St Lucia Wetlands, located in Isimangaliso, was declared a World Heritage Site in 1999. Ismangaliso covers approximately 300 000 hectares, including 220 kilometres of pristine Indian Ocean coastline. It extends from the north in Kosi Bay, where ancient fishing communities thrived, to the village of St Lucia in the south.

The park is a robust interaction of eight inter-linking ecosystems, which are home to a profusion of fish species and fauna and flora. Then there are the 25 000-year-old coastal dunes, which are amongst the highest in the world.

Nigel takes a leisurely boat cruise through the St Lucia wetlands off the coast of Zulu Land. St Lucia wetlands are a birdwatcher’s paradise. Meandering through dense thicket gives visitors many opportunities to spot families of hippos and crocodiles enjoying the afternoon sun.

The hippo is the most dangerous animal in Africa, as it kills more people than any other animal. The average African hippo weighs between 1 and 2 tonnes, with the male bulls being larger than the female cows. At full size, the crocodiles of St Lucia wetlands measure around 4.5 to 5 metres long.

Check out the Thanda Game Park factsheet for more information on all the unique animals of Africa.

For more information and to start planning your trip, visit the South African Tourism website at www.southafrica.net