{{Short description|Group of lakes in Maputaland, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa}} {{Use South African English|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox Protected area | name = Kosi Bay | iucn_category = | image = Kosi Bay satellite.jpg | map = South Africa KwaZulu-Natal | relief = 1 | map_caption = Location of Kosi Bay in KwaZulu-Natal | location = [[KwaZulu-Natal]], [[South Africa]] | nearest_city = [[Maputo]] (across border), then [[Richards Bay]], [[South Africa]] | coordinates = {{coord|27|0|0|S|32|50|0|E|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | area = | established = | visitation_num = | visitation_year = | governing_body = [[Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife]] | module = {{Designation list | embed = yes | designation1 = Ramsar | designation1_date = 28 June 1991 | designation1_number = 527<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kosi Bay|website=[[Ramsar Convention|Ramsar]] Sites Information Service|url=https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/527|accessdate=25 April 2018}}</ref>}} }} [[File:JCW-Map-Natal-StLucia.png|300px|thumb|Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park]]
'''Kosi Bay''' is a series of four interlinked lakes in the [[Maputaland]] area of [[KwaZulu-Natal]], [[South Africa]].
==Ecology== The lakes form part of the [[iSimangaliso Wetland Park]], a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]]. The closest town is [[Manguzi]], some {{convert|13|km|mi}} away from it. Kosi Bay estuary is only {{convert|2|km|mi}} from the [[Mozambique]] border. It is possible to walk from the estuary to [[Ponta do Ouro]] in only an hour or so. It is one of the quietest beaches in South Africa. The Kosi River Mouth is known as "the aquarium" because of the clarity of the water and the abundance of fish species.
Bird species in the area include the [[palm-nut vulture]], [[Pel's fishing owl]], [[white-backed night-heron]], and [[kingfishers]]. [[Duiker]], [[hippopotamus]], [[crocodile]]s and [[bull shark]]s are also present, and [[loggerhead turtle|loggerhead]] and endangered [[leatherback turtle|leatherback]] sea turtles lay their eggs on the beach. The Bay is noted for its aggressive [[bull shark]] population. The sharks are locally known as zambesi.<ref> Whales, whale sharks, dolphins are sighted off the coast.[http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,,24900627-5011922,00.html Most shark-infested beaches] ''Couriermail''</ref> [[Whale shark]]s and [[manta ray]]s also visit the area. [[Whale watching]] to target mainly [[humpback whales]] and [[dolphin]]s is a growing industry in Kosi Bay region.
The [[Raphia australis|Kosi palm]] has the largest leaf of any plant. Endemic species include the [[Encephalartos ferox|Kosi cycad]] and [[Acrostichum aureum|Kosi fern]]. It is one of very few places on earth where five different species of [[mangrove]] trees are found in one area.
==History==
Kosi Bay is the cultural capital of the ancient [[Tsonga people|Thonga]] Tembe kingdom. This is the original and natural home of the Thonga people and their [[fish traps]]. The history of AmaThonga people on this land dates back some 1000 years.<ref>Mathebula, Mandla (2002), 800 Years of Tsonga History: 1200-2000, Burgersfort: Sasavona Publishers and Booksellers Pty Ltd.</ref> Kosi Bay and [[Maputo]] Bay can be considered one land-area, traditionally belonging to the Africans. Kosi Bay was also known as Tembeland or Thongaland, but the name fell into disuse in early 1900s. When [[United Kingdom|Britain]] colonised South Africa, Kosi Bay was annexed to [[Colony of Natal|Natal]], while Maputo was annexed to [[Mozambique]].<gallery> File:KBfishtrap.jpg|Fish trap File:KOSI Bay 2.jpg File:Sophora inhabanensis S-3749-10979.jpg|''[[Sophora inhambanensis]]'' on Black Rock beach File:Kosi Bay - IMG 3404.jpg|Pont Ferry </gallery>{{Panorama | image = Kosi Bay.jpg | height = 200 | caption = Kosi Bay lakes with fish traps }}
== Tourism == Several tourism operators offer experiences in the area, including guided or self-sustained hikes along trails that offer the opportunity to experience the ecosystem up close, walking across sand dunes, along pristine beaches and through coastal forest.
==References==
{{Reflist}} *{{cite web | last = | first = | title = Kosi Bay Nature Reserve, KwaZulu Natal | publisher = SA-Venues.com | date = | url =http://www.sa-venues.com/game-reserves/kzn_kosibay.htm | doi = | accessdate = 2007-05-06}}
==External links== * [http://www.kznwildlife.com/ Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife (previous known as Natal Parks Board)] * [http://www.tuproject.org/ Tholulwazi Uzivikele an NGO in the area working on HIV and poverty relief programs] * [http://www.sanparks.org/ SANParks]
{{Authority control}}{{ISimangaliso Wetland Park|state=expanded}} [[Category:Ramsar sites in South Africa]] [[Category:Protected areas of KwaZulu-Natal]] [[Category:Mozambique–South Africa border crossings]]