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Fun And Adventurous Things To Do In Northern KZN

KZN is roughly the size of Portugal and northern KZN is mild, sunny and dry in winter and sub-tropical in summer with delicious rain storms and blazing beach weather. Replete with wild forests pulsating with bird and animal life, here are 21 fun and adventurous things to do around and along the elephant coast. Watch out for the Zebra crossing in Mtunzini! Sleepy coastal town Mtunzini (meaning “a place in the shade” in Zulu) is a hidden gem on the North Coast. Don’t mind the zebras as they go about their business, it’s the crocs I would watch out for! Visit gentle giants at Tembe Elephant Park Right near the Mozambique border, in Maputaland these large tuskers roam among tiny Suni antelope. Get away from it all at Rocktail Beach Camp Rocktail Beach, situated in a remote coastal forest area of the Isimangaliso Wetland Park, combines luxury and rusticity for a glorious beach/bush break where you really feel like you’ve escaped life’s stresses. There are 17 units, each with an open-air feel inside shower. The Honeymoon suite has uninterrupted views of the welcoming Indian Ocean. Aquatic tigers in Jozini Dam Officially known as Pongolapoort Dam, prior to the dam’s construction this was Africa’s first formally recognized conservation area. In the reserves around the dam you’ll find elephant, leopard, nile crocodiles on the banks, pink and white backed pelicans, rhinos, buffalo, hippos, waterbuck as well as many others. A healthy tiger fish population makes this a prime fishing destination. Take a Horse Ride through the old battle fields Ride in the ghostly paths of the Zulu and British soldiers on the battlefields. Go on a photographic safari at Zimanga Private Nature Reserve Combine your passion for excellent photography with your love of wildlife and visit Zimanga Private Nature Reserve. Zimanga is based on the Zulu word for something unbelievable, and this is the first reserve in Africa to specialise in wildlife photography. The hides have been designed with the guidance of a BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year Winner and are unobtrusive ensure that the animals remain undisturbed by the photographers. Go Diving in Sodwana Bay Sodwana bay offers some of the best diving in the world with outstanding marine life and beautiful coral. Dive sites range from 20 to 40 metres, so if you’re an experienced diver you can go seeking out the hammerhead sharks. Water temperature varies from 28 degrees in summer to 20 in winter. De-stress at rustic Mabibi beach camp Wonderful rustic Mabibi Campsite is situated at Hulley Point on the Elephant Coast. Spot Palm Nut Vultures at the Raffia Palm Monument in Mtunzini Declared a National Monument in 1942, the Raffia Palm grove in Mtunzini has a lovely boardwalk trail from where you can spot the distinguished palmnut vultures. The palms grow to an impressive 25 metres high with 18 metre long leaves! Valley Drive, Mtunzini. Visit Lake Sibaya, the largest freshwater lake in SA This pristine freshwater lake is one of the 10 jewels of the Isimangaliso Wetland Park, is 70 square kilometres and thriving with animal and bird life. Watch out for the crocs and hippos on the banks! Lake Sibaya (also known as Sibhayi) was once the mouth of a powerful river but is now naturally separated from the sea by sand dunes. Stay at any of the luxury lodges in the surrounding area or at the Mabibi Beach camp (see above). Discover more at the Fort Nongqayi Museum Village The Fort, built in Dlinza Forest in Eshowe in 1883 houses the Zululand Historical Museum. There is also an aboretum, the KZN papermakers, and an art gallery. At the museum you’ll learn about the construction of a Zulu hut, you’ll also see King Mpande’s wheelchair and see other artifacts such as the brass armbands worn by Zulu kings and soldiers. For more info contact the museum at +27(0)35 474 2281. Nongqayi Street, Eshowe, 3815, Zululand, KwaZulu Natal. Snorkeling at Lala Nek Lala Nek is a spot in Isimangaliso Wetland Park near Black Rock and Mabibi. Find it at -27.224025°S; 32.794733°E. Only 5 vehicles a day are allowed into Lala Nek but there is no beach permit required. Stop in at Gugulesizwe Cultural Village on the way. You’ll need a 4×4 to navigate the sand. Snorkeling is best at low tide. Bird Watching and Bush Baby spotting at Ongoye Forest Reserve This rare habitat of scarp forest hosts a plethora of birdlife and even some cycads. The Ongoye forest reserve is one of the oldest protected nature areas in the country and was first under the protection of the Zulu Royal household for the important medicinal plants found here. King Mpande first protected the area followed by his son, King Cetshhwayo, who prevented John Dunn from hunting in the forest. You’ll need a 4×4 to access this remote reserve and you’ll cross three streams to get there. There are no camping facilities so when you arrive you must contact the

