Sodwana Bay Nature Reserve in KwaZulu Natal South Africa is renowned for its sport fishing, scuba diving and snorkeling. Sodwana is situated on the coast within the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park. The reserve lies adjacent to Africa’s southern-most coral reefs. The Maputoland and St Lucia Marine Reserves are linked to each other to form a continuous protected area stretching 150 km from the Mozambique border southwards to Cape Vidal and 3 nautical miles out to sea. Sodwana Bay Nature Reserve with its many exciting coral reefs and outstanding climate, has distinguished itself as one of the premier sport diving destinations in the world. It offers many popular dive sites with a great diversity of underwater seascapes and marine flora and fauna including branching, table and plate corals, beautiful overhangs, drop-offs and mushroom rocks, as well as spectacular night dives. Scuba diving equipment is available for hire. In summer, loggerhead and leatherback turtles come out of the sea to nest on the Sodwana beaches. Guided turtle tours are popular with visitors. Aside from Sodwana’s wealth of opportunities for diving , boating and angling, a five-km self-guided trail is available for the enjoyment of nature lovers and bird enthusiasts. Malaria precautions are necessary.
Activities at Sodwana Bay National Park
Fishing: Sodwana Bay is a paradise for fishermen (shore and ski-boaters), snorkellers and scuba divers. Ski-boaters and shore anglers have the opportunity to catch a number of different game fish. Sodwana has produced record billfish and sailfish.
Snorkellers and scuba divers: The diversity of fish and invertebrates on Africa's southern-most coral reefs attract many scuba divers and there are excellent snorkelling spots along this Sodwana Coast. Conditions are good throughout the year, but the best diving is from April through to September. On a good day visibility can reach up to 30 metres. The weather is typically subtropical. The water temperature is usually above 20°C and can reach 29°C in summer. There are a number of dive sites to choose from.
Turtles at Sodwana Bay: During the summer months loggerhead and leatherback turtles come out of the sea at night to nest on the beaches. Night turtle tours are provided during December and January. Departure times vary with the tide.
How to get to Sodwana Bay: From the north turn off the N2 at Jozini and follow the signs to Mbazwana and on to the park. From the south turn off the N2 at the Ngweni/Sodwana Bay turn off and travel through to Mbazwana which is 80 kms away on a gravel road. The alternative is to turn off the N2 into Hluhluwe village and take the new SDI road which will eventually be tar all the way to Mbazwana. The nearest town which has a full range of services is Hluhluwe which is 80 kms away.