Kosi Forest Lodge

Kosi Forest Lodge is situated within iSimangaliso Wetland Park, South Africa’s first World Heritage Site, giving you the opportunity to experience exclusive, close encounters with the untouched African wilderness. The lodge is surrounded by untold biodiversity and beauty that you simply have to see for yourself.

Enter a magical waterworld of lakes, Raphia forests and the home of the only fruit-eating vulture in the world. Feel the soft white sand between your toes and the shade of the peaceful forests, listen to the call of the fish eagle, embrace the warm welcome from our staff and know that you have left the stress of your busy life behind.

There are very few truly unspoilt places left in the world. The area surrounding Kosi Forest Lodge is one of them. Conscious of the privilege we have of being situated within the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, South Africa’s first World Heritage Site, Kosi Forest Lodge has been created in an eco-conscious way, using nature as our guide.

There are so many reasons to escape to Kosi Forest Lodge – the unparalleled beauty and wilderness of the natural surroundings, the chance to completely relax and get away from it all and the time to connect with what’s truly important in life.

Listen out for the abundant birdcalls and perhaps catch a glimpse of the rare palm-nut vulture which is regularly seen in the forest canopy. Our experienced and passionate guides will delight in showing you all that this pristine natural area has to offer.

Isibindi Africa’s group chef Carl leads an innovative culinary team that is the source of much acclaim, not only for their sumptuous cuisine which will delight your palate while nourishing your body, but also for the ethical and sustainable philosophy which underpins how everything is sourced and prepared behind the scenes.

The lodge facilities are designed to enhance your experience of the exquisite wilderness. To help you make the most of the natural surroundings throughout your stay, the common and private facilities at the lodge are focused on getting you to observe and explore nature as you go about your day. We take full advantage of Maputaland’s sultry weather, and most meals are served al fresco under a canopy of magnificent trees.

Kosi Forest Lodge works closely with the Mnyayisa community. Partnering with women from the this community the Isibindi Foundation has established and funded the Vulindlela Vegetable Garden. Zululand Nurseries in Eshowe has partnered with us to create this large scale commercial vegetable garden and all the infrastructure required in a project like this.

The project will supply this community with fresh produce. It will serve as a source of income for this co-op. The lodge will also be buying their produce from the vegetable garden. Monthly litter clean ups in the Kosi Lake system have been undertaken for many years.

ROOMS & SUITES
Our rustic yet comfortable forest rooms on raised wooden platforms are tucked away under the canopy of large natal fig or milkwood trees, and every morning begins with the chorus of a myriad of birds.

Kosi Forest Lodge offers a choice of six Forest rooms and two Family rooms all nestled between the trees of a sand forest with enough distance between each room to make you feel as if you are the only person on earth.

Each room is set on a raised wooden deck with tented sides and a thatch roof. Each room has a small private deck where you can enjoy your morning coffee while listening to the forest come alive.

Although each room has an indoor shower it is the outdoor bathroom that is the highlight for many. The bathroom boma is encircled by reed screens affording you total privacy while you enjoy an outdoor shower or bath gazing up at the forest canopy with stars twinkling beyond.

All rooms have a private deck, safe, ceiling fans, tea and coffee making facilities, en-suite shower, toilet and basin as well as a romantic outdoor bathroom boma with a shower and bath set in soft white sand. The beds are dressed in crisp linen with wide, draping mosquito nets.

Kosi Forest Lodge is an outdoor paradise for children. Families can easily be accommodated in the two Family Rooms. Made of thatch, wood and canvas, the rooms are raised on wooden stilts in the midst of the indigenous forest.

DINING
Sensibly led by our Group Executive Chef Carl Moller, for over a decade, our kitchens are constructed on his signature approach of responsible sourcing and fresh, fresh, fresh. Every meal needs to be a delight and respectful of our guests wanting to feel light and healthy and ready for the next culinary adventure in a few hour’s time.

With his focus on sustainability, Carl’s food philosophy is closely aligned with the Isibindi brand. In our lodges’ remote and ecologically-significant locations, it is vital for social, economic and environmental factors to work symbiotically and interdependently. Carl believes that incorporating these principles into his food and choice of suppliers enhances sustainability from the ground up.

Carl sources many of his ingredients from ethical suppliers – like GMO-free stone-ground flour from the Drakensberg foothills, locally grown chillies, used for the red and green ‘peli-peli – a must with your lunch time roll, and locally sourced eggs, peanuts and madumbies from the community.

Along with his modern fusions and traditional favourites, guests can look forward to a few hyper-local dishes like samp and peanuts, mussels in a traditional peanut sauce, lamb rump with imfino (green tops of pumpkin plants) and olives and roasted carrot risotto, Chakalaka shakshuka breakfast (a zulu fusion dish).

