This piece of paradise was recently renamed the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. It covers just under 240,000ha, with a further 84,000ha in, on or under the sea, this is a large chunk of verdant, sub-tropical splendour stretching 220km along the East Coast from St Lucia to the Mozambique border. Lake St Lucia was declared a Natural World Heritage Site by UNESCO on December 1, 1999 and is a wetland of international Importance under the Ramsar Convention. This means that its value as a conservation area extends beyond the borders of the South Africa. It is the ideal destination for those that aren’t great at just lounging on the beach all day – there are activities aplenty to choose from here.
At iSimangaliso, there is a mind-blowing range of natural eco-systems, ranging from dune, swamp and coastal forests to rocky and sandy shores, coral reefs, submarine canyons, mangroves, savanna grassland, thickets, woodlands, and of course the largest protected wetland in southern Africa.
It is a culturally fascinating area and – more importantly – has immense fun potential. Game viewing opportunities range from self-drive to luxury lodges such as Thonga Beach Lodge, Kosi Forest Lodge, Rocktail Beach Camp and Makakatana Bay Lodge. You can paddle on the various lakes, checking out the lazy hippos or some of the 521 different bird species found here.
The snorkelling at Cape Vidal, Black Rock and Kosi Bay is superb and, if you’re a more serious diver, Sodwana Bay is still the most popular diving destination in the country. For a more exclusive dive experience you can head up to Rocktail Bay or Mbibi.
There is a fantastic hiking trail at Kosi Bay – muddle through grassland, beach and mangrove forests and on to mysterious waterways. There’s also a short or multi-day horse trail on which you might catch a glimpse of mamma turtles laying eggs or baby turtles hatching on the beach. Or perhaps you’d rather take out a boat to see dolphins and humpback whales?
Community-run trails offer the opportunity to experience the natural beauty of the area, as well as get a handle on the history and culture of this fascinating corner of our country. And you shouldn’t miss out on seeing the traditional fish traps, which have been handed down from father to son for hundreds of years. There’s also a handful of traditional villages and loads of craft outlets.
Here are the 10 Jewels of the iSimangaliso Wetlands that you might want to visit:
Kosi Bay – Kosi Bay comprises four lakes linked by a network of channels. The Kosi estuary offers extraordinary snorkelling and is one of the world’s top fly-fishing destinations. Traditional fishing practices dating back 700 years are still passed down from one generation to the next. This is the only place where you’ll find all of South Africa’s mangrove species as well as the only strand of naturally occurring Raphia palms.
Coastal Forest – Accessible only by off-road vehicles, this section of the Park includes the pristine beaches of Mabibi, Island Rock, Rocktail Bay and Black Rock. Snorkelling and scuba diving are popular activities. Large Strelitzias and beautiful dune vistas are a feature of this section of the Park.
Lake Sibaya – Sibaya is South Africa’s largest fresh-water lake. Tucked against forested coastal dunes, its crystal clear waters are home to KwaZulu-Natal’s second largest population of hippo and crocodiles.
Sodwana Bay – Sodwana Bay is rated as one of the top ten dive destinations in the world. The coral reefs contain over 1200 species of fish as well as a variety of underwater seascapes and marine flora and fauna. The Coelacanth was discovered in the deep Jesser Canyon offshore from Sodwana Bay in 2000.
uMkhuze – More than 420 species of birds can be found in this 38,500ha bird-lovers’ paradise! Leopard, black and white rhino, elephant, giraffe, wild dog, cheetah, hyena and various antelope are also to be seen. A guided walk through the Sycamore Fig Forest and a visit to the Nsumo Pan are favourite activities for visitors to uMkhuze.
False Bay – This area includes sand forest, thornveld and open savannah. Popular activities here include boating and fishing. Enjoy the view of Lake St Lucia at its widest point. Marine fossils – animal and plant – can be viewed in the local interpretive centre.
Western Shores and Charters Creek – See elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard, as well as giraffe, tsessebe and other antelope species – or sit back and enjoy panoramic views of Lake St Lucia and the Eastern Shore dunes.
Lake St Lucia – Lake St Lucia is Africa’s largest estuarine system. It is 80kms long and 23kms wide at its widest point. Home to over 800 hippos and 1200 crocodiles, this dynamic system hosts large flocks of pelicans, flamingos, ducks, waders and a variety of fish and other aquatic species.
Eastern Shores and Cape Vidal – The Eastern Shores are the ideal beach and safari destination. A number of game viewing roads offer intimate access to varied habitats including dunes, grassland, lakes, pans and coastal dune forest. Lookout points provide panoramic vistas over a landscape shaped by human residence in Iron Age times and by the Bhangazi people. Popular beach destinations are found at Cape Vidal and Mission Rocks.
Maphelane – Maphelane is a popular base for fishermen and nature lovers. There are two self-guided trails: one tracks the edge of the estuary while the other ascends the dunes to offer spectacular views of the ocean and river mouth. The Maphelane dune, at 183m, is iSimangaliso’s highest vegetated dune.
