Sodwana Bay

'Sodwana' meaning 'Little One On Its Own' in Zulu, could as well mean 'Little Paradise On Its Own'. It is a paradise for everyone with an interest in the great outdoors: the angler, the game fisherman, the wildlife enthusiast, the bird watcher, the photographer, the hunter, the spearfisherman, and most of all the scuba diver.

Lying just south of the Mozambique border, on the South African Zululand East Coast, Sodwana Bay boasts a colourful diversity. It is here that the southernmost tropical reefs in the world are found; even further south than Australia's Great Barrier Reef. The pleasantly warm Mozambique Current washes these beautiful sandy shores, flanked by high dunes. This ensures the prolific growth of a tremendous variety of coral of every description, which in turn offers a habitat to millions of crustaceans and fish. Underwater visibility can exceed 40m!

Climate

Sodwana enjoys splendid sub-tropical weather, with warm water year round. Temperatures vary from typically very hot to quite cool during the winter mornings. Light warm clothing is advisable if traveling to Sodwana from April to September, and a raincoat for the occasional tropical rains is reccommended. When diving, a 3mm short or full wetsuit should suffice, although more sensitive divers prefer to use a 5mm in the cooler months. Hoods, booties & gloves are not required.

Aquatic Life

The abundance and variety of hard and soft corals with some 1200 species of Indo-Pacific tropical fish ensures the diver a unique and colorful experience. Sodwana is the nesting site for Loggerhead and Leatherback turtles which can be seen laying their eggs at night on the beach from November to January, and marveled underwater throughout the year. Seasonal visitors include humpback whales, whale sharks, nurse sharks and manta rays. Marlin, Sailfish and dolphins are spotted at anytime throughout the year.

Dive Sites

General Notes

• For those prone to sea sickness, dry biscuits or ginger tablets may be useful.
• Remember to bring lots if liquids, as diving will dehydrate you.
• Please watch out for livestock on the road when driving.
• In Sodwana there is a fully stocked bottle store, a supermarket selling all the items you may have left behind at home, a crafts market selling clothing, African arts and crafts, a souvenir & curios shop, a mechanical garage ("Jan maak 'n Plan!"), a local disco/bar ("Jan maak 'n Jol!"), and various new restaurants serving anything from pizza to fresh fish have sprung up along the road from Mbazwane to Sodwana. Not to mention the lovely cocktail sundowners available at the Sodwana Lodge while watching the sun setting over the tropical bush of Sodwana.
• Divers Alert Network is positioned in Sodwana 24 hours a day, and are extremely efficient.
• Diving equipment can be hired from WonWayDiving, check out the rates page for more information.

What to Bring

Getting There

Sodwana is accessible by car, but a 4x4 is reccommended for driving around the surrounding areas. WonWayDiving can arrange trips out to the more remote regions, check out Activities offered for more information. Bazbus pickups from Hluhluwe can be arranged. Petrol & diesel are available from the petrol station in the National Park.

Turn off the N2 at Hluhluwe and follow the signs to Sodwana Bay . Once in Sodwana Bay , 100m after you have passed Maak ‘n Jol (on your left), you'll see the turn off to Sodwana Bay Lodge on your left. Turn into this road but immediately on the right you'll see a driveway (running parallel to the main road), this is the entrance to Natural Moments. Park your car in the parking lot and if you can't find anyone in the camp, give Archie a call. Please let us know what time to expect you. Contact Archie on +27 83 236 1756 or Barbara on +27 83 3210 115

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