches. Thonga Beach Lodge is a magical place of coastal forests, grasslands, shimmering lakes and exquisite sandy beaches. Its crystal clear, warm waters offer superb snorkelling and unspoilt off-shore scuba diving, arguably the best in South Africa.

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.

Accommodation

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 guest privacy.

All rooms at Thonga Beach Lodge have private balconies and 2 boast their own private plunge pools. Luxuriously decorated, the rooms exude a romantic ambiance. Bleached wood, glass and natural materials have been wisely used to create an open, airy feel. Every suite has air conditioning.

Main Lodge Facilities

Large 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 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 dining room, is a mezzanine area which is the perfect place to celebrate with a private candle-lit dinner. It offers spectacular views of the incredible forest surrounding the lodge.

To beat the midday heat, guests can take it easy besides one of the lodge's two swimming pools or enjoy a delicious cocktail at the bar with its unique “ocean” bar counter. Scuba diving training is offered in the one extra deep pool. For those needing a little pampering, the lodge also has a rejuvenation centre where guests can revitalise body, mind and soul.

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 deck and dine by candlelight on the shores of the Indian Ocean.

Sea Spa at Thonga Beach Lodge

The Sea Spa at Thonga Beach Lodge offers facials, massages, manicures, pedicures, hot stone therapy and reflexology.

Attractions & Activities

Lake Sibaya, Southern Africa's largest fresh water lake, is only 6kms from the lodge and provides an interesting 25min drive through the local Tsonga community. From here you can either go on a guided kayaking trip or in the evening experience glorious sundowners with hippos and crocodiles nearby.

Snorkelling
Mabibi offers superb snorkelling opportunities. 1,250 fish species (Great Barrier Reef has 1500) occur on the reefs in this area. 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.

Scuba Diving
Scuba diving is phenomenal, with reefs located a short distance from the lodge. Shoals of game fish, sharks and schools of bottlenose dolphins are often seen. Our professional lodge diving team accommodates all enthusiasts; from the beginner to the veteran.

Open Ocean Experience
This adventure activity offers guests rare opportunities to experience the variety of marine life that live along the Elephant Coast. An exciting launch through the surf in front of the lodge takes you beyond the breakers to a world of dolphins, whales, whale sharks and snorkelling. The warm Indian Ocean supports a myriad of fish and marine life. Guests may encounter dolphins, whale sharks, manta rays and giant turtles. (Maximum 10 guests).

Turtle Tracking
A wilderness bucket list, brace yourself for a breathtaking experience as this massive reptile launches out of the sea and starts her journey up the beach just metres away from you. Under the cover of darkness, follow mother turtles as they return to the same beach where they were born to begin the cycle all over again. Watch mesmerised as the mother turtle digs a hole and goes into a trance-like state while laying her eggs before returning to the depths of the sea.

We are fortunate to have been awarded a rare concession which allows us to operate one turtle drive each night during the turtle season (November to February). The turtle drive takes place around low tide and can last up to 4 hours. There is a significant cost linked to the concession and hence this drive is charged as an extra activity, unlike the turtle walk which can be undertaken at any time. The concession fee helps iSimangaliso Wetland Park to conduct invaluable turtle research and protection programmes which are fundamental to the success of turtle conservation.

Lake Sibaya (Sundowners and Kayaking)
Lake Sibaya is 6km from the lodge, a 25-minute drive. Sundowners are offered on the shores of Southern Africa's largest fresh water lake - Lake Sibaya (70 square km). The lake has 125km of untouched shoreline, good bird watching and a great diversity of fauna and flora. Guests can also explore parts of the lake by guided kayak with the chance of seeing hippo and crocodile en route.

Zulu Dancing / Singing
Our local Mabibi school has put together a small team of singers and dancers and they will come to Thonga Beach Lodge by arrangement to perform for us. Donations are usually appreciated.