 The St. Lucia Wetland Park is the union of thirteen neighboring protected areas including Lake St.Lucia, Maputaland Marine Reserve, the coastal Forest Reserve and the Kosi Bay Natural Reserve. This jewel of South Africa's coastline stretches along the Zululand coast from Mapelane in the south to Sodwana in the north. It is the third largest park in South Africa with 234,566 hectares in total and the first which was declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO in 1999.
The Park overwhelms with its natural diversity. Its habitats have coral reefs, amazing sandy beaches, dunes, swamps, wetlands, woodlands, costal forests and Africa's largest estuarine system with the famous St. Lucia Lake. The lake runs parallel to the coast, separated from the Indian Ocean by the world's highest forested sand dunes. Due to the mixture of salt and fresh water through a canal and the combination of the subtropical and tropical Africa, the park was able to generate a unique variety of species including 521 bird species. The park supports more species of animals than Kruger National Park or the Okavango Delta. You can also spot leopards, antelopes, bush pigs, buffalos, black and white rhinos to mention just a few, and experience the highest crocodile and hippo population of all animal parks in the country. Another highlight is the endangered nestling Loggerhead and Leatherback turtles on the beaches. Visitors who prefer the underwater world can do one of the world's best scuba dives and keep an eye on giant Manta Rays, Ragged-Tooth or Whale Sharks and admire the coral garden. In addition St. Lucia Wetland Park is South Africa's most popular fishing destination and offers great hiking trails, stretching from a few hours to a few days. Other activities which can be done are whale watching, boating or horse-riding. The combination of a subtropical coastline and a classic African game park makes this park a unique adventure.
Accommodations range from camping to private game lodges and have something for everybody.
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