St Lucia Wetland Park

The Greater St Lucia Wetland Park, on the northern coast of KwaZulu/Natal, was formed by the amalgamation of a number of smaller nature reserves. The central feature of this wetland area is Lake St Lucia, South Africa's largest natural inland lake. The unique coastal vegetation and the extraordinarily rich bird life make the park a front-rank attraction for nature-lovers.

The best route to the park from Durban (200km/125mi southwest) is by way of N 2, turning off at Mtubatuba into a road on the right which leads to the little town of St Lucia (28km/17mi). From here a track runs north between Lake St Lucia and the sea to Cape Vidal. To see the northern part of the park it is necessary to continue beyond Mtubatuba on N 1 and in 20km/12.5mi take a road on the right signposted to Fanies Island or Charters Creek. The park can also be reached on the road to Hluhluwe, which branches off N 2 still farther north. Lake St Lucia is 60km/37mi long, up to 10km/6mi wide and only 1-2m/6-12ft deep. It extends parallel to the coast, from which it is separated by a belt of wooded dunes. More than 400 species of plants have been recorded here. The commonest species of trees are white milkwood, campeachy and wild fig; in winter the coral-tree is conspicuous with its brilliant red flowers. The Umfolozi, Mkuzi and Hluhluwe Rivers flow into the lake, which is connected with the sea by a channel 20km/12.5mi long. Freshwater and seawater thus mingle in the lake, producing an ideal habitat for many water birds. Along the coast of the Indian Ocean extends an endlessly long sandy beach. The coastal waters reaching 5.6km/ 3.5mi out to sea are also included in the reserve. Here the warm Agulhas Current has fostered the growth of coral reefs in which live hosts of colorful fish.

On the landward side the dunes give place to areas of swamp and grassland, with thorny scrub and dry savanna still farther inland.

The ecological equilibrium of this coastal region is under grave threat. The rivers which flow into Lake St Lucia lose much of their water to irrigation schemes, and with a high rate of evaporation there is a danger that the lake will become too saline. Moreover part of the dune area has been destroyed by mining for titanium ore.

The shallow waters of the lake are the home of thousands of flamingos and pelicans; more than ten species of heron are represented here, and there are many other species of water birds. Leatherback and false diamondback turtles come in to the coast to lay their eggs between October and February. There are also large numbers of antelopes of various species, and leopards, buffaloes and rhinoceros can occasionally be seen.

The park is open throughout the year. In summer visitors must be prepared for frequent rain and high temperatures. In winter temperatures are more agreeable, but it can be very windy. The best time of a year for a visit is from April to June.

Within the St Lucia Wetland Park there are a number of holiday camps (Charters Creek, Fanies Island, Mapelane, St Lucia, etc.), with accommodation in log cabins and holiday cottages; there are also camping sites. Boats can be hired in St Lucia. There are also 2-hour cruises on the lake three times a day in a boat taking 80 passengers, gliding past water birds, crocodiles and hippopotamuses. There is good fishing at many points on the lake.

2km/1.25mi north of the St Lucia holiday complex is St Lucia Crocodile Centre, where visitors can learn about the breeding and keeping of crocodiles; the animals are usually fed on Saturdays at 3pm.

The park can be explored on the road which runs north from St Lucia to Cape Vidal (35km/22mi). At all the holiday camps there are hiking and nature trails through the wooded dune country and the inland regions. The St Lucia Crocodile Centre is the starting-point of a number of hiking trails; the Mpophomeni Nature Trail (6km/4mi) begins and ends at the False Bay camp; and there are many more.

Nyalas were originally common in Zululand but were almost exterminated there. they have been re-established in almost all South African game reserves and have now increased in numbers