User:(WT-en) Mseni

Name of Park is in Region of Country.

History
The name Sodwana is derived from two Zulu words - "siso dwana", which means "Us alone". The legend goes that some zulu women were harvesting mussels off the rocks at what is now called Jesser Point and were approached by white people who wanted to know who they were and what they were doing. Confused about what had been asked, they answered "Siso dwana". Centuries ago the Nguni tribes migrated southward along the Mozambican coastal plains to the eastern shores of Lake St. Lucia. During their migration they made use of the marine resources along the coast by harvesting oysters and mussels from the sea. Evidence of this occurs in the form of shell middens which occur sporadically along the coastal dunes. In 1822 the Royal Navy sent the ships Leven, Barracouta, and Cockburn to survey the coastline. The captain of the Barracouta was Lieutenant A.Vidal, after whom Cape Vidal was named, and Leven Point was named after the sloop HMS Leven. Various points along the coastine of Sodwana, namely Jesser, Liefeldt’s, Gobey & Hully were named after officers on the ships who died of Malaria. Because of Sodwana's inaccessibility, the area was relatively unexploited by Europeans for a number of years and prior to 1945, virtually unknown. In December 1950, the Natal Parks Board proclaimed Sodwana Bay as a Nature Reserve. The only buildings at the time were a thatched hut and a toilet. The first visitor facilities at Sodwana Bay were established in the early 1960's by Natal Parks Board (now known as Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife).

The Story is told of Joanna de Mendoca, a young and beautiful widow of a Portuaguese Nobleman, who was returning to Portugal with her two year old child, to join a convent. The ship, Sao Thome, got into trouble and the Captain decided to abandon ship. People were lowered into the one lifeboat that was available and Joanna was lowered while her maid held the baby. The maid refused to lower the baby, unless she, too, could join those on the lifeboatwhich was full. The maid spitefully threw the baby into the sea. The lifeboat drifted northwards. but eventually drifted back to the Sao Thome, which was amazingly still afloat. It was later discovered that there had been enough rope and casks on board to make life rafts,and many more people could have been saved if people had panicked less.. The lifeboat finally beached just south of Sodwana Bay. There are many more stories like this one, but no wrecks have been found.

Landscape
The area is home of some of the highest sand dunes in the world.

Flora and fauna
Sodwana Bay is is the most popular dive spot on the Maputaland coast, and probably in all of South Africa. The offshore reefs are sensational and teem with whale sharks, dolphins, black marlins and colourful blizzards of reef fish, attracting both beginners and experienced divers. The country's only tropical diving site is blessed with golden beaches, protected bays, warm sea and good surf, making it one of KZN's best coastal destinations. Fishing, boat cruises and bird-watching are popular activities, while in summer the endangered loggerhead and leatherback turtles become the main attraction when nesting along the unspoilt beaches. The hiking in the area is fantastic. There's a self-guided hiking trail to Lake Mgobo-zeleni but most hikers take off along the utterly wild, beautiful beaches

Climate
Temperatures are moderate all year round, with some colder days only in June to August. The hottest months are December to February.

Fees/Permits
EKZNW manages the area on behalf of isiMangaliso Wetland Park Authority. There is a Day Visitor Fee at the main entry gate into the Park.

See

 * Log cabins nestled away in lush dune forest. Restaurant & Bar overlook the Indian Ocean.

One of the top scuba diving destinations with great soft coral and species diversity in waters ranging seasonally from 21 - 28 degrees celsius. Great surf launching experience. Good billfishing and pelagics mainly in the summer months (November - May). Large habitat biodiversity makes for good birding with Pels fishing owls,Pink throated longclaw, Narina Trogon on the birding list.

Lodging
Very comfortable fully serviced log cabins either on a bed and breakfast or self catering basis with a swimming pool, bar and restaurant overlooking the ocean on site