Truly synonymous with wonder and miracles

AS HERITAGE Month approaches, the name iSimangaliso, referring to wonders and miracles, has been reflected upon to be the perfect choice of the rebirth of South Africa’s first World Heritage Site.

The Greater St Lucia Wetland Park – now known as iSimangaliso Wetland Park – was declared South Africa’s first Natural World Heritage Site on December 1, 1999.

On the north-eastern edge of KwaZulu-Natal, in the region known as the Elephant Coast, the park boasts a series of beaches, coral reefs, lakes, swamps, wetlands, woodlands, coastal forests and grasslands, that stretch all the way from Kosi Bay, virtually on the Mozambican border, to Cape St Lucia in the south.

The park says there are some little-known or unexplored sections.

Those who make the long trip to the far north-east of the country, can expect the following:

Kosi Bay: The four interleading lakes of Kosi Bay, fringed by natural forests – including five types of mangrove and the largest natural stands of raphia palms – comprise one of iSimangaliso’s four RAMSAR sites – wetlands of international importance.

Across the lakes and beyond the dunes lies a wonderful swathe of beach, accessed either by boat or by sand road to Bhanga Nek. The Kosi mouth is also accessible and at low tide is one of the most extraordinarily beautiful places in the country, blessed with a natural aquarium, for safe and shallow snorkelling.

Mabibi: Soft sandy roads, cutting through sweeping plains of coastal grassland – dotted by umdoni (waterberry) trees and lala palms – lead the explorer from Kosi Bay towards Sodwana Bay, passing numerous small bays, that beg to be snorkelled. Midway along the stretch lies the village of Mabibi, and the luxury coastal Thonga Beach Lodge, with the adjoining Mabibi campsite. Lake Sibaya: South Africa’s largest fresh water lake, Sibaya is also a RAMSAR wetland.

Fed entirely by the runoff of rainwater, filtered through the soaring vegetated dunes, the lake is suffering the dual perils of lower annual rainfall and higher extraction by neighbouring alien tree plantations, as well as increased human settlement.

For the first time in living history, the lake has split into two distinct sections. It is, nonetheless, a region of wild beauty – home to hippos, crocodiles and water birds, and best experienced at sunset.