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iSimangaliso Wetland

iSimangaliso Wetland Park, South Africa’s very first World Heritage site since 1999 (Unesco), it is also the third largest protected area in South Africa. Situated in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, this Wetland Park covers an incredible 332000 hectares. Its a place of wonder, miracles and wildlife. The largest Estuarine system in Africa (St Lucia Estuary) 526 bird species and the second highest vegetated sand dunes are just some f the incredible sightings that await you while in iSimangaliso Wetland Park. iSimangaliso Wetland Park covers 10 unique destinations namely, Kosi Bay, Coastal Forest, Lake Sibaya, Sodwana, Mkuze Game Reserve, False Bay, Western Shores & Charters Creek, Lake St Lucia, Eastern Shores & Cape Vidal and Mphelane. Its with out a doubt a wildlife paradise. Their are 5 predominant interlinked ecosystems found in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. The species list of iSimangaliso Wetland Park are of the lengthiest in the region. Over 6500 plant and animal species including 521 bird species. The diversity of habitats (Aquatic, Coastal, Wetland and Terrestrial) supports an impressive array of animal species. Consisting of 13 separate but contiguous conservation units totalling 239 566 hectares and 85000 hectares of marine reserves. Conservation dates back to 1895 created by the Zululand government. Beaches 220 kilometres of pristine, protected coastline makes for a vast range of beaches to enjoy throughout the Park. The coastline stretches from Maphelane in the south to the Kosi Bay mouth near the Mozambique border and offers visitors a wide range of pristine beaches. The water temperature of the Indian Ocean ranges between 19°C in mid winter (June–July) to approximately 29°C in mid summer (Dec–Feb). The most accessible bathing beaches are at Cape Vidal and Sodwana Bay. St Lucia beaches are very popular with day visitors. Unspoiled stretches of beach can be found at Black Rock, Nine Mile Beach, Lala Nek, Bhanga Nek and Mabibi along the Coastal Forest section of iSimangaliso. Most of the bathing beaches have ablution facilities for day visitors. Bird Watching With over 520 bird species recorded in the Park, iSimangaliso is a bird-watcher’s paradise. iSimangaliso offers some of SA’s finest birding, with 526 bird species recorded throughout the Park. Wetlands are renowned for huge numbers of water birds such as flocks of pelicans, storks and flamingos congregating alongside specials such as Pinkthroated Longclaws, Pygmy Geese and Lesser Jacanas. The uMkhuze section of the Park is a renowned birding destination, hosting 420 of the Park’s recorded species. It is also one of the country’s only pelican nesting sites. Estuary Boat Cruises See hippo and crocodiles in their natural habitat from the comfort of a custom-built passenger ferry. Discover Lake St Lucia in comfort aboard a ferry that is able to venture into the shallow waters of the lake. Depart from one of two jetties on a two-hour estuary boat cruise, stopping at interesting sightings along the way. Close encounters with hippo and crocodiles are the main attraction of this tour. Knowledgeable guides provide commentary on the workings of Africa’s largest estuarine system. A wide variety of bird life including fish eagles, kingfishers and herons are normally spotted on the tour. Licensed bar services and toilet facilities are available on board the larger boats. The smaller boats offer a more intimate experience while the large ones are ideal for groups, schools and functions. Catering can be done on some of the boats by prior appointment. Deep Sea Fishing Warm currents and deep ocean trenches make the waters off the iSimangaliso coast ideal for game fishing. The iSimangaliso coastline has attracted many avid fishermen to its shores. The lakes and ocean are teeming with fish. Sodwana Bay and St Lucia are particularly favoured as fishing destinations. The warm waters off the coast are a result of of the Agulhas current coming in close to the shore. A continental shelf lying within 1-3km of the shore is responsible for the deep trenches that attract game fish. Anglers and skippers are required to abide by strict rules and regulations. The use of nets (unless under licence) and lights are prohibited. Vertical jigging is not permitted anywhere in the Park. Spear fishing is permissible to a licence holder on the coast except in the Marine Protected Areas. Game Drives Licenced operators offer guided tours across all sections of the Park. See the Big 5 and much more. A number of excellent game viewing roads traverse the Eastern and Western Shores sections of the Park. You are almost guaranteed to see hippo on the Pan Loop and the Vlei Loop has very rewarding game sightings – sometimes even a hippo out of the water in the middle of the day! For birders, the Catalina Bay Lookout point is particularly rewarding and the Mission Rocks Lookout provides a unique view of both Lake St Lucia and the Indian Ocean. The coastal Dune Loop provides sweeping vistas and the Grassland Loop skirts the southern shore of Lake Bhangazi before crossing over rolling grasslands and a small section of swamp forest along the Nkazana Stream. A new Forest Loop will open in 2016. The giraffe are seen only on the Western Shores, whilst the elephant appear to have made the Western Shores home too. Licensed Operators offer guided tours of these sections including full day beach and bush experiences to Cape Vidal as well as night drives providing the opportunity to see the endemic Setaro Dwarf chameleon and the frequently spotted nocturnal leopard and hyaena. Guided Walks Explore the Park’s splendour at your own pace under the guidance of an experienced ranger. Taking a walk along one of iSimangaliso’s many designated walking trails is the best way to see the magnificent game animals that call the Park home. The absence of a noisy 4×4 safari vehicle ensures that the animals won’t be disturbed – and being accompanied by one of our highly trained armed guides ensures peace-of-mind, just in case you should happen to encounter any of the park’s predatory inhabitants. Horse Riding Take a tour of iSimangaliso’s unspoiled beaches or explore its game reserves on horseback. The Eastern Shores offers a fantastic equestrian

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