Directions to Kosi Bay:

​

Directions from Durban:

It is advisable to take a 4x4 vehicle

 

• Take the N2 North towards Empangeni, the off-ramp to Hluhluwe / Sodwana Bay

• Drive through Hluhluwe and follow the R22 in the direction of Mbazwana.

• Continue past Mbazwana for another 45km.

• At the large traffic circle turn right towards Kosi Bay

• Travel for 20km to Manguzi, Kosi Bay

 

Directions from Johannesburg:

It is advisable to take a 4x4 vehicle

 

• Take the N17 Toll Road East to Ermelo via Leandra and Bethal.

• Take the N2 through Piet Retief to Pongola

• Around 40km after Pongola, turn left in the direction of Jozini.

• At Jozini the road forks, take the left fork over the dam wall.

• At the T Junction, you turn right and travel a further 70 Km to Manguzi, Kosi Bay

 

Information on Beaches in Kosi Bay:

​

• Most Lodges are not within walking distance from the beautiful, pristine Kosi Bay beaches.

• Kosi Bay is a protected area and falls under Isimangaliso Wetland Park. 

• No organisms may be caught or removed from the rocky or sandy shores.  This includes bait, marine fish, and any other organisms for aquariums.

​

• Bhanga Nek beach is currently the only beach that can be reached by a normal vehicle.

• Kosi Bay Mouth can be accessed by a normal car up to the bridge area.

• Visitors need to beware of tide changes when traveling down to the beach as part of the road to Kosi Bay mouth could be underwater during high tide.

• You will need a 4 x 4 vehicle or 2 x 4 (with diff lock) with high clearance to travel to the following beaches:

• Black Rock

• Lala Nek

• Rock tail Bay

​

Swimming safety:

Please be aware that there are no lifeguards at any of the beaches. You swim at your own risk. It is advisable to only swim during Low Tide as there are very strong rip tides during high tide and spring tide.

​

Rip Tides 

 

Please be aware that there are no lifeguards on any of the beaches.  

You swim at your own risk.  

️It is advisable to only swim during Low Tide as there are very strong rip tides during high tide and spring tide.

 

What are Rip Tides?

 

️Rip tides or rip currents are long narrow bands of water that pull any objects in them away from the shore and out to sea. 

️They are dangerous but are relatively easy to escape if you stay calm.

️Most rip tide deaths are not caused by the tides themselves but by people panicking and swimming directly against the flow of the water.

 

Here are a few facts to look out for. 

 

Remember what appears to be the safest/calmest place to swim is usually a rip. 

️A rip is usually the area with NO wave activity, it appears darker and deceptively calmer.

️Sometimes it can appear milky or turbulent but it always has little/NO wave activity.

️ All that water coming in via waves has to go back out somehow, this is what a rip is.

 

Always take 5-10 minutes to observe surf conditions and identify where these areas are. ️Look at which direction the wind is blowing (on-shore or off-shore). 

️Speak to a local about conditions and safe areas.

 

 If you are caught in a rip, “DON’T PANIC, relax.” Float on your back and raise one arm as a distress signal. 

️Note which direction the rip is taking you, is it straight out or at an angle? Save energy by floating on your back.

 ️Try and swim to the right or left of the direction of flow but “never against.” If you cannot swim out to either side of the rip, just go with it.

 ️Most rips won't take you out very far, and will usually spit you out not long after they take you, so keep calm, and “save your energy” for the swim back to shore.

 

 Educate children and make them aware. One can't always be watching them, and it is only a matter of a few metres each way of the point of entry to the water that could mean them being safe, or instantly caught in a rip.

 

Rips are the No.1 killer. 

 

"They are not hard to identify!

Rather take 10 minutes to observe before entering the surf.

 

Please take care!

 

Rip tides are at their worst during high tide, spring tide, and very windy days!

The best and safest time to swim is normally during low tide, that's when the sea is more calm. 

​

Stonefish:

There are Stone fish inside the Kosi Bay Mouth aquarium and physical contact with them can be extremely painful. Please be exceptionally careful in this area.

​

Entry Permit:

All visitors entering the Isimangaliso Wetland Park Kosi Bay Mouth, Black Rock, Bhanga Nek, Rock tail Bay, Lala Nek & Island Rock Beach are required to pay the Isimangaliso entrance fee and to have an entry permit in their procession.

​

Permit Costs:

Permits can be obtained from the Ezemvelo Parks Board Office on a first come first serve basis.

Cost – R 65-00 per person and R 65-00 per vehicle

 

• The Rhino Card is no longer accepted in the Isimangaliso Park Areas.

 

• This permit is valid between sunrise and sunset only i.e., 06h00 – 18h00

• All entry gates and internal access control booms are closed and locked between 6h00 and 18h00.

• Visitors are requested to leave in good time 17h00 to exit before the gates close.

​

Permit Limits:

The following number of permits are issued daily on a first come first served basis.

Prior bookings may not be made.

