St Lucia Wetland Park

     This piece of paradise was recently renamed the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. Covering about 240,000ha, with a further 84,000ha in, on or under the sea, this is a large chunk of sub-tropical paradise stretching 220km along the East Coast from St Lucia to the Mozambique border. As well as a mind-blowing range of natural systems, ranging from dune, swamp and coastal forests to rocky and sandy shores, coral reefs and submarine canyons, mangroves, savanna grassland, thickets, woodlands, and the largest protected wetland in southern Africa, it is a culturally fascinating area and – more importantly – has immense fun potential. Game viewing opportunities range from self-drive to luxury lodges, and the birding is awesome. You can paddle on the various lakes, checking out hippos, birds and game on the shore.