Bay is situated in Maputaland on KwaZulu-Natal’s north-eastern seaboard, a diverse region of forested dunes, wetlands, sandy beaches, woodlands and warm seas. It lies within the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a World Heritage Site that spans a range of ecological zones.

Situated offshore is the Maputaland Marine Reserve, an additional sanctuary offering extraordinary diving and snorkelling encounters with prolific marine life, spectacular coral landscape, and dolphins and whales. Few sections of the South African coastline are as unspoilt and secluded, and the area is known for its superb, pristine dive spots as well as the loggerhead and leatherback turtles that come to lay their eggs on the beaches.

The land is a low-lying coastal plain, lined with ancient coastal dunes that are considered to be amongst the tallest vegetated dunes in the world, swathed in lush green forest with a variety of animals, birds and plant life. Common reedbuck frequent the marshes and grasslands, red duiker live in the forest areas, hippo are found in freshwater lakes and whales and dolphins are often seen offshore. Birding is outstanding, with a number of typical coastal forest species – green twinspot, green malkoha, grey waxbill, Livingstone’s turaco and brown scrub-robin.