Kosi Forest Lodge

Kosi Forest Lodge is the only private lodge in the Kosi Forest Nature Reserve, part of the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park in northern Maputaland.

It is a small, comfortable wilderness lodge where you are assured of personal attention. The lodge provides opportunities to discover the pristine Kosi Lakes by boat and canoe; to enjoy snorkelling at Kosi Reef or fishing on Kosi Lake; or to watch Leatherback turtles come ashore to lay their eggs.

Bedrooms

Eight thatched bush suites are set in the white sand forest of the Kosi Bay Nature Reserve. The thatched rooms are each raised on a wooden deck with an attractive,  spacious bedroom, balcony, and a separate, reed enclosed, open air en suite bathroom, with bath and shower.

In addition, there is one two-bedroom family suite and a completely private honeymoon suite.

The lodge has no electricity, so the whole area is candlelit at night, creating a romantic African ambience.

Facilities

The focal point of the lodge is an enormous Podberry tree: the lounge, dining-room and bar all open onto the large, wooden deck around the tree. Most meals are served al fresco, either on the deck or under the trees.

The swimming pool overlooking the lake and the deck at the lake’s edge are great places to relax and soak up the warmth of Maputaland.
 

Activities

The best way to explore Kosi Bay Nature Reserve is on a guided canoe trip. As you paddle through the lakes and channels, you glide by magnificent Raffia palms and may catch sight of Pel’s fishing owl or Palmnut vulture.

The series of channels, lakes and pools of the Kosi Lakes system extends over 18km and encompasses a diversity of habitat. A boat cruise enables you to watch the birds of the lakes, estuary and coastline; see the woods, forests and wetlands; and the icons of Kosi Bay, the fish traps.

The lodge also offers guided walking trails through the reserve. In the evening, from mid-November to mid-February, you can watch giant Leatherback and Loggerhead turtles lay their eggs in the sand of the Maputuland coast.

There is good snorkelling year round and the lodge has snorkelling equipment. The Maputaland coastline is one of South Africa’s most popular fishing destinations.

Activities available at additional charge include reef-snorkelling, scuba diving at Rocktail Bay and turtle tracking. These activities need four people to run and are also dependent on the availability of vehicles. Tembe Elephant Park is only a 40-minute drive from Kosi Forest Lodge.