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| SOUTH AFRICA TRAVEL |
| ST LUCIA WETLANDS & CAPE VIDAL ...
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Submitted by: Janet de Jager, 2 May
2007
Centurion, Gauteng, South Africa |
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The Greater St Lucia
Wetland Park and Cape Vidal, Kwa Zulu Natal: The Greater St Lucia Wetland Park,
declared a World Heritage Site in late 1999, it combines numerous natural wonders that are
of global value. It is a unique and wonderful place.
As such St Lucia and Cape Vidal go together. They have wildlife, sun, sea and stretching
white beaches. There are camping, hiking, horse riding, walking, biking, driving, diving,
boating, fishing, eating, swimming, resting and shopping opportunities in abundance. There
are swamps and lakes and beaches and wild territory with wild beasts of all shapes and
sizes. There are even some craft shops and golfing greens. |
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| Click on images
above to view the large gallery photos |
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To get there is easy. Just take all the
little roads of Kwa Zulu Natal or fly to Richardsbay, and drive the last bit of road to St
Lucia. I like flying. And to Richardsbay you can take a plane of olden days that still
glides in the skies and has noisy propellers. Every other day the South African sky is
full of spectacular blue and fluffy grey and white clouds. Genuine experience!
The weather as you step of the plane in Richardsbay is always all salty and balmy and
flavours of the sea. Tasty crayfish and prawns are sold in Richardsbay. Be sure to have a
rest stop and some good directions to St Lucia if you do not know where it is. Also be
sure to have mosquito repellent and sun block on you too.
Beyond your map and the roads, you cross a bridge over the lake into St Lucia. At this
stage one should try to see a hippopotamus. If you are lucky four or five and a boat or
two will be lying about. As you enter St Lucia there are also wooden hippos and crocs
about and crafts and exotic fruits and stuff. If you do not have mosquito repellent and
sun block by this time, buy some soon.
The town of St Lucia has craft shops, beach shops and restaurants that cater for all, and
more. You can even buy bait and tackle and get a permit from the local wildlife protection
office for fishing and taking other things out of the sea and lake.
Be sure to know that St Lucia is crocodile, hippo and monkey territory. These creatures
rule the vast waters and mangrove swamps. Beware! They can eat you! To appreciate some of
these creatures fully, I suggest a boat tour on the picturesque lake that is also abundant
with vegetation and bird-life. To see Fish eagles and Herons are spectacular. Take your
camera and money for snacks and drinks. But please do not trail any part of your body in
the water!
At the entrance to the road from St Lucia to Cape Vidal there is a Crocodile Park where
you can appreciate these dinosaur creatures and stunning other trees and plants up close
and personal. Visit this park early on in your holiday or even more than once if you have
kids, as to further recognise the value of the danger signs placed about the lake and
mangrove territory.
The road between St Lucia and the Cape Vidal beach are wild with zebras, leopards,
antelope, bush pigs and other animals. On the way there, the Mission rocks turn off takes
you to a beach of rocks and sand and a million crabs. This is a wonderful place for
frustrating little fish with little nets and to take out mussels, provided you picked up
that permit to take stuff out of the sea. A fire and a recipe for Mussel soup are always
good to have about in the evenings.
Through enormous trees further along the winding road there is Cape Vidal and the sea. I
can look at this sea forever and ever. Cape Vidal has monkeys that steal your food and
wide and white open beaches. It is a great place to walk and swim and snorkel and built
sand castles. Fishing is also good here. Boats come in and out from the deep sea regularly
with Sailfishes, Barracuda and other catches for all to appreciate. Photos are taken with
really big catches. Fish caught are tasty if you know a fisherman and cook. Sailfish make
good kebabs.
St Lucia and Cape Vidal have their own unique features and great activities for those that
love the sea and the outdoors. You can stay in a hotel, camp or just hang about. There are
nature reserves, hiking and even horseback riding trails around. Be sure to stay at least
a week, but even better, a month. And be sure to dress kids in full costumes and use hats,
mosquito repellent and sun block abundantly. |
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Additional info / Related Pages:
The
Greater St Lucia Wetlands Park
Accommodation
in KwaZulu Natal |
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Tours | South Africa Game
Reserves | South Africa
Attractions » |
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With 20 National Parks
(including two of the world's most famous wildlife reserves, the Kruger Park & Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park) &
numerous private game reserves, your trip to South Africa would be incomplete without
experiencing a South African wildlife safari .... |
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