The 3,320-sq-km (1,282-sq-mile) iSimangaliso Wetland Park is easily the country’s most biodiverse protected area. Comprising more than half a dozen reserves and sanctuaries, iSimangaliso – a Zulu phrase meaning “something wondrous”– has habitats that range from coral reefs to mountains, grassland to coastal forest.
t Hippos wallowing in the waters of iSimangaliso Wetland Park
experience KwaZulu-Natal
Carved into a jungle-like peninsula, this is perhaps the only South African urban centre patrolled nocturnally by hippopotamus, warthog, red duiker and bushbaby. Walking trails from the village offer excellent birding, while launch trips on the estuary provide good hippo and crocodile sightings. The village is flanked by a gorgeous sandy beach, while the Crocodile Farm to its north is one of the best in the country.
Set below forested dunes on a beach 32 km (20 miles) north of St Lucia, Cape Vidal offers seasonal land-based whale- and dolphin-viewing and is also a vital nesting site for loggerhead and leatherback turtles. The Eastern Shores sector has some of the world’s tallest forest dunes, while a game-viewing loop to Lake Bhangazi offers a chance of sighting buffalo, rhino, elephant and cheetah.
Created in 1912, this 400-sq-km (154-sq-mile) inland spur of iSimangaliso offers excellent game viewing, with large numbers of rhino, elephant, giraffe and antelope. The park is also known for its birdlife, with more than 420 species recorded. Nsumo Pan is an excellent spot for water birds, while sand forests harbour “iSimangaliso specials” such as yellow-spotted nicator, Neergard’s sunbird and African broadbill. Geared mainly to self-drivers, uMkhuze offers activities such as the Fig Forest Walk near Nsumo Pan and a cultural village providing insights into traditional Zulu lifestyle and crafts.
Insider Tip
Exploring the Park
The park is well suited to self-drive exploration, ideally starting in St Lucia for a few nights then striking out to the more northerly sites. Even without your own vehicle St Lucia makes a great base for organized day excursions.
Located on an unspoiled stretch of coast, Sodwana Bay is South Africa’s premier scuba destination. The closest and most popular spot is Two Mile Reef, which offers dives from 9 m (30 ft) to below 30 m (100 ft) in depth. Quarter Mile Reef is famed for the ragged-toothed sharks that gather there in January and February, while the deeper Five Mile Reef comprises a stunning variety of branching, table and plate corals. Further out, Seven Mile Reef is considered one of the world’s most beautiful dive sites. For non-divers, there are several good snorkelling spots, while a wealth of birds and small mammals are likely to be seen along a 5-km (3-mile) trail starting at the reserve headquarters.
experience KwaZulu-Natal
|
STAY St Lucia Wetlands Guesthouse Good value B&B set in a verdant garden. ⌂ 20 Kingfisher St, St Lucia village ∑ stluciawetlands.com Kosi Forest Lodge This lovely bush camp overlooks Lake Shengeza. ⌂ Kosi Bay ∑ kosiforestlodge.co.za Rocktail Camp Luxurious thatched treehouse chalets. ⌂ kwaNgwanase ∑ maputalandtravel.co.za/rocktail-camp |
iSimangaliso’s most northerly component, this reserve protects eight lakes and a labyrinth of streams and channels abutting the Mozambican border. A large rocky reef within the estuary offers some of the region’s best snorkelling conditions, while canoe trips along the Sidhadla River into Lake Amanzamnyama often yield sightings of samango monkey, crocodile and hippo.
Lake Sibaya
With a relatively modest area of 65 sq km (25 sq miles), Lake Sibaya is the country’s largest natural freshwater body. Aquatic wildlife includes an endemic fish, the Sibaya goby, as well as around 150 hippos and plenty of crocodiles. The lake also hosts more than 20,000 water birds, including several rarities regularly observed in the area.