Elephant Coast
Stretching from the iMfolozi River in the south to the Mozambique border in the north, this region is widely known as one of South Africa’s most beautiful and unspoilt areas. Home to an incredible 21 ecosystems – from dense evergreen forests of towering fig trees, swamp forests with tangled masses of greenery, thick coastal forest, mountainous sand dunes, and pristine beaches, to the African bushveld with its thorn trees and abundance of wildlife.
The Elephant Coast incorporates world-class conservation areas including the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, South Africa’s first proclaimed World Heritage Site, and Africa’s oldest game reserve, the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, credited with saving the once-endangered white rhino from extinction. Home to many species of antelope, elephant, buffalo and giraffe, there are also predators such as the lion, cheetah and leopard. At the Ndumo Game Reserve and Tembe Elephant Park, elephants are the main attraction, while the Mkhuze Game Reserve boasts a variety of wildlife. There are also a number of private game reserves that offer unforgettable experiences with abundant wildlife, a wide range of activities and fabulous hospitality.
Lake Jozini is the southernmost point in Africa where the ferocious tiger fish can be caught. Treat yourself to a houseboat experience on the lake, for something special. Kosi Bay Nature Reserve surrounds the rare and beautiful Kosi Bay lake system, and is a tropical paradise of clear waters, marshland, swamp, coastal forests and about 250 species of bird. The gateway to this unique and vast mosaic of habitats is the village of St. Lucia, a quaint town entirely within the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. Here, hippos have right of way, so careful how you drive at night.
Visitors can enjoy sun, sea and bush attractions throughout the year, and choose from an amazing array of experiences. Boat cruises allow you to view hippos and crocodiles, ocean cruises let you catch sight of migrating whales and scuba diving on world class reefs at Sodwana give glimpses of a whole other world under the sea. Supervised viewing of nesting turtles that come ashore to lay their eggs is another possibility to add to your time in this fascinating region. Mountain trails, game drives, cultural excursions, walking trails, horseback safaris or canoe trips are even more options that are available on the Elephant Coast.
For more info please visit our website www.elephantcoast.kzn.org.za
