Two lodges,
one wild coastline.
Both lodges sit within the UNESCO-listed iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Maputaland, KwaZulu-Natal. Select a lodge below to explore rates, inclusions, and booking information — or scroll through for a full overview of both.
A place of togetherness for families and friends — the wild coast at a slow pace for shared adventures, quiet moments, and deeper connections. Family-friendly and fully inclusive.
A modern coastal lodge designed for intimacy and connection — where close friends, couples or small groups gather, and the tide is the only clock that matters. Bespoke and boutique.
Rates & Packages
All rates are per person per night sharing (pppns), in ZAR. Commissionable at 10% for registered SATSA members. Download the full rate sheets below.
- All accommodation
- All meals daily
- Selected beverages
- All scheduled excursions
- Park fees included
- All accommodation
- All meals daily
- Selected beverages
- All scheduled excursions
- Park fees included
- All inclusions as above
- Kids R1,500 pppns (ages 2–14)
- 2 bedrooms + shared bath
- Max 2 adults + 2 children
Single supplement applies · 2027 Gugs regular R2,970 / peak R3,920 · Child rates apply in family room · Turtle experience priced separately (seasonal, Nov–Mar)
Included & Excluded
Both lodges operate on a fully inclusive basis. Below is exactly what your clients receive — and what to quote as an additional cost.
✓Always Included
- All accommodation on a shared basis
- Services of camp guides and all staff
- All meals: breakfast, lunch & dinner (primarily vegetarian, locally sourced)
- Freshly caught fish from Kosi Bay fish traps twice a week
- Morning cappuccinos and lattes
- Selected wines, beers and spirits (premium liquors, cocktails & bottled water extra)
- All scheduled camp excursions (excl. turtle, seasonal)
- Lala Nek beach day setup (shelters, picnic, snorkelling gear, towels)
- Guided snorkel trip to rock pools at Lala Nek
- Black Rock beach excursion
- Kosi Bay three-lake boat cruise
- Community village tour (KwaMpukane)
- Guided & self-guided walks around camp
- All tourism levies and VAT
- Park fees & vehicle entrance fees
✕Not Included
- Comprehensive travel & medical insurance (required)
- Staff gratuities (recommended: R100–R300/day staff · R120/guest/day guides)
- Turtle tracking excursion (seasonal Nov 15 – Mar 15, priced separately)
- Premium liquors, cocktails & bottled water
- Spa & massage treatments (resident therapist available)
- Any non-scheduled or private activities
- Transfers to/from Big Skies (community-run transfer available, R450pp one way 2026)
- Government taxes, levies or fuel increases beyond our control
- Early check-in / late check-out
- Laundry
Experiences in Maputaland
Wild coast. Ancient fish traps. Nesting turtles. Community life. What no other destination can replicate.
Guided walks or drives to find nesting leatherback & loggerhead turtles. Nov 15 – Mar 15. One of the most highly populated turtle nesting grounds on the continent.
Full-day boat cruise on the Kosi Bay three-lake system to Southern Africa's oldest continuously-used fish traps — an ancient Thonga tradition still thriving today. Includes snorkelling & picnic lunch.
Lala Nek beach day with full setup — shelters, picnic basket, snorkelling gear, chairs and towels. Full-day Black Rock excursion also included. Guests just walk on and off the beach.
Guided snorkel trip to the rock pools at Lala Nek. Masks, fins and snorkels provided. Warm Indian Ocean reefs with sea stars, nudibranchs, angelfish, clownfish and more.
Guided or self-guided walks through coastal forest, fynbos, and dune ecosystems. Tailored routes for birding, foraging, community or beach walks of various distances.
A guided trip to meet the KwaMpukane, KwaMqobela and KwaZibi communities — the original Tsonga custodians of this land. Share injemane and shisanyama and experience genuine local culture.
Resident professional spa therapist. Full body, back, neck & head massages. In-room treatments available. R800–R1,200 per treatment. Ask for the full menu.
Ubunye's signature lounge looks all the way to the Lebombo mountains. Evening cocktails under the open sky — the iconic Big Skies moment.
Photography & Downloads
Hi-resolution images for each lodge are available via Wetu. Trade-approved for use in brochures, client presentations, and marketing materials.
Download Everything
All documents you need to confidently sell and present Big Skies.
Full seasonal rates, room types, child rates, single supplements, and key notes for both lodges.
Download PDF2027 seasonal rates, updated inclusions, new pool at Gugs noted, and Veld & Sea food collaboration details.
Download PDFFull wine list — house whites, reds, MCC and bubbles. "On the house" and "not on the house" clearly indicated.
Download PDFFull bar and beverage menu covering all drinks available in camp — spirits, beers, soft drinks and more.
