Lake Sibaya is the largest natural fresh water lake in South Africa, with a surface area of 77 km² and a maximum depth of 40 m. The lake was once connected to the sea, and with the blocking of the estuary, numerous invertebrates and vertebrates were trapped in a fresh water environment. Lake Sibaya is the only permanent water in the region, and flocks of up to 20 000 waterfowl can congregate here at times. Between the lake and the Indian Ocean lies the village of Mabibi, whose reefs are home to more than 1200 species of fish. The warm waters off Mabibi attract schools of bottlenose dolphin, sharks, whale sharks and turtles.

The most attractive aspect to staying in Mabibi is its seclusion. The sheltered beach is bordered by beautiful rocky outcrops, and dune forest sweeps down to the beach. This is one of KwaZulu-Natal's most spectacular coastlines. Each beach at Mabibi has limited access so the experience is exclusive and special with miles and miles of white sand. You can spend time here scuba-diving, snorkelling, swimming and sunbathing. Mabibi and Lake Sibaya is one of the few places where you can witness the great leatherback turtle laying its eggs, and months later the newly hatched young making their way to the sea.