Hippos in the St Lucia estuary in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park

Explore St Lucia

Your local guide to St Lucia, the iSimangaliso Wetland Park and the Elephant Coast: where to stay and eat, who to call, and what to do.

Photo: St Lucia Estuary by Darren Glanville, CC BY-SA 2.0

Things to do in and around St Lucia

Hippos and crocodiles in the estuary, wild beaches at Cape Vidal and Big Five safaris an hour away, all from one small town in a World Heritage Site.

A hippo family resting on the shore of Lake St Lucia
Estuary

Hippo & croc boat cruises

Daily cruises up the estuary get you close to hippo pods, Nile crocodiles and fish eagles. Sunset trips are the most popular.

The beach at Cape Vidal
Beaches

Cape Vidal

A drive through the Eastern Shores to a reef-sheltered bay for swimming and snorkelling in calm conditions. Entry fee and gate times apply.

Rocks and rock pools at Mission Rocks
Rock pools

Mission Rocks

A rocky shore on the way to Cape Vidal, with rock pools full of life at low tide.

A white rhino in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park
Safari

Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park

About an hour inland: one of Africa’s oldest game reserves, home to the Big Five and famous for saving the white rhino.

Wetlands and grassland in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Nature

iSimangaliso Wetland Park

South Africa’s first World Heritage Site: lake, wetlands, forest and grassland with zebra, kudu, waterbuck and buffalo.

A humpback whale
Ocean

Whales & turtles

Humpback whales pass from about June to November, and turtles nest on iSimangaliso’s beaches from about November to February. Go with licensed operators.

More things to do in St Lucia

St Lucia wildlife & conservation

Over 1,600 wild species have been recorded around St Lucia: hippos and Nile crocodiles in the estuary, fish eagles and Goliath herons on the water, red duiker and hornbills in the forest, and humpback whales offshore.

  • 15 animals to look out for, with where to find them
  • The full checklist of birds, mammals, reptiles, frogs, fish and butterflies
  • Threatened species recorded here, and how you can help
Explore the wildlife
Common Hippopotamus Nile Crocodile African Fish-Eagle Red Forest Duiker

Local businesses

Real businesses from St Lucia, Mtubatuba, Hluhluwe and the Elephant Coast. Each one applied to be listed.

List your business

Guesthouses, restaurants, builders, handymen, spas, surf and dive schools: if you work in or around St Lucia, people here should be able to find you.

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  • Featured in our Monday newsletter, St Lucia Weekly
  1. Apply using the form
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Contact us

A question about a listing, a correction, news for the newsletter or a tip about the area? Get in touch.

contact@exploretugelamouth.co.za WhatsApp 082 751 1185

Explore St Lucia is an independent local directory, part of the Explore network with Explore Umdloti Explore Tugela Mouth and Explore Ballito. Listings are paid adverts supplied by the businesses themselves.