Crafters Lodge offers individual cottages which nestle in the natural bush.
The look and feel of Crafters Lodge is ideally suited to the climate, with cool screed floors embellished with natural, locally made mats, simple furnishing in a colour palette reminiscence of both the sea and bush.
Home comforts include :
- Air-conditioning
- DStv
- Individual braai facilities
- Fenced swimming Pool
- Security
- Parking
- Bath towels
- Laundry service (please enquire)
Beach Access
Beach access is through the main Parks Board Gates, controlled by Isimangaliso Wetland Parks. A fee of per adult is levied to access the beach.
A Golden Rhino Card can be bought which gives unlimited access to all of the KZN Game Reserves and Parks, with a nominal levi charge at the Sodwana Bay beach gate daily.
There is secure parking behind the world’s highest forested dune, and a unique 4 x 4 access onto the inter-tidal zone, such that people wanting privacy can travel for 4 km up the beach (on a daily permit basis)
Things to do
- Scuba Diving
Sodwana Bay diving is unique in the world, with pristine reefs from 8m to 53m which have never been exploited. Abundant corals, well-balanced fish-life and breathtaking natural beauty make Sodwana Bay reefs some of the most spectacular and fascinating in the world.
Diving is on reefs where fishing has never been permitted and the reef population balance is pristine with huge shoals of barracuda, eagle rays and reef fish. In summer the pregnant female ragged tooth sharks lie in the warm waters, fasting while they gestate.
This is a World Class Premier Dive Destination where turtles lay their eggs on the Sodwana dunes and Whale sharks, Hump Back whales and Dolphins frequently form part of the undersea experience.
To book your incredible diving experience or snorkeling adventure, contact Robyn at Pisces Dive Charter 082 651 1870 or visit www.piscesdiving.co.za for more information.
- Snorkelling
- Beaching
Laze on the extensive swimming beaches, or drift into the warm tropical waters to snorkel off Jesser Point and enjoy a beach breakfast at the Beach Café - Quad Biking
- Deep Sea Fishing
Sodwana is host to some of the most prestigious deep sea fishing competitions in the country and there are a number of world-class charter operators based at Sodwana. - Game Parks
Within an 80 km radius of the Lodge are the Tembe Elephant Park Mkuzi Game Reserve and Bird Sanctuary Hluhluwe Game Reserve Phinda Private Game Reserve and Ndumu Game Reserve, a bird watchers paradise. - Craft exploration (market & weaving)
- Dining out
There are a few restaurants in Sodwana Bay Village including the Lighthouse restaurant, The Tree, Twisted Sista and Nguni’s within the main thoroughfare of Sodwana village.
A number of take-out style outlets are also available in the form of waffles, pizza and hotdogs. - Shopping
Local Craft Market: Buy a sarong or handwoven beach- bag from the local market, or take a set of handwoven table mats home as a memento. Buy your fresh hand cut pineapples as you come off the beach.
There is a Beach Shop on the beach, and a SPAR general dealer inside the park. The small town of Mbazwana’ 9km from the Lodge sells everything, from petrol to cheap clothing to groceries.
Rustic Ramble, Sodwana Bay’s rural shopping centre offers a soothing old world experience not to be missed. Combining business services, hand made clothing, local artifacts and art work. - Other Adventures
Try a quad bike trail through the pine plantations, surf fishing or book a kite surfing lesson.
Take a Turtle Tour to watch turtles laying their eggs at night.
View the bay from a microlight aircraft, or try body surfing or boogie boarding.
Visit Sharklife Ocean Centre which aims to educate people about the importance of conserving the ocean and its apex predators.
Climate
Northern Kwa Zulu Natal has a warm tropical climate with summer rains from October to April and dry warm winters from May to September. Temperatures range from 21 degrees to 34 degrees in mid-summer.
Sunscreen is a must here year-round. Northern KZN is listed as a malarial area, and visitors are advised to use insect repellent after dusk.
The Rural People
Northern KZN is underdeveloped and has a large rural population. The rural families living here build their homes and invest their incomes earned in the major towns in family-owned plots. Each plot is generally 50m by 50m, and all the spare family cash goes into construction and upgrading of houses in the area. Half-built houses are the norm in Northern rural KZN. Life here is simple, and many families rely on DSTV for entertainment, and cellular phones for communication. Crime is low, and tourists are welcomed.