Carl’s approach to food is in line with what he believes to be the future of food – going back to ‘how things were’ before the modern era, with real, unadulterated ingredients and by eliminating damaging food production methods. We pride ourselves in offering fresh, healthy and satisfying cuisine.

THE KWAZULU-NATAL
The KwaZulu-Natal North Coast is one of the most naturally diverse and beautiful places in South Africa. Why not make the most of your trip by visiting some of its attractions along the way? Read more about things to do and see en route to Kosi Forest Lodge.

ST LUCIA
St Lucia is two-and-a-half hours’ drive from King Shaka International Airport and is a worthwhile stopover on the way to Kosi Forest Lodge. You’ll need to drive about half an hour towards the coast, but visiting St Lucia is a wonderful way to experience a taste of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park.

St Lucia boasts the largest free-roaming hippo population in South Africa and, to this day, hippos can still be seen wandering down the streets at night. Taking a boat safari on the St Lucia Estuary is an absolute must where you will see an astonishing number of hippos, birdlife and crocodiles.

HOUSEBOAT SAFARI ON LAKE JOZINI
Experience the first houseboats in South Africa on Lake Jozini – still the only ones of their kind. Onboard Shayamanzi Houseboats, soak up the stunning scenery of the Lebombo Mountains and the magnificent wildlife of the Pongola Game Reserve on the shores of Lake Jozini (also known as Pongolapoort Dam).

Enjoy the calm serenity of the Lake Jozini waters, the thrill of tiger fishing or the adventure of mountain biking in the heart of the Zululand bushveld.

WESTERN SHORES OF THE iSIMANGALISO PARK
If you are travelling from St Lucia to Kosi Forest Lodge, consider driving through the iSimangaliso Park via Dukuduku Gate before rejoining the N2 highway at Charters Creek.

This is a beautiful wilderness area where you’ll have the opportunity to spot a wide array of wildlife. Please note that you will be required to pay park fees at the gate and that trailers are not allowed on this route.

ILALA WEAVERS & FIG TREE CAFE AT HLUHLUWE
Ilala Weavers is a family-owned business and is a great place to stop for a good coffee, light meal and excellent local curios.
Ilala Weavers is the largest wholesaler of handwoven crafts in South Africa.

Baskets are made from indigenous raw materials and wire are their speciality. The area is synonymous with the Zulu women handweaving Zulu baskets, laughing and talking to each other as they go about their craft.

TEMBE ELEPHANT PARK
Tembe Elephant Park is only an hour’s drive from Kosi Forest Lodge. Guests can enjoy a day game viewing in this 30,000ha wilderness. It’s called Tembe Elephant Park for a reason – elephants abound and there’s a good chance of fantastic elephant viewing from the game hides. Please note this is a self-drive activity, as the lodge doesn’t provide tours to Tembe.

ABOUT THE KOSI LAKES
Kosi Forest Lodge has the privilege of being surrounded by the Kosi lake system, a unique ecosystem that is home to a spectacular variety of birds and animals. This tropical paradise boasts crystal clear waters, marshland, lakes, swamp and coastal forests, and all are populated with fascinating creatures great and small.

HIPPOS & CROCODILES
iSimangaliso Wetland Park is home to more than 800 hippos and 1000 Nile crocodiles. Within the Kosi lake system, the hippo is the most dominant mammal, numbering around 60. When you stay at Kosi Forest Lodge, you’re almost guaranteed to see the pod of 18 resident hippos that live in Lake Shengeza.

The lodge’s swimming pool overlooks the lake, so you can while away the afternoon watching the resident pod of hippos safely below. At sunset, the hefty hippos can be seen ambling out of the water onto the shore in search of food.

BIRDLIFE IN THE AREA
The Kosi Bay Nature Reserve is the ultimate birder’s paradise, where you can spot a vast array of grassland, freshwater, sea and forest birds in one trip.

From the back of a high safari vehicle or the low vantage point of a canoe gliding through clear waters, you are able to get up close to some of the most beautiful birds this continent has to offer. Best of all, you don’t even need to leave your room to do so.

There are a number of rare bird species in the Kosi system, many of which are at the most southerly limits of their distribution and are not encountered elsewhere in South Africa. The Raphia forests are home to the palm nut vulture, a red data species and the only fruit-eating vulture in the world.

BUTTERFLIES
Kosi Forest Lodge is home to a wide array of butterfly species that will greet you with their kaleidoscope colours. One particular species of butterfly, a skipper (parnara micans) is regarded as endemic to Kosi Bay, and charaxis protoclea azota is a red data butterfly species that is only found in South Africa at Kosi Bay.

