Explore the wetlands of iSimangaliso Wetland Park

The UNESCO-listed iSimangaliso Wetland Park invites visitors to fully immerse themselves in untamed nature. iSimangaliso is full of diverse scenery, including savannas, beaches, dunes, and forests, meaning there are many great spots for nature lovers to observe the local biodiversity.

This park is home to the largest concentration of hippopotamuses and crocodiles in South Africa. Your local Evaneos agency can recommend an experienced guide to take you on a hike through the iSimangaliso reserve for another way to discover all of its beauty. Let Sodwana Bay tempt you for a dive, and explore the coral reef and the extraordinary marine life that thrives there. In November, don't miss the loggerhead and leatherback turtles that come to lay their eggs on the park's beaches. Savor this moment of relaxation by lingering over lunch on Cape Vidal beach.

Meanwhile, uMkhuze's birding area (in the west of the park) is home to nearly 400 species of birds. You can also spot other animals here, including elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, antelopes, and black rhinoceroses.

No visit to iSimangaliso Wetland Park is complete without exploring the Lake St. Lucia estuary. Take a boat to see its many hippopotamus and crocodile families up close. You can also observe the humpback whales near Saint Lucia by taking a boat out for just a few hours, especially if you go during the winter between June and October. If you're spending the night in the town of Saint Lucia, avoid walking around in the streets, because hippopotamuses are known to wander into the settlement and they can be dangerous.