The Elephant Coast, South Africa
Thonga Beach Lodge
Beautiful Remote Beach Lodge with Great Diving
Set on the pristine shores of the Maputaland coast inside iSimangaliso Wetland Park, this luxury lodge is the ideal place to discover one of the last unspoilt and undeveloped wilderness beaches left on the African continent.
With tranquil swimming bays and snorkelling reefs, coastal forests, grasslands, bush, shimmering lakes and an endless sandy beach, you won’t be disappointed by it’s beauty. The clear, warm waters offer superb snorkelling and fantastic offshore scuba diving.
Accommodation is in 12 “Robinson Crusoe-chic” rooms. The thatched en-suite rooms have been carefully constructed in the coastal dune forest to ensure minimum impact on the environment whilst still ensuring maximum guest comfort. Each 50 m2 room has a double vanity, stone bath, indoor shower, separate toilet, bar fridge, ceiling fan, mosquito net, private balcony. All rooms are air-conditioned.
Two Deluxe Sea View double rooms have panoramic sea views & private plunge pools; three Sea View twin rooms have limited sea views whilst seven Forest View twin rooms are set within the dune forest.
The lounge, nestled high in the canopy of the dune forest, offers panoramic views of the Indian Ocean. Alternatively enjoy sundowners in the bar lounge or on the cool deck under the Coastal Milkwood trees.
*** Please note that Thonga is an eco friendly lodge in a Inside iSimangaliso Wetland Park- a World Heritage site and is built into an extremely sensitive Milkwood Forest. In order to preserve the natural vegetation, Thonga are not permitted to cut down any of these trees and as a result, over the years this forest has grown and now some Sea view rooms do not have a full 180 degree sea view.
Highlights
Snorkelling
Scuba Diving
Lake Sibaya sundowners and kayaking
Turtle Tracking
Bird watching
Fishing
Guided walks
Thonga Cultural Excursions
Five Sea View Rooms & Suites
Seven Forest View Rooms
2 swimming pools (1 extra deep for scuba-diving instruction)
Sea Spa
Diving School & Centre
Private plunge pools at certain suites
Trip Inspiration
Plan your trip to South Africa
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Places to combine Thonga Beach Lodge with
Etosha National Park
Encounter by Ongava is an intimate safari camp set within Ongava Game Reserve, on the southern edge of Etosha National Park. You’ll be surrounded by Mopane woodland and wildlife moving freely through the landscape.
There are eight spacious walk-in tents: seven standard tents and one paired tent that works well for families or small groups. Each tent has an en-suite bathroom with an outdoor shower and a private deck.
You can head out on game drives across the 30,000-hectare Ongava Game Reserve. The area is known for its rhino population, as well as lion, zebra and antelope, including the endemic black-faced impala. We especially recommend private guided nature walks, where you can slow down, appreciate the small details and explore with minimal impact. There may be the chance to approach white rhino on foot, as well as spend time bird watching.
For a wider safari experience, take a guided excursion into nearby Etosha National Park, Namibia’s prime savannah wilderness area. At the Ongava Visitor Centre, learn about the region’s geology, wildlife, plants and ecology.
Back at camp, slow down by the pool, settle into the library or gather at the bar as evening falls. The day softens into drinks, quiet conversation and the sounds of the reserve.
