Durban - It is no mistake that KwaZulu-Natal’s amazing World Heritage site on the northern Zululand coast is called iSimangaliso. Loosely, this means “something miraculous”.
Nelson Mandela said it best when he said it (iSimangaliso) must be the only place in the world where the oldest land mammal (rhinoceros) and biggest terrestrial mammal (elephant) share an ecosystem with the world’s oldest fish (coelacanth) and biggest marine mammal (whale).
The park protects 526 species of birds, one of the largest avifauna diversities in Africa, 80 species of dragonfly, 110 species of butterfly, more than 2 000 species of flowering plant and all five of South Africa's surviving mangrove tree species.
There are 36 snake species, 35 frog species (the highest number in southern Africa, two of which are endemic) and a coastal dune system estimated to be 25 000 years old.
The game in the park is prolific with everything from rhino to elephant, giraffe and all the relevant antelope species, leopard and buffalo.
To experience the eastern shores, take the three-day hike along the Mziki Trail, which will give you a glimpse of all the ecosystems and includes stretches of beaches inaccessible to day visitors.
Scuba diving and snorkelling are popular and from June to November there are wonderful sightings of whales on their annual migration from their feeding grounds in the Antarctic to their breeding grounds off Mozambique and Madagascar.
Deep sea boat trips provide visitors with opportunities to see whales, dolphins and other marine life, while boat trips on St Lucia Lake are good for viewing hippos, crocodiles and the plentiful bird life.
There is also the St Lucia Crocodile Centre where you can see crocs close up.
Horse Safaris on the beach and in the game park and canoe trails offer a different perspective to game viewing.
The canoe trail along the waterways is also a fabulous way to do some bird watching.
Accommodation options range from lodges to camp sites such as the famous Cape Vidal and Sodwana Bay camp sites, Maphelane, Lake Sibaya and Kosi Bay camps, to upmarket lodges such as Thonga Beach Lodge and Rocktail Beach Camp.
Both lodges provide for wonderful diving experiences and seasonal turtle tours to watch the giant leatherback and smaller loggerhead turtles lay their eggs and later, the hatchlings make their way, skidding down the dunes to the water’s edge.
If you need a break from all the beauty, you can head off to a coffee shop or restaurant in the nearby village of St Lucia for a slap-up meal. - Sunday Tribune