Activities on a Budget
Even on a budget, any visitor can still enjoy the small things that make Kosi Bay and the town of eManguzi (KwaNgwanase) and its people so unique! Take a walk along the main road and taste the local "Paya" vetkoek with a potato filling, and for the brave add some hot chilli sauce "peri-peri" to the mix! It's tasty and filling and cost just R1 each. Be adventurous and ask for a "Paya" (Pronounced 'Pie –ya').
The streets are lined with local's selling anything from seedlings, banana's, snacks, various vegetables including the Madumbi and Cassava (Dombolo) root vegetable and fresh fish from the lakes to toys, dishes, plastic bins, jewellery, hats, clothing, bright wrap around/sarongs and variety of arts and wooden crafts. Depending on the season you can find an abundance of Mango's, Avocado's, Coconuts and Bananas.
Fishing
Bring your boat, fishing gear and your sense of fun! From the lakes to the mouth and all along the beaches, Kosi Bay offers a wide variety of fishing fun for everyone. Whether it is drop shots, long lines, shore fishing, from the boat, fishing early mornings or all night long... this is a fisherman's paradise. Here you will find Kingfish, Pike, Rock Salmon, Grunters & Breams.
The reserve is extremely popular among the angling fraternity. Shore angling in the Lake System is only permitted from within the reserve campsite. Off shore (boat) angling is permitted in 3rd Lake (Nhlange), 2nd Lake (Mpungwini) and 1st Lake (Makhawulani). Access is denied to 4th Lake (Amanzamnyama).
Fly fishing is becoming more popular among anglers and “tag and release” is encouraged with all anglers.
Snorkelling
The reserve offers a unique snorkelling experience within a reef, situated inside the mouth of the Kosi system. Vehicle access is only possible with a 4x4 and only with a permit which may be obtained from the reception office. A sedan or 4x2 can be driven to the access gate and from there you can walk (in the company of a guide/gillie) to the mouth which is a distance of about 2 km to the beach. This walk from the access gate is down a very steep dune and is not recommended for the very young and elderly.
Turtle Tours
Turtle tours are offered from November to January. Please book with the registered concession holders. Enquiries can be made at Kosi Bay reception office. It is an offence to disturb the turtles or any scientific equipment that you may come across on the beach
Visit Kosi Estuary, Bhanga Nek, Black Rock, Rocktail bay or Lala Nek
No person is allowed to visit Kosi Estuary, Bhanga Nek, Black Rock, Rocktail Bay or Lala Nek without a valid permit.
Permits to visit Kosi Mouth, Bhanga Nek and Black Rock, available from the reception office, are issued on a first come first served basis. A limited number of permits are issued daily. Only 4x4 vehicles have access.
Visit Ponta do Ouro
Ponta do Ouro is a town in the extreme south of Mozambique, lying on the Mozambique Channel, south of Maputo and just north of the border with South Africa. The name is Portuguese for "tip of gold", referring to a cape at the southern part of the beach. The best access to Ponta do Ouro is through the Kosi Bay border post. Travelling from Palm Tree Lodge to Ponta takes about 1 hour including the time at the border post and some of the roads is made up of soft sand tracks, therefore a 4x4 vehicle is essential to explore the surrounding area.
Wildlife Safari
Pack your lunch and Jump in the 4x4 and head out to Tembe Elephant Park near Kosi Bay for an amazing day, filled with the unexpected! No visit to the Elephant Park is ever the same, the lions are out and about, lying in the road the one day, bringing down an Impala the next and hiding somewhere in the park unseen on another occasion. While the elephants can gather in large groups, protecting the younger ones or roam around on their own, they are either out by the marshlands, drinking by the watering holes and hides, or surprising you around the next bend in the road.