First ever green turtle sighting at iSimangaliso

Guests and staff at Thonga Beach Lodge were thrilled to be among those who experienced the first ever Green Turtle nesting up on the beaches of KZN’s iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Africa’s only Marine & Terrestrial World Heritage Site.

Although 5 different types of sea turtles are found offshore along KZN’s coastline, it is only the Leatherback and the Loggerhead species that nest here between October and February, so the Green Turtle was a huge surprise. Their nearest nesting site is Eurpoa island about 700km away but they are not uncommon off shore at KZN – but they’ve never been observed nesting here.

If global warming accelerates as predicted we can probably expect more of these sightings. It’s a good thing there is such a long stretch of protected coastline for all visiting turtles to safely nest on!

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Stay at Thonga Beach Lodge

On the pristine Maputaland coast, Thonga Beach Lodge lies in the heart of iSimangaliso World Heritage Park, a magical place with unspoilt beaches, coastal forests and shimmering lakes. Thonga captures the essence of a charming rustic Robinson Crusoe hideaway with individual air-conditioned chalets tucked away in the coastal dune forest, raised on wooden stilts to ensure minimal impact with maximum comfort.