The region
About Elephant Coast
The Elephant Coast — Maputaland — runs from St Lucia to the Mozambique border. iSimangaliso Wetland Park was South Africa’s first World Heritage Site, and it is the only place on earth where the oldest land mammal and the oldest marine mammal share an ecosystem. Sodwana Bay, further north, has the southernmost coral reefs in Africa.
Things to do here
- iSimangaliso estuary hippo and crocodile cruises
- Cape Vidal beach and snorkelling inside the park
- Scuba diving on Two Mile, Five Mile and Seven Mile reefs
- Turtle nesting tours, November to March
- Whale watching, June to November
- Kosi Bay lakes and traditional fish traps
- Lake Sibaya, the largest freshwater lake in the country
- Game drives on the eastern shores
Where you can stay
Family self-catering and guesthouses in St Lucia village, dive lodges and camps at Sodwana Bay, and remote luxury lodges around Kosi Bay.
Ready-made trips
Elephant Coast packages
2 Nights
St Lucia & iSimangaliso Escape
Hippo cruises, Cape Vidal and a World Heritage wetland.
3 Nights
Sodwana Bay Dive & Ocean Adventure
Africa’s southernmost coral reefs and four boat dives.
Want Elephant Coast your way?
Build your own trip — pick your nights, your travel party and what you actually want to do. We will come back with the best fit and a firm price.