KwaZulu-Natal : Elephant Coast
Overview
The KwaZulu Natal Elephant Coast is an extraordinary, untamed area offering the
tourist many of the splendors South Africa has to offer. Named after South Africa’s
biggest herd of elephant, the Elephant coast is home to a very wide range of ecosystems,
ranging from dune, swamp and coastal forests to rocky and sandy shores, coral reefs
and submarine canyons, mangroves, savanna grassland, thickets, woodlands, and the
largest protected wetland in southern Africa. The area stretches from the
world heritage site of Lake St Lucia in the south to Kosi Bay, on the Mozambique border.
Things to do and see
Without any doubt, the major attraction of the Elephant Coast and the ecotourism
mecca of the Zulu Kingdom is the Greater St Lucia Wetlands Park-recently renamed
as iSimangaliso Wetland Park. This 240 000 hectare sun-tropical paradise offers
a vast
array of fun and exciting adventures,
including game viewing, birding, hiking, snorkeling, paddling .
With a further 84 000 hectares under the sea, you can take
a boat out in search of dolphins, viewing Humpback Whales, scuba diving or deep
sea fishing.
You can enjoy the unspoilt beaches of Cape Vidal, where you can also do some snorkeling
and whale watching. For the serious scuba diver there is Sodwana Bay Nature Reserve,
South Africa’s most popular diving spot.
Apart from the Greater St Lucia Wetlands Park and the Sodwana Bay Nature Reserve,
you will also find South Africa’s oldest game park - Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve,
which is home to the Big Five.
At Kosi Bay, an unspoilt region, lake filled region you can do some wonderful fishing,
and hike through terrain ranging from grassland, beach and mangrove forests to mysterious
waterways.
The Elephant Coast is a must-visit tourist destination of South Africa and the only
one in South Africa where in a single day, you can view the Big Five, snorkel or
scuba-dive at one of the world's most highly-rated dive sites, explore the shores
of southern Africa's largest fresh water lake, and visit a 180 000 year old archaeological
site believed to be the cradle from which modern man evolved.
Climate
The climate in the Elephant Coast is subtropical.
In summer, temperatures often
rise above 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Precipitation can be expected mainly from October
to April and particularly in the South African summer months of December, January
and February. The winters in Durban are warm, with an average of 68 degrees Fahrenheit.
During the winter, the probability of rain is low.
Accommodation
Because the Elephant coast is such a popular tourist destination the accommodation
options in the area is both varied and plentiful. As an eco tourism destination
you will find many exclusive game lodges, throughout the area. Other accommodation
options include hotels, guest houses, B&B and self catering cottages and
houses . There are also many camping spots and caravan parks with excellent facilities.
Towns in the Area
Popular places to visit in the area include : Hluhluwe Jozini Kosi Bay Lake Sibaya
Mabibi Mkuze Mtubatuba Sodwana Bay St Lucia.