Thonga Beach Lodge

This 24-bed luxury lodge is the ideal place to connect with one of Africa’s last pristine wilderness beaches and rediscover your place in it. The 12 thatched eco-sensitive rooms, with ocean or forest views, boast an earthy elegance, and are positioned to afford maximum privacy and minimal environmental impact.

Natural materials of thatch, reeds and wood, sourced from the area create a seamless flow, while providing authentic textures to the minimalist spaces. Each room is on a raised platform nestled among indigenous forest in undulating dunes. Expansive glass windows and doors let in the ocean breeze and sounds, freeing one’s spirit and senses.

Dreamy crisp linen and mosquito nets adorn the beds, while soft down-lighting creates a peaceful, serene ambience, perfect after a day under the African sun. Your very own wooden deck reaches out into the forest where you can enjoy morning coffee amidst birdsong, or cocktails under starlight.

You can also enjoy excellent cuisine, al fresco on the dining deck or beach deck overlooking the sea. Treading lightly in this paradise will make you feel rejuvenated by nature and give you a special connection with the harmony of this extraordinary place.

The lodge facilities are designed to enhance your experience by complementing the exquisite surrounding wilderness, with comforts of a slightly more modern nature. After a day of adventure in the sand and sea, there’s nothing better than retiring to a little barefoot luxury and a few mod cons.

About the iSimangaliso Wetland Park

Proclaimed South Africa's first World Heritage Site in 1999, the iSimangaliso Wetland Park in KwaZulu Natal has a long and rich history of exploration and discovery that dates back as far as the Later Stone Age.

Stretching up the northern reaches of KwaZulu Natal from the Msunduzi River for 332 000 hectares, toward the border with Mozambique, the iSimangaliso Wetland Park is one of the country's largest conservations areas and is a considered a highlight for any trip to South Africa.

The reserve is long and narrow, especially towards the north with a band of vegetated sand dunes running parallel to the coast, for the length of the reserve, separating the interior from the ocean. Lake St Lucia, (actually an estuary for the Hluhluwe River and others) which is 80 kilometres (50 miles) long and up to 23 kilometres (14.2 miles) wide dominates the south of the reserve the rest of the landscape being mostly flat.

In the north, South Africa's largest freshwater lake, Lake Sibaya and four smaller interlinked lakes are found near Kosi Bay. The wilderness reserve's eastern boundary is formed by the Indian Ocean and the marine protected area extends outwards from the coastline, protecting both land and sea flora and fauna. The town of St Lucia is incorporated into the wilderness park and is located south of the reserve, 26 kilometres (16 miles) from Mtubatuba.