St Lucia, KwaZulu Natal South Africa - the ultimate holiday destination
There is no good reason I can think of why not to visit this pristine beauty along the Northern coast of South Africa. Conveniently situated a mere 2.5 hours drive from King Shaka international airport it is easy to get to and whether you are coming from abroad or inland St Lucia promises not to disappoint. Better yet if it is your first visit to South Africa and you don't feel quite comfortable taking to road yet you can let a tour company organise all the nitty gritty's. From your airport pick up to your accommodation and everything in between. (see Heritage Tours and Safaris)
This beauty of a town offers the best of everything - With long stretches of untouched beaches to game and game viewing reserves! The weather here is sub tropical throughout the year with sunny skies most summer days. So it really doesn't matter what time of year you come it always promises something special and unique.
Between November to March you can witness the very special turtle nesting along the coastline or if you fall between June to November you can come on a whale watching trip.
The reason for such diversity is not by chance. St Lucia falls in a very special stretch of Marine protected area and is situated within a protected wildlife reserve. In town we have some beautiful wildlife that roam free among us. The biggest of course being the hippopotamus ... A very special and common sight in town. St Lucia town truly is a jewel and we are proud to say that we are a UNESCO world heritage site.
The little town is well kept and is always bustling with some kind of exciting event happening. The town caters perfectly for everyone - for the adrenaline junkies we have mountain biking events, trail runs along the Big 4 reserve of Eastern Shores and for the more relaxed souls an array of activities.
The daily Hippo and Crocodile cruises are an absolute must - whether you grab an early or late trip this will definitely not disappoint. With some of the closest hippo and crocodile sightings in the world. The very experienced guides will tell you some history of the park, point out some bird species and of course tell you more about the hippos and crocodiles. An exciting highlight was to learn which pods made their way into town every night to feed.
For the Big 5 Five seekers we have game viewing Safaris in true African style. You will be taken to the beautiful game park of Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park with a guide on an open safari vehicle. Here you have the opportunity to see the Big Five or the magnificent 7 which includes Cheetah and Wild dog. This beautiful park has some great historical value when it comes to some of the endangered species like our precious rhino and your guide will definitely try his or her very best to get you some beautiful wildlife sightings.
If you are a sea seeking soul with a bush twist the Eastern Shore tour is perfect. The landscape here is so diverse as you travel along ancient coastal dunes. The area is home to 4 out of the Big Five and whilst you won't have a chance to view lions here the beach makes up for the ten fold over. You will get the opportunity to Snorkel a beautiful beach called Cape Vidal. This little beach has a true Caribbean vibe to it. White sandy beaches, beautiful waters and some amazing snorkeling opportunity.
St Lucia is also a 'catch' to some fisherman - the long stretch of coast makes for good rock and surf fishing and the deep sea fishing won't let you down. The town has a long history with being one of the most popular fishing destinations in South Africa.
If you prefer the dry land there are some lovely trails that you can walk or do by bicycle. You don't even have to come with your bicycle as their is a little hire shop where you can hire one for the day. The trails are of easy fitness level so any age can join. St Lucia boasts some of the worlds most diverse eco systems and birdlife and some people come far and wide to see some endemic birds to the area.
There really is more than enough to keep you as busy or as quite as you wish here! The local tour company will not disappoint in arranging all your tours for you and really take the hassle out of trying to arrange everything you want to do.
Contact Heritage Tours and Safaris today to book your next African adventure. This little jewel will not disappoint you and should be high on your tick list of places to come and see in South Africa.
Happy travels x
The mosaic of land-forms and habitat types creates breathtaking scenic vistas. The site contains critical habitats for a range of species from Africa's marine, wetland and Savannah environments. For More
Situated in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, this Wetland Park covers an incredible 332000 hectares. Its a place of wonder, miracles and wildlife.
Undoubtedly the largest Hippo Population in South Africa occurs in the area of iSimangaliso Wetland Park, and St Lucia.
Heritage Tours & Safaris
Established in 2003, the company has grown in leaps and bounds and today is the largest privately owned safari tour operator in KwaZulu Natal. The company offers a wide variety of both bush and boat day safari outings. Added to this the company offers some incredible overnight safari packages which highlight the area of KwaZulu Natal. For a Complete list of Overnight Packages