Lake St Lucia and the St Lucia Estuary

Lake St Lucia

Lake St Lucia has often been described as a lush waterworld that lures anglers and birdwatchers. True to it's name, Lake St Lucia does just that, and more. It lures birds and other water animals from all over, such as white pelicans, flamingos and other birds that are fond of the water.

Situated in Natal on the east coast, Lake St Lucia forms part of the St Lucia Estuary, a holiday makers haven for South Africans and tourists from all over the world.

Bird Life:

Lake St Lucia is world famous for it's amazing birdlife. There is a huge variety of birds to see, over 360 species to be exact. Some inhabit the mud flats, others the reeds in the swamp around the lake, and others simply the land and water. Almost half the birds recorded in South Africa have been seen at Lake St Lucia, which makes this popular lake a must visit tourist destination.

From pink backed pelicans, flamingos and other rare birds right to the small garden birds are found at Lake St Lucia.

Game Viewing:

Because of the unique habitat of the St Lucia Estuary, and the lake, where the shore varies from wooded western shoreline to marshes and reed covered banks, the animals and wildlife to the area is also unique. The St Lucia Estuary is home to animals such as Reedbuck, Hippos, Monkey, Jackal, Hyaena, Cheetah, Zebra, Warthog, Buffalo, Red Duiker, Grey Duiker, Suni, Waterbuck, Impala, Nyala and Kudu which inhabits different areas of the St Lucia Estuary.

The best way to view the game is by foot or horseback. The roads at the St Lucia Lake and Estuary were not designed for cars traveling it and animals tend to be a bit scared of moving vehicles.

About Lake St Lucia

The lake is home to thousands of fish, approximately 2000 crocodiles and 700 hippos. Swimming and all water activities in the area have thus been banned because of the dangerous crocodiles lurking for it's prey. It also helps conserve the area and makes the birds feel at home in the area, without being threatened.

About the St Lucia Estuary.

The St Lucia complex consists of four parts, including the lake and it's islands which is in extend about 36000 ha and 60km long. The lake is shaped roughly like an H, which is a well known trademark of this area. It was declared St Lucia Game Reserve in 1895.

A strip of land, about 800 km wide around the lake was later proclaimed St Lucia Park, which stretched from the Nyalazi River on the western sore to the Mkuze River in the eNorth. It also encompassed the village of St Lucia in the south, and is still like that today.

There is also False Bay Park, which protects 2247ha of shoreline in the North between the Mzinene and Hluhluwe rivers.

The Last of the four parks is the Eastern Shores Nature Reserve, the coastal strip that boasts with some of the highest forested dunes in the world, reaching a hight of 150m in some places.

Places to visit:

• False Bay Park
• Charter's Creek
• Fanies Island
• Cape Vidal
• St Lucia Village
• Mapelane

Accommodation:

The Parks Board has many overnight camps in St Lucia's Estuary and close to the St Lucia Lake. From hutted camps to campgrounds, hotels and holiday flats.

Some hutted camps can be found at Charter's Creek, Fanies Island, Mapelane and Cape Vidal.

Camping grounds are found at Cape Vidal, Flase Bay, Fanies Island and Mapelane.

Hotels and holiday flats can be found in the St Lucia village.

Petrol:

There is petrol available at Fanies Island, Charter's Creek, Cape Vital and St Lucia Village. However, food and drink is only available in St Lucia village.

Lake St Lucia and the St Lucia Estuary is a must see for any visitor to the area. It leaves the visitor with a taste of true nature, having experienced the wetlands of South Africa, and feeling relaxed, ready to go back to normal life.