St Lucia’s ample wildlife and pure magnificence made it South Africa’s very first World Heritage Website, listed by UNESCO in 1999. The small city sits on the southern finish of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, South Africa and makes for a fantastic base to discover this wildlife haven.
iSimangaliso Wetland Park, St Lucia
St Lucia is located on the jap coast of South Africa, simply 2.5 hours from Durban, the capital of KwaZulu-Natal. It presents a heat tropical local weather year-round with the heat Indian Ocean and golden seashores simply on the sting of city.
Issues to Do in St Lucia
St Lucia is a small city, situated on the outskirts of the park. However St Lucia wildlife and pure magnificence don’t cease on the edges of the Wetland Park although and it’s not unusual to seek out hippos wandering the again streets seeking contemporary grass.
The realm is wealthy in wildlife however presents loads of actions that transcend a typical safari!
Safari in iSimangaliso Wetland Park
The most well-liked factor to do in St Lucia is to move into the iSimangaliso Wetland Park on a safari or sport drive to catch the large 5. St Lucia safaris will be carried out as a tour or on a self-drive, relying on whether or not you have got your personal automobile. You don’t have to have a 4×4 and there are well-maintained street networks for sport viewing.
Rhino encounter in iSimangaliso Nationwide Park
Most of the St Lucia South Africa motels or lodges can organize excursions and sport drives into the Wetland Park for you. These excursions are normally carried out in open-air safari autos and are both half or full-day excursions.
Boat Cruise in St Lucia Estuary
The St Lucia estuary is the largest estuarine lake system in Southern Africa. The shallow waters listed here are the right habitat for crocodiles and hippos and on a St Lucia estuary boat cruise, you might be nearly assured to identify them frolicking within the water. The lake and waterway system can be identified for its ample chicken species together with fish eagles, kingfishers and herons, which you’ll be able to see on any boat safari.
Boat cruise in St Lucia estuary
The St Lucia hippo cruise boats go away from simply exterior of city and will be organized with any of the St Lucia lodging choices or booked upfront right here.
Go to the Seashores
St Lucia seashores, South Africa are a preferred place to go to and the untouched sandy shoreline on this a part of the nation feels fully completely different to the seashores on the Backyard Route.
A well-liked seashore close to St Lucia is at Mission Rocks Reserve simply 16km from St Lucia. The attractive seashore space is excellent for fishing however the presence of huge marine sport and rocky reefs make it disagreeable for swimming.
Mission Rocks Seashore in iSimangaliso Wetland Park, South Africa
Cape Vidal seashore additional up the coast is a higher possibility for swimming and snorkeling.
However watch out whereas swimming within the seashores close to St Lucia, because the tides and currents are robust and may change into fairly harmful.
Snorkeling at Cape Vidal
Cape Vidal, South Africa lies contained in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, 30km north of St Lucia. There’s a wealthy number of marine life within the waters across the Cape and the easiest way to expertise it’s by taking a snorkeling tour the place you possibly can discover the rock swimming pools across the shoreline.
Seashore at Cape Vidal
Day journey to Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park is the oldest proclaimed nature reserve on your entire continent. It opened in 1895 with 96 000 hectares of parkland. It’s a real wildlife haven notably identified for having the most important inhabitants of white rhino on the earth.
The park is situated simply 50km away, on to the west of St Lucia city. The Nyalazi Gate contained in the southern Imfolozi Park is the closest entry level from St Lucia. You possibly can discover the world both on an organised safari tour or self-drive.
Seek for Loggerhead and Leatherback Turtles
In case you’re questioning what to do in St Lucia, South Africa in summer season then looking for turtle nesting websites is the primary attraction. From November to March you possibly can head out to observe these enormous animals making their manner ashore to put their eggs.
Turtle nesting
The excursions run at evening and require you to drive alongside the shoreline seeking these lovely turtles. Relying on the nesting course of, you will get a bit nearer to {photograph} them with out making any disturbances.
Child turtles are completely lovable!
In case you are fortunate, you may also see turtles hatching later within the season. Witnessing tiny child turtles emerge from their shells and make their manner in the direction of the water’s edge is a really particular sight.
Whale Watching
From June to November every year it’s doable to catch a glimpse of the spectacular Humpback whales on their migration to the tropics. Whale watching boat excursions head out on the water and help you get nearer to admire these magnificent animals.
Deep-Sea Fishing
Deep-sea fishing is a particularly well-liked exercise round St Lucia, South Africa. With the tropical heat waters all yr spherical, you possibly can catch and launch all types of game-fish. Whereas fishing St Lucia South Africa, you’ll probably come throughout shad, perch, grunter and shark.
Horseback Driving
You possibly can go horseback using on the seashore on the Indian Ocean shoreline or into the St Lucia wetlands, South Africa. Relying in your earlier expertise, you possibly can go for one hour or as much as half-day excursions.
Zulu Cultural Tour
In case you’re within the Zulu tradition, you possibly can head to an area up to date village to get an perception into the Zulu lifestyle. You possibly can even watch a conventional Zulu cultural present together with dancing and music.
Any of the St Lucia South Africa lodging choices might manage a visit to a village for you.
Lodging, St Lucia, South Africa
Forest Lodge $$$
Forest Lodge is a good midrange St Lucia lodging possibility with a swimming pool surrounded by a leafy backyard. They’ve 17 en-suite rooms, adorned in a contemporary and easy fashion. They’ll additionally provide a variety of St Lucia, South Africa actions.
Forest Lodge, St Lucia
Umlilo Lodge $$$
Umlilo Lodge presents 12 snug en-suite visitor rooms in a tropical treehouse-style St Lucia lodge. The leafy gardens across the property and an on-site fish pond make you’re feeling like you might be staying deep in nature. The restaurant presents contemporary domestically sourced produce with wholesome breakfast choices.
Price range Tented Village @ City Glamping $
The City Glamping Tented Village is a novel funds lodging in St Lucia presents each non-public rooms and dormitories. A whole lot of their rooms are in tented, glamping fashion set-ups with primary however snug amenities. In addition they have an outside swimming pool and an open kitchen for self-catering.
Important Journey Information
Get to St Lucia
It’s a full day’s drive to get from Johannesburg to St Lucia, with round 600km distance between the 2 locations. However the street is paved and is simple to navigate by automotive.
St Lucia Estuary, iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Get Round St Lucia
The city of St Lucia is compact and straightforward to discover on foot. Most excursions and day journeys across the space depart from St Lucia and embrace transportation, so when you arrive in St Lucia, you possibly can park your automotive for a number of days. You gained’t be needing it!
Have you ever visited St Lucia, South Africa earlier than? What had been your favorite actions on the town?