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ST LUCIA - ELEPHANT COAST
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  St Lucia, KwaZulu Natal:
When one speaks of St Lucia, really one is referring to the Great St
Lucia Wetland Park, South Africa’s third largest park. On the north-eastern coast
of KwaZulu Natal,
this wilderness reserve covers some 280 km of coastline, stretching from Kozi Bay in the
north to Cape St Lucia in the south and was the first park in South Africa to be declared
a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999. The park includes Lake St Lucia
and its estuary, a surround of wildlife reserve, a number of islands and a section of the
Marine Reserve along the coast. It is home to five recognisable ecosystems and includes
swamps, lake systems, coral reefs, beaches, wetlands, woodlands and coastal forests.
The Great St Lucia Wetland Park supports the country’s largest population of hippos and
crocodiles. It is also home to leatherback
turtles, black rhino, leopards, over 530 species of birds, including greater and
lesser flamingos, and some 36 species of amphibians. The park supports more species of
animal than the larger and more well-known Kruger
National Park. The unique combination of subtropical coastline and African Game Park
is what draws visitors as well as the sheer viewing pleasure - this is one of the most
beautiful spots on earth.
During November sea turtles come to the beaches to lay their eggs, whales frequent the
waves from June through September, making their way southwards and the park is a very
popular fishing destination, providing surf fishing, kite fishing, fly fishing, spear
fishing and deep sea fishing. There are also a number of hiking trails through the park,
some of them a few days worth of walking.
There is no limit to activities in the area. There are hippo cruises, kayak safaris, game
safaris and the beautiful beaches with their high sand dunes are perfect for walks, volley
ball and sunbathing. The town of St Lucia proper is at the most southern entrance to the
park, about 300 km from Durban. |
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 Overnight at accommodation in St Lucia or
find an hotel
in St Lucia.
Also see Elephant
Coast accommodation or find Elephant
Coast Hotels. |
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| The
Greater St Lucia Wetlands Park |
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 Greater St Lucia Wetlands Park: An eco-tourism wonderland of
beautiful lakes, swamps, forests and marshlands surrounding the estuary of Lake St Lucia.
This area was declared as one of South Africa’s first World Heritage Sites and is no
doubt one of the most beautiful wetlands areas in the world ... additional info » |
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| Hippos
/ Hippopotamus |
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 Hippopotamus: The hippopotamus, whose
hide alone can weigh half a ton, is the third-largest living land mammal, after elephants
and white rhinos. It was considered a female deity of pregnancy in ancient Egypt, but in
modern times has been wiped out of that country because of the damage it inflicts on
... additional
info » |
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« KwaZulu Natal Game Reserves
| South
Africa Game Reserves » |
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| Car Hire South Africa: You
can hire from international and local companies which offer a wide range of cars, from
budget to luxury. For the best deals book your car before travelling ... |
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