Your Cart
Your Cart Is Empty
In the far northern corner of Kwa-Zulu Natal lies the Kosi Lake system and her adjacent endless beaches. This world heritage site has remained pristine and remote due to very limited and controlled development and world leading conservation efforts.
Miles of desolate beaches, virgin dune forests, bountiful coral reefs, mangrove swamps and rare Raffia Palm forests set the scene for exploration and adventure. This diverse ecosystem exists in harmony with the local communities who have been in the area, harvesting with their unique utshwayelo (fish traps), for over 700 years. Kosi’s pristine beaches also offer, in season, the opportunity to witness nesting and subsequent hatching of the turtles.
As with our Pondo Trail™, this delicate balance between wild Africa and authentic culture is the perfect canvas for us to create a series of truly memorable moments. Welcome to Kosi Bay, Wild Child Africa style!
Your Cart Is Empty
Quoted Rates Include:
All accommodation and meals. Local beers, ciders, soft drinks, selected wines and G&T. Private Wild Child Africa guide, all activities, professional turtle guide (in season), kayaks, and snorkelling equipment.
Quoted Rates Exclude:
Transfers to and from Kosi Forest Lodge and non-specified drinks.
*3 Day trips also available, rates on request.
Payment terms:
In the far northern corner of Kwa-Zulu Natal lies the Kosi Lake system and her adjacent endless beaches. This world heritage site has remained pristine and remote due to very limited and controlled development and world leading conservation efforts.
Miles of desolate beaches, virgin dune forests, bountiful coral reefs, mangrove swamps and rare Raffia Palm forests set the scene for exploration and adventure. This diverse ecosystem exists in harmony with the local communities who have been in the area, harvesting with their unique utshwayelo (fish traps), for over 700 years. Kosi’s pristine beaches also offer, in season, the opportunity to witness nesting and subsequent hatching of the turtles.
As with our Pondo Trail™, this delicate balance between wild Africa and authentic culture is the perfect canvas for us to create a series of truly memorable moments. Welcome to Kosi Bay, Wild Child Africa style!
Guests are to arrive at Kosi Forest Lodge (5hrs from Durban) by 13h00 for a signature Wild Child welcome and introduction to Maputaland.
After a delicious lunch, we head out to explore the Raffia Palm forests and unique ecosystems surrounding the 4th Lake, while keeping our eyes peeled for the endangered Palm-nut Vulture or Pels Fishing Owl.
Season dependent, our journey then hugs the banks of the beautiful 3rd lake before arriving at Bhanga Nek for an early dinner on the beach and turtle walk; or our afternoon takes us on an adventure through pristine and ancient sand forests where your guide will point out many endemic plants and birds and share insights on the colourful history of this unique area.
After an early brekkie, we pack for the day and head out by boat to explore and enjoy the lakes and the remarkable channels that link them. Our journey continues on foot along the estuary for an enlightening tour of authentic Thonga fish traps and stories of how the local people have harvested from these waters for centuries. Snorkelling at Sanctuary Reef is a bucket list experience, and the palm-lined beaches give the area a real Robinson Crusoe feel. We complete the loop back to the lakes for a secret picnic lunch before heading back to our lodge for a sunset G&T.
This is the day to clear the mind and stretch the legs. We wander the endless and magical Maputaland beaches; catch ghost crabs, snorkel pristine reefs, and enjoy the salt and sun of the warm, tropical waters. Our ground crew will meet us for a late picnic lunch before transferring home for sundowners and dinner under the lodge’s signature Zulu Podberry.
Taking into account the weather and ocean conditions, your guide will plan a day to indulge - this is your opportunity to soak up more of this incredible landscape. You may take a scenic paddle up the Manzinyama river, go birdwatching, enjoy a few rare moments of pure forest silence, fish, snorkel, swim or just relax at a hidden cove. The afternoon will be spent with a G&T in hand, celebrating the Zululand sunset the Wild Child way.
Taking into account the weather and ocean conditions, your guide will plan a day to indulge - this is your opportunity to soak up more of this incredible landscape. You may take a scenic paddle up the Manzinyama river, go birdwatching, enjoy a few rare moments of pure forest silence, fish, snorkel, swim or just relax at a hidden cove. The afternoon will be spent with a G&T in hand, celebrating the Zululand sunset the Wild Child way.
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the lodge before making your way back to civilisation. Exhausted, exhilarated, and with a new appreciation of this exquisite wilderness. Please ensure return flights from King Shaka are booked no earlier than 15h00.
Totally exhilarated, inspired and with hearts full of appreciation of this exquisite wilderness, you can enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the lodge before making your way back to civilisation.
