iSimangaliso Wetland Park & Cape Vidal Tour from St Lucia

iSimangaliso Wetland Park

iSimangaliso Wetland Park was South Africa's first UNESCO World Heritage Site, inscribed in 1999. Its name means 'miracle' or 'wonder' in isiZulu, and it protects a long stretch of the KwaZulu-Natal coast where coral reefs, beaches, towering dunes, lakes, swamps and grasslands lie side by side. At its centre is Lake St Lucia, the largest estuarine lake system in Africa, home to large numbers of hippos and crocodiles.

Because so many habitats meet here, the park has an outstanding variety of wildlife and birdlife, from fish eagles and pelicans to antelope and big game. An iSimangaliso tour from St Lucia is the easiest way to explore it, as the town sits right at the park's southern gateway. Things to do in St Lucia revolve around this park, and a guided day gives you the best introduction.

The Eastern Shores game drive

The Eastern Shores section lies on the narrow strip of land between Lake St Lucia and the Indian Ocean, reached through the park gate just north of town. Its loops wind through open grasslands, patches of coastal forest and wetland pans. Buffalo, zebra, kudu, waterbuck, reedbuck and warthog are often seen, and black and white rhino, elephant and leopard also live here, though they can be elusive. Sightings are never guaranteed.

Your ranger guide drives an open safari vehicle, so you have clear views and can hear the birds around you. Stops at lookout points give wide views across the lake, where hippos and flamingos may be seen depending on water levels. Along the coast road you may also stop at a rocky shore with tidal pools and dramatic sea views before continuing north.

Cape Vidal

Cape Vidal lies about 30 kilometres north of St Lucia, at the end of the Eastern Shores road. A rocky reef runs parallel to the shore, sheltering a calm bay of turquoise water and white sand backed by some of the highest forested coastal dunes in the world. At low tide the rock pools fill with colourful reef fish, making it one of the best places for easy snorkelling in KwaZulu-Natal.

On the full-day tour you have time to swim, snorkel with the mask and snorkel provided, walk the beach and relax before a picnic lunch in the shade. From June to November humpback whales often pass offshore, and the forest behind the beach is home to samango monkeys and birds. Keep your food packed away: the local monkeys are clever thieves.

St Lucia town and the estuary

St Lucia is a small, relaxed town on the estuary where Lake St Lucia meets the sea, and it is the main base for exploring iSimangaliso. Hippos graze the town's lawns at night, so locals and visitors take care after dark, and boat cruises on the estuary are a popular addition to a stay here. The town has guesthouses, restaurants and a supermarket within walking distance.

How do you get to St Lucia? It is about two and a half to three hours by car north of Durban, or about an hour from Richards Bay airport. The best time to visit iSimangaliso is from May to October, when the weather is dry and mild and vegetation is thinner for wildlife viewing, while summer is hot and humid but brings lush green scenery and turtle-nesting season on the northern beaches.