{"id":21534,"date":"2024-12-03T08:00:19","date_gmt":"2024-12-03T06:00:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/?p=18889"},"modified":"2024-12-03T15:13:35","modified_gmt":"2024-12-03T13:13:35","slug":"a-walk-on-the-wild-side","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/pretoria\/blog\/2024\/12\/03\/a-walk-on-the-wild-side\/","title":{"rendered":"A walk on the wild side"},"content":{"rendered":"

Coastal forest, grasslands and pristine beaches\u2026Thonga Trails has it all. We experienced the 45 kilometre walk for ourselves, and were blown away by the natural beauty of this unique route.<\/strong><\/h4>\n

To begin the journey, we met at Sodwana Bay and hopped onto a shuttle that took us slowly but surely 100km north, landing us in Bhanga Nek, just a few kilometres shy of the Mozambican border. A short walk brought us to our hidden camp, Little Paradise, nestled in a clearing overlooking Lake Kuhlange, the largest of the Kosi lakes. Here, we were met with canap\u00e9s and bubbly served by Damien, a French chef with the incredible skill of creating culinary masterpieces even in the most remote settings. After a delicious dinner, we headed out for an evening turtle walk, where we were lucky enough to spot a nesting loggerhead \u2013 a truly magical sight and a wonderful start to the adventure.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

EXPLORING THE LAKES <\/strong>
\nThe next morning, we hit the trail with our guide Agrippa, heading along the lake\u2019s edge, weaving through indigenous forest, and eventually making our way upwards to take in panoramic views of the Kosi lakes below. Although the walking was slow \u2013 with plenty of time to learn about flora and fauna along the way \u2013 we\u2019d certainly worked up an appetite by the time we reached a local homestead and the location of our lunch break. Here, we were welcomed with open arms, enjoyed fresh bread, salad and braaied meat, and rested under the trees.<\/p>\n

Our descent down the hill led us to the lake, where we learnt about traditional fish traps and had the chance to snorkel among the mangroves. There, we hopped onto a boat and enjoyed a beautiful cruise back to camp \u2013 spotting hippos and a variety of birdlife along the way. Back at Little Paradise, Damien outdid himself by serving up cold-smoked tuna on baguette with lime, coriander, wasabi and anchovies mayonnaise, followed by a dinner of homemade pasta with fresh langoustines sourced from nearby Mozambique.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

THE TREK TO BLACK ROCK<\/strong>
\nThe next day, we set off early, starting in coastal forest before ascending a steep dune. The effort was well worth it though, as views from the top stretched out over a vast, untouched beach. And then, the beach was all ours. We moved down the pristine coastline, pausing at various spots along the way \u2013 Rabbit Rock, Castle Rock and Dog Point until finally, we reached Black Rock \u2013 a beautiful bay where we got to rest our feet and enjoy a scrumptious lunch. After lunch and a quick scout for the rare Bouton\u2019s snake-eyed skink, a small, elusive lizard, we jumped on the vehicles and headed to our accommodation for the night \u2013 this time, rustic grass huts at Hlabasimhlope Monument and Heritage site. An outdoor shower, followed by a delicious Zulu meal and stories around the fire, were just what we needed before a good night\u2019s rest.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

DISCOVERING LAKE SIBAYA<\/strong>
\nAfter breakfast, we set out into Manzengwenya\u2019s coastal bush, spotting birds, butterflies and even a vine snake along the way. After a few more kilometres of beach walking, we reached Island Rock and were once again met with a feast \u2013 fresh bread, cheese and pickles. Having completed our 45-kilometre walk, we celebrated with a ride to the most beautiful hidden gem \u2013 Lake Sibaya. Here, we enjoyed drinks on the water\u2019s edge, marvelling at its sheer size and beauty and reflecting on the diversity of the landscape we\u2019d covered in just a few days. With tired feet and happy hearts, we headed back to Sodwana Bay for our last night.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

A FINAL TREAT <\/strong>
\nSodwana Bay is known for its marine life, and an optional ocean safari was the ideal opportunity to see the coastline we had spent the past few days exploring from a different angle. Dolphins showed off their synchronised swimming, and snorkelling at 9 Mile Reef was the perfect end to the trip. Back on land, we bid farewell to our new friends, grateful for every view, laugh, and wildlife encounter we\u2019d had along Thonga\u2019s stunning coastline.
\nDetails: www.thongatrails.com<\/a>; 0760 308 065; 074 413 5598; thongatrails@gmail.com;
\nFB: Thonga Trails; IG: @thongatrails<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

GOOD TO KNOW:<\/strong>
\nTrails start at R13 500 per person and include all meals, drinks, guides, turtle walks and
\nocean safari. Although the trail is fairly easy and the pace is slow, a basic level of fitness is required. Thonga Trails is a slack-packing route so you\u2019ll just need to carry a light day pack.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

TEXT: Jennifer Campbell<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Coastal forest, grasslands and pristine beaches\u2026Thonga Trails has it all. We experienced the 45 kilometre walk for ourselves, and were blown away by the natural beauty of this unique route. To begin the journey, we met at Sodwana Bay and hopped onto a shuttle that took us slowly but surely 100km north, landing us in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":113,"featured_media":21535,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[3696,349,1631,8737,6896,8738,5994],"class_list":{"0":"post-21534","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-travel","8":"tag-adventure","9":"tag-chef","10":"tag-hiking","11":"tag-sodwana-bay","12":"tag-stay","13":"tag-thonga-trails","14":"tag-trail"},"yoast_head":"\nA walk on the wild side - Get it Pretoria<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/pretoria\/blog\/2024\/12\/03\/a-walk-on-the-wild-side\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A walk on the wild side - Get it Pretoria\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Coastal forest, grasslands and pristine beaches\u2026Thonga Trails has it all. 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