Download PDFTransfer pricing, scheduled times, Manguzi parking details. R450pp one way. Departures 11:00 & 15:00 from parking. 06:30 & 10:00 from camp.
Download PDF2027 transfer pricing and scheduled times. R550pp one way. Same departure schedule applies.
Download PDFRecommended stops en route to camp from Johannesburg and Durban — Seattle Ermelo, Zamimpilo market, Ngweni Brewery and more. Share with self-driving guests.
Download PDFComprehensive 25-page 4x4 directions booklet with photographic turn-by-turn guide. Essential for self-driving guests. Do not use Google Maps past Manguzi.
Download PDFShare bigskiesguest.com with confirmed guests — a dedicated site showing them exactly how to get in and out of camp safely, including directions, parking and transfer info.
Visit SiteFull Gugs fact sheet: overview, activities with times and costs, climate, access, charismatic species, gratuity guide, and community focus.
Download PDFFull Ubunye fact sheet: overview, activities with times and costs, climate, access, charismatic species, gratuity guide, and community focus.
Download PDFFull Gugs property profile on Wetu — virtual tour, room details, specials, and hi-res image library for download.
View Wetu ProfileFull Ubunye property profile on Wetu — virtual tour, room details, specials, and hi-res image library for download.
View Wetu ProfileClassic and signature cocktails — Lala Long Island, Jabulani's Pineapple, The Mahindra. Separate versions for Gugs and Ubunye. All priced R80–R120.
Download PDFFull treatment menu — African Stick Massage (R750–R1,200), Bespoke Full Body (R750–R1,000), Back Neck & Head (R600–R700), Kids treatments from R350.
Download PDFAirstrip brief, landing requirements, arrival/departure procedures, fees (R530 landing fee, R450 transfer to camp), and indemnity form. Coordinates: -27.25931, 32.75225.
Download PDFComplete legal document covering general information, full inclusions/exclusions, deposit and payment policy, cancellation policy (tiered), and Big Skies indemnity clause. Please share with clients before confirming any reservation.
Download Full T&Cs PDFTerms & Conditions
Standard booking conditions for both lodges. Please share with clients before confirming any reservation.
A non-refundable deposit of 20% is required to confirm any reservation (can vary based on party size or specific conditions). The deposit must be received within 7 days of the deposit pro-forma invoice. For short lead-time bookings, the due date will be noted on the invoice.
The balance is due 8 weeks prior to arrival. If a booking is made within 8 weeks of travel, full payment is required to secure the reservation. Payments accepted via EFT or credit card.
More than 8 weeks: Non-refundable deposit (20%) forfeited.
4–8 weeks: Deposit plus 25% of the total price forfeited.
3–4 weeks: 50% of the total price forfeited.
2–3 weeks: 60% of the total price forfeited.
Less than 2 weeks / no-shows: 100% of the total price forfeited.
Cancellation must be submitted in writing. If a deposit has been paid and the balance remains unpaid, resulting in cancellation by Big Skies, the deposit is forfeited. The agent will be responsible for any applicable cancellation charges on behalf of the client.
Check-in: 12h00 · Check-out: 09h30–10h00. Early/late check-out guaranteed only by booking an additional night.
Access to both lodges requires a 4x4 vehicle. For non-4x4 guests, secure parking is available in Manguzi (24/7 security) with scheduled community-run transfers at additional cost. All transfers must be pre-booked.
Important: Do not use Google Maps past Manguzi — it will get guests lost. Use bigskiesguest.com or the self-drive directions PDF. Big Skies must be notified of ETA by WhatsApp (+27 71 610 8045).
Maputaland is a low-risk malaria area. Guests should consult a medical practitioner before travel.
10% commission payable on net rates for registered SATSA members. Commission is paid within 30 days of guest departure once full payment has been received.
For commission rates, DMC contracting, and trade registration, contact reservations@bigskies.travel with your SATSA membership number.
Prior to confirming any booking, each guest is strongly recommended to take out comprehensive travel, medical, cancellation, curtailment, and default insurance for the duration of their trip.
Due to the remote location in which Big Skies operates, comprehensive cover is essential. Big Skies will not be held responsible for any guest travelling without adequate insurance, and the cancellation policy applies regardless of reason — including airline delays, missed connections, or illness.
Big Skies operates within a UNESCO World Heritage Site and adheres to all relevant environmental legislation. Single-use plastics are prohibited. Guests receive reusable water bottles on arrival.
We serve primarily vegetarian and pescatarian food sourced from our own gardens and local producers. We participate in dune restoration and alien vegetation removal. No shells, rocks, or living organisms may be removed from the beach or ocean. Marine wildlife must not be approached without a licensed guide.
Guest information is collected for reservation and service delivery purposes only and processed in accordance with POPIA (South Africa). Data is not shared with third parties except where required to complete the booking. Retained maximum 5 years and deleted on request.