A complete “About iSimangaliso Wetland Park” guide: UNESCO World Heritage status, ecosystems, wildlife facts, conservation, best things to do, and why St Lucia is the perfect gateway, plus highlights like Mkuze Game Reserve, Sodwana Bay, Kosi Bay fish traps, and the perfect add-on safari to Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park.
Price: R495p/person
Price: R1340 p/person
Price: R1080 p/person
Price: R740 p/person
Price: R915 p/person
Our Boat Safaris offers 2 Custom pontoon-styled Vessels. Each vessel has a maximum carrying capacity of 15 Passengers.
This 2-hour Hippo and Croc Boat Safari traverses approximately 8km in a northerly direction on the St Lucia Estuary, which is within the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, South Africa's very first world heritage site.
Our Vessels have been custom-built to the exact needs of visitors to the area, the deck of the boat has optimal viewing space ensuring you awesome photographic opportunities. The vessel has a shallow draft with minimal impact on the environment. All of the guides/skippers have numerous years of experience in the bush in the area and therefore an exciting and informative trip is guaranteed.
A 2 hour spectacular Hippo and Crocodile Boat Safari
• Duration: 2 Hours
• Departure / Meeting Point: Siyabonga Jetty, Departing every Two Hours.
• Group size: is a maximum of 15 passengers per vessel.
• What to bring along: Light Jacket during winter, Sunblock and Hat during summer months.
• Vessel Type: Pontoon Styled Vessel, 9 meters in length.
• Expert Guides: Each Guide/Skipper has years of experience within the iSimangaliso Wetland Park.
• 100% Guarantee Hippo Sightings
• Qualifications: All skippers are SAMSA qualified skippers as well as qualified Guides, with passenger endorsements from Samsa.
• Price incl Vat: R495 p/person
• Distance Travel: You will travel approximately 7/9 Km North depending on the best areas to view the Hippos and other wildlife.
This Full Day iSimangaliso Safari Tour highlights the Eastern Shores (Cape Vidal) of this magnificent park, South Africa's very first world heritage site. One can expect game viewing (Leopard, Rhino, Buffalo, Antelope, Hippo) snorkeling at Cape Vidal (weather permitting) picnic lunch and much more.
Cost: R1340 p/person
Duration: 6/7 Hours
Departs: 8:00 am from your accommodation within St Lucia
Group Size: max 9 passengers per vehicle
Included: All conservation Levies, Snorkel Equipment, Picnic Lunch, and Refreshments
Departing daily your ranger will pick you up from your hotel or alternatively meet us at our office. This full day departs at 8:00 am and showcases the incredible beauty that surrounds this park. From open grasslands, forests, mangroves, loop roads, hides, and beaches it's a busy day. Once we reach Cape Vidal a protected bay you will have time to snorkel and enjoy the numerous fish species that frequent the area. (Please note that snorkeling is weather and tide dependant)
All the while your ranger will prepare a super picnic lunch. Enjoy this full-day outing into a place that is known as a miracle.
• Incredible wildlife including Leopard
• Comfortable Open Game Drive Safari Vehicle
• Experienced and Passionate Rangers
• One can enjoy both Bush and Beach Activities
• Bush Picnic Lunch
This Full Day iSimangaliso Wetland Park Safari Tour departs daily from St Lucia. You will be picked up at your hotel at 8:00 am by one of our Game Rangers in an Open Game Drive Safari Vehicle. The Tour includes game viewing en route to Cape Vidal a protected bay where one has the opportunity of enjoying some magnificent snorkeling. (weather & tide dependant) The bay offers some exquisite fish species.
En route one will enjoy numerous wildlife species and may even include species such as Leopard, Buffalo, Rhino, Kudu, Water Buck and much more, this diverse landscape includes the second-highest vegetated sand dunes in the world, mangroves, forest, and open grassland. Sit back relax and let your personal ranger explain and show you the true beauty that this very first-world heritage site has to offer. From loop roads, hides to lookout points. It's truly an incredible destination and magical scenery.
