Zinkwazi Lagoon Lodge

You stay at Zinkwazi Lagoon Lodge between a seven-kilometre lagoon and a tropical forest, eighty kilometres north of Durban. The lodge has chalets with lagoon views, hotel suites among palms, and camp sites under forest canopy. Each chalet has a kitchen, covered patio, and space for six; the camp sites have communal braai areas and ablution blocks scattered through the trees.

The Raffia Restaurant serves fresh fish and local curries, with tables under raffia palms. The Havana Bar looks out over the lagoon, where you can take a boat or fish from the private jetty. A swimming pool and padel courts sit near the central lawn.

The forest camp sites are terraced under palms, with power points and space for caravans. Birdsong runs through the trees, and the lagoon draws fish eagles — the Zulu name Zinkwazi means 'home of fish eagles'.

Meals come from the Raffia Restaurant or the Forest Deck, with breakfast, lunch, and dinner served daily. The lodge also hosts conferences in a hall that seats one hundred and twenty.