This is your opportunity to soak up this incredible landscape in the manner of your choosing. Indulge in a scenic paddle up the Manzinyama river, birdwatching and enjoying a few rare moments of pure silence. Spend the day fishing, snorkelling, swimming and relaxing at Black Rock or Kosi Mouth, or spend the afternoon enjoying the lodge swimming pool with G&T in hand and celebrate the Zululand sunset the Wild Child way. This evening presents another opportunity for a turtle walk.
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the lodge before making your way back to civilisation. Exhausted, exhilarated, and with a new appreciation of this exquisite wilderness. Please ensure return flights from King Shaka are booked no earlier than 15h00.
You’ll be putting your weary feet up each night at the beautiful Kosi Forest Lodge. The lodge facilities are designed to enhance your experience of the exquisite wilderness and to help you make the most of the natural surroundings throughout your stay. Guests are accommodated in beautiful 2-sleeper en-suite units. The lodge accommodates a maximum of 20 people and is made up of 6 freestanding units (12 pax) and an additional 2 units that have 2 adjoining rooms each (8 pax). Lie back, relax and feel truly at one with the soothing sights, sounds and smells of the surrounding sand forest.
Freshly prepared meals are served in the covered dining area or outdoor dining deck and a well-stocked bar serves all your usual favourites against the backdrop of the forest and lake. A massive Zulu Podberry tree is the focal point of the main lodge, and a refreshing swimming pool overlooks Lake Shengeza.
We have booked all our departures around the best tides to ensure beach walks on hard sand, exploring the mangrove swamps through ebb and flow, picnic lunches, snorkelling the incoming tide, and the perfect drift through the Kosi Lake channels.
If your trip is turtle focused, and you want to give yourself the best possible chance of sightings, the following seasons may be helpful for your planning;
Jan – late March – hatching – witness the tiny hatchlings bundle out of their nests at night to run the gauntlet for the ‘safety’ of the ocean.
Oct – late Jan – laying – experience the big leatherback and loggerheads mamas leaving the water to come ashore, dig their nests and lay their eggs on the same beaches that they were born on many decades before.
Important note –
Summer in Maputaland is HOT and HUMID and the sun can be very vicious! Make sure you prepare for this. Cool, long-sleeve shirts and wide brimmed hats are a good idea to avoid getting sunburned. Pack good quality sunscreen. Have enough water carrying capacity (2 litres) and make sure you drink it! The Kosi Experience offers an action-packed itinerary with long hours in the heat and sun, so self-management of these factors are of utmost importance.
Kosi Bay is classified as a low-risk Malaria zone. The current recommended precautions are bug spray, long sleeves and pants, but you should consult your doctor about anti-malarial medication before visiting.
We will all meet at the Kosi Forest Lodge at 13h00 on the day of your arrival. For those self-driving from Durban, you would need to leave around 06h30. If you are flying into Durban, it would be a good idea to fly in the night before and overnight in Durban. If you are flying in on the morning that the experience starts, you would need to book a very early flight and connecting shuttle so that you have left the airport by 7h30 at the very latest. We recommend Escape Through Africa Travel (0626399009) for this transfer. There is also the option to fly into Richard’s Bay and shuttle from there (Richard’s Bay to Kosi Forest lodge is +- 3hrs drive). Contact Raj Sprinter Transfers (0784037279) or Escape Through Africa (0626399009) for this transfer.
Please remember to book your own return shuttle for after your Kosi Adventure. You will depart the lodge after breakfast between 08h30 and 09h00 on your final morning. This will put you back at King Shaka at around 15h00 and so outbound flights should be booked no earlier than 16h00. Self-drive guests with a 4×4 can drive straight to the lodge. Guests driving a 2×4 vehicle will need to leave your car in Manguzi (26°59’26.4″S 32°44’44.7″E) where there is safe-parking available at a cost of R50pd. For those who have left their cars in Manguzi, a shuttle service is available to transport guests to Kosi Forest Lodge (R300 per shuttle, seats 10pax).
The water at the lodge is safe for showering, brushing teeth etc, but we will provide specific drinking water at the lodge, and for the daily activities.
Please advise the team of any allergies or specific dietary requirements when completing the indemnity form that will be mailed to you, so that we can accommodate accordingly.
Daily walks range between 10 and 15km, however, please note that when looking for the turtles, distances cannot be predicted, and that hike may be longer. The pace is leisurely, and each day presents different challenges and new opportunities.
The key is to travel light and to be as mobile as possible as spontaneity is often the key to a hidden secret. We will always walk as a group and there will be numerous stops along the way to swim, take photos, catch fiddler crabs, search for turtles, spot birds, and lie in the sun or have a lunchtime siesta. River/lake crossings are influenced by tides and may require getting wet or a short swim. The physical and fitness requirements of the activities are not hugely demanding. However, there is no doubt that the fitter you are the more enjoyable it will be. A few nice long walks before-hand will put you on the front foot! The terrain is not at all technical but deep sand can be a bit of a strain on weary legs.
