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Speak to one of our experts now about this offer
Call our Africa experts on0800 294 9706
Available until 5pm
Thonga is located hours from civilisation but the journey is totally worth it.
Stranded on a solitary beach with no one else in sight; flanked on one side by the tumbling Indian Ocean and on the other, rambling dunes and milkwood trees. While other lodges in the vicinity have a trek to get to the water, Thonga is the only hotel located right on the beach. All it takes is a short plod until your toes touch the sand.
The architecture is cleverly designed, camouflaged in the canopy under thatched boma huts linked by wooden walkways. Interiors are elegantly eco; dashes of duck-egg blue, woven chairs and bamboo-fashioned lanterns and nothing too outlandishly kitsch. In the communal areas, everything feels seamless and easy going whether you’re sinking into a beanbag with an espresso martini by the firepit, slipping into the swimming pool or rambling down the beach for a picnic where you probably won’t see another soul.
Why we love Thonga Beach Lodge
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iSimangaliso Wetland Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
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The coastal forests are home to an abundance of flora and fauna and worth a guided walk through
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Honeymooners shouldn’t miss a couple’s massage cocooned under the trees, branched off from the fully fledged spa
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During the turtle season (November to February), there's a chance to see turtles laying eggs on the beach
Our Expert Tips
Activities at Thonga Beach Lodge
At Thonga, there's a range of activities according to each season. July to October is for spotting southern right whales and humpbacks whilst November to March is turtle nesting season for big leatherbacks. April to June the weather is perfect for open ocean-guided adventures and there is a marine centre for diving, snorkelling and kayaking adventures.
Conservation at The Isibindi Foundation
Through the Isibindi Foundation, the moment you step foot in one of the Isibindi lodges, you’re involved in community-based projects first hand. Projects that are funded by the lodges include education programs at local schools and creches, anti-poaching units and beach cleaning in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park.
Facilities
The food is a highlight at Thonga. Think steaming mussels followed by melt-in-your-mouth lamb shank and the silkiest panna cotta for pudding.
The treatments at the spa have been inspired by the ocean. Expect salt glow exfoliations and Soul of the Sea aromatherapy massages.
Go kayaking on Lake Sibaya or join a coastal forest walk - home to 440 bird species, Tonga red squirrels and dwarf chameleons.
Guests are given a reusable water bottle on arrival, all seafood is ethically harvested and solar panels provide the energy. The have appointed a Marine Monitor who collects and researches plastic that washes up on the beach which assists the work done for turtle conservation.
As well as two swimming pools and the beach location, there are plenty of activities for children. They can go on a forest walk, learn about turtles or go in search of scorpions and spiders with infrared torches on a night walk. Over 10s can also try a scuba diving lesson in the pool. The Family Rooms have two bedrooms and with views of the forest or ocean.
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Talk to an expert today
Your dream holiday is just a phone call away
Call us on 0800 294 9706
Monday: 11am - 4pm
Tuesday: 10am - 5pm
Wednesday: 10am - 5pm
Thursday: 10am - 5pm
Friday: 10am - 5pm
Saturday: 10am - 2pm
Sunday: Closed