skhova.
Skhova Camp at golden hour, surrounded by indigenous coastal forest

A Thonga Trails Camp · Sodwana Bay

skhova

Three hectares of quiet bush, seven rooms, and the unmistakable call of an eagle owl at dusk. The place you come back to after the trail, the dive and the beach.

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Welcome to

a bush hush, 5km from Sodwana.

Skhova is the Zulu word for owl — and our camp is named for the resident eagle owls that nest in the big trees on the property. Three hectares of indigenous coastal forest, completely re-done by us at Thonga Trails, and now ready to host you.

It's the kind of place where you crack a cold beer on the deck, listen to the bush breathe, and decide tomorrow can wait.

Hand-drawn illustration of an eagle owl

What's on the property

everything to settle in.

Built for groups, geared for comfort. Bring the whole crew — the camp is yours to relax in.

7 rooms · sleeps 18

All en-suite, some with their own kitchenettes.

Central lounge & kitchen

A big shared heart for groups, families and friends.

Swimming pool

Cool off in the shade of the trees after a beach day.

Pizza oven & braai

Slow nights, wood smoke, long tables under fairy lights.

3 ha private bush

Towering trees, birdsong, and the resident eagle owls.

Air-con in every room

Sleep cool through the KZN summer.

Borehole water

Off-grid friendly — water you can rely on.

Backup generator

The lights stay on when the grid doesn't.

Safe & secure

Fenced, gated and quietly tucked away.

A Skhova Camp bedroom with crisp white linen and bush views

The rooms

rest, restored.

Seven rooms, all with air-conditioning and crisp linen, looking out into the bush. Some come with their own little en-suite kitchenettes — perfect for couples and families wanting their own pace.

  • ● Sleeps up to 18 — exclusive-use friendly
  • ● Central lounge & kitchen for the whole crew
  • ● Selected rooms with private kitchenettes
  • ● Borehole water, backup power, full security
Enquire about dates

Slow days, easy nights

unwind, your way.

Whether you've spent the day hiking the Thonga trail, diving the reef, chasing fish or just lying on the sand — Skhova is the place to land.

Pool surrounded by trees at Skhova Camp

poolside reset

Shaded loungers, big trees, no rush.

Pickleball court under coastal palms

pickleball

The only court in Sodwana Bay.

Wood-fired pizza oven and outdoor dining at dusk

pizza & braai

Fire up the oven. Pull up a chair.

Resident emu wandering the grounds at Skhova

meet the locals

Our resident emu does the morning rounds.

Plated prawn tagliatelle by Chef Reynaud
Soft-boiled egg bruschetta starterChef Reynaud

Optional add-on

dinner, by Chef Reynaud.

Hand the kitchen over. For your stay, French chef Reynaud — trained in Michelin-starred kitchens — comes home with you to Skhova and cooks like he's feeding family.

across 9 rooms

  • Michelin-trained French chef in residence for your stay
  • Daily-changing menu built around the catch and the garden
  • Long, lazy lunches and candle-lit dinners under the stars
  • Special occasions, dietary requests, tasting nights — just ask
Add Chef Reynaud to your stay

Priced per group · subject to chef availability

Beyond the gate

this is sodwana.

Warm Indian Ocean, world-class reefs, nesting turtles, fresh food and slow afternoons. Skhova is your base — the bay is your playground.

Untouched dunes and turquoise sea at Sodwana Bay
Beach

Empty dunes, turquoise sea

Snorkelling group above the reef
Ocean

Snorkel the reef

Leatherback turtle hatchling on the sand at night
Wildlife

Turtle nesting season

Hikers' feet in a circle on the sand after a Thonga trail day
Trail

Walk the Thonga Trail

Soft-boiled egg bruschetta with pickled onion
Food

Long, lazy lunches

Fresh prawn tagliatelle and a cold beer
Food

Fresh langoustines, cold beer

Grilled pineapple skewers in a Thonga Trails mug
Food

Sweet local pineapple

Thonga Trails koozie holding a cold beer by the lake
Slow days

Sundowners by the Lake Sibaya

Boat launching through the surf into the Indian Ocean on the Blue Trail

An exceptional add-on

the blue trail.

A fully catered marine wilderness journey from Skhova — ocean safaris, moonlit turtle walks, hydrophone-listening for whales, and a day with the great tuskers of Tembe. All meals, beer, wine and ciders included, with Damien at the helm in the kitchen.

  • ● Turtle Twist add-on Nov – mid-March
  • ● Max 10 guests · fully catered
  • ● Surf-launched Blue Safaris into the Indian Ocean
  • ● Lake Sibaya walks & Tembe Elephant Reserve
Full itinerary Enquire about the trail
Loggerhead turtle hatchling on the beach at night under red lightDay 1

Arrival & turtle magic

Settle in with a sundowner, then head down to Mabibi for a moonlit beach walk in search of nesting loggerheads, leatherbacks and — in season — hatchlings sprinting for the surf.

Snorkellers above a reef on a Blue Safari off Sodwana BayDay 2

Into the blue

Surf-launch on our Blue Safari into the Indian Ocean. Spinner and bottlenose dolphins, mantas, five turtle species, coral reefs — and in winter, humpback whales.

Wide view across Lake Sibaya at golden hourDay 3

Voices of the ocean & Lake Sibaya

Drop a hydrophone to listen to the deep, then walk the shoreline of Lake Sibaya — South Africa's largest freshwater lake — for hippos, duiker and big sky vistas. Another turtle walk to close the day.

Elephant in the sand forest at Tembe Elephant ReserveDay 4

The giants of Tembe

Inland to Tembe Elephant Reserve — home to Southern Africa's last great tuskers. Drift through sand forests, then back to Skhova for a final dinner under the stars.

Where we are

tucked into the bush, minutes from town.

Skhova sits 5 kilometres from Sodwana Bay — far enough to feel completely immersed in nature, close enough to drift into town for dinner, dives or fuel.

Sodwana Bay, KwaZulu-Natal · South Africa

come and stay a while.

Drop us a line with your dates and group size — we'll take it from there.

Send an enquiry