Things to do in St Lucia

Experience the rolling hills of the Savannah grasslands and a magical African sunrise. Sit back and relax while your ranger takes you to the best areas within the park. With trained eyes and years of experience, your ranger will undoubtedly deliver some magnificent sightings. Learn more about this fascinating park and the incredible history of when King Shaka used the lower Umfolozi as his personal hunting grounds or how the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park single-handedly saved the rhinos from near extinction. The park is home not only to the African Big 5 (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo) but also includes cheetahs, wild dogs, and many more. Enjoy breakfast and lunch at one of the numerous scenic picnic areas within the park. The tour concludes with a drop off at the Nyalazi Gate or alternatively, drop off back at your accommodation in St. Lucia.

Meet your friendly instructors in Cape Vidal, just an hour drive through iSimangaliso Wetland Park from St. Lucia. The park is a protected area that runs along the coast of South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal Provice, and is home to an abundance of hippos, crocodiles, penguins, flamingos, elephants, giraffes, and leopards, spanning across the various landscapes. The adventure begins with a safety briefing on the beach and time to get kitted out with all the snorkel gear. Next, head into the water for a 1 to 1.5-hour exploration of Cape Vidal’s underwater world. Follow your instructor as you go in search of marine life, with the opportunity to see stingrays, octopus, butterfly fish, sturgeon fish, and many more. By the end of the trip, you will have spotted around 50 different species of fish. Back on dry land, warm up with a cup of tea, coffee, or hot chocolate as you page through the fascinating fish ID book to point out what you have seen.

After pickup from your accommodations, your guide will take you on a safari drive in iSimangaliso Wetland Park. You'll have the chance to see many animals in their natural habitat including elephants, hippos, rhinos, hyenas, buffalos, zebras, wildebeest, antelopes, chameleons and if you're lucky, perhaps a leopard. Then head to the beach for 2 hours of snorkeling and discover over 50 different species of fish. If you're not a keen snorkeler, you can enjoy the beach on your own or go for a little birdwatching walk on the forest dunes of Cape Vidal with another guide. Your tour is conducted in a laid-back, yet professional manner and includes breakfast and a delicious African braai (barbeque) lunch.

Get picked up from your hotel in St. Lucia and travel to the iSimangaliso Wetlands Park, a huge protected area along the coast of South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal Province. The park’s centerpiece is the vast Lake St. Lucia, home to a large number of hippos, crocodiles, pelicans, and flamingos. Elephants, giraffes, and leopards inhabit the grasslands and forests of the nearby Western Shores and Charters Creek areas. To the north, Sodwana Bay is known for its colorful coral reefs. Upon arrival, gear up and set off on an exciting three-hour drive through the park's many ecosystems. Keep an eye out for the wide variety of species that call iSimangaliso home. As the sun begins to set, your guide will take you to the perfect spot to appreciate the African sunset. When darkness falls, take on the challenge of spotting chameleons and other nocturnal species, all of which are more active after nightfall. Get dropped off back at your accommodation in St Lucia.

Enjoy an open game drive safari in South Africa's first UNESCO World Heritage Site. Start with pickup from St Lucia or Durban, and after a brief introduction, enter the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. While on safari, enjoy the spectacular natural beauty of the park as you explore numerous loop roads, outcrops, and lookout points. With knowledgeable and experienced guides, discover an abundance of wildlife species in the park. Search for Africa's Big 5 game animals: lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and Cape buffalo. Spot other animals such as waterbuck, impala, wildebeest, zebra, warthog, reedbuck, chameleon, giraffe, and hyena. Enjoy a stop at Cape Vidal, a protected bay and beach area. Take some time for snorkeling or swimming in the waters surrounding this resort destination, and enjoy some lunch on site. See the highest vegetative dunes on the African continent and enjoy plenty of scenic photo opportunities throughout the day.

Travel from Durban to St. Lucia on a 3-hour drive in the comfort of a Ford Tourneo 8 seater mini van or Ford Everest 6/7 seater (subject to availability). When you arrive in St. Lucia your guide will tell you about the history of the Durban and St. Lucia areas. South Africa’s first World Heritage Site, in St. Lucia, is known as ISimangeliso Wetland Park. Your guide will lead you along the Board Walk from the estuary to the Indian Ocean, as you spot crocodiles and hippos. Later you’ll visit a crocodile farm to learn more about these amazing creatures. Head out on a 2-hour Lake St. Lucia boat safari to see the amazing varieties of habitats, including mangrove swamps, savannas, grasslands, and riverine forest.

The tour leaves from Durban and heads north of South Africa to Isimangaliso Wetlands Park- Greater St Lucia.The 332,000 hectare Isimangaliso Wetland Park was announced South Africa's first World Heritage Site in December 1999, while its name still remains as the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park. It received this prestigious status in recognition of the beauty of the landscape, its unique ecological processes and the exceptional diversity of species that the park protects. You will go on a 2-hour boat estuary tour where you will have a chance to be close to hippos, crocodiles and the famous fish eagle. After the trip you will take a leisurely walk along the estuary and see the beauty of the coastline area. From there you will go to the Emdoneni Wild Cat Sanctuary where you will have the opportunity to learn more about South Africa's wild cat species. You will be taken aback by the beauty of the caracal, enchanted by the very playful cerval and mesmerized by the speed and agility of the cheetah. The aim of the Emdoneni Wild Cat Sanctuary is to care for wild cats that have been orphaned or injured in the wild and are in need of care and rehabilitation. They also intend to breed successfully if possible and release the offspring back into their natural habitat.

Be on the lookout for the Big 5 at the Hluhluwe Umfolozi Game Reserve. Enjoy closed-vehicle guided game drives and a boat trip on Lake St. Lucia on this 3-day, 2-night African safari. Detailed Itinerary Day 1 You’ll be picked up at your Durban area accommodation at 07:00 and begin the 3-hour drive to Hluhluwe Umfolozi, where your guide will provide information on the history of the area. Enter the site and enjoy a slow game drive to the camp, as you learn about wildlife in the area. You’ll arrive at the camp at approximately 13:00, in time for lunch. Your guide will assist you with check-in and show you your room. You’ll have the choice of taking the optional night drive from 17:00-20:00 (additional fee). If not, you’ll head out with your guide for a 2-3 hour closed-vehicle game drive. Dinner will be served after the game drive. Day 2 Enjoy an early morning game drive, from around 06:00-09:00, in a closed vehicle with your guide, or an optional open-vehicle drive (additional fee). You’ll return to camp for a buffet breakfast at around 09:15, and then have the mid part of the day to yourself. There is a self-guided bush walk within the camp and a swimming pool for your use. Lunch will be served at 13:30. Again, there is an optional extra night drive, from 17:00-20:00 (additional fee). If you do not choose this option, you’ll head out with your guide for a 2-3 hour closed-vehicle game drive. Dinner will be served after the game drive. Day 3 After a 07:00 breakfast, you’ll check out and go on a 2-hour game drive. Afterwards, you’ll leave the camp and head to Lake St. Lucia for a boat cruise. Enjoy a 2-hour boat cruise on Lake St. Lucia, a World Heritage Site located in Isimangeliso Wetland Park. During the cruise you’ll be on the lookout for hippos and crocodiles. In the event of foul weather your guide will take you along the estuary boardwalk instead. Lunch is next on the itinerary, followed by the 3-hour return drive to Durban, arriving at approximately 18:00.