From the entrance to Cape-Vidal Bay is approx 28 km once at Cape Vidal you will have an opportunity to enjoy some snorkeling or for those wanting to just enjoy the warm sun why not relax on the untouched beach.
Lunch is included, (Picnic Lunch). After which we travel back towards St Lucia, once again you will have an opportunity to witness some more incredible wildlife. Keep an eye out for those Leopards.
This Half Day iSimangaliso Wetland Park departs daily from St Lucia. Pick up is from your Hotel. Witness South Africa's very first world heritage site enjoy wildlife viewing and snorkeling in a protected bay.
Cost: R1080 p/person
Duration: 4/5 Hours
Departs: 8:00 am
Group Size: max 9 passengers per vehicle
Included: All conservation Levies, Snorkel Equipment, and Refreshments
Conducted in an Open Game Drive Safari Vehicle
This half-day safari tour is conducted in an open game drive safari vehicle, without wasting any time your personal ranger will get you to all of the best areas while
en-route to Cape Vidal for some incredible snorkeling. (Please Note Weather & Tide dependant)
Sit back and enjoy breathtaking views of this miracle, witness the second highest vegetated dunes in the world, wildlife including Leopard and much more awaits you.
• Comfortable Open Game Drive Safari Vehicle
• Experienced and Passionate Rangers
• Big 3 Wildlife Reserve
• World Heritage Site
This Half Day iSimangaliso Wetland Park Safari Tour departs daily from St Lucia. You will be picked up at your hotel at 8:00 am by one of our Game Rangers in a Open Game Drive Safari Vehicle. The Tour includes game viewing en route to Cape Vidal a protected bay where one has the opportunity of enjoying some magnificent snorkeling. The bay offers some exquisite fish species including game fish species.
En route one will enjoy numerous wildlife species and may even include species such as Leopard, Buffalo, Rhino, Kudu, Water Buck and much more, this diverse landscape includes the second highest vegetated sand dunes in the world, mangroves, forest and open grassland. Sit back relax and let your personal ranger explain and show you the true beauty that this very first world heritage site has to offer. From loop roads, hides to look out points. It's truly an incredible destination and magical scenery.
From the entrance to Cape Vidal Bay is approx 28 km once at Cape Vidal you will have an opportunity to enjoy some snorkeling or for those wanting to just enjoy the warm sun why not relax on the untouched beach.
This Half Day iSimangaliso Wetland Park departs daily from St Lucia. Pick up is from your Hotel. Witness South Africa's very first world heritage site enjoy wildlife viewing and snorkeling in a protected bay.
Cost: R740.00 p/person
Duration: 4/5 Hours
Departs: 8:00 am
Group Size: max 9 passengers per vehicle
Included: All conservation Levies, Snorkel Equipment, and Refreshments
Conducted in an Open Game Drive Safari Vehicle
Group Size: max 9 passengers per vehicle
Included: All conservation Levies, Snorkel Equipment, Picnic Lunch, and Refreshments
Are you ready for an incredible Sunrise Safari? Join us and travel into the Eastern shores as we go in search of some of the amazing Wildlife. The area is well known for its Rhino both white and black species are found within the park, Buffalo, Leopard, and the occasional Elephants.
It's a magical way to enjoy the outdoors as the sunrises over the St Lucia Estuary, sit back, and enjoy your knowledgeable and experienced game ranger has years of experience within the reserve and he or she will ensure that you get to the best parts within the park.
The park is divided by the St Lucia Estuary with the eastern and western shores. The estuary is one of the largest in South Africa is also home to 800 Hippos and 1200 Nile Crocodiles.
It's time to unwind, relax, and enjoy this magnificent area.
What to Wear and Bring Along
• Please wear comfortable clothing
• Please do bring a light Jacket Along
• If possible, bring a Camera Along
What's Included
• All gate fees (conservation levies)
• Refreshments
• Blankets should you get chilly
See how the guides find the smallest of creatures especially Chameleons or the elusive Leopard, get you're heart pounding with an Elephant next to the game drive vehicle and so much more. Join us on a Night Drive Safari into the iSimangaliso Wetland Park.
