Thonga Beach Lodge

Charming straw cottages, comfortable beds, very good food! Friendly and helpful staff, and we loved having all meals outdoors! Monkeys visiting for breakfast and turtelwatching after dinner in moonlight! We enjoyed every minute of our stay, and might be coming back some day!

I give this 5 stars solely because it has the most beautiful untouched beach I’ve ever seen in my life. Absolutely beautiful view and a wondrous experience. My wife and I stayed here for 3 nights. To get here, it was a ~3 hour ride from Durban airport followed by a 1hr ride on a 4WD on some of the bumpiest roads I’ve ridden on. The trip here was pretty arduous and I got quite car sick for the last part. ROOMS: The rooms were alright and pleasant. It was big and spacious but not fancy. I presume it’s hard to get building materials and equipment up here. MEALS: TBH, I disliked their lunches very much. It was always cold and unappetising. They served it in a “high tea” sort of way which didn’t do it for me. Breakfast and dinner was great however. ACTIVITIES: We did the ocean experience which was definitely exciting and new. We managed to see two whales. But it was SUPER BUMPY so be warned! We also did the evening sunset trip down to the lake which was very pleasant and enjoyable.

First rate service all round. We’re vegans, not the easiest to cater for. The team at Thonga Beach went out of their way not only to meet our dietary needs but to make our meals inventive and full of flavour. From the barista remembering our coffee order to the friendliness of the staff, the knowledge and enthusiasm of the guides, the skill of the chefs and the therapists, we were made to feel special from start to finish. By the way, the owners and management are fully committed to the local environment. It was a pleasure to spend time with you all. Ashley & Katharine, UK

Everything about our experience was amazing. The people, the service, the activities, food and remote, beautiful setting. The accommodations are highest quality and beautifully designed. Loved the outdoor shower with view of the ocean!

SPECTACULAR! This unique destination is more than worth the drive to get there. Daily activity offerings include an “ocean experience”. During our stay, ocean experiences provided opportunities to swim with bottlenose dolphins, see a huge group of spinner dolphins up close, and even glimpse the huge and wondrous leatherback turtles. Other daily activities include snorkeling and SCUBA diving, with amazing sightings every single day of our 5-night stay. The hotel is the only lodging for miles and miles in a protected area, and sleeps a max of 25 guests, so the privacy is unparalleled. The rooms are gorgeous with modern, lovely bathrooms, some with plunge pools in addition to the pools on site. Twice-daily housekeeping is such a treat. The food is simply out of this world, and is included in the cost. Finally, the very best part of the lodge is the extremely professional, helpful, knowledgeable, and delightful staff. Mostly coming from the nearby village (a highlight of my trip was a cultural tour of this village with a community member), they bend over backwards to accommodate requests and make each experience the best it can be. Oh, I forgot the spa! Best deep tissue massage I’ve had in years, and they offer a variety of services, with no reservations necessary in advance of your stay. Finally, the conservation and community work done by this lodge and its associated Isibindi Foundation are impressive and are making a profound impact on the local community as well as the broader ecosystem. I could go on and on. I loved my stay here and hope to take my whole family someday.

A friend and I recently spent a week at the Thonga Beach Lodge. What an amazing holiday we had. The setting of the lodge is magical - remotely situated on a clean beach stretching for km's, with crystal clear warm water. Honestly, there was nothing that we could fault. We were treated like royalty by every staff member, which added to the magnificence of the place. To top it all, the food was out of this world. We loved all the activities that we participated in, with the guided snorkeling being our absolute favorite. Our guide went the extra mile to make this experience special. I highly recommend this lodge and would love to return there in the future.