Thonga Beach Lodge
Manguzi
Forest biome · Humpback whale · Southern right whale
Can support Isibindi Foundation
Price on request
Inside park
Where to stay in and near iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Marine and coastal biodiversity
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
About iSimangaliso Wetland Park
iSimangaliso was South Africa's first World Heritage Site, a 220-kilometre stretch of the northern KwaZulu-Natal coast that runs from St Lucia to Kosi Bay and takes in Lake St Lucia, coastal forest, dune forest, coral reefs and the Mkhuze bushveld inland. It holds hippos and crocodiles in the estuary, elephant and rhino in the western shores, turtles nesting on the beaches in summer, and a bird list above 500 species. St Lucia is the main base, with boat trips and a village of guesthouses; Cape Vidal, Sodwana and Kosi Bay are the quieter ends. It is a malaria-risk area in summer.
Things to do: Canoeing · Snorkelling · Diving · Fishing · Guided walk · Photography
Where you can stay: Camping · Chalets · Nearby B&Bs
Wildlife near iSimangaliso Wetland Park
What people record most across KwaZulu-Natal. Past sightings, never a guarantee.
From iNaturalist records across KwaZulu-Natal, not confirmed sightings inside this reserve.
Stay in & near iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Inside-park stays and nearby lodges, sorted by distance.
Kosi Forest Lodge
Manguzi
Forest biome · Hippopotamus · Nile crocodile
Can support Isibindi Foundation and more
Price on request
Inside park
When to visit iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Most of the rain at iSimangaliso Wetland Park falls from October to April, peaking in March at about 102 mm. July is the driest month, with little or no rain. January is the hottest month, with average highs of about 30°C, and June the coolest, with average lows of about 16°C.
| Month | Rain (mm) | Average high (°C) | Average low (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 101 | 30 | 23 |
| February | 88 | 30 | 23 |
| March | 102 | 29 | 22 |
| April | 60 | 27 | 20 |
| May | 38 | 26 | 18 |
| June | 30 | 25 | 16 |
| July | 18 | 24 | 16 |
| August | 24 | 25 | 17 |
| September | 45 | 26 | 18 |
| October | 74 | 26 | 19 |
| November | 81 | 27 | 20 |
| December | 86 | 29 | 22 |
Averages for 2005 to 2024 at the park's centre point, about 7 m above sea level. Weather data from Open-Meteo.com (opens in a new tab) (ERA5), CC BY 4.0.
Getting there
2 stays we sell in iSimangaliso Wetland Park. Tap a pin for the listing.
28.3624° S, 32.4130° E800 km from Cape TownOpen in Maps (opens in a new tab)
Why book here
Your stay helps keep iSimangaliso Wetland Park wild
Wild places survive when the communities around them earn more from protecting wildlife than from anything that would replace it. Every stay you book through Spekboom carries a conservation contribution built into the price, never added on top, so choosing where you sleep becomes a way to fund the people and projects keeping this landscape intact.
- Built into every booking
- A conservation share
- Where it goes
- Local causes & communities
iSimangaliso Wetland Park: your questions
Where is iSimangaliso Wetland Park?
iSimangaliso Wetland Park is in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
What wildlife can you see near iSimangaliso Wetland Park?
In KwaZulu-Natal, commonly recorded species include animals such as Suni, Red Duiker, Blue Duiker, Leatherback Turtle and birds including White-eared Barbet, Grey Waxbill, Southern Banded Snake Eagle, based on iNaturalist occurrence data. These reflect the wider province, not confirmed sightings inside the reserve.
When is the rainy season at iSimangaliso Wetland Park?
Most of the rain at iSimangaliso Wetland Park falls from October to April, peaking in March at about 102 mm. July is the driest month, with little or no rain. January is the hottest month, with average highs of about 30°C, and June the coolest, with average lows of about 16°C. Averages for 2005 to 2024 at the park's centre point, about 7 m above sea level.
When is the best time to visit iSimangaliso Wetland Park?
The best time to visit iSimangaliso Wetland Park is Year-round (dry season May-Sep).
What is there to do at iSimangaliso Wetland Park?
Popular activities at iSimangaliso Wetland Park include canoeing, snorkelling, diving, fishing, guided walk, photography.
Where can you stay in iSimangaliso Wetland Park?
Places to stay inside iSimangaliso Wetland Park include Thonga Beach Lodge and Kosi Forest Lodge. Request them on Spekboom and pay once your dates are confirmed. Every booking funds conservation.
Parks near iSimangaliso Wetland Park
The closest parks and reserves. Distances run centre to centre, as the crow flies.
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
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Hluhluwe-Imfolozi ParkGame Reserve · 50 km
White rhino conservation success
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Phinda Private Game Reserve
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Phinda Private Game ReservePrivate Game Reserve · 58 km
Diverse private game reserve in KwaZulu-Natal with seven distinct ecosystems.
Big Five
uMlalazi Nature Reserve
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
uMlalazi Nature ReserveProvincial Nature Reserve · 91 km
Mangroves, dune forest and a lagoon at Mtunzini
Malaria-free
Part of
Other parks and reserves that share something with iSimangaliso Wetland Park.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in AfricaNational parks and reserves in South AfricaNature reserves and parks in KwaZulu-NatalAll protected areas
