3 St Lucia walks in iSimangaliso Wetland Park Posted on 7 August 2019 Tags:iSimangaliso Wetland Park, St Lucia South Africa’s first World Heritage Site, iSimangaliso Wetland Park, turns 20 this year. The town of St Lucia has the privilege of being right inside it – surrounded by wilderness and water. If you are based in St Lucia here are some walks worth doing. Vervet monkeys, St Lucia. Image credit: Melanie van Zyl 1. iGwala Gwala Trail This free 1,5km circular walk on the edge of town passes below a forest canopy where samango monkeys squeak from the foliage and noisy turacos (after which the trail is named) flash their colours between the boughs. Birders can also look out for purple crested turaco, yellow-rumped tnkerbird and the goldentailed woodpecke and Woodwards’ batis. 2. Dune Trail This walk gives you access to SA’s highest vegetated dune, and the best views in town (over St Lucia and the estuary). Park at the Ski-Boat Club, follow the boardwalk and cross Estuary Beach, heading south. The trail is at Maphelane Resort, a roughly 7km return walk. Don’t be surprised if you come across cyclists following the Indian Ocean shorline, using fatbikes to tackle the sandy stretch between St Lucia and Mphelane. 3. Eastern Shores section self-guided nature trail In a fenced-off area, this bush walk skirts croc and hippo territory. You will also see antelope, blue wildebeest and zebras and although you’re not that likely to stumble across them, leopard and hyena are found on the opposite side of the fence. Look out for birds such as the southern-banded snake eagle and the rufous-bellied heron. This walk takes about two hours and the park fee is R56 per person. Related Posts Winter wanderlust: embrace adventure and beat the chill 29 May 2023 As winter approaches, many are already dreaming of cosy getaways or thrilling adventures to break... read more 8 amazing adrenaline activities to do in Zimbabwe and Zambia 23 May 2023 For thrill-seekers and adventure enthusiasts, Victoria Falls and Livingstone offer an abundance of adrenaline-pumping activities... read more Hello from the other side (of the Blyde River Canyon) 18 May 2023 Mariepskop’s story is as convoluted as its trails, as bumpy as its access roads and... read more PREV ARTICLE NEXT ARTICLE
Winter wanderlust: embrace adventure and beat the chill 29 May 2023 As winter approaches, many are already dreaming of cosy getaways or thrilling adventures to break... read more
8 amazing adrenaline activities to do in Zimbabwe and Zambia 23 May 2023 For thrill-seekers and adventure enthusiasts, Victoria Falls and Livingstone offer an abundance of adrenaline-pumping activities... read more
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