Towering over this magnificent coastline is
180-meter high-vegetated sand dunes that started their painstakingly slow
formation 25 000 years ago.
Walking along this coastline in the after
noon shadows of these ever growing giants and drenching your soul with peace
and tranquility rejuvenate the mind and soul. The Elephant coast is the only
remaining coastline along the Southern Africa coast where the encroachment
of humans is restricted to development behind the Coastal Dune Range
Duma Zulu
Loosely translated this means "Thundering People of Heaven".
Hunted by cannibals, war lords and slave traders, the remainder of the
scattered Nguni Tribes where united under one Nation and they adopted the
surname of Shaka's father "kwaBekki Zulu". This is the mythical era of Zulu
history under the majestic reign of the mighty warrior King Shaka. To be
transported to the realm of Sangomas predicting the future and people
fearing witchcraft, a half son struggling for recognition and a nation
filled with romance, one must visit Duma Zulu .
Duku Duku
Visit the mythical township of
Duku-Duku, training grounds of the Sangoma, and experience the cultural
interaction between the ancient living religion of the Zulu (people of
heaven) against the backdrop of a Christian community. The name Duku-Duku
was given to the bush, where King Shaka hid away his armory, because of its
denseness. Duku, meaning twig, has the same double meaning as Mtubatuba. To
Tuba is to fondle little girls. To TubaTuba is to over do it and the
chieftain of the kwaMsane region could not contain himself hence the name of
the railway station today.
The Wetlands
The Eastern Shores of Lake St. Lucia, better known as The Wetlands, is
home to four of the Big 5 and offer a stop over to more than 430 species of
migrating birds. The wetlands system is the result of high rainfall on the
vegetated dune range with this rainwater percolating into the low-lying
grasslands. This resulted into the forming of Lake Bangazi South one of the
many spectacular views while visiting the Wetlands. A visit to the look out
at mount Tabor renders a splendid view of the low-lying Wetlands such as "bokkie"
valley, Catalina Bay and Brodies crossing.
With the Rhino and buffalo frequenting the grasslands and Elephants roving
the riverine forests around Mfazana pans, it is advisable to keep in the
vehicles and stay on the designated picnic sites. Frequenting the Wetlands
are breeding pairs of Saddle billed Stork, Woolly Neck Stork, Nerina Trogan,
hordes of White Face Duck and many more. Hiding in the under growth of the
Coastal Dune forest are the shy and endangered Red Duiker. Grazing with
mommy early in the morning, true Bambie style, is the Bushbuck.
Nature Reserve
Teeming with wild life, The Elephant Coast
offers more than just The Big 5, this area has drawn "Big White Hunters"
from Europe and abroad since the early 1700's. Big 5 is a hunting
nomenclature that was adopted by a group of people that where brave enough
to hunt Elephant, Lion, Leopard, Rhino and Buffalo with the short range half
a ponder musket of times gone by.
The Hluhluwe and Imfolozi Game Reserves rendered a save haven
to animals prior to the reign of the mighty Zulu King Shaka. This areas
where declared sacred hunting ground by the Zulu Nation and only the King
could authorize hunting at this pristine venue. Host to the Big 5, Hluhluwe
/ Imfolozi Game Reserve is world renowned for nurturing the Black and White
Rhino back from the verge of extinction.
Viewing Safari's are conducted on an open vehicle to
these reserves from St. Lucia to experience the gem of The Elephant Coast.
Home to endangered species, like the Black Rhino, Cheetah, African Wild Dog,
Nile Crocodile and more, this drive is a soul enriching experience.
Cape Vidal
Visits to the Whale Tower
Walking Trails
Sun Bathing
Long Beach Walks
Warm Indian Ocean
Cape Vidal, a recreational
area within the St Lucia wetland Park, 32km north of St Lucia is the ideal
day spot. The offshore reef shelters the shore at low tide from the waves,
forming a natural rock pool with a fairly flat surface This make Cape Vidal
the ideal place to go snorkeling or swimming for the whole family. The only
downside to this secluded paradise is the fact that only one hundred "day
visitor" vehicles are permitted to enter through the gates of Cape Vidal.
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The main
lounge offers comfortable seating and TV with 56 channels to choose from.
Separated from the TV area is more comfortable seating for relaxing after a
long day. Enjoy a cool drink or your favorite cooler or have a sundowner at
the pool deck and catch up on your travel planning and other local
information.
