What you see is what you will find here. St. Lucia is well-known for its birdlife, particularly the thousands of waterbirds that congregate here. The lake is home to a large population of crocodiles and hippos, as well as rhino, buffalo, waterbuck, impala, Nyala, kudu, and a variety of other wild animals.
Location & How to get there:
It is located in the north-eastern part of South Africa in the Kwazulu-Natal province. The road distance is 245.6 km north of Durban. One has easy access to this incredible little town, approximately 2 hours 50 min., and this destination remains magnificent and wild, with hippos roaming the residential streets at night.
The quickest way to travel from Durban to Saint Lucia is by taxi, which takes 2 hours and 44 minutes from Durban. But I would strongly advise against it. Instead, rent a car from the airport, where there are many car rental companies, and then you can ride freely.
That is exactly what I did. The driving distance between King Shaka International Airport and Saint Lucia is 211 km, so it takes approximately 2 hours and a few minutes.
This small and charming town was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999, and it has quickly become a popular tourist destination. So, why don’t you come with me and discover the beauty of this place?
If you’re looking for an amazing vacation around South Africa but aren’t sure where to go, St Lucia may be just what you need! Here are some of the great reasons why you should visit this places.
(01) ISimangaliso Wetland Park
This is a beautiful all-in-one reserve with gorgeous beach viewing sites and lengthy dune systems. The camping and lodging facilities are well-kept and very secure, there is a small convenience shop within the reserve and welcomed to visit. The majority of the roadways are paved, and unexpected animal encounters are common.
The iSimangaliso Wetland Park is one of Africa’s most remarkable natural wetland and coastal attractions. It encompasses a diverse spectrum of pristine marine, coastal, wetland, estuarine, and terrestrial ecosystems that are scenically stunning and mostly unaltered by humans.
To enjoy the beauty of this place, just drive carefully through the reserve, admiring the hippo, elephant, and tortoise that emerge from the woods.
This spot is a great tourist destination. It gets a rating of four stars from my side . Along with the animals, there are locations in semi-forested areas to explore (plant life). There are many beautiful birds to be found. Views of the landscape are already available at the spot. It is a lovely place.
(02) Hippo & Crocodile Tours-St Lucia
This was one of my best experiences around this amazing place. I had a great time on a 2 hour tour of Lake St. Lucia. I saw quite a few hippos and crocodiles. The captain was good and professional.
HIPPO AND CROCODILE CRUISE ON ST LUCIA ESTUARY
Two hours of pleasure on the passenger boat, Advantage Cruiser, to explore the St. Lucia Estuary for up-close encounters with hippos, crocodiles, mangrove swamps, and birds like the African fish eagle and Giant kingfisher.
The boats in general , has enough seats, travels from the Sunset Jetty to the Narrows, which is 6 kilometers north of the St Lucia Bridge.the tours are different depends of the organization,
The main objective of this exploration is to provide knowledge of the spectacular St Lucia Estuary ecosystem, whilst providing an opportunity for photographs and memories that will last a lifetime.
(03) Night Drive Safari
A night drive is a very different experience than a day safari. See how the guides discover the smallest of critters, notably chameleons or the elusive leopard but never see one on my trip; get your pulse racing with an elephant close to the game drive truck, and much more.
You will be picked up from your hotel place in an open game viewer.
3 hour game drive across the Eastern or Western Shores of iSimangaliso Wetland Park.
Some coffee will be provided.
In the winter, blankets will be given.
In 1999, the iSimangaliso Wetland Park was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The territory is vast, stretching from St Lucia in the south to the Mozambique border in the north..
(04) Cultural Village Tour - St Lucia
One of my best experiences was experiencing Zulu culture through this cultural village in St. Lucia, which is only a short distance from Isimangaliso. Indulge yourself and enjoy.
The Veyane Village tour brings you into the heart of a true working Zulu village, where ancient customs meet modern culture. you are allowed to dress in a Zulu traditional costume as you can see myself. Exchanges with the village members are very rewarding.
A must-visit place when you arrive in Saint Lucia! This tour is incredible, and they are doing incredible job. They are really nice and eager to share their history and and almost everything you want to know about their forefathers!! You’ll adore it!!
(05) St Lucia South Africa Beaches
St Lucia beach is a popular tourist destination, and it is well-organized, clean, and accessible. If you’re in the vicinity and want to go to the beach, there’s no mistake about it. The beach area offers three distinct parking lots with easy access and restrooms (Main Beach, Jabula Beach, and Ingwe Beach).
Swimming is permitted on these beaches, but please keep in mind that there are no shark nets or lifeguards on duty because I never see one unless some are for the moment , so swimming is at your own risk. These beaches are around 2 kilometers from St. Lucia’s town. On the beaches, alcohol is not authorized.
(06) Best places to stay in St Lucia South Africa
When we are planning a journey to a new location, lodging is one of the first considerations that comes to mind, and this tiny paradise includes every type of lodging you could possibly require. Hotels, apartments, bed and breakfasts, luxury lodges, boutique lodges, and home stays are among the lodging options. Holiday Campgrounds and Parks boarding houses.
As previously noted, Saint Lucia in South Africa is a quaint beach town with much to discover. It is surrounded by a number of natural parks, including the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve, which protects the last remaining white rhinoceros in the world, and the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, which is a part of UNESCO’s protected heritage.
The north-east coast of South Africa may best be explored from here. I advise you to stay nearby at the businesses listed below so you can take advantage of all the things this location has to offer. They are the top accommodations in St. Lucia, South Africa, in my opinion.
(07) Discover Mission Rocks Beach
Located 16 kilometers north of the estuary of St. Lucia, The beach at Mission Rocks provides good fishing opportunities and is suitable for people wishing to unwind in nature away from the town life and stress of course.
It’s a beautiful vista and a great beach. Swimming is not advised due to the presence of rocks along the coastline. but adorable for the family picnic.
A lovely rocky beach! This is definitely a stop you should make on your trip to Cape Vidal. Remember to bring your camera since the rocky beach is breathtaking.
(08) Visit Cape Vidal-St Lucia
It takes around 38 minutes to travel from St Lucia to Cape Vidal. This location gives the best of both worlds: it is located on the beautiful Zululand coast, with its incredible marine life, and it allows direct access to the Eastern Shores Nature Reserve, which is home to elephant, rhino, buffalo, crocodile, hippo, and reedbuck, to mention a few.
(09) Visit Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, originally well known as Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve, ranked as Africa’s first proclaimed natural reserve. It is located 280 kilometers north of Durban in northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa,
is recognized for its diverse wildlife and conservation initiatives. You must go there; it is not like those orchestrated tourist visits.
This place is one of the best Big 5 parks in the country, if not in the continent. The scenery is lush, and the animals are plentiful and appear to be in good health i believe . The self-drive roads are great, and there are incredible sightings in every region of the park.
The accommodations and services around are a little old, but you’re there for the untamed outdoors.
This is a genuine one-of-a-kind and must-do experience! Because of the great demand all year, reservations should be made in advance.
NB.My vacation to this site was not in vain since I will return again and again. This site has a lot more to offer practically everyone, but you’ll need a few more days or maybe a week to see it all.
