Western Shore of Lake Shazibe, Shaka's Rock, Sodwana Bay, uMhlabuyalingana, KwaZulu-Natal, 3974
What's nearby
Sodwana Bay Beach - 12 min drive
Mabibi Beach - 38 min drive
Lake Sibaya - 39 min drive
UMkhuze Game Reserve - 44 min drive
Phinda Private Game Reserve - 58 min drive
Getting around
Richards Bay (RCB) - 177 min drive
Restaurants
Mseni Restaurant - 11 min drive
The Snack Shack - 14 min drive
Unguni's - 5 min walk
Mseni Lodge Restaurant - 5 min drive
Sodwana Take Away - 10 min drive
About this property
First Group Sodwana Bay Lodge
Lodge in a national park
Take advantage of a poolside bar, a garden, and a library at First Group Sodwana Bay Lodge. The on-site restaurant, Leatherbacks Restaurant, features seafood. Laundry facilities, a bar, and a conference center are available to all guests.
You'll also enjoy the following perks during your stay:
An outdoor pool
Free self parking
Babysitting (surcharge), smoke-free premises, and a front-desk safe
1 meeting room, beach towels, and ATM/banking services
Room features
All guestrooms at First Group Sodwana Bay Lodge offer amenities such as desk chairs, safes, and dining tables.
Extra amenities include:
Showers, free toiletries, and hair dryers
Kitchens, refrigerators, and microwaves
Languages
Afrikaans, English
Property amenities
Parking and transportation
Free self parking on site
Food and drink
A bar/lounge
A poolside bar
A restaurant
Restaurants on site
Leatherbacks Restaurant
Things to do
Library
Outdoor pool
Family friendly
Babysitting (surcharge)
Dining table
In-room kitchen
In-room microwave
In-room refrigerator
Laundry facilities
Outdoor pool
Separate bedroom
Conveniences
ATM
Laundry facilities
Safe at front desk
Guest services
Housekeeping (daily)
Business services
Conference center
Meeting room
Outdoors
Beach towels
Garden
In a national park
Accessibility
Hardwood flooring in room
No elevator
More
Smoke-free property
Room amenities
Bedroom
Bedsheets provided
Bathroom
Free toiletries
Hair dryer
Shower
Towels provided
Entertainment
TV
Food and drink
Coffee/tea maker
Cookware, dishware, and utensils
Dining table
Electric kettle
Kitchen
Microwave
Oven
Refrigerator
Stovetop
More
Ceiling fan
Desk
Desk chair
Iron/ironing board on request
Safe
Policies
Check-in
Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: 8 PM
Check-out
Check-out before 10 AM
Special check-in instructions
There is no front desk at this property
Guests can access their accommodation through a private entrance
This property doesn't offer after-hours check-in
Access methods
Private entrance
Pets
No pets or service animals allowed
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome
Rollaway/extra beds are not available
Property payment types
Important information
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards; cash is not accepted
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher
We should mention
This property does not have elevators
Only registered guests are allowed in the guestrooms
No pets and no service animals are allowed at this property
National rating
Quality Graded by the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa (TGCSA) – South Africa's official quality assurance organization.
Property is also known as
First Group Sodwana Bay
Sodwana Bay Hotel Hluhluwe
Sodwana Bay Lodge Africa
First Group Sodwana Bay Lodge uMhlabuyalingana
First Group Sodwana Bay uMhlabuyalingana
First Group Sodwana Bay
Lodge First Group Sodwana Bay Lodge uMhlabuyalingana
uMhlabuyalingana First Group Sodwana Bay Lodge Lodge
Lodge First Group Sodwana Bay Lodge
Sodwana Bay Lodge
First Group Sodwana Bay
First Group Sodwana Bay Lodge Lodge
First Group Sodwana Bay Lodge uMhlabuyalingana
First Group Sodwana Bay Lodge Lodge uMhlabuyalingana
Frequently asked questions
Does First Group Sodwana Bay Lodge have a pool?
Yes, this property has an outdoor pool.
Is First Group Sodwana Bay Lodge pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much is parking at First Group Sodwana Bay Lodge?
Self parking is free at this property.
What time is check-in at First Group Sodwana Bay Lodge?
Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: 8 PM. After-hours check-in is not available.
What time is check-out at First Group Sodwana Bay Lodge?
Check-out is at 10 AM.
Where is First Group Sodwana Bay Lodge located?
Situated in a national park, this lodge is 0.6 mi (1 km) from iSimangaliso Wetland Park and within 6 mi (10 km) of Sodwana Bay Beach and Sodwana Lighthouse. Mabibi Beach and Lake Sibaya are also within 12 mi (20 km).
First Group Sodwana Bay Lodge Reviews
Reviews
8.8
Excellent
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travelers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.More informationOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 21 out of 42 reviews
10 - Excellent
21
Rating 8 - Good. 17 out of 42 reviews
8 - Good
17
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 42 reviews
6 - Okay
2
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 42 reviews
4 - Poor
0
Rating 2 - Terrible. 2 out of 42 reviews
2 - Terrible
2
8.8/10
Cleanliness
9.2/10
Staff & service
6.6/10
Amenities
8.8/10
Property conditions & facilities
Reviews
8/10 Good
Ari
Jan 17, 2024
Ari
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2024
2/10 Terrible
Glen
Dec 6, 2020
Hotels.com poor service
Wonderful place , Very good product and very good service.
