Rocktail Camp

traditional Camp | Zululand, South Africa

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A stay at Rocktail Camp adds a whole new twist to the traditional African safari. Though this isn’t traditional ‘big wildlife’ country per se, it’s as wild and fascinating as any of the continent’s more famous wildlife reserves. Located in Maputaland Coastal Forest with Maputaland Marine Reserve just beyond the forest, Rocktail Camp offers pristine beaches, world-class diving and snorkeling, and is a birder’s paradise.

Our Expert Says

An easy 20-minute walk from camp and you’ll find yourself on a 20-mile stretch of undisturbed Indian Ocean coastline. The beaches are unspoiled and some of the most beautiful in the world. This area makes for a fun and relaxing end to any safari in Southern Africa. Snorkeling and diving are fantastic and other activities include cultural visits, quad biking, trips to nearby lakes, guided walks and more.

– Greg Courter

The Camp

Location: Rocktail Bay, South Africa
Number of Tents: 17

Rocktail Camp sits in the lush Maputaland Coastal Forest that covers the ancient dunes on South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal coast. Just offshore lies the Maputaland Marine Reserve, where coral reefs teeming with sea life await discovery by scuba divers and snorkelers. Outside the forest, nearly deserted beaches of soft gold sand are a brisk 20-minute walk from camp over the dunes. The camp consists of 17 spacious permanent tents built on raised platforms, all with en suite bathrooms, indoor showers with an open-air feel, and overhead fans. Seven of these are family units that accommodate two adults and two children in two adjoining bedrooms. A honeymoon suite provides private views of the surrounding dune forest. Common areas include a central dining room, bar and lounge. A raised viewing deck just off the veranda provides sweeping views of the surrounding forest canopy. The camp’s many amenities include a well-stocked wine cellar, large swimming pool, curio shop and children's activity center.

Facilities & Amenities

En suite bathroom with shower
Shampoo, soap and lotion
Hair dryer on request
Room fan
Tea/coffee in room
220v charging outlets in room
In-room safe
Central pool
PADI Scuba diving courses (extra cost)
Laundry included
Credit cards accepted (Visa, MasterCard, American Express)
No air conditioning, telephone, Internet or cellular coverage

Wildlife Viewing & Activities

While Rocktail Camp isn’t your standard safari destination, it lies within a pristine coastal forest reserve that abounds with a variety of animals and birds. Common reedbuck frequent the marshes, while red duiker live in the forests. Hippos are sometimes found in nearby freshwater lakes. Offshore, whales and dolphins are frequently sighted, especially during the winter months. From October through March, loggerhead and leatherback turtles come ashore to lay their eggs. Birding is outstanding, with a number of special coastal forest species recorded including green twinspot, green malkoha and grey waxbill, to name just a few. Just offshore, the reef systems are among the most pristine in the world. From a scuba-diving perspective, Rocktail Bay is unique. Not only is the diving conducted within a marine reserve and World Heritage Site, divers here have sole access to these sites and are the only underwater visitors along this vast stretch of coast.

Zululand has varied concentrations and species of wildlife, and the below chart helps to illustrate major wildlife sightings often experienced in the area. Sightings will be different in the Rocktail Bay area, as it's a coastal destination, and often sea turtles nesting can be observed there. A number of smaller mammals, birds and reptiles are also seen year-round. Exact sightings always depend on weather and wildlife movements.

Country	Park/Reserve	Black Rhino	Buffalo	Cheetah	Eland	Elephant	Giraffe	Greater Kudu	Hippo	Hyena	Leopard	Lion	White Rhino	Wild Dog	Wildebeest	Zebra
South Africa	Zululand

Usually viewed

Frequently viewed

Occasionally viewed

Sporadically viewed

Rarely to never viewed

Climate

Month	Max	Min	Rainfall
January	82° F	68° F	5.2 in
	27° C	20° C	132 mm
February	82° F	70° F	6.02 in
	27° C	21° C	153 mm
March	81° F	68° F	8.03 in
	27° C	20° C	204 mm
April	79° F	59° F	4.88 in
	26° C	15° C	124 mm
May	72° F	55° F	4.13 in
	22° C	12° C	105 mm
June	72° F	55° F	3.62 in
	22° C	12° C	92 mm
July	72° F	55° F	3.11 in
	22° C	12° C	79 mm
August	72° F	59° F	2.2 in
	22° C	15° C	56 mm
September	73° F	61° F	2.68 in
	22° C	16° C	68 mm
October	75° F	63° F	3.39 in
	23° C	17° C	86 mm
November	79° F	64° F	4.72 in
	26° C	17° C	120 mm
December	81° F	68° F	4.57 in
	27° C	20° C	116 mm

Conservation

The iSimangaliso Wetland Park, where Rocktail Camp is located, has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its outstanding universal value. This area contains a huge variety of habitats and is a biodiversity hotspot. Responsible tourism has a vital role to play in the protection of this natural treasure, and Rocktail Camp is part of a pioneering ecotourism venture involving Wilderness Safaris, local communities, and the iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority. One of the first ventures of its kind in South Africa, this innovative ecotourism model provides revenue and employment for members of the surrounding communities and supports community-based enterprises, which provide a range of products and services to the local tourism industry. Because of the success of the program, Rocktail Bay has been named a site partner in the Pro-Poor Tourism in South Africa program, an initiative that strives to increase the benefits of tourism for poor people while addressing poverty and development issues.