• Kosi Bay Mouth – 16 Vehicles

• Black Rock - 12 Vehicles

• Rock tail Bay – 5 Vehicles

• Lala Nek – 5 Vehicles

• Island Rock – 5 Vehicles

​

• Dog Point and Castle Rock Beach:

• These beaches fall within a sanctuary area and may not be accessed either by vehicle or by foot. No activity may take place within this activity zone. Parking on the dunes above these areas is also an offense.

​

General Regulations within the Park area:

For the safety and benefit of you and other visitors to the park, the following are not permitted:

• Pets

• Fires, except in designated braai areas

• Collection of firewood (please use your own charcoal or wood to braai in designated braai areas.

• Generators

• Loud Music

• Littering

• Driving on the beach

• The tampering of fish traps is illegal. The traps are private property

• The purchase or sale of any fish, sea shells, plants rocks, and firewood.

• Visitors may not destroy or prune any vegetation to enlarge or create parking.

• Alcohol – is not permitted on the beach or any public area.

• Bright torch lights are discouraged on the beach during turtle nesting season between 1st October and 1st April

• Please be aware when taking photos of some of the local residents they are very sensitive to such matters and may either be very unhappy if they are photographed without permission or feel they require payment for any photo taken.

​

Speed Limit:

Please do not exceed 40km/h, as you will be driving through community areas.

Watch out for pedestrians, especially children and livestock.

​

Monkeys:

Please do not feed the monkeys, feeding them is cruel as they become a threat and will have to be destroyed.

​

Plants:

It is an offense to pick, uproot, collect, or be in possession of or damage any plants within the reserve.

​

Contravention:

Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and the SAPS will be conducting roadblocks on an ad hoc basis throughout the area to ensure visitors' safety and compliance with the regulations in terms of enabling legislation. Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife staff may issue J534 (spot fines) for any contravention.

​

Reception:

Cell phone communication is very poor throughout the reserve. It is advisable to download the area map for directions to the various beaches in case you lose reception while traveling. Please note that there are no marked signs for directions to any of the beaches.

​

Horses:

Horses/horse riding is not permitted in the park area.

​

Quads & Motorcycles

Motorcycles, 4-wheel motorcycles(quads), and 3-wheel motorcycles are not permitted in the park area.

​

Aircraft & Drones:

No aircraft may be flown over the park this includes microlights, paragliders, gyrocopters, and unmanned Arial vehicles (drones). This included the use of drones to take photographs.

​

Canoes/kayaks or Jet skis:

 

Not allowed at Kosi Bay mouth estuary area, only local tour guides with legal park concessions are allowed to operate canoes and kayaks in this area. 

​

Malaria:

Kosi Bay is a low-risk malaria area.

 

• You can take precautions by wearing long-sleeved shirts and trousers after dusk.

• Use insect repellents, citronella candles, and mosquito nets.

• Your pharmacist will be able to prescribe you prophylactic medication.

 

Consult your doctor if you experience flu-like symptoms or diarrhea and vomiting after visiting the
region.

​

Fishing in Kosi Bay:

​

Fishing permits:

Marine recreational fishing permits are required and are obtained from the Manguzi Post Office.

Fishing from a boat in lakes 1,2 and 3 is allowed whilst lake 4 is a wilderness area with no unauthorized entry.

No Fishing is permitted in the Northern sanctuary area from 200 meters south of Kosi Bay Mouth to 13 North and a Southern one from Bhanga Nek Point south to Dog Point.

Cast nets are not permitted

Vehicles are not permitted on the beach.

 

Night Fishing

Permits must be obtained from Ezemvelo Parksboard for night fishing.

Guests are allowed to enter at 17h30 for 18h00 and exit at 22h00 or they can fish until 6h00 the next morning but pay campsite equivalent.

​

Spear Fishing

Spear fishing permits are required.

Spear fishing is limited to 400m around Kosi Bay Mouth and from Bhanga Nek to “13 North”

Spearfishing is not permitted within the Kosi Estuary.

​

Bait

No organisms may be caught or removed from the rocky or sandy shores this includes bait.

Sand prawns may be pumped by permit holders in the Kosi Bay lakes.

No live bait may be brought into the reserve.

​

Kosi Bay Gillies

No camp gillie under the age of 18 may be employed. They may not act as tour guides and may not pump sand prawns unless they have a bait license.

​

Launching of Boats on the Lake system:

• In accordance with SAMSA regulations only people with valid sheltered waters skippers’ tickets may launch their SAMSA registered boats on the Lake system. 

• The launch register at the launch site must be completed.

• Launching fees are payable at Ezemvelo Parksboard

• No canoes/kayak or sailing powered crafts are permitted on the Kosi Lakes due to the presence of hippos and crocodiles. (there are limited registered tour guides with concessions that have permission to use Kayaks and Canoes on the Lakes and estuary).

• Jet skis, aqua pods, or hovercraft may not be launched on the Lake system.

• Boats are to please give hippos enough space not to feel threatened.

​

Mthando channel

• This channel links Nhlange (3rd Lake) and Mpungwini (2nd Lake) and is a critical feature of the Kosi Bay Lake system.

