Overview
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Spot hippos during a hippo and croc tour
One of the most exciting and famous attractions in St. Lucia are the hippo and croc tours. During one of these tours, you sail on the river for 2 hours and you will get the chance to see multiple groups of hippos, called ‘pots’, up close. They are very fascinating animals and it is very unique to be able to see them this close and yet safely. If you are lucky, there is also a chance that you will see crocodiles during the tour but also many unique birds and different types of lizards. If you are short on time and can only do one thing in St. Lucia, we definitely advice you to go for a hippo and croc tour.
Did you know...
...that hippos are one of the most dangerous animals in Africa? They might look cute and chubby, but in fact they are very territorial and can get very aggressive. They can run up to 45km/h and every year about 500 people are killed bij hippos.
At night, these giant animals leave the water and roam through the streets of St. Lucia. When you encounter one, make sure you keep a safe distance. It is even recommended to always take your car, even for short distances.
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Eastern Shores & Cape Vidal - iSimangaliso Wetland Park
iSimangaliso Wetland Park is a huge protected area along part of the east coast of South Africa. In 1999, it was listed as South Africa’s first World Heritage Site. The whole park consists of several sections that can be reached from different access gates. One of the most famous sections of the wetland park, and accessible from St. Lucia, is the Eastern Shores and Cape Vidal. Those two places offer the perfect combination of bush and beach. Cape Vidal is the most beautiful beach on the east shore of South Africa and the perfect place to go swimming or snorkeling. To reach this beach, you drive through the Eastern Shores section. On your way, several loop roads take you along some scenic lookout points and give you the opportunity for game viewing. In this section, you can find 4 of the big five: elephants, rhinos, buffalos, leopards, but also hippos, crocodiles, hyaenas and many smaller species of fascinating animals. It might not be the best park for wildlife spotting, but the combination of beach, safari and beautiful landscapes makes it worth a visit.
Besides self driving though the different sections of the park, there are many other unique activities you can do in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. It has a very diverse marine life, including humpback whales, dolphins, rare turtles, whale sharks, marlin and sailfish. Therefor, it is the perfect place activities such as whale watching and turtle tours.
Practical
Adults: 51R
Vehicle: 61R
1 April – 31 October: 6am–6pm
1 November – 31 March: 5am–7pm
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Go on safari in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi park
Aaah… Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, our absolute favorite nature park in South Africa! This big five game reserve is one of South Africa’s oldest and most renowned wildlife reserves. It is known for its conservation efforts, and significant role in saving the white rhinoceros from extinction due to hunting. There were only about 20 rhinos left when the specialists of the Game Capture Unit protected the rhino from extinction with their “Operation White Rhino”. There are now more than 1,400 white and 300 black rhinos. If you are lucky, you can spot not only the rhinos but all the big five animals and many other big and smaller wildlife here.
Previously, Hluhluwe and Imfolozi were two separate parks. Now, the two parks are connected by the Corridor Reserve and seen as one reserve, making it on of South Africa’s largest parks. It was by far our favorite parks, because it was at least as beautiful as Kruger, but way less busy. During our time in the park, we only saw one or two other cars. You can choose to do a self drive or you can join a safari in an open game drive vehicle. It is definitely a must-visit and one of the highlights of South Africa, if you ask us.
Practical
Adults: 240 R
6 am - 5 pm
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St Lucia Estuary and Boardwalk
The St. Lucia Estuary is one of the largest estuary’s in South Africa. An estuary is a partially enclosed coastal body of water where freshwater from rivers and streams meets and mixes with saltwater from the ocean. St Lucia town is often referred to as St. Lucia Estuary, but we are talking about the area where the river mouth actually meets the ocean. In this area, there is a chance to see crocodiles laying along the river banks and shore, but also hippos might be around this place. From locals, we heard there is also one leopard roaming around in this area. But very few people would have seen it because leopards are very shy animals.
What you should definitely do here, is walking over the estuary boardwalk. This nice wooden boardwalk takes you along a part of the estuary, through the bushes and trees. It is a fun way to explore the area and search for wildlife, such as birdlife (for example flamingos), crocodiles, monkeys and who knows, even the leopard. Known that these are still wild animals, so always be careful when walking around the estuary.
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Beaches of St Lucia
The coastline of St. Lucia reaches as far as the eye can see, with numerous beautiful beaches. When the weather is good, it is the perfect place to relax or go for a lovely beach walk in the evening. If you want to go for a swim, you should be careful as there might be strong currents. We heard you should not go swimming close to the estuary because of presence of crocodiles. Also alcohol is not allowed on the beach and you will be checked for that.
The beaches of St Lucia are also known for various activities such as shore angling, surfing and bodyboarding. From November to the end of March each year, you get the chance to see different turtle species because of turtle egg-laying season. Earlier in the year, from June to the end of November, you might be able to witness the humpback whales migrating past the beaches of St Lucia.
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Where to stay in St. Lucia
Although St. Lucia is a small village, there are quite a few different accommodations to choose from.
We really enjoyed our stay at African Dreamz Guest House. The owners are super friendly, hospitable and helpful. They serve a delicious breakfast and do their utmost to ensure that you experience as little inconvenience as possible from the loadsheddings.
If you are looking for a slightly more unique accommodation, we definitely recommend Luxury Tented Village. Here, you sleep in a glamping tent and really feel like you are in the middle of nature in the middle of the village. The village consists of two parts: a part where you can be more on your own and a hostel part, where you can meet other travelers. So there is literally something for everyone in St Lucia.
How many days should you stay in St. Lucia
St. Lucia itself is very small, but because it is situated at the edge of the iSimangaliso wetlands, there is so much to do in the area. It is a very relaxed and laid back village and therefore the perfect place for some rest. To enjoy both the activities and the relaxation, we recommend spending 3 to 4 days in the area. This way, you have enough time to do different activities and at the same time enjoy the laid back atmosphere of St. Lucia.
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