The
Elephant Coast B&B offers spacious, well-furbished double and twin bed
rooms. Each room is complemented with a capacious bathroom, with shower and
bathtub. The rooms are complemented with a fully stocked bar fridge and
complementary coffee and tea. Each room has its own patio overlooking the
pool area and into the coastal dune forests. There is either a double or two
single stylish lounge chairs in each room. All of the rooms are fitted with
air conditioners to cool you off on those warm coastal nights, as well as a
safe for the safe storage of your valuables for total peace of mind while
you are out exploring.
The
spacious and airy well furnished rooms lead out through two large wooden
doors opening on to a patio which over looks the coastal dune forest of the
Greater St Lucia Wetland Park, the garden and pool area. Roaming hippo,
bushbuck and red duiker to mention a few frequents the lawn bellow. Your
morning wake up call will be from the avis
flocking together or perhaps the call of the Fish Eagle in their natural
surroundings
Turtle
Nesting
This life altering experience leaves a
massive sense of what maternity is all about. Share the space with this
living fossil while she is bearing the weight of ensure the best success of
survival of her offspring while they have to breed and hatch in the absence
of motherly love and care.
 With
all the ancient wisdom programmed into her DNA strand she seeks the most
suitable spot not only calculating average nest temperature, potential
looting from opportunistic scavengers but also the weather pattern for the
next sixty days. She struggles up the chosen beach and search with the
underside of her chin the most probable nesting site where she starts the
painstakingly slow process of excavating the nest. When this process is
concluded she drops the eggs into the nest. At this point she in a deep
trance and spectators are allowed to move closer under strict guidance of
the tour leader. This is an experience that can not be missed
St Lucia Estuary
St. Lucia Estuary is the 21-kilometer
winding channel that connects the ocean with the St. Lucia Lake System. The
first 3 to 4-km curve around the town of St. Lucia and the banks of the
eastern shores of the Estuary are accessible to visitors. Since the sun sets
in the West, Elephant Coast sunsets are most dramatic over the St. Lucia
Estuary. Catching up on some quality time with Wilbur Smith, Honeymoon Bend
is the venue. With
 Kakuei
carpeted banks, accompanied by Hippos and Crocodiles resting on the Mangrove
covered fossilized oyster bed Islands, this is a great setting for relaxing
and is the place to picnic. If Sundowners on a sundeck is more your style,
then the St. Lucia Ski-Boat club is your venue. Watch over Crocodiles
basking in the sun while Mother Hippo's are rearing the young and adult
Hippo's resolving domestic disputes.
St. Lucia Estuary is the
21-kilometer winding channel that connects the ocean with the St. Lucia Lake
System. The first 3 to 4-kilometers curve around the town of St. Lucia and
the banks of the eastern shores of the Estuary are accessible to visitors.
Since the sun sets in the West, Elephant Coast sunsets are most dramatic
over the St. Lucia Estuary. Catching up on some quality time with Wilbur
Smith, Honeymoon Bend is the venue. With
Kakuei
carpeted banks, accompanied by Hippos and Crocodiles resting on the Mangrove
covered fossilized oyster bed Islands, this is a great setting for relaxing
and is the place to picnic. If Sundowners on a sundeck is more your style,
then the St. Lucia Ski-Boat club is your venue. Watch over Crocodiles
basking in the sun while Mother Hippo's are rearing the young and adult
Hippo's resolving domestic disputes.
Crocodile Center
The St Lucia crocodile centre
is the ideal place to kill some time if the beach is getting a bit tiresome
as it is a great place for the whole family to come and enjoy. The centre
has a large cross-section of crocodile species (although only Nile
crocodiles are endemic to South Africa) as well as a variety of snakes on
display. The crocodile centre also boasts the Zulu and I restaurant for
well-priced meals.
Mission Rocks
Mission Rocks are 13 km due
north of St. Lucia. These rocky shores consist of carbonated sand stone rock
that is a perfect example of wave cut platform with towering dunes over
looking the peaceful shore break. With a deference of about 2-meters between
mean low and mean high tide a great deal of rock pools are exposed during
spring-low tide. Early in the morning a home sick traveler can sit on the
rock pinnacles and ponder while the dolphins and marine turtles frolic in
the break. The Loggerhead turtle feed on the crustacean's lining the shore
break. The Dolphins indulge in water aerobics attempting to out perform one
another with their acrobatic maneuvers.
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