• Speeding in this channel is therefore a serious offense. Please travel dead slow!

• It should take at least 20 minutes to pass through this channel.

• Remember to keep to the right-hand side at all times.

​

Lake Sibaya

• No vessels may be launched in Lake Sibaya.

• Kite surfing and driving along the edge of the Lake is strictly prohibited.

​

Safety:

• Please keep your valuable possessions safely in your camp.

• Remove all your equipment from your boat when not in use.

 

Launching of Boats into the sea:

• Kosi bay area is part of the Maputaland Marine protected are.

• In accordance with the Marine Living Resources Act no vessel, including fishing skis, canoes or kayaks may be launched in the Maputaland Marine protected area.

• The closest approved launch site for private vessels is Sodwana Bay.

​

​

Security in Kosi Bay:

• Every effort has been undertaken by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife in liaison with SAPS to ensure you enjoy a safe and secure visit to the reserve. However, you should be aware and take all the normal security precautions you would when visiting any City, Town, or Resort in the Republic of South Africa.

• Be aware of strangers and suspicious behavior and do not offer lifts to strangers.

• Be alert whilst visiting informal taverns.

• Please report all incidents and emergencies. SAPS Manguzi (035(592 0103 (035) 592 2000

​

​

The following shops are available in Manguzi:

Groceries stores:
Spar
Boxer
Cambridge
Shoprite

Chemist/Pharmacy:
Temba Nkosi Pharmacy
Shoprite Chemist

Liquor Stores:
Spar tops
Shoprite
Boxer liquors

​

Fast Food:

Steers

KFC

Hardware shops:
Build it Ephondweni – Manguzi
Cashbuild
Kosi Bafana Bafana Hardware

Courier Service:
Courier Guy Manguzi

Gas:
Kosi bay Gas Afrox Manguzi

Hospital:
Manguzi Provincial State Hospital - (035) 592 0150

Doctor:

Dr. Najen Moodley – Manguzi Medical Centre – (035) 592 0462
Dr Qwabe – (035) 592 0285

​

Mabika Renal Solutions (Pty) Ltd
Dialysis – Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
Thabani Mabika - 083 287 5106

Dentist:
Dr Mbelu – Manguzi Medical Centre – (035) 592 0462

Petrol Stations:
Total
Engen

​

Banks:
First National Bank
ABSA
Capitec Bank
Ithala Bank
Nedbank & Standard Bank ATM’s

​

​

Mozambique Border:

​

• A valid passport and vehicle papers plus 3rd party vehicle insurance is needed. (Visas and 3rd party vehicle Insurance can be purchased at Kosi Bay border post.

• No need for Visas for South African citizens, but certain countries would need to have a valid visa.

• Please make sure about COVID-19 regulations before planning any trip or excursions to Mozambique.

​

​

What vehicle do I need to explore Kosi Bay?

 

There are some Lodges that you can reach with a normal vehicle. 

However, you will need either a 4x4 or 4x2 vehicle with diff lock to explore the beautiful area.

You will need a 4x4 vehicle to go to Black Rock and Rock Tail Bay beaches.

 

Road Conditions 

The gravel main roads are hard surfaced and rough, and must be traveled at a speed that is conducive to your vehicle. 

 

The roads to the beaches and lake areas are sandy.  

It is advisable to lower Tyre pressure to at least 1.4 bar to make it easier to drive in sand.

 

But if you don't have the right vehicle, give me a call to arrange a transfer at an extra cost.

​

​

When to go to Kosi Bay:

​

• Winter temperatures are moderate with beautiful days

• March – June is the best

• October can be windy (the Lakes can become too choppy for boat trips

• Swimming and snorkelling are possible all year round.

• Summer has more rain and temperatures can rise above 30 degrees

• From mid-November to mid-January first female Loggerhead and Leatherback turtles come ashore to lay their eggs. From January to March, you can see Turtle hatchlings.

• Between July and December, Humpback Whales and Southern Right Whales migrate along the coast.

      They travel north to Mozambican waters and then come back again on their way south to
      Antarctica. Of the 2 species, the Humpback Whales are curious and playful as well as Acrobatic.

 

 

What to pack for your Kosi Bay Holiday:

 

• Kosi Bay is a snorkeling paradise, weather and tide dependent.

      Bring masks and fins if you have them, alternatively, book a snorkelling activity as the snorkelling gear can be supplied.

• Diving shoes are also a good idea if you don’t have snorkel and fins, to protect your feet from rough rocks and stone fish.

 

It gets hot in Kosi Bay remember the following:

• Sun hat

• Sun Block

• Old t-shirt or rash vest to snorkel with

• Closed walking shoes with a good grip to prevent you from slipping on slippery rocks.

• Bird guide book if you are a keen bird watcher.

• Binoculars

• Camera (Go Pro) for taking underwater photos of the Marine fish.

​

Basic medical kit:

• Pain tablets

• Imodium

• Antiseptic and antihistamine cream

• Antihistamine tablets if you suffer from allergies

• Insect repellent, citronella candles and mosquito nets​