Jan 26 2026
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Emoyeni Lodge (Drone Airial view)

By Sodwana Bay

An aerial view of Emoyeni Lodge @ Sodwana Bay. The perfect Dive Retreat! DIRECTIONS TO EMOYENI: From Johannesburg/Pretoria take the N4 Witbank highway After the Middelburg toll plaza take the Hendrina/Ermelo turnoff Proceed through Hendrina, Ermelo, Piet Retief and Pongola For the dirt road – 50km after Pongola turn of to Jozini. Through Jozini turn right at the fork and follow the signs to Mbazwana and Sodwana For the tar road – approx 100km after Pongola turn off to Hluhluwe, through the town and follow the signs to Mbazwana and Sodwana Proceed from Mbazwana to Sodwana bay Approximately 5km from Mbazwana turn right at the Emoyeni sign and the camp is about 200m on this dirt road GPS reference: 27°30.614′ S   032°37.227’E Originally posted 2015-07-23 18:16:50.

Jan 25 2026
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Sodwana Bay – South Africa

By Sodwana Bay

  SODWANA BAY ACCOMMODATION: Sodwana bay offers every type of accommodation. Camping, tents, chalets and lodge accommodation are available. Contact us with your specific requirements  info@twobar.co.za Restaurants in the area range from upmarket to basic fare or take aways from the beach kiosk. SODWANA ACTIVITIES: Diving:The Maputaland coral reefs are the number one dive spot on any South African diver’s itinerary. It is the premier scuba dive destination within South Africa. Most of the diving is done on four distinct reefs, namely 2 Mile, 5 Mile, 7 Mile and 9 Mile reefs, named for their distance from the Sodwana launch site at Jesser point. Dives are done from semi-rigid inflatable boats that can take up to eleven divers. The launches are straight from the beach through the surf. These type of launches are unique to the Kwazulu Natal and Mozambique coast and is a adrenaline rush! This thrilling experience adds to the excitement of the dive. Average visibility in the area is 15 to 20 meters, with up to 40 meters during winter months. Water temperature ranges from 29ºC in mid summer (Dec/Jan) to approximately 19ºC in mid winter (Jun/Jul) and diving is possible all year round. During the summer months from December to March large numbers of Ragged tooth sharks congregate at quarter mile reef. The number of boats and divers to this site is regulated to protect the sharks. SODWANA BAY DIVE SITES: Sodwana Bay 2 MileThe most popular of the dive sites. 2 Mile is a large reef about 2km long and about 1km wide. Depths vary from 9m to30m. There are many dive sites within the main body of 2 Mile reef. Due to its size there is something for everyone, from massive beds of corals, rocky overhangs & caves, to a large diversity of fishes and reef inhabitants. Sodwana Bay 5 Mile. A deeper reef, this site is a dive site for advanced divers. This reef well known for its coral formations. It is 1km long and 1km wide. Depth ranges between 15 and 35 meters. Off this reef are rocky out crops with interesting sea life and well worth the dive. There is a abundance of delicate staghorn coral which occur in large tiers. The average depth is approximately 21 m. Sodwana Bay 7 Mile. A favorite among advanced divers, 7 Mile is rated as one of  the best dive sites in the world. It is located about 10km from Jesser point. The top of the reef is approximately 15m deep with a distinct drop-off down to 24m on the sand. The inside edge is relatively sheltered from the open ocean and supports a large diversity of fish and invertebrate. Definitely a must! Sodwana Bay 9 Mile. This reef is untouched by divers because of the distance from Jesser point. This is a spectacular dive. The depth ranges from 3 to 24m. There is a distinct Green coral tree on this reef that supports plenty of fish life. SODWANA BAY FISHING: Although it is considered by many to be mainly a dive destination, Sodwana offers excellent fishing. Either from the shore or from fishing ski boats. There are a number of fishing charter operators at Sodwana. They operate large skiboats with experienced skippers for the visitor who wish to try his hand at game fishing. OTHER ACTIVITIES IN SODWANA BAY: You can build sandcastles or snorkel at Jesser Point at low tide, or do some great snorkeling further north at Mabibi. Sundowners are popular at Lake Sibaya, a freshwater inland lake about 30 minutes from Sodwana. There is a curio market off the main Sodwana beach for some local shopping. Sodwana is a well-known nesting place for turtles, which can be experienced on guided tours along the beach between November & January. For the more energetic there is horse riding or quad driving through the plantations. You can also go flying in a microlight over this pristine area. GENERAL INFORMATION: This is a malaria area please contact your doctor regarding medication. Petrol & diesel are available from Mbazwana or at the petrol station in the National Park. There is a large supermarket in Mbazwana and a small shop in the park. DIRECTIONS SODWANA BAY: It is about a 7 hour drive from Johannesburg/Pretoria. You can reach Sodwana in a normal car and therefore you don’t need a 4×4. In a car or when towing take the road via Hluhluwe as it is a tar road. For the more adventurous in a 4×4 you can take the shorter route via Jozini with a bumpy 60km dirt road. From Johannesburg/Pretoria, take the Witbank Highway. Take the Hendrina/Ermelo off-ramp, through Hendrina, Ermelo, Piet Rietef and Pongola OR Take the Carolina off-ramp, through Carolina, Amsterdam, Piet Retief and Pongola. For the dirt road: Through Pongola and about 50km turn off to Jozini. Through Jozini turn right at fork and follow the signs to Sodwana Bay. For the tar road: Follow the road to Hluhluwe, through the town and then follow the signs to Mbazwana and Sodwana. Originally posted 2015-07-22 09:47:31.

