Top 10 Best Things To Do in St Lucia (KZN, South Africa)

By Ariadne van Zandbergen

St Lucia, a well-equipped village in the heart of Zululand, is not only the gateway to iSimangaliso Wetland Park (South Africa’s oldest Unesco World Heritage Site) but also a popular eco-tourism destination in its own right. Despite its popularity with wildlife-lovers, fishers and adventure enthusiasts, it has retained a quaint atmosphere over the years. This is mainly due to its unique location – the village is hemmed in by the Indian Ocean to the east and Lake St Lucia to the west, and access is restricted to a single bridge road.

St Lucia is the perfect place to chill and hang out for a couple of days … or weeks. But you’re in the right place if you want to keep busy too. There is no shortage of attractions in the area. Below are our top 10 things to do in St Lucia.

998 South Africa Safaris

1. Self-drive Safari on the Western Shores

Elephants at a river at iSimangaliso Wetland Park, South Africa

Look for elephant, rhino, giraffe and lots of other wildlife on a self-drive trip on the Western Shores section of iSimangaliso Wetland Park. Don’t rush it as there are several viewpoints across the lake. The uMthoma Aerial Boardwalk, a hot spot for coastal forest birds, is a worthwhile stop.

iSimangaliso Safaris

2. Day Trip to Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve

Safari-goers watching an elephant crossing the road at Hluhluwe Imfolozi GR

Join a full-day Hluhluwe-iMfolozi open-vehicle safari in search of the Big 5, wild dogs and other safari heavyweights. One of the great success stories in conservation history, this is where rhinos were saved from extinction.

Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Safaris

3. Boat Trip on Lake St Lucia

Tourist boat on Lake St Lucia, South Africa

Photograph hippos and crocs on a boat trip on the lake and estuary. The birdlife is phenomenal too – pairs of African fish eagle call each other from their vantage points high up in the trees, while boldly marked kingfishers hover above the water looking for their next catch.

Lake St Lucia Tours

4. Snorkeling at Cape Vidal

Snorkeling at Cape Vidal, South Africa

Snorkel along the rocky reef at Cape Vidal and marvel at colorful reef fish, stingrays, octopus and corals. While discovering the wonders of this fascinating underwater world offshore of iSimangaliso Wetland Park, you can also explore the shipwreck of the Dorothea, a wooden sailing ship that sank here during a storm in 1898.

5. Visit the Emdoneni Cheetah Project

Close up of Cheetah at Emdoneni Cheetah Project

Get up close and personal with several orphaned or rescued cats. The carer will educate you on all there is to know about these enigmatic creatures. You’ll start with the tabby-like African wild cat, then go up in size to serval, caracal and cheetah.

6. Boat-based Whale Watching

Southern right whale breaching, South Africa

Head out to deeper waters on a whale-watching excursion. Humpback whales migrate along the KwaZulu-Natal coastline between June and November. Seeing one of these gentle giants breaching close-by is a powerful experience. Look out for dolphins too, these curious creatures often like to swim alongside the boat and play in the wake.

7. Guided Night Drive

iSimangaliso Wetland Park Night Drive

See nocturnal animals by spotlight on a night drive safari. You’ll be looking for porcupine, chameleon, genet, leopard and the most elusive creature of the bush, aardvark. You’ll hear bush babies crying and the repetitive call of a nightjar is never far off. Don’t miss out – there is something exciting about discovering the African bush at night.

8. Turtle Tour

Close up of Turtle laying eggs at iSimangaliso Wetland Park, South Africa

Watch the ancient nesting ritual of leatherback and loggerhead turtles between November and March. Every year, female turtles return to the protected sandy beaches of iSimangaliso Wetland Park where they were born. Join a turtle tour and drive on the beach at night to see turtles laying eggs or, later in the season, to see the hatchlings making their way to the sea.

9. Horseback Ride With a Difference

Horseback riding safari

Get in the saddle on a ‘beach and game combo’ horseback adventure. Horseback riding doesn’t get more exciting than this. You’ll ride along St Lucia’s main beach and the estuary, giving you a chance to spot dolphins, hippos, crocs and sometimes even a breaching whale. Moving on to the reserve, you’ll ride with zebra, wildebeest and warthog, with a chance to get close to white rhino too.

10. Beach Walk at Mission Rocks

Mission rocks beach, South Africa

Walk on the beach at Mission Rocks in the Eastern Shores sector of iSimangaliso Wetland Park. As swimming isn’t permitted here, this rugged rocky beach tends to be blissfully deserted. Come at low tide when you can explore the tidal pools brimming with life. The short trail in coastal forest leading to the uMziki viewpoint is worth a stop on the way; if you’re lucky you might see a red duiker on the path.