St Lucia Wildlife Reserve

The St Lucia Wildlife Reserve, located in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, is a unique and diverse ecosystem that offers a wide range of activities and experiences for visitors. The reserve is home to a variety of wildlife, including leopard, buffalo, bushbuck, bushpig, warthog, crocodiles, hippo, and red duiker, as well as numerous bird species. Visitors can enjoy self-guided trails, such as the Gwalagwala Trail and the Imvubu Trail, which offer opportunities to see impala, grey duiker, zebra, blue wildebeest, reedbuck, and kudu. The St Lucia Estuary is also a popular spot for deep-sea fishing, and visitors can arrange charters through the privately operated St Lucia Ski-boat Club. The Croc Centre provides an informative display on the iSimangaliso Wetland Park and includes various pens containing crocodiles of varying sizes, a tea garden, and a curio shop. The Santa Lucia boat tour offers guided tours of the estuary, providing sightings of hippos, crocodiles, and a variety of birdlife. The reserve also offers accommodation options, including self-catering tents and cabins, cottages, and private lodges. However, it's worth noting that some activities, such as swimming and surfing, are restricted due to the presence of sharks and crocodiles, and visitors are advised to exercise caution when bathing in the surf. Additionally, the reserve has rules in place to protect the environment and wildlife, such as no pets allowed, no camping in undesignated areas, and no generators in campsites