Day 3 – Kosi Bay Nature Tour

Amangwane at Kosi Bay is one of my favourite places, so imagine my joy when we were to go to Kosi Bay for three nights looking for more birds to tick off of Jason and Adams substantial birdlist!

Part of the beauty of Kosi Bay is that it is not too far from Kosi Bay accommodation rustic reed chalets

Home sweet home
Kosi Bay Viewpoint birding
The boys relax and chat at the viewpoint
Here you go Jason, the moths you wanted a picture of

The viewpoint is spectacular, with beautiful sunsets and even more magnificent sunrises. And we arrive there – after an interpretive walk with Tommy informing us about the different plants and trees and identifying the countless tracks in the sand that we point out to him – to the beginnings of an African sunset.

Kosi Bay sunset
Only the sunset stopped their birding

If you have not yet seen one, it is impossible to describe the colours as the sun rays play on the clouds, even long after the sun has hidden behind the mountains and hills.

jason and adam hunt for birds at Kosi Bay
Our intrepid explorers go off in search of more birds
Kosi Bay viewpoint interpretive walk
Tommy identifies the tracks in the sand.
Kosi bay viewpoint birding
The boys try and identify the birds sitting on the fishtraps

 

Another perfect day to relax at Kosi Bay

The sun is shining, the fish are biting, the beer is cold and the kids are busy making sandcastles. Nothing else left to do except watch the sun go down – a good day!

Kosi Bay accommodation

Kosi Bay in the News

Amangwane is the place to stay if you are visiting the Kosi Bay area. This laid-back paradise is set in the most eastern part of SA, on the Mozambique border. A long-standing partnership between Elmon Mkhonto and Anton Roberts, Amangwane (Zulu for octopus) has grown from 10 dome tents with one communal bucket shower and toilet to a comfortable lodge with 10 reed chalets and a lapa area where guests relax around the campfire. This is rustic, folks, with generator, gas and limited electricity (you can charge your goodies at night) and no TV. Rooms are basic with two single beds in each chalet. For families, there are bunk beds for the kids. Each unit has an en-suite toilet and shower. But it’s not the facilities that make Amangwane cosy; it’s the atmosphere. As we swept up the sandy drive past the chalets to the kitchen/common area, I envisaged doing as little as possible for as long as possible, preferably in a comfortable hammock. However, it didn’t turn out that way. Amangwane is in the dunes, about 3.5km from the beach – and what a beach! Pristine, unspoilt – there are many adjectives and superlatives to describe Kosi Bay and its hinterland – but you need to experience it to truly “get” it. That short distance to the beach is accessible only by 4x4 and takes a little longer than you might think through soft, deep sand. If you are a passenger, this allows you time to take in the stunning surroundings. A visit to the fish traps with Elmon is a great way to learn about this old fishing technique passed down over generations. The traps are set in tidal lakes in the clear water that Kosi is renowned for. This clarity also makes snorkelling – drifting on the tide over the array of fish and Moray eels which inhabit the protected reef within Kosi mouth – a treat. The fishing is something too, off unspoilt beaches that arch into the distance.This is a great time to witness something rare and special. You cross the lake in the early evening by boat and take a walking tour with trained guides in search of loggerhead and leatherback turtles on their annual nesting migration. Tembe elephant reserve is a short distance away and there are plenty of other attractions not far off, including iSimangaliso Wetland Park and Jozini Dam. If you like to do your own thing, Amangwane offers self-catering at R350 per person sharing per night for adults. For a catered stay – traditional South African fare with Thonga flair, as well as trips to Kosi – it is R795 per person sharing per night. Those aged four to 11 are half-price and under four stay free. Allow about five hours’ drive from Durban. Be warned – you might not want to return.

Busy time!

We are jam packed at Amangwane Kosi Bay at the moment with everyone wanting to make the most of the sunshine on the beach at Kosi Mouth.

The braii has been going, there have been many sundowners and the turtles have been coming to shore to nest – there have been some fantastic turtle tours so far!

Why not join in the fun and end the school holidays on a high with a stay at Amangwane in January 2012! There is no TV, so bring your favourite games and books for real family time in the evenings after a day at the beach 🙂

*splash*

 

Kosi Bay accommodation December availability

We are getting a lot of enquiries now for accommodation in December. This is our busiest time of the year, and books up fast. We do have some availability in December – still space before Christmas, but we are full after Christmas and over New Year.

South Africans with children – we still have availability in January before the school holidays end. Sunshine is almost guaranteed! Bring your bucket and spade and enjoy the beach!

No price increase

We are delighted to announce that we will not be increasing our rates for 2012.

Times are still tough out there, we know – so we’ll do our bit to help!

Catered DB&B still R550 pp! Self catering R350 pp.

For all you city-bound saffers : Why not grab a cheap flight to Durban, hire a car and head to beautiful Kosi Bay for a few days? We know you deserve some relaxation time on the beach.

December and January

We had a very full camp over Christmas and the New Year. Many thanks to all of you who chose to spend your holidays with us. We had a great time with lots of laughs – hope to see you at Amangwane Camp again in the future.

Things have quietened down a little now, but there is still lots of fun to be had in beautiful Kosi Bay! The turtles are still here and it’s now the best time for fishing – especially if you are after the Kingfish (GT’s) – so give us a call if you are keen.

White faced owl released into wild

With its wings wide stretched and a rat in its claws it flew to freedom.

The owl which we have been taking care of for the last 2 months was finally ready to be released into the wild again. We had been teaching him to catch rodents over the last few weeks, and he was doing well.

He flew to a close-by tree giving us some photo opportunities, and then got lost in the bush. We all are hoping to see him again.

Rescued Owl

 We have adopted this juvenile White-faced Scops Owl, which was found away from its nest. It is being kept at our sister accommodation in Hluhluwe (Umkhumbi Lodge www.thewetlandpark.co.za) in a little owl house until it is ready to be released into the wild. According to Philip Coetzee (a South African bird guide and our identification expert!): They are amazing little birds and enjoy a diet of insects and small rodents and lizards. This one looks like it is almost ready to leave the nest.

New photos

Fireplace and dining area

 

We spent the weekend at Amangwane taking photos – we’ve needed to get more shots of the camp for a while now. Click on the accommodation page for more images of the chalets.