FALSE BAY SAFARIS, POWERED BY MALKOHA LAKE ST. LUCIA

The Quiet End of Lake
St Lucia, Ten Guests
at a Time

The Quiet End of Lake St Lucia, Ten Guests at a Time

Two hours on the northern reaches of Africa’s largest estuarine system, far from the busy eastern shores. Pelicans, flamingos, hippo, crocodile and a shoreline nobody has built on.

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DISCOVER THE QUIET SIDE

Where the Water Is Wild and the Experience Is Intimate

Most cruises on Lake St Lucia leave from the eastern shores, in convoy, at the busy end. False Bay Safaris goes the other way. The boat works the quiet northern reaches, tucked between ancient sand forest and fossil-rich beaches, where the water is shallow and sheltered and the birds have somewhere to feed in peace.

Silence does a lot of the work. Birds skim the waterline, hippo surface and settle, crocodiles slide off the sandbanks, and the forested shoreline stands as it has stood. With a maximum of ten guests aboard, the guiding is personal and there is room to raise a camera without asking anyone to move.

  • Experienced guides and a qualified skipper
  • Suited to families, couples and photographers
  • Inside the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
  • The only commercial boat operator on the northern lake

ON THE WATER

What Guests May See

  • Hippo in their natural pods
  • Nile crocodile hauled out on the sandy stretches
  • Pelicans, flamingos, kingfishers, spoonbills and storks
  • Open lake vistas and fossil beds
  • Eastern Shores wildlife coming down to drink

*The operator’s terms state that sightings cannot be guaranteed. This band says may see, never will see. Do not let the list drift into a promise.

ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE

Ancient Sand Forest and Fossil-Rich Shores

False Bay lies between ancient sand forest and fossil-rich shoreline, well away from the traffic of the eastern shores. The pace is slow and the water is quiet, which is what makes it work for birders and photographers as much as for families.

The sand forest here grows on dunes older than human civilisation, and it preserves fossil beds formed when this region was submerged or joined to the ocean. Those formations are more than a hundred thousand years old, and they are part of why this stretch of coast is protected as closely as it is.

SAFARI OPTIONS

Daily Boat Safari

A two hour guided cruise across the water landscapes of Lake St Lucia, with a maximum of ten guests per departure.

Rates:
Adults:
Children under 12: 
Pensioners:

Private charter:
Available on request

A two hour guided cruise across the water landscapes of Lake St Lucia, with a maximum of ten guests per departure.

Included

  • Expert guide and skipper 
  • Light refreshments on pre-order
  • Birding and ecological commentary 
  • Safety briefing and indemnity on arrival 
  • Life jackets for every guest

Not included

  • Park entrance fees
  • External beverages, which are not permitted on board.
  • Drinks can be pre-ordered through the lodge before departure

*Guests may bring their own snacks but not their own drinks.

The False Bay Campsite Office

Departure and arrival point: The False Bay Campsite Office

Route: The quiet northern reaches of Lake St Lucia, varying with wind and water conditions on the day

Duration: Two hours

FOR BIRDERS

A Paradise For Serious And Casual Birders Alike

Lake St Lucia is a recognised Important Bird Area, and False Bay is one of its richest pockets. Shallow, sheltered water draws flocks in to feed and rest where nothing is disturbing them.

Birding

Likely sightings

  • Greater and Lesser Flamingos
  • Great White and Pink backed Pelicans
  • African Fish Eagle
  • Goliath Heron
  • Giant, Malachite and Pied Kingfishers
  • Spoonbills, storks, herons, terns and waders
  • Seasonal migrants, depending on time of year

Why birders come here

  • Shallow waters ideal for feeding birds
  • Large flocks often gather in quiet pockets
  • Only commercial boat operator on the northern lake
  • Open skies and clean waterlines for photography

BOOKINGS

Booking Is Essential

The boat takes ten guests, seats fill quickly, and the trip must be booked at least twenty-four hours before departure.

Book online

Call Us For a Quote

035 562 9005

Email Us For a Quote

malkoha.reception@dreamresorts.co.za

Advance booking: At least 24 hours before departure

Deposit: 50% to secure the booking

Arrival: 20 minutes before departure, for the safety briefing and check-in

Cancellation policy

  • More than 48 hours before departure: Full refund
  • 24 to 48 hours before departure: 50% refund
  • Within 24 hours, or a no-show: No refund
  • Late arrival at check-in: The experience may be forfeited without refund
  • Cancelled by the lodge for unsafe conditions: Choose a full refund of the boat safari fee, or a rescheduled trip at the next available opportunity
  • Shortened on the water for safety: No partial refund
  • Guest declines to travel when the skipper has declared the trip safe: No refund
View Terms and Conditions

Le Franschhoek Hotel & Spa

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FAQ

Yes. The calm water and the two hour duration suit families well. Life jackets are carried for children from around six kilograms upward, and any child under six wears one throughout the trip.

No. False Bay Safaris works the quiet northern reaches of Lake St Lucia, well away from the high-traffic eastern shores and the busy estuary cruises. It is a smaller, more private and more nature-focused trip.

This is a water-based safari, so the full Big Five is unlikely. Hippo and crocodile are common on the lake. For game drives, False Bay sits close to uMkhuze, Hluhluwe iMfolozi and Manyoni.

A maximum of ten guests per departure, which is what makes the guiding personal and leaves room to photograph. Seats fill quickly, so book at least twenty-four hours ahead.

Yes. Private charters can be arranged for a group or an occasion. Contact the lodge for current rates and availability, because charter pricing sits outside the standard per person rate.

Snacks are welcome. External drinks are not permitted on board, but beverages can be pre-ordered through the lodge before departure and will be waiting for you.

Every trip is skippered by a trained guide with valid accreditation and the required safety equipment on board. A safety briefing and an indemnity form are completed on arrival, and life jackets are provided for every guest.

No. False Bay Safaris is open to day visitors as well as guests of Malkoha Lake St. Lucia. Departures leave from the False Bay Campsite Office on the mainland, a short drive from Hluhluwe.

The skipper decides, and that decision is final. If the trip is cancelled for unsafe conditions you may take a full refund or reschedule. If conditions turn while you are on the water the trip may be cut short, without a partial refund.

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FALSE BAY SAFARI BOAT EXPERIENCE

Terms and Conditions

Licence: All boat experiences operate on the False Bay sector of Lake St Lucia under Malkoha’s exclusive commercial licence.

Operating decisions

Subject to weather, lake conditions and the skipper’s safety assessment. The skipper’s decision on postponement, route change or cancellation is final.

  • Group size: Maximum ten guests per trip.
  • Check-in: All guests present twenty minutes before departure for the safety briefing.
  • Life jackets: Provided for every guest. Non-swimmers and all children under six must wear one at all times on board. Sizes from around 6kg.
  • Children: Under adult supervision throughout. A parent or guardian signs the indemnity on behalf of a minor.
  • Indemnity: A completed indemnity form is mandatory before boarding, digital or physical. No indemnity, no boarding.
  • Sightings: This is a nature-based activity and wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed.
  • On board: No standing and no leaning over railings. The skipper allocates seating and may ask guests to stay seated.
Health

Disclose relevant medical conditions before departure, including mobility limitations, epilepsy, severe allergies and pregnancy. Participation may be declined on safety grounds.

  • Drones: Not permitted, due to wildlife sensitivity and iSimangaliso Wetland Park regulations.
  • Conservation: No feeding, disturbing or provoking wildlife. No littering, and no removal of wood, reeds or fossils.
  • Rates: Quoted per person, including the guide and skipper, and subject to seasonal adjustment without notice.