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Greater St. Lucia travel info Situated in northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, the coastal village of St Lucia is the gateway to the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, incorporating Sodwana Bay (a world famous scuba diving destination), Maputaland Marine Reserve and Kosi Bay (a natural paradise). In close proximity to St Lucia is Tembe Elephant Game Reserve, Mkuzi Game Reserve, the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve, home to the Big 5 and the largest population of rhino in the world. The Greater St Lucia Wetland Park is a registered member of the Ramsar Convention and a World Heritage Site. Known as the jewel of KwaZulu-Natal, with five distinct ecosystems and a unique biodiversity found nowhere else on earth, it is not hard to see why the earliest name for iSimangaliso, given by Portugese explorers, was "River of the Sands of Gold".
To go hand in hand with iSimangaliso's 300 sun-filled days a year the area boasts magnificent self-guided walking trails through sub-tropical forests, grasslands and lily-covered pans, which abound in animal life. Lake St Lucia, the largest estuarine water body in Africa, can be explored by means of a boat safari, bringing the visitors into close proximity with hippo lazing in the waters and crocodiles basking in the sun on the estuary's banks. Pelicans riding the thermals overhead and sights of Goliath Herons stabbing at fish in the lake make this a true African Experience.
Along the natural and unspoilt coastline, golden beaches stretch as far as the eye can see, lapped by warm blue waters from the Indian Ocean and bounded by the world's highest vegetated sand dunes. The warm Mozambique current attracts a kaleidoscope of colourful tropical fish that feed off coral reefs.
Seasons
The best time to go is during winter's dry season (Apr-Sep) as temperatures are pleasant with warm days and cool nights. Summer (Oct-Mar) can be very hot and humid.
Wildlife
You should see: hippo, rhino, buffalo, crocodile, wildebeest, impala, zebra, waterbuck, kudu,
You may see: leopard, reedbuck, nyala, bush pig manta ray, ragged-tooth shark, whale shark, loggerhead turtle, leatherback turtle
540 bird species
Precautions
Malaria area - minimize mosquito bites by wearing light, long sleeved clothing and using effective insect repellents (containing Diethyltoluamide DEET) on exposed skin. Sleep under treated mosquito netting or ensure that the doors and windows of your accommodation are screened against mosquitoes. Having a fan or air-conditioner on at night will further suppress mosquito activity. Currently, the three effective anti-malaria tablets are Mefloquine (Lariam or Mefliam), Doxycycline and Malarone (Malanil). It is still possible to contract malaria while on malaria prophylaxis. Note that Lariam may present serious side-effects - please test before you depart.
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