FISH
Kosi Bay supports a great variety of fish and other aquatic fauna due to the different physical characteristics of the lakes. There are eight known red data fish species in the area, most of which have their largest known populations in the Kosi system.

TURTLES
Kosi Bay beaches are the traditional breeding ground for loggerhead and leatherback turtles. Between November and February, the turtles make an annual pilgrimage to lay their eggs and hatch their young on the coastline from Kosi Bay in the north to Sodwana Bay in the south. If you visit Kosi Forest Lodge during this time, you’ll have the opportunity to go on a turtle tracking expedition to witness this miracle of nature.

EXPERIENCES
To truly appreciate the beauty of the unique surrounding ecosystem of waterways, intertwined lakes, grasslands and ancient forests, you need to spend a few days exploring -either by canoe, motorised boat or on foot. With so much to do, your only regret will be not having booked to stay for longer at this otherworldly paradise.

FOREST WALKS
“Otherworldly” describes the feeling of walking the meandering pathways among the forest of giant Raphia palm trees in Kosi Bay. As you wander through scenery befitting the Jurassic age, listen out for the tell-tale calls of the abundant birdlife and perhaps catch a glimpse of the rare Palm-nut Vulture. This is a truly unique experience not to be missed.

The Raphia palm (Raphia australis) also known as the Raffia Palm or Kosi Palm, is the largest palm in the world and one of only six species of palm trees that are indigenous to South Africa. They reach impressive heights of up to 25 meters, with leaves that are some of the largest in the entire plant kingdom.

The fruits of the Raphia palm are found in the highest reaches of the tree and are covered with razor sharp leaves and spines making them difficult to reach and the special domain of the aptly named Palm-nut Vulture, which can regularly be seen in the treetops.

The Raphia palm forests of Kosi Bay are absolutely unique in Southern Africa and as a result, attract the largest population of Palm-nut Vultures in the world.

Guests can enjoy early morning or late afternoon guided walks through the magical forest with our experienced and passionate local guides who will delight in showing you all that this pristine natural area has to offer as well as explaining the many intriguing facts and uses of the Raphia palm tree. The Raphia forest walk activity is included in the room rate.

BIRDWATCHING
Kosi Forest Lodge is a birder’s paradise, with a myriad of ebullient feathered friends welcoming you to the pristine soft sand forest. The rich and diverse birdlife in this region comprises forest, riverine, coastal and grassland varieties and includes more than a few highly sought after species.

Bird watching is not just an activity to be done on forest walks and other organised outings but is something that can be done continuously throughout your stay at the lodge.

Whether sipping sundowners on the exquisite pool deck or strolling by lamplight through the indigenous sand forest to dinner at the fireside boma, you will be acutely aware of the privilege of being surrounded by such an extensive array of birds.

With ever-shrinking natural spaces meaning more and more wildlife under threat, the act of bird watching is a simple pleasure which is becoming increasingly sacred. With over 450 species occurring in the area, Kosi Forest Lodge is one of the best bases for birdwatching in South Africa.

Some of our rare bird highlights include the Pel’s Fishing Owl, Palm-nut Vulture, African Finfoot and Narina Trogon. Our local guides at Kosi Forest Lodge know all the secret hiding places and may help you to tick those elusive species off your list.

CANOEING
Our guided canoe trips are a firm favourite with guests, time and time again. There are few things as peaceful and yet exciting as gliding over mirror-smooth waters with only the sound of your paddle splashes adding to the symphony of melodious bird calls reverberating through the trees. A canoe trip is an opportunity to savour being truly connected with the natural beauty of the wetlands around you.

Our morning canoe trip is a great way to start the day and begins with a short walk to the lake on a hippo path through the forest, teeming with early morning activity. There are 2 seater and 3 seater canoes available and no previous experience is necessary.

If you choose to go in the same canoe with your guide, you can simply sit back, relax and fully appreciate the magnitude of the surrounding beauty while the guide provides insight and intriguing information relating to all you see and hear.

The labyrinth of channels connecting the lakes are lined with huge overhanging trees including massive Raphia palms and it is here where you stand a good chance of seeing a Palm-Nut Vulture or a Pel’s Fishing Owl or maybe even an African Finfoot darting between the reeds.

You’ll hear the rustle of the coastal breeze through the giant palms, the hum of bees pollinating the blooming water lilies, and the chittering of the local Samango Monkeys as they hop effortlessly from branch to branch.

A canoe trip along the meandering waterways of the Kosi lake system is almost a ‘rite of passage’ for guests at Kosi Forest Lodge and something not to be missed.