Cost: R915 p/person
Duration: 2/3 Hours
Departs: 7:00 or 8:00 pm (According to Season)
Group Size: max 10 passengers per vehicle
Included: All conservation Levies
Departure Point: We will pick you up at any accommodation establishment in St Lucia
Conducted in an Open Game Drive Safari Vehicle
Night Drive Safari into iSimangaliso Wetlands Park or Kruger National Park remains a must, cool evenings piping hot coffee and the sounds of the African bush needless to say what one may encounter just around the next bend, Heritage Tours & Safaris offers 2,5 hr Night Drive Safaris with knowledgeable experienced guides, get all the information and history on the reserves, get to the hot spots and be amazed at what you discover.
• Big 4 wildlife are present ( No Lions)
• Comfortable Open Game Drive Safari Vehicle
• Experienced and Passionate Rangers
• Hippos Grazing, Chameleons and much more
A Night Drive Safari is a game drive that operates after dark, with a powerful spotlight. This 3-hour safari on an Open Game Drive Safari Vehicle offers one a chance of witnessing the elusive Leopard, Giraffe, Buffalo, Elephants, Hippos grazing, Chameleons and so much more. The advantage of a night drive is that they provide access to nocturnal species that are rarely seen during the day, such as Hippo, Bush Babies, Chameleons, Aardvarks and Leopard are also more active after dark, and there is a greater probability of seeing them hunt at night. Night Drive Safaris are ever so popular with the safari-goers to take part in. A night drive safari has a unique and exciting atmosphere; different types of animals (nocturnal) are active at night, from the big cats to smaller mammals. With varying behavior nocturnal animals are bolder at night and shy during the day this increases your chances of witnessing that elusive Leopard. Exhilarating to sit in the middle of a herd of elephants in the moonlight or the thunder pounding sound of buffalo hooves in the darkness is also quite a rush.
We travel in an exclusive concession-ed area, your knowledgeable guide explains animal movements by night, star constellations and of course enjoy magnificent sightings while on this safari.
Departures are 7:00 or 8:00 pm daily and truly a must should you be in the area. It's bush calls, predators hunting, and animals stalking. Each game drive vehicle is fitted with 2/3 night spotlights, you are welcome to give a hand to the ranger and take part in discovering the African bush by night.
• Estuary icons: Hippos are the signature species of the St Lucia system, often seen in pods surfacing and snorting.
• Night grazers: Hippos spend hot hours in water, then feed on land after dark (one reason St Lucia gets hippo visitors in town).
• Surprising speed: Hippos can move far faster than most people expect on land.
• Respect and space: View from boats, vehicles or safe distances never approach for photos.
• Ancient predators: Built for ambush stillness, patience, explosive speed.
• Basking behaviour: They bask to regulate temperature, so bankside sightings are common.
• Long-lived: Crocs can live for decades in suitable habitats.
• Safety first: Never swim in the estuary waters; follow local guidance
Depending on where you explore, iSimangaliso can reveal elephant, buffalo, antelope species, and on lucky days, predators like leopard. What makes the experience special is not only “what you see,” but the fact that you can see it against multiple backdrops: wetlands, forest, dunes and ocean.
• . Nyala: a northern KZN favourite and a beautiful forest-edge antelope.
• Bushbuck and duiker: shy and quick rewarding to spot early morning.
• Warthog: common in open patches and along roadsides in suitable zones
Birding is exceptional here because habitats change quickly. Estuary birds, forest birds, raptors and coastal species occur within one protected area. Even travellers who are not “birders” often leave iSimangaliso talking about fish eagles, kingfishers, herons, egrets, storks, and the constant movement of life around the water’s edge.
Along the coastline, travellers may experience marine life in different ways depending on season and location dolphins, migrating whales, and turtle-linked coastal experiences are part of the wider identity of the iSimangaliso region. The key point for your article: iSimangaliso is not only “bush” or “wetland” it is a full coastal wilderness system.