The summer heat is perhaps the most challenging factor and being well prepared for this (sun-cream, hat, water etc) is essential.
We take pride in a mostly forced, yet highly encouraged digital detox. There is very limited cell phone reception during the daily activities but there is reception at the lodge. We will provide you with an emergency number for your loved ones to be able get hold of you while on the trip.
If you have an older pair of trail shoes, we’d recommend packing those! If you are planning on getting new shoes, make sure you do a few good walks to wear them in beforehand. Prevention is always better than cure so please notify your guide if you are feeling any discomfort whatsoever so he can sort it out before it’s a real problem. Pack a roll of Elastoplast. Elastoplast + Zambuk = no blisters!
If you suffer from chafe then pack a pair of tights, they are always handy. Also, always carry a tin of Zambuk. Always the 1st item in our backpack!
4-night Kosi Experience with your own hand-picked group of guests.
Please note that our Kosi Experience is unfortunately sold out for 2026. Please find 2027 availability below.
The great news is that in 2027 our Kosi Experience is available year-round!
An old, wise chief once offered his advice to a young man working tirelessly,” In order to chop your wood better son, you should stop, rest and lola imbazo (sharpen your axe)’. To which he replied, “I don’t have the time Tata”.
Now more than ever before, businesses need to Lola Imbazo. To re-think strategy and identify and implement change. To move away from thinking ‘survival’ and move towards thinking ‘opportunity’.
How better to do this than to strip away the clutter of the urban, digital world and immerse yourselves in an environment where wide open spaces and the luxury of silence can provide clarity.
Allow us to tailor-make a Kosi Experience specifically for your team.
“After having taken two groups on corporate team building events with Wild Child Africa at Kosi Bay, the benefits in relationship building through this shared, unique experience is visible still months later” – Martin Wiest CEO Tourvest Destination Management
4-night Kosi Experience with your own hand-picked group of guests.
Please note that our Kosi Experience is unfortunately sold out for 2026. Please find 2027 availability below.
The great news is that in 2027 our Kosi Experience is available year-round!
Our adventure starts in Port Edward if you choose the ocean safari transfer, or at Mtentu if you would rather travel by road. The day then offers incredible diversity in a mostly forgotten wilderness through the Mkambathi Nature Reserve; grass plains with a large range of antelope, a picnic lunch beneath a crystal-clear waterfall and finishing with sundowners overlooking the Msikaba estuary. Overnight at Msikaba Beach Camp. Distance +- 15km.
Optional – A boat transfer from Port Edward to Mtentu not only misses out a long and bumpy dirt road but allows for a phenomenal ocean safari to view dolphins, whales and the sardine migration in season. Highly recommended!
An early wakeup will coax you out of bed for a sunrise paddle up the Msikaba estuary for coffee and rusks before returning for breakfast at camp. The trail continues South from Msikaba to Luphatana past the site of the famous Grosvenor shipwreck, conveniently situated beside a protected beach, perfect for a lunchbreak and siesta. Champagne Mile and the famous Wild Coast salt-water-shower marks the end of the day’s walk and bring us to the rustic Luphatana Beach Camp where we will rest our heads for the night. Distance +- 18km.
This day is a mighty one! Filled with majestic landmarks and breath-taking viewpoints. Waterfall Bluff, Bessie’s Cave and Cathedral Rock are only a few of the highlights that can be looked forward to. Overnight at Mbotyi River Lodge. Distance +- 19km.
As in every good story, we save the best for last. The short stretch from Mbotyi to Manteku is the epitome of this beautiful coastline; boasting five secluded, Milkwood framed beaches, linked only by secret cattle paths. Manteku’s private beach and estuary offers the perfect end to your life-changing journey. Distance +- 10km.
DAY 5
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast and return home sporting the glorious “Pondo Glow”
As in every good story, we save the best for last. The short stretch from Mbotyi to Manteku is the epitome of this beautiful coastline; boasting five secluded, Milkwood framed beaches, linked only by secret cattle paths. Manteku’s private beach and estuary offers the perfect end to your life-changing journey. Distance +- 10km.
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast and return home sporting the glorious “Pondo Glow”
4-night Pondo Trail with a mixed group of like-minded individuals, couples or families.
4-night Pondo Trail with your own hand-picked group of guests. (20 – 24 pax)
4-night Pondo Trail with your own hand-picked group of guests, premium menu, bar and wines, additional camp comforts and some extra ‘Wild Child Surprises’. (20 – 24 pax)
Unfortunately, our Pondo Trail bookings are sold out for 2026. Please chose a date for your 2027 departure below.
It was seminal, elemental and profoundly healing. We all felt held by you, enough to shed our layers, our grief, our fears and we experience unbridled joy, having returned quite open, raw and changed by it – you have a real gift
Justine Gevisser