A Journey of Three Worlds
To explore the Zululand Wilderness Triangle is to discover three distinct worlds:
Wilderness
in the stillness of the ancient trees of the rare Sand Forests on the banks of the Lake St. Lucia Estuary.
Wildlife
across the Big Five heartlands of Makhasa and Phinda, private game reserves where nature reigns freely.
Heritage
in the living culture and traditions of the Zulu people and the surrounding local community.
Each experience, whether a sunrise ferry across Lake St. Lucia, a guided forest meditation, or a fireside story beneath the African skies, reveals the region’s ancient rhythm and the interconnectedness of its landscapes and people.
Signature Encounters
Your experience includes a selection of curated encounters with our partners at Untravelled Trails and Makhasa, each designed to draw you deeper into the forest, the wild, and the culture of Zululand. During your stay, choose two signature activities that align with your rhythm, whether exploring on guided trails, discovering community traditions, or unwinding with a rejuvenating treatment at Malkoha Spa.
At Malkoha Lake St. Lucia
- Sunrise Canoe Safaris and Boat Safaris.
- Birding and butterfly walks with silent forest meditations.
- Barefoot “Connect with Nature” walks ending in a sundowner.
- Guided foraging walks.
- Fossil and cultural trails with Untravelled Trails.
- Forest and Community guided e-bike tours.
- Star walks with cocoa and storytelling under the night sky.
- 30- or 45-minute spa treatments.
Makhasa Private Game Lodge
Guided Big Five game drives within the &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve.
Untravelled Trails
Slack packing wilderness trails on the eastern shores of iSimangaliso.
A LEGENDARY JOURNEY OF NATURE, SOUL & STORY
It is the million small things, that make this a journey you’ll never forget, one that begins long before your bags are packed. Share your wishes with us ahead of time and we will carefully shape a stay that feels entirely your own.
BEFORE ARRIVAL YOU WILL RECEIVE A PERSONALISED DIGITAL PRE-ARRIVAL PACK:
- A form on which to specify your food, wine and activity preferences
- A curated playlist titled Sounds of Sand & Sky
- A hand-drawn dream map of the Lake St. Lucia estuary
- A warm voice note greeting: “Wamukelekile ekhaya”, Welcome home.
We invite you to explore each chapter of your journey: Makhasa, Untravelled Trails, and Malkoha Lake St Lucia and discover how every destination reveals a different facet of the Zululand Wilderness Triangle.
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MALKOHA LAKE ST. LUCIA
SOUL OF THE SAND FOREST
Reopening 1 November 2025, Malkoha Lake St. Lucia (formerly Nibela Lake Lodge) ushers in a new era of soulful travel within one of Earth’s most diverse estuarine systems. The lodge lies among the rare Sand Forest, an ecosystem formed millions of years ago from ancient coastal dunes. Every element within the lodge is intentional, from African High Tea beneath the trees, to stories shared around the reimagined lakeside boma, to intimate cultural encounters that reflect the essence of Zululand.
YOUR ARRIVAL
Arrive by private ferry across Lake St Lucia, Africa’s largest estuarine lake, as vast water vistas unfold before you. Upon reaching Malkoha's jetty, guests are welcomed with rituals that honour the land and its people. Handmade keepsakes share the stories of their local creators, while intention stones invite a quiet moment to pause, breathe and begin anew. Make your way to the deck, where the host welcomes each guest with the Zulu proverb “Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu”, I am because we are. Here, you can enjoy a refreshing coldpressed juice as your activity options are introduced.
STARTING YOUR DAY
Begin each day with freshly brewed coffee, chai, or rusks, followed by bush breakfasts, lake brunches, or tea and warm baked treats on the deck. Mornings unfold with a guided activity hosted by Untravelled Trails, offering space to reconnect with nature’s rhythm and the stillness of the forest.
LAKESIDE BOMA FEASTS
Evenings open with the call of the kudu horn and a hand-washing ritual using a bowl and calabash, a sacred act of cleansing before the meal. Dinner celebrates local, seasonal ingredients and on alternate nights, the boma comes alive with Zulu song, rhythm and storytelling beneath the stars.
TURNDOWN & FAREWELL
Each night ends with a thoughtful turndown and a Zulu proverb such as: “Izinyoni ziyaqonda lapho zizalelwa khona”, Birds always return to where they were born. Departure is marked by a farewell bracelet tied with a whispered blessing: “Return always.” Guests may also plant a tree or receive the GPS coordinates of one planted in their honour, leaving a lasting connection with the land.
