St. Lucia
When you say iSimangaliso, you say St. Lucia, as the two are inseparable. St. Lucia is a unique little town in the park, surrounded by water. Did you know that until recently, iSimangaliso was known as Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park? On one side of the town, you have the Indian Ocean, and on the other side, the river. There’s only one bridge that connects the town to the outside world.
When you stay in St. Lucia and are casually heading to the pub, don't be surprised if you see a large hippo strolling along the side of the road. St. Lucia has the largest hippo population in South Africa. And hippos aren’t just in the water, they often come over to say hello! Especially at night, when the temperature cools down, these several hundred-kilo mammals come out of the water to graze. The neatly trimmed grass in St. Lucia is one of their favourite snacks!
Adventure is great, but responsible travel is the most important! That's why we recommend that after sunset, you only travel by car. The animals may seem slow and lazy, but on land, they can run faster than you (up to 30 km/h!). It’s especially unwise to get between a hippo and the water. The animal may feel threatened, and even though they're vegetarians, they won't hesitate to try and bite you in half with their powerful jaws!
Wondering which other parks are worth visiting? Here we have listed the seven most special parks for you.
