Maputaland & The Three Pontas (1)

Questa foto di Maputaland Coastal Forest Reserve è offerta da TripAdvisor.

Maputaland is the vast stretch of land that goes from Lake St. Lucia in northern Kwazulu-Natal in South Africa, up to just south of Maputo.


Questa foto di Maputaland Coastal Forest Reserve è offerta da TripAdvisor.

It's an evocative ecosystem that includes dune forests, coastal plains and swamplands.


Questa foto di Maputaland Coastal Forest Reserve è offerta da TripAdvisor.

Its name is derived from that of Chief Maputa who controlled this area in the early 1770s.

The Three Pontas, as they are called, are Ponta do Ouro, Ponta Malongane and Ponta Mamoli.


Questa foto di Maputaland Coastal Forest Reserve è offerta da TripAdvisor.

White sand beaches, high primary sand dunes, coastal forests, inland floodplains, lakes and marshes.....it's hard to describe without falling foul of hyperbole.


Questa foto di Maputaland Coastal Forest Reserve è offerta da TripAdvisor.

Words like pristine, bewildering and untouched spring to mind, and they are mostly true apart from one detractor: the hordes of Seffricans who flock here every holiday and long weekend with their skis, quad bikes and 4x4s, and turn the Pontas into party central.
Ponta do Ouro mainly.


Questa foto di Maputaland Coastal Forest Reserve è offerta da TripAdvisor.

The place becomes busy, noisy, crowded, which can be completely festive, as Seffricans like to say, but won't work if you're after quiet, meaningful contemplation.

If you're there when it's pumping, jump right in.


Questa foto di Maputaland Coastal Forest Reserve è offerta da TripAdvisor.

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