Thonga Beach Lodge is uniquely set on the pristine shores of the Maputaland Coast. Part of the iSimangaliso Wetland Parl – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – Thonga is the place to discover one of Africa’s last unspoilt wilderness beaches. The name “iSimangaliso” means “miracle and wonder” – an apt name for an area that is home to such a diverse and spectacular array of unique ecosystems.
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. Thonga Beach Lodge is the ideal place to connect with one of Africa’s last pristine wilderness beaches and rediscover your place in it.
Nestled in the ecologically sensitive coastal dune forest, you can’t help feeling intimately part of nature, as you look out onto the indigenous forest that breathes a unique tranquil charm.
Each room comprises a large open plan bedroom (king or twin) opening onto a private balcony. The bathroom has a double vanity, separate shower and toilet. Each room has air conditioning, an overhead fan, a mini bar, tea & coffee making facilities, safe and a hair dryer.
These rooms offer views of the Indian Ocean to be taken in from a large open plan bedroom (king or twin), which opens onto a secluded balcony. All rooms have a bathroom with double vanity, separate shower and toilet, air conditioning, overhead fans, mini bars, tea and coffee making facilities, safe and hair dryers.
There are just two of these magnificent family rooms, each boasting two bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms. The large main bedroom (king or twin) has an open plan bathroom with bath, double vanity, separate toilet and shower. The bedroom opens onto a private balcony looking into the indigenous bush.
The smaller second bedroom (2 x ¾ beds) with separate toilet, shower and basin is connected by either a short inter-leading passage, which has doors at both ends, or a small open verandah connecting both rooms and offering privacy and peace of mind to parents of younger children.
There is only one of these rooms for the discerning few, set a fair distance from the other rooms it offers total seclusion and privacy, giving the feeling of being in one’s own private lodge with glorious views of the Indian Ocean below.
Situated in an indigenous forest, surrounded by sounds of the sea, this spacious suite has sweeping views of the ocean and a private plunge pool, a setting you’ll fall in love with. Thonga Beach Lodge is a perfect destination for an idyllic “Robinson Crusoe” beach honeymoon.
The iSimangaliso Wetland Park was listed as South Africa’s first World Heritage Site in December 1999 in recognition of its status as a site of biological wealth and natural beauty.
No other place in South Africa can compete with the exceptional natural beauty and biodiversity of iSimangaliso. The 332,000-hectare park contains three major lake systems, eight interlinking ecosystems, 700-year-old fishing traditions, most of South Africa’s remaining swamp forests, Africa’s largest estuarine system and 25,000-year-old vegetated coastal dunes which are among the highest in the world.
The World Heritage Committee granted the Park its status after noting its exceptional biodiversity– over 526 birds, 50 amphibia, 128 reptile species, lake systems, swamps, reed and papyrus wetlands, savannah, vegetated coastal dunes and sandy beaches. The marine ecosystem has 1 039 fish species, 100 species of coral, 812 marine molluscs and huge dolphin populations. The area also boasts a large migratory pod of humpback whales that congregate en-route between Mozambique and the Cape, usually taking residence for several months between June and November. A vast numbers of albatross visit in the winter months.
The Maputaland coastline has been shaped over millennia by the strong Agulhas current, which flows down the East Coast of Africa. Seasonal winds blowing across the Mozambique channel from Madagascar rotate this massive body of water, keeping it at a comfortable 26 degrees – the perfect temperature for a fun-filled adventure.
The untouched shoreline of Lake Sibaya stretches for 100km; at 70 square kilometres, it is South Africa’s largest freshwater lake. Lake Sibaya falls within the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, and the Ramsar Convention assures its international conservation status.
The lake’s diverse flora provides a variety of habitats for birds, mammals and aquatic life. Research reveals that hundreds of years ago, the lake was connected to the sea. When the estuary closed naturally, numerous fish and aquatic creatures were trapped in a freshwater environment, creating a biological treasure chest.
Lake Sibaya contains the second largest population of hippopotamus and crocodile in KwaZulu-Natal and is an important breeding, feeding and roosting area for a host of bird species. Surface water in the surrounding coastal plain often disappears completely during dry spells, making the lake the only source of permanent water for birds and mammals.
The founders and owners of Isibindi Africa Lodges, Brett and Paige Gehren, both come from a conservation background; this is our authenticity. This family owned and run luxury safari, island and beach collection of wilderness lodges is positioned in exceptional ecosystems in Southern Africa. Twenty-seven years of pioneering sustainable wildlife lodges, that is built on the bedrock that they include and empower our neighbouring communities.
A family business, we don’t think of ourselves as a corporate, we don’t operate lodges that we don’t own, every one of our camps we have built and we run. It starts as an Isibindi vision, it evolves and unfolds into somewhere special, an exceptional location with considered spaces, which we would have chosen for our honeymoon or wanted to take our children to holiday. Having happy staff is an integral part of our business, we have a lot of fun at Isibindi doing what we do and we want to share that with you. We live by the motto courage & fun.
The Isibindi Foundation was established in 2019 to consolidate our 26 years of community and conservation projects, and to also create a purpose driven entity to assist these initiatives. The Foundation allows our guests to be philanthropic travellers and to journey with purpose.
<12 luxurious thatched rooms (a few with private pools) are discreetly nestled into the dune forest overlooking Mabibi beach.
October, 2024
Saturday
August 26,2019
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