The diversity of fish and invertebrates on Africa's southernmost coral reefs in Sodwana Bay National Park attract scuba divers from all over the country.
Snorkelling and scuba diving in Sodwana Bay
While staying at Sodwana Bay Camp you can enjoy an abundance of excellent snorkelling spots along the Sodwana Bay coast. The reefs are bountiful in goldies, lionfish, zebras, wrasse, crayfish, feather stars, rays and moray eels. You can hire gear from the various dive centres near to the camp.
Diving conditions are good throughout the year, but the best diving occurs during April to September. On a good day visibility can reach over 30 metres. The weather is typically subtropical and water temperatures are usually above 20°C (68°F) reaching 29°C (84°F) in summer.
Fishing and Boating
While staying at the self-catering Sodwana Bay accommodation ski-boaters and shore anglers have the opportunity to catch a variety of game fish during their stay. Popular ski-boat fishing competitions are held regularly at Sodwana Bay, and the park has produced record billfish and sailfish catches. Yellowfin tuna are often caught around Black Rock and Island Rock fishing sites. Kingfish, mackerel, tuna, and marlin are also common here.
Wildlife Viewing
Sodwana Bay is renowned for its biodiversity both above and below the ocean. It is made up of coastal forests and dunes as well as the protected wetlands of iSimangaliso, which host a variety of wildlife. Along the coast, there are many exciting coral reefs to be explored, with a predominance of branching, table and plate corals along beautiful overhangs, drop-offs and mushroom rocks. Loggerhead and leatherback turtles also emerge onto the beaches to nest.
Birding Trails
The best birding areas around Sodwana Bay camp are the Ngoboseleni Trail, Lake Sibaya to the north and Muzi Pans further inland. The Ngoboseleni Trail starts and ends at the Ezemvelo Wildlife reception office inside the Sodwana Bay National Park. The trail takes approximately 4 hours over easy terrain, which includes coastal forest, wetland and some grassland.
Some of the sightings include Turacos, Woodward's Batis, Green Coucal, Black-bellied Starling and Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher. Crested Guinea fowl can be encountered along the path. Ngoboseleni Lake offers water birds such as Pygmy Goose, Goliath Heron, African Jacana and White-faced Duck. Fish Eagles can also be seen on the lake’s edge.
Sea-birds include Cape Gannet, Cape Cormorant, Swift and Caspian Terns and White-fronted Plover.
Additional activities:
The 5km self-guided Mngobeselen Trail
Beach picnics
Turtle tours
Horse riding
Fishing charters
Ocean safaris/boat rides
Kitesurfing courses
Skipper courses
Scuba diving courses
The Sodwana Bay National Park is not only home to the Big 5 but also a wide variety of bird species and marine life....