INCLUSIONS
- Pre-arrival welcome pack
- Ferry transfers to and from the lodge
- Signature welcome rituals
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner including an African High Tea and a Boma dinner feast
- One curated morning and one curated evening activity of your choice daily, of which one can be a Spa treatment
OPTIONAL EXTRAS
Land transfer to and from Makhasa and Untraveled trails, bespoke spa treatments, bespoke excursions, Big Five safaris at Makasa Private Game Lodge, drinks, curio purchases and gratuities.
UNTRAVELLED TRAILS
WALK SOFTLY THROUGH A LAND UNTOUCHED BY TIME
On the eastern shores of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park lies Untravelled Trails, a specialist eco-tourism partner and concessionaire dedicated to immersive, low-impact exploration and environmental education. Untravelled Trails offers a rare opportunity to experience Zululand as it once was, before roads, fences, or crowds, an elemental encounter that restores both body and mind while directly supporting conservation and local livelihoods.
SLACK-PACKING EXPEDITIONS
Their philosophy is simple: You walk, we carry. Guests set off carrying only a small backpack of personal items and a sleeping bag, journeying lightly across the pristine Tewate Wilderness Area. Along the way, armed professional guides interpret the geology, flora and layered history of this protected landscape. The leisurely pace allows time to absorb the beauty of the terrain and its inhabitants. Guests enter ancient forests and meander along game paths that lead to a simple pop-up tented trails camp, set beneath the cathedral-like canopy of giant trees. Here, warm open-air showers, fireside meals and the quiet symphony of nocturnal life await.
MAKHASA PRIVATE GAME LODGE
SPIRIT OF THE WILD – A COMMUNITY CONSERVATION STORY
Bordering &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve within the Munywana Game Reserve, Makhasa Private Game Lodge tells a remarkable story of reclamation, restoration, and community empowerment. Once farmland, this land was returned to the Makhasa community, who chose to restore it to wilderness, creating a thriving conservation area that now forms part of a 30,000-hectare unfenced ecosystem. With the fences between Makhasa and Phinda removed, wildlife now roams freely across seven distinct habitats, a seamless landscape that protects biodiversity while sustaining the community that calls it home.
THE LODGE EXPERIENCE
Owned and operated entirely by the Makhasa people, the lodge stands as a proud model of inclusive eco-tourism, a Big Five destination where authentic cultural heritage meets modern safari comfort. Six thatched suites are linked by shaded walkways to a central dining deck, lounge, and open-air boma.
Guests enjoy daily game drives with Phinda-trained rangers across more than 12,000 hectares of wilderness, where every encounter brings both excitement and insight. Between drives, guests are invited to connect with local culture, sharing stories around the fire, tasting traditional cuisine and learning the crafts and songs that sustain this proud Zulu nation.
The Zululand Wilderness Triangle Circuit
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Planning Your Soul Circuit
Each traveller experiences Zululand in their own way. Below are two suggested itineraries, each designed to inspire. Every journey can be tailored to your pace, interests, and desired level of comfort.
Below are two suggested itineraries to spark some inspiration — each designed to immerse you in a different expression of the landscape’s wild beauty. Every journey can be customised to suit your pace, interests, duration, and preferred level of comfort.
SOUL CIRCUIT
Big 5 & Beyond
7 Nights
A seamless journey from bush to lake, where you’ll experience Zululand in its purest form as wilderness, wildlife and water converge.
SOUL CIRCUIT
The Explorer's Trail
7 Nights
Designed for the curious traveller, this journey celebrates the raw beauty of iSimangaliso’s coastal wilderness.
Your Journey, Curated
Allow us to curate your ultimate dream journey through the Zululand Wilderness Triangle.
Enquire below to begin crafting a soul-enriching itinerary that’s uniquely yours.
★ WILDERNESS FACT
Sand Forest Biome
The Sand Forest is a rare and fragile subtype of tropical dry forest, thriving on the remnants of ancient sand dunes formed millions of years ago when the ocean receded eastwards to its present coastline. This forest type is smaller and more distinctive than other ecosystems, making its protection critical.
Today, only an estimated 3540 hectares of Sand Forest remain, and of that, just 44% is formally protected. As a result, this habitat is classified as critically endangered. Much of the Sand Forest has been degraded by past cattle farming and the unchecked spread of invasive plant species, underlining the urgent need for active restoration.
Because these forests are already fragmented, they face an even greater risk of habitat loss. Continued decline could lead to reduced genetic diversity and the extinction of entire species. For effective conservation, it is essential to preserve as many patches of Sand Forest as possible, since each holds unique biodiversity. Protecting a single patch is not enough to safeguard the full genetic richness of this ecosystem.
