St Lucia

St Lucia is a small seaside village in the southern-most part of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a Ramsar protected wetland of international importance and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.. It is the gateway town to the park, and has become somewhat of a tourist hub over the last few decades.

St Lucia lies in one of the most beautiful natural settings in South Africa. Fresh water lakes, pans, mangrove swamps, coastal dunes and marshy grasslands surround the town, as does an abundance of wildlife in the Wetland Park. The Park is the third-largest in South Africa and covers some 280km of coastline, including a number of islands and five different ecosystems.

The Park incorporates Lake St Lucia, which is home to South Africa’s largest population of hippos and crocodiles. In fact, the park supports more species than the Kruger National Park, and its unique combination of ecosystems makes it one of the most beautiful places in South Africa. At 37,000 ha, it is the largest estuarine system in Africa and supports the largest populations of hippos and crocodiles in the country.

St Lucia is a haven for sea turtles when they come to shore to lay their eggs in November. Whales also frequent the coastline here between the months of June and September.

There is no limit to activities here, and visitors can enjoy hippo cruises, kayak trips, fishing, spear fishing, hiking trails and game safaris.

Getting there: from Durban, take the N2 going north. Then, take the R22 going to isiMangaliso. Turn off at the R618 going to St Lucia.