If you’ve ever wondered what the world used to be like, Thonga Beach Lodge has the answer. Miles of golden sand without a single human footprint, coastal forest teeming with samango monkeys, thick-tailed bush babies and countless birds, and an ocean so clear that visibility is up to 20 metres for divers. Add nesting turtles, pods of dolphins and whales, and easy proximity to South Africa’s largest freshwater lake, and you have a marine paradise perfect for travellers who like non-stop adventure coupled with comfortable accommodation.

The shores of Maputaland house the lodge, which has been sensitively designed to be secluded within the dunes and forest. In addition to a spa, Thonga also has an on-site PADI centre with a resident instructor.