BOAT TRIPS
Let’s face it… exploring by boat is awesome and there is no better way to explore the magnificent interconnected lake system of Kosi Bay than on our expertly guided day trip.

Features include interesting aquatic wildlife, a rich diversity of birds, local Tsonga culture and scenery so pristine and unique that it forms part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There is so much to see and soak in that you may well wish the trip was longer.

The Kosi Lake ecosystem is unlike anything in the world and consists of multiple lakes connected by narrow channels which gradually transition from freshwater to estuary to seawater as they approach the ocean at the picturesque Kosi Mouth.

Highlights of the full-day outing include spotting aquatic life in the crystal-clear warm water, hippos, crocodiles, flamingos and a host of other aquatic species. You may also get the chance to enjoy a picnic lunch on the banks of Third Lake and then walk over the dune to the beach at Bhanga Nek.

You will also have the opportunity to get a close look at the iconic Kosi fish traps and learn about this ancient and fascinating Tsonga tradition. Interesting facts about the Kosi lake system:

• The Kosi lake system is part of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• It is regarded as the best-preserved large estuary system on South Africa’s Indian Ocean coastline.
• Kosi Bay is the original and natural home of the Tsonga people and their fish traps.
• The area is one of very few places on earth to have five different species of mangroves.
• The lakes are home to about 800 hippos and 1000 Nile crocodiles.
• The four independent lakes are: Makhawulani, Mpungwini, Kunhlange and Amanzamnyama, linked by channels which drain via the sandy estuary into the Indian Ocean.

KOSI MOUTH DAY TRIP
Kosi Mouth is a true hidden gem where snorkeling in the estuary has been likened to being immersed in an aquarium with literally hundreds of brightly coloured fish, eels and crabs moving busily about amongst the delicate coral. It is an experience not easily forgotten.

Kosi Mouth is the furthest north point on the KwaZulu-Natal coastline, just south of the Mozambique border and is one of the most idyllic and spectacularly scenic coastal locations imaginable.

Here the Kosi lake system finally meets the ocean and the tidal flows in and out of the mouth have created one of the most vibrant and exquisitely colourful underwater worlds on the whole South African coastline.

This full day outing takes you by 4×4 from the lodge to Kosi Mouth where you will spend the day snorkeling in crystal-clear warm water and soaking up the sun on the beach or next to the estuary. A delicious picnic lunch is provided to be enjoyed in the shade of the palm trees.

Snorkeling equipment is available from the lodge and included in the cost of this optional extra excursion. On the drive to and from the mouth you will enjoy views over the expansive Kosi lakes featuring the famous fish traps of the local Tsonga people.

FISHING
The Kosi Bay Nature Reserve is a firm fishing favourite, with lake fishing, sea fishing, fly fishing and dropshot fishing available. “Tag and release” fishing is encouraged to help preserve this pristine wilderness region. Strict rules and regulations apply, so please let us know before your stay should you be particularly interested in fishing.

TURTLE TRACKING
Turtle tracking is an adventurous night-time activity that offers the possibility of witnessing a truly miraculous event as female turtles exit the ocean in search of suitable nesting sites to lay their precious eggs thereby ensuring the ongoing survival of their species.

Only on offer in season from 15 November to 15 January, our guests have the privilege of seeing mother turtles as they return to the beach to lay their eggs – often the same beach where they began life as a hatchling.

This is an exciting nocturnal expedition that involves a 4×4 drive to the beach where the evening walk commences, climbing over the sand dunes and combing the beach – all in the hopes of discovering a female turtle heaving herself out of the water and up the beach above the tidal zone to find her ideal nesting site.

She then digs a hole with her flippers and enters into a hormone-induced trance while she lays her eggs before covering them over and lolloping back to the ocean. This activity is not suitable for children under the age of eight years.

HONEYMOONS
Relax in secluded forest rooms, take an outdoor bath under the forest canopy, laze at the pool with a cool drink in hand while hippos frolic in the lake, float along the unspoilt channels of the Kosi Lakes or explore the waterways by boat.

Kosi Forest Lodge is an idyllic honeymoon destination, offering the bridal couple a romantic haven of calm after a busy wedding.
 Our Forest Rooms are completely private and allow couples to enjoy the serenity of the surrounding sand forest undisturbed.

During your stay, we’ll go to every effort to ensure that the memories you create on your honeymoon will last a lifetime. Our complimentary honeymoon treats include a bottle of sparkling wine, a private dinner and a romantic turndown on the night of your arrival as a newly-married couple.

You can also choose one of our ‘Safari to Sea’ honeymoon packages, combining your forest and lake escape with an exciting African adventure in the country’s oldest game reserve.

Website: www.kosiforestlodge.co.za

Rooms: 6

Price: from 313 EUR per night