iSimangaliso Wetland Park

Kwazulu Natal , South Africa

Declared South Africa’s first World Heritage Site in 1999 iSimangaliso Wetland Park is an exceptional collection of some of South Africa’s most unique and spectacular natural wonders. iSimangaliso means ‘Miracle and Wonder’ and this is evident in the 332 000 hectare park which stretches 220 kilometres up the Indian Ocean coastline all the way to Mozambique. Some of the special attractions of the area include three beautiful lake systems, 700 year old fishing traditions, 526 species of birds, Africa’s largest estuarine system, some of the greatest coral diversity in the world and 25 000 year old golden coastal dunes. The biodiversity of the area is both staggering and unusual and was summed up nicely by Nelson Mandela who said “iSimangaliso must be the only place on the globe where the oldest land mammal (the rhinoceros) and the world’s biggest terrestrial mammal (the elephant) share an ecosystem with the world’s oldest fish (the coelacanth) and the world’s biggest marine mammal (the whale)”. The favourite destinations in iSimangaliso, which the Wetland Park refers to as ‘The Ten Jewels’, are made up of Lake St Lucia, False Bay, Kosi Bay, Lake Sibaya, Coastal forest, Sodwana Bay, Mkhuze Game Reserve, Western Shores and Charters Creek, Eastern Shores and Cape Vidal and Maphelane.

Activities in and around iSimangaliso are endless. For beach and sea lovers there are excellent diving and snorkeling opportunities in what is arguably some of the best dive spots in the world. Other beach and marine activities include turtle safaris (season depending), horse riding, deep sea fishing, salt water fly fishing, rock and shore fishing, and boat cruises including those for whale and dolphin watching. Other activities in the area are game drives, walking safaris, bird watching, camping, boat cruises, community tours and estuarine fishing.

Lodges and Camps :

• Rocktail Beach Camp
• Thonga Beach Lodge
• Makakatana Bay Lodge
• Kosi Forest Lodge