Jan 24 2026
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A Challenging Love

By Sodwana Bay

A CHALLENGING LOVE”‘Lord, if it’s you,’ Peter replied, ‘tell me to come to you on the water.’ ‘Come,’ he said.” (Matthew 14:28-29) On the heels of the largest catered seafood picnic ever recorded, Jesus stepped back from busy ministry life for solitude and prayer. And He was at it a good long while. During the “fourth watch of the night” (v. 25), Jesus went out to them, walking on the water. The Jews of the time had adopted the Roman division of night watches into four segments, the final watch lasting from 3:00 to 6:00 a.m. The disciples were probably as spooked as they were groggy when they strained their eyes to comprehend this figure strolling through the waves in the wee hours of the morning. As one of C.S. Lewis’s characters says of Aslan the great lion, “Of course he isn’t safe. But he’s good.” Jesus isn’t “safe.” Sometimes His call involves risk. He tests the faith of those He loves, and this time it was Peter’s turn. “Come,” Jesus replies. I envision Jesus like the father of a one-year-old, encouraging the little one to test his legs and walk, “Come on, son. You can do it!” These are the words He lovingly challenges us with today….COME! Source: Anchor Devotional – A Challenging Love Originally posted 2015-07-21 08:28:34.

Jan 23 2026
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A GRACIOUS LOVE

By Sodwana Bay

A GRACIOUS LOVE “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” (Luke 15:20b) This parable of Jesus tells us much about the heart of our heavenly Father. The father in the story shows gracious love for his son in the face of grave insult (by asking for his inheritance, the son was in essence saying, “I can’t wait for you to die to get what’s mine.”) and complies with his request. He also responds with grace upon his wayward son’s return. Verse 20 would suggest the father had been constantly scanning the horizon with long-suffering hope when he runs to him at the first glimpse of his silhouette.This parable is the third in a series about lost things: a lost sheep, a lost coin, and a lost son. But what is unique about this third story is that what has been lost is patiently waited upon to return. The lost sheep is sought out, scooped up, and carried home. The lost coin is reclaimed after searching and sweeping the whole house until it is found. We see different aspects of lost things being found, but it is the gracious, pursuing love of the Lord that is made obvious to us in this parable. Source: Anchor Devotional Originally posted 2015-07-16 22:51:53.

Jan 22 2026
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A Submissive Love

By Sodwana Bay

A SUBMISSIVE LOVE “He went away a second time and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.’” (Matthew 26:42)   Dread. Do you know what complete dread feels like? Ever been in circumstances that filled your soul with such anxiety that it felt like you’d collapse under the weight of it? Our Savior knows this feeling all too well. Here is another assurance that Jesus experienced the full depth of human emotion and can fully relate to us in our deepest suffering. He says to His disciples, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.” These are the words of a man seized by dread. Yet in the face of inescapable, pressing trouble, Jesus exercises a submissive love toward His Father in heaven. Matthew’s account records that Jesus returns to pray at least three times to passionately plead for the same thing: some other way, an alternate plan. All the while He recognizes that the Father’s will is paramount and unshakably trustworthy. There is no submission without trust. Jesus submitted to the Father’s will out of the depths of His love, and now we have received His gift of salvation. We’ve nothing to dread! Source: Anchor Devotional – A Submissive Love Originally posted 2015-07-13 09:47:11.

Jan 21 2026
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Anchor Devotional – A Submissive Love

By Sodwana Bay

A SUBMISSIVE LOVE “He went away a second time and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.’” (Matthew 26:42) Dread. Do you know what complete dread feels like? Ever been in circumstances that filled your soul with such anxiety that it felt like you’d collapse under the weight of it? Our Savior knows this feeling all too well. Here is another assurance that Jesus experienced the full depth of human emotion and can fully relate to us in our deepest suffering. He says to His disciples, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.” These are the words of a man seized by dread. Yet in the face of inescapable, pressing trouble, Jesus exercises a submissive love toward His Father in heaven. Matthew’s account records that Jesus returns to pray at least three times to passionately plead for the same thing: some other way, an alternate plan. All the while He recognizes that the Father’s will is paramount and unshakably trustworthy. There is no submission without trust. Jesus submitted to the Father’s will out of the depths of His love, and now we have received His gift of salvation. We’ve nothing to dread! Source: Anchor Devotional – A Submissive Love Originally posted 2015-07-13 09:42:55.