* iSimangaliso Marine Protected Area. * iSimangaliso Wetland Park. * Kosi Bay Nature Reserve. * Tsonga fish kraals, the local community age-old traditional traps * Hiking, Kayaking & Snorkelling. * Kosi Bay Mouth. * Kosi Bay Turtle Tours in season. * Tembe Elephant Park

Bar / Lounge Secured parking Free parking Restaurant WIFI Tour / sightseeing desk

Wifi Yes, public areas only

In the northern reaches of KwaZulu Natal, the final stretch of South African coastline is a wilderness wonderland that is still largely unexplored and unexploited. Kosi Bay is a rich network of lakes that stretches from Lake kuZilonde on the Mozambique border in the north, to Lake Amanzimnyama in the south. Essentially it is a complex system of six large lakes, two smaller lakes and one of the best preserved estuaries on the Indian Ocean coastline. A number of lakes and streams enter the sea at Kosi mouth and the region is famous for its pristine beaches. Much of the area is protected within the Kosi Bay Nature Reserve. Kosi Bay’s lake system is part of the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park, a World Heritage Site, and is home to a large variety of birds, including a number of rare species, as well as hippos, and a great variety of fish and other aquatic fauna. This is the land of marshes, swamp forests - some of the largest in the country - mangroves (five species), coastal dune forests and palm communities. Add to this already impressive picture the annual sighting of Humpback whales, just off the beaches, on their annual northerly migration to Mozambique, and the visit of loggerhead and leatherback turtles to lay their eggs on the beaches every year so that the new generation of hatchlings can make their mad dash to the ocean, and you can understand why Kosi Bay is such an attractive place to visit. Fishing is a way of life to many of the Tsonga people of the region as a food source but is also very popular amongst visitors, although ‘tag and release’ is encouraged. Fishing is usually only allowed in the reserve with a permit.