The 100 WondersProjectSearch
The wetlands of iSimangaliso

424 · The Wider World

iSimangaliso Wetland Park

Coastal dunes, wetlands, lakes and marine habitats form a remarkably varied meeting of land and water.

Photographinkie1010 · CC BY-SA 3.0

Summary

iSimangaliso Wetland Park is a protected coastal landscape in South Africa, with lakes, wetlands, dunes and marine habitats. Several different ecosystems meet along the shore, supporting a rich variety of wildlife.

Different environments lie unusually close together across this richly varied landscape. Open water, coastal forest and ocean edge show connected forms of life within one unusually varied landscape.

401–500 · The Wider World

The essentials

Explore the full photo gallery →

Allow time

4 days as an initial allowance, excluding approach travel

Choose a base

St Lucia or a chosen park-section base

Getting there

Choose a park section first. St Lucia is a useful base for the estuary and Eastern Shores, while Sodwana Bay and Kosi Bay require separate approaches.

Plan ahead

Book the relevant camp and boat, diving or wildlife activity. Each section has its own gate and access arrangements; there is no single through-road covering the park.

Practical notes updated 30 September 2026. Visitor information and sources

South Africa · Nature
Country guidesSouth Africa
Open my 100Record a visit

The essential experience.

A detail that changes the visit

The park has separate sections; boat, beach and wildlife outings are not interchangeable and depend on conditions.

The St Lucia Estuary in iSimangaliso
St Lucia EstuaryPhoto: Darren Glanville from Acle, Norfolk, UK · CC BY-SA 2.0

For the curious reader

History, landscape and context.

iSimangaliso Wetland Park is situated on the east coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, about 235 km (146 mi) north of Durban by road. It is South Africa's third-largest protected area, spanning 280 km (170 mi) of coastline, from the Mozambican border in the north to Mapelane south of the Lake St. Lucia estuary, and made up of around 3,280 km² (1,270 sq mi) of natural ecosystems, managed by the iSimangaliso Authority. In December 1999, the park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site at an unveiling ceremony, where Nelson Mandela was the guest of honour. In 2025, the area under the heritage designation was expanded to include the Maputo National Park in neighbouring Mozambique.

Abridged background from ISimangaliso Wetland Park, by Wikipedia contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Paragraphs have been selected and shortened; this adapted background remains under the same licence. Retrieved 23 September 2026. Source revision.

Hamerkop (Scopus umbretta), iSimangaliso Wetland Park, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa
Hamerkop (Scopus umbretta), iSimangaliso Wetland Park, KwaZulu Natal, South AfricaPhoto: Charles J. Sharp · CC BY-SA 4.0
Cape Vidal on iSimangaliso’s eastern shores
Cape Vidal, Eastern Shores, iSimangaliso Wetland Park, St Lucia, KwaZulu-Natal, SOUTH AFRICAPhoto: Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE · CC BY-SA 2.0

From inspiration to a practical plan

Plan your visit.

Physical demands
Beach and boardwalk visits differ from diving and guided wildlife outings. Ask about boarding, swimming and walking demands.
The consequential detail
The park has separate sections; boat, beach and wildlife outings are not interchangeable and depend on conditions.
Add to my travel workbenchResearch access requirements

Through the seasons

A place in the world.

South Africa.

A place in the world
iSimangaliso Wetland Park location mapiSimangaliso Wetland Park location map

Select the pin to open a detailed map. Use Closer look to see the surrounding region. Drag to move a zoomed map.

Map: Natural Earth
Explore the interactive atlas

In pictures.

iSimangaliso’s lakes, wetlands and coastal dunes create many different meetings of land and water.

The wetlands of iSimangalisoPhoto: inkie1010, CC BY-SA 3.0
Hamerkop (Scopus umbretta), iSimangaliso Wetland Park, KwaZulu Natal, South AfricaPhoto: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0
The St Lucia Estuary in iSimangalisoPhoto: Darren Glanville from Acle, Norfolk, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0
Cape Vidal on iSimangaliso’s eastern shoresPhoto: Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE, CC BY-SA 2.0
The landscape of iSimangaliso Wetland ParkPhoto: Ossewa, CC BY-SA 4.0
The waters of the St Lucia EstuaryPhoto: Darren Glanville from Acle, Norfolk, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0
An iSimangaliso flower chafer in its natural habitat at St LuciaPhoto: Lynette Clennell, CC BY 4.0
The shoreline of the St Lucia EstuaryPhoto: Darren Glanville from Acle, Norfolk, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0
Open the complete galleryDiscover the world in photographs

Follow the connection

Keep exploring.

Explore more places in the same country.

The Limpopo landscape at Mapungubwe

418 · South Africa

Mapungubwe

An archaeological hill and surrounding landscape reveal the history of a southern African kingdom and its trading connections.

Useful links and further reading.

Choose a source for the job: official visitor information for access, the UNESCO record for the named property’s designation, and background or library resources for deeper reading.

Understand · UNESCO World Heritage Centre

UNESCO World Heritage property record

Read the named property’s significance, maps, components and conservation documents. The World Heritage boundary may cover only part of this guide’s wider destination.

External resource. Check the provider for access and current arrangements.

Read · Wikipedia

iSimangaliso Wetland Park: background reading

Encyclopaedic context and its bibliography. Follow the cited research for a deeper examination of particular claims.

External resource. Check the provider for access and current arrangements.

Books · WorldCat

Find books about iSimangaliso Wetland Park

Search library holdings and editions, useful for finding specialist histories, field guides and works beyond a general travel guide.

External resource. Check the provider for access and current arrangements.

Maps · OpenStreetMap

Explore the local map

Inspect the surrounding area.

External resource. Check the provider for access and current arrangements.
Visitor information behind these practical notes