Where to stay in iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Showing 1–12 of 15 glamping camps and lodges in and around the park.
Makakatana Bay Lodge
Urban Glamping St Lucia
Kosi Forest Lodge
The Homestead at Phinda
Phinda Vlei Lodge
Phinda Forest Lodge
Phinda Mountain Lodge
Phinda Rock Lodge
Phinda Zuka Lodge
Thanda Safari Tented Camp
Thanda Safari Lodge
Leopard Mountain Safari Lodge
iSimangaliso Wetland Park guide
Overview
iSimangaliso Wetland Park runs for about 220 km along the north coast of KwaZulu-Natal, from Maphelane south of Lake St Lucia to Kosi Bay on the border with Mozambique. In 1999 it became South Africa’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, and with its marine extension it now covers about 1.33 million hectares of land and sea.
The park joins several ecosystems that usually don’t occur side by side: the Lake St Lucia estuary, high forested dunes, swamp forest, grasslands, the Mkhuze bushveld and the coral reefs off Sodwana Bay. It contains several Ramsar wetlands, and its name means “miracle and wonder” in isiZulu.
Activities are as varied as the landscape. You can take boat cruises past hippos and crocodiles at St Lucia, go on game drives in the Eastern and Western Shores and uMkhuze, dive or snorkel at Sodwana, watch turtles nest in summer and enjoy whale watching in winter. It combines well with Hluhluwe-iMfolozi and Phinda.
Wildlife & Biodiversity
Land
Elephant, rhino, buffalo, leopard and cheetah live in the uMkhuze section, and the Eastern and Western Shores have rhino, buffalo, kudu, zebra and many antelope. Lion have been reintroduced to uMkhuze.
Water
Lake St Lucia holds one of South Africa’s largest hippo and Nile crocodile populations.
Sea
Loggerhead and leatherback turtles nest on the northern beaches from about November to March. Humpback whales pass from about June to November, and Sodwana’s reefs are a world-class diving site.
Birds
More than 500 bird species have been recorded, including pelicans and flamingos on the lakes.
Best Time to Visit
Short answer: May to October for game viewing and comfortable temperatures; November to March for turtles.
| Months | Season | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| May – Oct | Dry winter | Mild, sunny days. Whales offshore from June. |
| Nov – Mar | Hot, humid summer | Turtle nesting season, with storms and the greenest landscape. |
| Apr | Autumn | Quieter, with warm sea temperatures for diving. |
Parts of the park are in a low-risk malaria area. Take advice before you travel.
Getting There
By air
| Airport | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| King Shaka International (DUR), Durban | Most fly-in visitors | About 2.5 to 3 hours by road to St Lucia. |
| Richards Bay (RCB) | Domestic flights | About 1 hour to St Lucia. |
By road
From Durban, take the N2 north and turn off for St Lucia at Mtubatuba. Sodwana Bay and Kosi Bay are further north, and some areas need a 4×4.
Entrance & Fees
The iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority charges a gate fee per person and per vehicle at each section, plus a small community levy. Staying guests pay a lower nightly levy.
Fees are reviewed each December. Check the current rates on the park's website or at the gate.
Fees last checked October 2026 against the iSimangaliso Wetland Park website.