Rocktail Bay Lodge

(KwaZulu Natal - South Africa)

General Description
Rocktail Bay Lodge is situated in the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park, a World Heritage Site, in KwaZulu-Natal. Located just off shore from Rocktail Bay is the Maputaland Marine Reserve, an additional sanctuary offering extraordinary diving and snorkelling encounters with huge shoals of fish, dolphins and whales.

On land, this lush area has a variety of animals, birds and plant life. Common reedbuck frequent the marshes and grasslands and the red duiker lives in the forest areas, while hippo are found in the freshwater lakes. Birding is outstanding with green twinspot, green malkoha, grey waxbill, purple-crested and Livingstone's turacos, red-capped robin-chat, and the jewel-like African emerald cuckoo, and rosy-throated, longclaw and rufous-bellied heron.

Rocktail Bay is situated just metres from the warm Indian Ocean, yet built out of the wind, within the forest canopy of vegetated dunes that occur along Maputaland's coastline. With nearly 40kms of pristine coastline, Rocktail offers the most private beach experience in South Africa.

Accommodation
Accommodation is in 11 tree-house chalets. Each en suite room has its own private balcony and an additional outdoor shower in the forest. There is also a family suite which accommodates 4 or 5 persons.

Dining
Meals may be served indoors in the thatched dining room or outdoors under a huge Natal mahogany tree. There is also a bar.

Facilities
- Dining room, pub and lounge under thatch
- Plunge pool
- Outdoor eating area
- Laundry service

Activities
- Nearby beach
- Forest walks
- Bird watching
- Snorkelling (equipment available)
- Surf/rock fishing (tackle available)
- Turtle research drives (mid-Oct - mid-March, additional cost per person goes towards the Parks Board)
- Swimming (there as there are no life guards)
- Day trips to Black Rock
- Horse riding (additional cost)
- Day trips to Kosi Bay (additional cost)
- Trips to the local community
- 2½ hours guided trail (beach and forest)
- Scuba diving - (additional cost)
- Hide for bird watching

Child Policy
Rocktail Bay Lodge is perfectly suited for families with child-minding facilities available and a variety of activities suitable for children, from swims, to walks and excursions.

Environmental Policy
Rocktail Bay Lodge is run by Wilderness Safaris, a company at the forefront of eco-tourism, who employ full-time environmentalists to ensure their camps are as eco-friendly as possible. Solar heating and power, limited burning of fossil fuels and the utilisation of battery-operated lighting systems are standard. All camps are small, mostly tented and designed to blend into the natural environment. Their goal is that if a camp has to be moved the site can be restored to its natural state. Their "conservation through tourism" policy shares the benefits of tourism with local communities and ensures the protection of these areas for future generations.