Magical Maputaland

Zululand is home to the most diverse concentration of wildlife sanctuaries in South Africa including the two oldest game reserves in Africa. It is here that you will discover the magic of Maputaland - a vast 9000 square kilometre wilderness area radiating to the north and east of the village of Hluhluwe. This region with its astonishing diversity of eco-systems incorporates several game reserves, marine reserves, fresh water lakes, pans, mountains and stretches of sand forest all supporting prolific bird, animal and plant life. All in all it’s an area of exceptional interest to the serious nature lover. A short distance to the east of the Hluhluwe is one of the world’s most remarkable wetland and marine reserves, The Greater St Lucia Wetland Park.

The Greater St Lucia Wetland Park - World Heritage Site

The Greater St Lucia Wetland Park is the third largest reserve in South Africa covering over a quarter of a million hectares stretching some 60km from Mapelane at the St Lucia estuary in the south to the Mkuzi swamps in the north. This crown jewel of South African conservation areas contains no less than 5 ecosystems with an amazing diversity of fauna and flora including nearly 500 species of birds, more than 120 species of fresh water and estuarine fish and a variety of mammals. It is a designated Big Five area and also one of the country’s premier fishing destinations. Little wonder then that this treasure chest of nature was declared a World Heritage Site – a status that gives it the highest form of protection. The central feature of the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park World Natural Heritage Site is Lake St Lucia itself.

Lake St Lucia

At 38 000ha Lake St Lucia is not only Africa’s largest estuarine lake system but also one of the most important acting as a nursery and rich feeding ground to countless fish, prawns, crabs and other marine species which generally spawn at sea. It is also home to some 800 hippo and 1200 crocodiles and is one of the most important breeding areas for water birds in the country. The Greater St Lucia Wetland Park is an internationally recognised birding hotspot with a startling diversity of species including 35 marine and seashore birds, 88 wetland species and 212 species of terrestrial birds. Fish eagles are common and when conditions are right as many as 60 000 flamingos may move in.


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