St Lucia, iSimangaliso Wetland Park Safari and Tour – Day Tour

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Wetland Park Safari and Tour

St Lucia and iSimangaliso Wetland Park

R 2 190 per person based on a minimum of 2 Clients.
R 4 100 Solo Traveler rate

Overview

St Lucia safari tours depart from Durban in the early morning. Your guide will educate you on the History of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal and South Africa on route to St Lucia – Isimangaliso Wetland park. Just before arrival a briefing will be given regarding St Lucia itself otherwise known as Isimagaliso Wetland park.

Once we have arrived in St Lucia, we will make our way to the Crocodile center where KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife are trying to educate the public on the plight of these amazing creatures. After your guide takes you on a Tour through the Crocodile center he will take you to the Santa Lucia Boat which will be a 2-hour educational and enjoyable estuary cruise where you are guaranteed to see Hippos and hopefully a few crocodiles and birds. The game reserve surrounding the estuary is home to 4 of the Big 5 only missing the Lion. Lions have now been introduced further north in the Mkuze game reserve after a 44-year absence.

After the boat cruise, we enter the small town of St Lucia where at night Hippos wonder the streets to get to the grassy areas to feed. We will feed ourselves at one of the town’s restaurants before heading down to the river estuary mouth. At the Estuary mouth we will do a board walk down to the Indian ocean where we will view Maphelane the Second Highest Vegetated Sand dune in the World. After this it is time to return to Durban.

The St Lucia safari tour is conducted in comfort with your experienced tour guide.

WHY WE THINK YOU’LL LOVE IT

✓ Visiting South Africa’s first proclaimed world heritage site.

✓ Incredible biodiversity with 5 different ecosystems in one area.

✓ One of the only places you will find Hippo, Crocodiles and Bull Sharks sharing the same Estuarine waters.

7.00 AM: Pickup

You will be collected from your accommodation venue (This only applies to pick-ups and drop-offs in Durban City, feel free to contact us if you are unsure as to whether your pick-up location is covered. Should your pick-up location not be covered, we will still collect you, however, there may be an additional charge dependent on where you are based.

7.00 AM – 10.00 AM: Transportation

The drive to St Lucia is about 3 hours through some of the most picturesque countryside in South Africa! To speed things along, your knowledgeable guide will share on the history of South Africa and you are encouraged to ask questions to reap the full benefit of the tour. Rest assured that you will travel in absolute comfort as Tim Brown Tours use a Ford Tourneo or a Ford Everest to conduct all tours. This is subject to availability and Tim Brown Tours reserves the right to make alternative vehicle arrangements.

10.00 AM – 12.30 PM: Isimangeliso Wetland Park

We arrive at our destination St Lucia, South Africa’s first World Heritage site, now called Isimangeliso Wetland Park (National Park), where your experienced guide will take you on an educational journey on the boardwalk where you will have the opportunity to view as well as learn about Hippos as well as crocodiles. We will then visit a crocodile farm where you will have further opportunity to learn about these amazing creatures, the Hippo and crocodile. We shall head to the town of St Lucia where Hippos wonder around at night wanting to get to the grassy areas to feed. Here we shall have lunch (please note that this will be for your own account).

12.30 – 2.45 PM: Boat Cruise

From there we will journey on a 2-hour boat cruise together, on Lake St Lucia, to where you can enjoy the amazing habitats of mangrove swamps, savannas, grasslands and riverine forest. Your guide will be on hand to answer any questions you may have.

3.00 PM: Departure

6.30 PM: Arrive back in Durban

The St Lucia Wetlands Park, now known as Isimangeliso (meaning miracle and wonder) Wetland Park is an amazing place with 5 different ecosystems ranging from coral reefs and sandy beaches to subtropical dune forests, savannas and wetlands.

Animals occurring in the park include elephant, leopard, black and white rhino, buffalo and in the ocean, whales, dolphins, and marine turtles including the leatherback and loggerhead turtle. The park is also home to approximately 526 bird species making it a bird watchers paradise.

Britain colonised the area in 1895 and turned the place into a wildlife reserve and established the holiday town of St Lucia. St Lucia was first named in 1554 Rio de la Medaos do Oura (River of the Dows of Gold) by the survivors of the Portuguese Ship, the Saint Benedict. At this stage, only the Tugela River mouth was known as St Lucia. Later in 1575 the Tugela River was named Tugela. On 13 December 1575, the day of the feast of St Lucy, Manuel Peresterello renamed the mouth area to Santa Lucia.

Due to the fact that the park is comprised of 5 different ecosystems and its unique global value, the St Lucia Wetlands was named as South Africa’s first World Heritage site, decided upon by UNESCO on 1 December 1999.

PLEASE NOTE

Group Rates are available on request.

INCLUSIONS

Entrance Fees
Listed Activities
Transport – Pick-up and Drop-off
Guide
Bottled Water (We only supply a limited number of bottles per day, should you require additional, this will be for your own account)

EXCLUSIONS

Items of Personal Nature
Lunch
Beverages: Beer; Wine; Cold Drinks
Gratuities
Any other items not listed in the Inclusion