- Thonga Beach Lodge can only be reached by 4x4 vehicles
- Guests with 2 wheel drive vehicles will be picked up along the way
- There is an 800m long landing strip situated 9km from the lodge
- On the Elephant Coast, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Thonga Beach Lodge can only be reached by 4x4 vehicles and guests must arrange to be collected at the 2-wheel drive parking area at one of the pick-up times. There is an 800 metre-long landing strip situated 9 kilometres from this Africa hotel. The nearest scheduled flights are to and from Richards Bay or Durban. Transfer arrangements can be made for guests arriving by air.
Thonga Beach Lodge is located on the Mabiba shoreline, which is part of the Elephant Coast in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Thonga Beach Lodge is also close to Lake Sibaya - the biggest fresh water lake in South Africa. The lake is part of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, which is a World Heritage Site.
How to get there: By road
Directions from Johannesburg:
From Johannesburg, drive to Pongola then proceed on the N2 South towards Mkuze. Approximately 45 kilometres (27 miles) from Pongola and 10 kilometres (6 miles) before Mkuze turn left towards Jozini. On leaving Jozini take a left turn towards the 'Coastal Forest Reserve and Kwangwanase' (signposted), ensuring that you are proceeding over the Pongola dam wall. After 45 kilometres at the T-junction turn right towards 'Kwangwanase'.
Proceed for another 47 kilometres (29 miles) and at the circle turn right towards 'Coastal Forest Reserve'. After 15 kilometres (9 miles) turn left onto a dirt road marked as 'Coastal Forest Reserve'. It is 30 kilometres (18 miles) along the dirt road (this section of road is slow, allow 45 minutes) to the Coastal Forest Reserve offices where you will be collected. Follow the 'Coastal Forest Reserve' and 'Thonga Beach Lodge' signs. The travelling time is approximately 7.5 hours.
Upon reaching the Coastal Forest Reserve's headquarters two-wheel drive vehicles will park and be transferred to the lodge in Thonga Beach Lodge vehicles (approximately 30 minutes). Please note that there are two transfers per day: 12h00 and 15h00. These transfers have to be pre-booked when confirming your stay. Four-wheel drive vehicles can proceed straight to the lodge following the signs.
Directions from Durban:
From Durban, proceed on the N2 North to Hluhluwe. Turn off the N2 towards Hluhluwe, proceeding through the town until reaching a four-way stop. Turn left towards Mbazwane and proceed for 0.7 kilometres and turn right again towards Mbazwane. Shortly after turning right you will cross over a railway line. Proceed for 82 kilometres (50 miles) bypassing Mbazwane on your right. Proceed straight through the circles following the signs to 'Coastal Forest Reserve'.
Proceed for 33 kilometres (20 miles) after Mbazwane, passing the Mseleni turn-off, turning right onto a dirt road marked as 'Coastal Forest Reserve'. It is 30 kilometres along the dirt road (this section of road is slow, allow 45 minutes) to the Coastal Forest Reserve offices where you will be collected. Follow the 'Coastal Forest Reserve' and 'Thonga Beach Lodge' signs. The travelling time is approximately 4.5 hours.
Upon reaching the Coastal Forest Reserve's headquarters two-wheel drive vehicles will park and be transferred to the lodge in Thonga Beach Lodge vehicles (approximately 20 minutes). Please note that there are two transfers per day: 12h00 and 15h00. These transfers have to be pre-booked when confirming your stay.
Four-wheel drive vehicles can proceed straight to the lodge following the signs. Please note that check in time is 12h00 and the check out time is 10h00 if travelling in your own 4x4.
