Sweet coconuts, soft avocado pears, and ripe bananas are all part of this land. The Elephant Coast in KwaZulu Natal is home to roaming elephant herds and sun-bathing hippos, and it also has several sweet coconuts and soft avocado pears. It is the perfect place for anyone – whether you are a sensitive ecologist, a great outdoors lover, or if you want to relax on Mission Rock’s boulders with your hook, line, and sinker. This paradise on earth’s beating heart even has a saintlike nickname: St. Lucia. It is the only village not surrounded by a Natural World Heritage Site.
In 1999, the Greater St. Lucia Wetlands Park South Africa’s first Natural World Heritage Status. It stretches over 280km of coastline and reaches the St Lucia Estuary south of Mozambique. St. Lucia is a hub for eco-tourism and the center of 21 ecosystems. The dense, evergreen, tall fig trees surround lush undergrowth with wild orchids and ferns—the undulating landscape with palm savannahs containing thousands of rough dates and lala palms. Myriads of beautiful birds call Swamp forests home, with their large raffias as well as tangled masses of greenery and lush swathes.
This area is unique in Africa because of its incredible variety of freshwater ecosystems. There are large rivers, flood plains, large clear beaches, deep clear lakes, extensive papyrus swamps, and small semi-permanent pots. It is the perfect place to be observant, whether you are underwater, above water, or on land.
After extensive hunting for ivory and rhino horn, the ecological importance of wildlife and fish resources was only discovered and protected in the late 19th century. The Estuary’s sleeping beauty has been a landmark for the area for more than 100 years. But be aware that the hippo’s soft yawn is a powerful force to be reckoned with after so many peaceful years. You can get up close and personal with the croc’s nose or the croc’s 66 teeth by taking a river tour boat down the Estuary. The most luxurious passenger ferry designed to travel into shallow water is the Advantage. Know everything about DELTA CANCELLATION POLICY before booking a flight to St. Lucia – South Africa.
We boarded the ferry to take the sundowner tour. It was a lovely April evening, and it is one of the best months for visiting the Greater Wetlands. The Indian Ocean cools St Lucia’s winter’s tropical heat, which compares to a European Summer. With little to do but get the cameras ready and fill up the drinks, the first 12km up the Estuary fill with anticipation. The captain soon spotted the first river horse herd, and everyone on board began to move dangerously towards the boat’s lee – all eager to capture that perfect holiday shot. The captain made the following heart-breaking announcement at three o’clock: Crocodiles were on the shores beneath the mangrove trees. A few meters from the ancient reptile stood a Kudu, watching us out while a Giant Kingfisher sat watchfully in the tree over it. It was picture perfect!
Crocodile encounters can make at the Crocodile Park, just outside St. Lucia. As long as one does not climb the fences and moves slowly around the enclosures (everything on wheels gets a brake system overhaul first), it’s safe. The center, a great family getaway, features crocodiles from the region. It also has a breeding program for two endangered African species of crocodile – the Dwarf crocodile and the Long Snout crocodile. They also have the best coffee we’ve had while on vacation!
However, St Lucia offers more than just hippos and crocs. It also has fishers who try their luck at the coast and deep-sea fishing grounds. Guided tours to restricted areas provide a deeper understanding of the diverse ecosystems and habitats in the region. Most tours are available throughout the year, except turtle and whale watching because these species migrate in the summer. Night drives are a great way to explore the Eastern Shores and see the nocturnal activities such as chameleons. Wetland Tours offers daytime game-watching and bird-watching as well as snorkeling and hiking. Guided hiking tours, kayaking, canoeing, and horse riding tours are all eco-sensitive activities that allow visitors to learn environmental information in an entertaining and informative manner.
This paradise is a haven for anglers looking to catch shad and rock cod, marlin, and sailfish. Registered guides offer guided fishing safaris and deep-sea charters, boat-based spearfishing, shore fishing, estuary fishing, and kite fishing in July or August. Daily trips are available to see the Humpback whales that migrate to the tropics from May through October. The turtle tours are another spectacular way to see the area. They are available from November through March and include sightings of Loggerhead and Leatherback turtles nesting in titanium sands.