ISimangaliso full of miracle and wonder
THERE are many reasons to visit the iSimangaliso Wetland Park heritage site, but one of the main attractions is the 220km of unspoilt coastline and beaches. Beaches as far as the eye can see, often with nobody else in sight, and inviting azure waters.
Miracle and wonder – what iSimangaliso means when translated – and that is precisely what you feel when visiting South Africa’s very first world heritage site. The park is located in KwaZulu-Natal and borders Mozambique. Listed in 1999, the 332 000 hectare park never disappoints.
The Sodwana Bay section of the park, which is less than a threehour drive north of Richards Bay, is a mecca for deep-sea fishermen and scuba divers. The reefs off Sodwana Bay have more than 100 different species of coral that support more than 1 200 fish species.
With all of this to be found in one place, it is no wonder that underwater photographers flock here annually to try and capture their amazing dives for eternity. The iSimangaliso Sodwana Bay Shootout is an underwater photographic competition tailored exactly with this in mind.
Now in its 17th year, the organisers have confirmed that this year’s event will be held from May 22-27.
There are even more important visitors that migrate to this park besides the divers. The loggerhead and leatherback turtles come to the beaches along iSimangaliso to nest. Of the seven turtle species found globally, five of them are found off iSimangaliso’s protected coastline. Each year between November and March the females take on the daunting task of climbing the beach to lay their eggs at the base of the dunes. An estimated 70 days later roughly 100 hatchlings (found in one nest) do the same in the opposite direction to begin their life in the ocean. With only one in 1 000 hatchlings surviving to adulthood, it is no surprise that these species are on the endangered list.
Thanks to a turtle monitoring programme that started in the 1960s and with the protected beaches within the park, the turtles have a good chance of survival.
The choice of accommodation in Sodwana Bay ranges from camping to fully catered lodges. A great gem to stay at that is perfect for the whole family is Mseni Lodge. It is located within the park itself and has exclusive access to a pristine beach after a scenic fiveminute walk through the coastal forest.
The lodge has self-catering log cabins in various sizes. But the lodge’s main drawcard is undoubtedly the restaurant. After ordering your mouthwatering meal from the menu, you eat it on a deck with uninterrupted views of the Indian ocean from the top of the vegetated dune. The coastal dunes in this area are over 25 000 years old.
If surf and sand doesn’t float your boat, you have many other options in iSimangaliso Wetland Park. You could spend time exploring the 700-year-old fish trap in the park’s Kosi Bay section or spot some crocodiles or hippos at Africa’s largest estuary in the St Lucia section.