St. Lucia Estuary
St. Lucia Estuary · kwazulu-natal
About
No whitewater. Largest estuarine system in Africa, World Heritage site, 5 ecosystems. Crocodiles and hippos present throughout — paddle accordingly. Honeymoon Bend islands (1km up from the mouth): fish eagles, mangrove kingfishers, crocs and hippos. Catalina Bay (~15km from the mouth, where the zigzag narrows open into the main lake): flamingo and wader habitat. Short walk into the grasslands may yield waterbuck, kudu, wildebeest, zebra. Elephants present. Lake Bhangazi (behind Cape Vidal): freshwater, fed by underground springs and the Mfabeni sedge swamps. Kingfishers, jacanas; samango monkey, hippos, crocs. Cape Vidal beach: protected bay, suitable for snorkelling and beginner surf paddling.
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