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    iSimangaliso-Wetland-Park
    Ossewa / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
    National Park

    South Africa

    iSimangaliso-Wetland-Park

    The iSimangaliso Wetland Park on the North Coast of KwaZulu-Natal has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999. It encompasses estuaries, coastal dunes, swamp forests, and coral reefs.

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    9. iSimangaliso-Wetland-Park
    The iSimangaliso Wetland Park on the North Coast of KwaZulu-Natal has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999. It encompasses estuaries, coastal dunes, swamp forests, and coral reefs. The starting point is the town of St. Lucia, where boat trips on the estuary lead to hippos and crocodiles.

    Sights in iSimangaliso-Wetland-Park

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Estuary of St. Lucia

    1Estuary of St. Lucia

    Over 800 hippos and numerous Nile crocodiles live in the estuary area right by St. Lucia town. Boat tours on the estuary usually last around two hours, bringing you close to the animals, along with fish eagles and herons. In the evenings, hippos sometimes wander through the town's streets; keep your distance at night.
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    Cape Vidal
    Attraction

    2Cape Vidal

    Beach at the end of the approximately 30-kilometer-long park road north of St. Lucia, framed by high forested dunes. An offshore reef forms calm pools for snorkeling at low tide. On the drive through the Eastern Shores section, you often see zebras, buffalo, kudus and sometimes rhinos.
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    Sodwana Bay
    Attraction

    3Sodwana Bay

    The park's northern part is South Africa's most famous dive site. The offshore coral reefs are named for their distance from the boat ramp, such as the Two Mile Reef. From November to February, Loggerhead and Leatherback turtles lay eggs on northern beaches; guided night tours observe nesting.
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    Restaurants in iSimangaliso-Wetland-Park

    Nature between Lake and Ocean

    Five EcosystemsThe park stretches approximately 220 kilometers from the mouth of the Umfolozi to the border with Mozambique. It encompasses Lake St. Lucia, Africa's largest estuary, forested coastal dunes, swamp forests, grasslands, and the continent's southernmost coral reefs. The name iSimangaliso means 'miracle' in isiZulu.WildlifeIn addition to hippos and crocodiles, elephants, rhinos, buffalo, and leopards live here; the uMkhuze section in the west is a protected wildlife reserve. Off the coast, humpback whales pass by from June to November, and in summer, sea turtles arrive to lay their eggs.

    Arrival and Orientation

    St. Lucia is located about 250 kilometers north of Durban, and the drive via the N2 takes approximately three hours. The town is the most practical base with accommodation, restaurants, and boat trips. The park road to Cape Vidal is tarred and accessible by any car; the gates close in the evenings. For Sodwana Bay and Kosi Bay in the north, it's better to plan your own overnight stays; for some routes there, you'll need a 4x4. Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park is just an hour's drive west.

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