St. Lucia
The Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park consists of 332 000 hectares and contains three major lake systems, most of South Africa's remaining swamp forests, Africa's largest estuarine system, 526 bird species and 25 000 year-old coastal dunes, among the highest in the world.
St. Lucia Highlights
The small town of St. Lucia is situated north of Richards Bay at the southern entrance of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park (The Greater St Lucia Wetland Park) in northern KwaZulu Natal. The iSimangaliso Wetland Park was listed as South Africa's first World Heritage Site in December 1999 in recognition of its magnificent natural beauty.
The park consists of 332 000 hectares and contains three major lake systems, eight interlinking ecosystems, 700 year old fishing traditions, most of South Africa's remaining swamp forests, Africa's largest estuarine system, 526 bird species and 25 000 year-old coastal dunes, among the highest in the world.
- Lake St Lucia was declared a Natural World Heritage Site by UNESCO protocol – South Africa’s first.
- Important for water bird populations, which are able to survive at St Lucia when there are severe droughts elsewhere in southern Africa.
- The endangered leatherback turtles swim thousand of sea miles, to return to the place of there birth, to lay eggs in the metal enriched beech sand
- World famous sand dunes that extend the full length of the reserve and form a natural barrier between the lake, rivers and the Indian ocean and are covered by climax forest.
St. Lucia Safari Lodge is situated on the main road in the town of St. Lucia and offers close access to popular tourist destinations in the St. Lucia area; such as, the famous St. Lucia Wetland Park, a World Heritage Site offering unsurpassed natural beauty.
Makakatana Bay Lodge takes guests on a safari to the Big Five Hluhluwe Mfolozi Game Reserve and offers beach safaris, which depart after breakfast and affords guests the opportunity to swim and enjoy the Indian Ocean coastline and a picnic lunch.
How to Get there
Sun Safaris can arrange scheduled flights for guests from most major airports to Durban International Airport and Richards Bay Airport, which is the closest airport to St Lucia. Once you arrive at the various airports, self-drive guests will collect their rental car, maps and directions, booked by Sun Safaris, and depart on their safari or holiday. Private air transfers can also be arranged from Durban airport to a safari lodge of choice. Guests can self-drive from anywhere in South Africa to St Lucia. The drive time will obviously depend on your route.
St. Lucia Game Viewing and Activities
St. Lucia offers the ideal location for an outdoor and adventure safari. Activities are varied and guests can enjoy the best that the St. Lucia Wetland Park and the nature reserves in the area have to offer. Explore the lake on a hippo cruise, take a safari to the Hluhluwe Umfolozi Big Five Reserve, go deep sea fishing or enjoy whale and dolphin watching.
Other activities include walking trails, turtle tours, night dives and beach adventures. The lake and surrounding area is home to hippo, crocodile and many other wild animals. Birds include fish eagles, hornbills, goliath herons, paddle-billed storks and many more; probably South Africa's best bird viewing area with over 520 species having been identified here.