However , Hotels.com were totally useless at responding or resolving my query of possible changes. No response to email or phone call.
I will never book through hotels.com again.
Glen
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2020
10/10 Excellent
Verified traveler
Nov 25, 2020
Sodwana Bay Lodge
The check-in was quick and the staff very friendly and efficient. The chalet was clean and neat with all the basic amenities. Would definitely recommend Sodwana Bay Lodge to anyone
Verified traveler
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2020
10/10 Excellent
JP
Mar 22, 2020
JP
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2020
8/10 Good
Verified traveler
Mar 2, 2020
The plug in the room had no top on it which could be dangerous for kids and the one sliding door didn't open which the staff knew about but didn't inform us utill we went to call them. but otherwise it was lovely.
Verified traveler
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2020
8/10 Good
Melissa, Boston
Nov 16, 2019
Self catering unit C2 had everything we needed, was clean and comfortable. Definitely recommend.
Melissa
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2019
8/10 Good
Ludovic
Nov 11, 2019
Ludovic
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2019
10/10 Excellent
Ulli
Nov 8, 2019
Unbeatable price-quality ratio
Fully equipped house. No Wifi but else all what one needs.
My client left after 1 night (instead of 3 nights) because it was so old and dirty. They did like the beach though.
Verified traveler
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2019
8/10 Good
Andrew
Mar 28, 2019
Excellent stay.
Really nice resort style accomodation. The girl on the front desk was very friendly and informative. Food was quite nice, but nothing special. The lodges are lovely, but not the most comfortable place. Dive centre on site was a huge feature for us, high standards and great dives. Would definitely stay here again.
Andrew
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2019
8/10 Good
Verified traveler
Feb 13, 2019
Liked: Amenities
Cosy cabin in lovely grounds with antelope and monkeys.
Despite wifi advertised there wasn't any because the owners were in the process of looking for new suppliers - think they should have done that before leaving their existing supplier!
Verified traveler
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2019
8/10 Good
Verified traveler
Nov 11, 2018
Verified traveler
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2018
8/10 Good
Marcin
Oct 16, 2018
Nice and relaxing vacation
Nice place to stay with good facilities, though the beach is a bit far and it is expensive to pay the conservation fee for each visit.
Marcin
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2018
10/10 Excellent
Katie, Uk
Sep 16, 2018
Lovely chalet, roomy and light with good facilities.
Katie
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2018
10/10 Excellent
Anthony
Sep 10, 2018
Great place to stay
Great lodge, great restaurant on site with very friendly waitresses & fantastic food.
Anthony
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2018
10/10 Excellent
Verified traveler
Jul 26, 2018
Alles tiptop in orde!
Echt Afrikaanse sfeer. De accomodatie is wat ouder, maar proper en gezellig. De manager is zeer bereikbaar en hij zorgt er voor dat je niets tekort komt. Een aanrader.
Reception staff were very friendly and cottage was large and clean. No shower indoors, just bathtub. Outdoor shower is available. Internet access is paid for, don’t waste your money though. The internet connection is really bad and slow.
Rita
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2018
10/10 Excellent
Dave
Feb 20, 2018
If yo are looking for a great place to stay, then book here. Great staff, your cottage is cleaned every day and the staff are amazing. The restaurant and lounge are fun and diving and the beach is only a few km's away! Good security and just a wonderful place to stay!
Dave
10/10 Excellent
Anita, Denmark
Feb 1, 2018
Virkelig stort luksus hytte med gode faciliteter
Dejlige senge og meget flot overalt.
Dejlig personligt beliggende
Rigtig god plads.
Anita
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2018
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.
8/10 Good
H abdool
Dec 18, 2017
Disliked: Room comfort
Chalet C13
I think we were unlucky to have chalet no.C13. it took time getting used to the gas geyser. Broken toilet roll holder. Sleeper coach very difficult to use.did not open without an effort, Opens halfway, slept with feet dangling in the air. Carpet in the loft very dirty. Huge tree in front of our balcony. Fridge not cold enough. Overall stay was Satisfactory.
H abdool
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.
6/10 Okay
Christian, Düsseldorf
Nov 15, 2017
Diving at Sodwana Bay
Good location if you want to go diving at Sodwana Bay. 10min drive to the beach/ dive camp. Good diving school within the complex.
Christian
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.
10/10 Excellent
Barney, Johannesburg area, South Africa
Nov 4, 2017
Idyllic stay!
Well kept resort in natural surroundings. Many birds. Buck grazing on the lawn. Good restaurant! Very peaceful and wonderfully relaxing.
Barney
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.
10/10 Excellent
patricia
Aug 10, 2017
Great location
A lovely chalet, with very good facilities. Very clean and comfortable.