St. Lucia is a small town, next to the St. Lucia Estuary within the iSimangaliso Wetland Park in KwaZulu-Natal. The estuary connects Lake St. Lucia to the Indian Ocean. The town is a haven for fishermen and during South Africa's holiday seasons and summer weekends it literally swarms with pick-up trucks and visitors with fishing rods. During the rest of the year it is a rustic hideaway and great base from which to explore the Estuary and sandy beaches
The estuary was named Santa Lucia by Portuguese explorers who first reached it in 1576. Santa Lucia is the name of an Ezemvelo (parks-board) boat that operates 1.5-hour cruises on the Estuary three to four times a day. Our preferred (private) cruise operator is Advantage Tours. You will see large numbers of hippos, some crocodiles, various water birds and often African Fish Eagle. If you have limited time to spend in town we suggest that you opt for this activity.
The town is also home to the St. Lucia Crocodile Centre. Originally established to help replenish the crocodile population of Lake St. Lucia and its estuary, it now fulfills an educational function.
A host of other activities are on offer in the area including whale watching cruises,game drives, hiking trails and snorkeling excursions to nearby Cape Vidal.
Discover the main things to do, see and experience in South Africa, including beautiful winelands, majestic mountain ranges, rolling wheat and sugarcane fields, caves, beaches and rocky shorelines, forests and pristine wilderness areas. Explore by game drive vehicle, hike in beautiful environs and enjoy our beloved country’s rich cultural diversity.
Highlights:
Cape Town
,
Cape Winelands
,
Stellenbosch
,
Oudtshoorn
,
Route 62
,
Garden Route
,
Knysna
,
Oudtshoorn ostrich farms
,
Cango Caves
,
Sunshine Coast
,
Wild Coast
,
Transkei
,
KwaZulu-Natal
,
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
,
St. Lucia
,
Kruger National Park
,
Swaziland
,
Panorama Route
.
The German-guided version of our tour that covers the highlights of South Africa (link to English tour provided as well). It provides a mix of cities, countryside, historical sites, scenic drives, nature, wildlife, culture and people. The southbound tour starts in Johannesburg and ends in Cape Town.
Highlights:
Panorama Route
,
Blyde River Canyon
,
Kruger National Park
,
Swaziland
,
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve
,
St. Lucia
,
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
,
Transkei
,
Garden Route
,
Storm’s River Mouth
,
Knysna
,
Cango Caves
,
Route 62
,
Cape Winelands
,
Stellenbosch
,
Paarl
,
Cape Town
.
This private guided tour covers the highlights of South Africa and is ideal for first time visitors to the country. It provides a mix of cities, countryside, historical sites, scenic drives, nature, wildlife, culture and people. The southbound tour starts in Johannesburg and ends in Cape Town.
Highlights:
Panorama Route
,
Blyde River Canyon
,
Kruger National Park
,
Swaziland
,
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve
,
St. Lucia
,
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
,
Transkei
,
Garden Route
,
Storm’s River Mouth
,
Knysna
,
Cango Caves
,
Route 62
,
Cape Winelands
,
Stellenbosch
,
Paarl
,
Cape Town
.
This self-drive tour covers the highlights of South Africa and is ideal for first time visitors to the country. It provides a mix of cities, countryside, historical sites, scenic drives, nature, wildlife, culture and people. The southbound tour starts in Johannesburg and ends in Cape Town.
Highlights:
Panorama Route
,
Blyde River Canyon
,
Kruger National Park
,
Swaziland
,
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve
,
St. Lucia
,
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
,
Transkei
,
Garden Route
,
Storm’s River Mouth
,
Knysna
,
Cango Caves
,
Route 62
,
Cape Winelands
,
Stellenbosch
,
Paarl
,
Cape Town
.
iSimangaliso Wetland Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that stretches along a coastal belt of 220 km and covers an area of 332,000 ha. It includes three major lake systems and five interlinking eco systems. It features a huge diversity of animal, plant and marine life.
The 360 square kilometre Lake St. Lucia in KwaZulu-Natal is the largest inland body of water in South Africa and the jewel in the crown of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park - a UNESCO World Heritage Site.The lake has a healthy fish population, supports a huge variety of bird species and is home to ±800 hippos and scores of crocodiles.
The Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park (prev. Hluhluwe-Umfolozi) is the oldest game reserve in Africa. It is situated in the North of the Kwa-Zulu Natal Province. It covers 96,000 ha of varied ecosystems. Relative to its size, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi is home to the largest population of the endangered white rhino in the world with between 1 500 and 2 000.
The small town of Hluhluwe in Northern Natal is popular because of its close proximity to the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park (previously called Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve) and the iSimangaliso Wetland Park.
The St Lucia lake is the largest estuarine system in Africa and is part of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, meaning place of wonder/ miracle. It is home to a huge population of hippos and many crocodiles. It is also a birder's paradise. A number of companies operate boat trips on the estuary that last 2 hours on average.
The North Coast of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa with its wonderful stretches of unspoiled sandy beaches and the moderate climate offers swimming all year round. Inland you see rolling fields of sugar cane. The coast is known as the Dolphin coast, due to the frequent sighting of dolphins in the waves nearby.