Sodwana Bay


Home of the best diving spots in South Africa.

Sodwana Bay is one of the most incredible places to scuba dive in the world. The clean, warm waters and offshore reefs are home to some spectacular corals which in turn attract scores marine life including sharks, manta rays and whale sharks. With dozens of reefs at multiple depths, Sodwana has something for everyone. And if diving is not your thing, you’ll still enjoy exploring the countless kilometres of pristine beaches, coastal forests and freshwater lakes.

Adventure guides for Sodwana Bay

Check out these detailed adventure guides based on our personal experiences in Sodwana Bay and the surrounding areas.

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Map of Sodwana Bay

  • Top 10 Scuba diving
  • Mabibi
  • 9 Mile Beach
  • Lake Sibaya
  • Turtle Tours
  • Whale Watching Tours

FAQ

The best time to visit Sodwana Bay is in late autumn to early spring (April – August). During this time the weather is mild and the ocean conditions are better for visibility and boat launching.

Sodwana Bay is known for its incredible diving, fishing and snorkelling, however, it’s probably best known as the site where the coelacanth (a fish once thought to be extinct) was recently discovered in one of the underwater canyons offshore.

Almost impossible to say. If you are a diver, then you’ll want to spend as much time in Sodwana Bay as you can. If you’re just interested in seeing different part of the province then we’d recommend anything from 1-2 days. Here’s an itinerary that might be of

There are 2 parts to the turtle season: nesting and hatching. Leatherback and Loggerhead turtles come ashore at night from November into late summer to lay their eggs in the sand. Seventy days later, from early January until March, the eggs hatch and the hatchlings make their way to the sea.

You sure can. Sodwana Bay has a beautiful swimming beach with a sandy bottom, as well as some rockpools to explore at the top of the point during low tide. It’s best to swim when the lifeguards are on duty and only in the areas demarcated for swimming. The beaches along this stretch are notorious for strong rip currents, so never go swimming on your own.

There are a number of different shark species in Sodwana Bay including ragged-tooth sharks, Zambezi (bull) sharks and whale sharks. Ragged-tooth shark are common on the reefs just off shore and during the summer months, divers have the best chance of encountering a whale shark feeding in the waters nearby.

Sodwana Bay does fall within a malaria area, although the risk is low. It is best to take precautions, especially in the summer time when mosquitoes are more prevalent.

You don’t need a 4×4 to get to Sodwana Bay itself, however, if you’d like to visit some of the surrounding areas like Lake Sibaya and Mabibi, you will need a 4×4 that is configured for soft beach sand driving.

© Stray Along The Way

© Stray Along The Way

© Stray Along The Way

© Adventure Mania

© Adventure Mania

© Adventure Mania

© Adventure Mania

© Adventure Mania

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