INCREDIBLE! ISIMANGALISO WETLAND PARK | Tour of St. Lucia, Cape Vidal, Sodwana Bay & Mabibi

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280 kilometres of pristine untouched coastline. We finally explored the southern parts of the third largest protected area in South Africa - Isimangaliso Wetland Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Chasing summer in the southern hemisphere has become a pastime of ours!
In this series, we will share our adventures starting at the beautiful Cape Vidal Beach, experiences further north, itinerary and much, much more.
From St. Lucia, it's a 5 minute drive to the Bhangazi Gate of the the Isimangaliso Wetland Park.
The Eastern Shores of Isimangaliso can be accessed here.
From the entrance, Cape Vidal Beach is a 27km drive. The main road is tarred and can be driven in any road vehicle. This makes the Eastern Shores of Isimangaliso a must-do for anyone.
The opportunity to experience bush, game and the coast within such close proximity is absolutely incredible.
Beyond Bhangazi Gate, we wheeled off the beaten track on various designated gravel loop roads. We had the opportunity to do a bit of game viewing.
Off all the loops, we thoroughly enjoyed the wetlands loop and dune loop. Both offered spectacular views of Lake St. Lucia and the coastline. We recommend taking at least half a day to fully explore the loops roads possible in almost any vehicle (high clearance preferably).
What would a tour of Isimangaliso be without a boat tour on Lake St. Lucia. We made our way from Cape Vidal to Sunset Jetty in St. Lucia for an afternoon 2 hour boat ride.
The recent rains in the region meant that spotting hippos would be challenging given the lake's water levels. With an experienced spotter at the helm, we managed to spot crocodiles and plenty of hippos.
Soon after the boat tour, we soon realised why the launching site is called Sunset Jetty!
For the next part of our Isimangaliso tour, we ventured 176km north of St. Lucia via Hluhluwe Route 22 to Sodwana Bay. Situated near the small town of Mbazwana, Sodwana is a renowned diving destination. We stayed in a humble beach-style cabin at Inkwazi Beach Camp for 3 nights during this part of the tour.
The main road leading to the Sodwana Bay National Park is vibrant with a mix of beach style bars and shops. At the main entrance to the National Park, we indulged in the famous Sodwana pineapple ice-cream. After this refreshing local treat, we shopped for locally handcrafted woven items.
True to form, we lazed around on yet another pristine beach. Locals explained that the nearby freshwater lake, Ngobozeleni, had opened up after heavy rains. Sodwana is accessible in most vehicles but there are plenty of sand tracks to explore and have a bit of wheeling fun.
Mabibi, a secluded beach paradise, is yet another jewel of Isimangaliso. From Sodwana we travelled further north to experience this location.
Words, footage and pictures cannot do Mabibi any justice. It ranks as one of the most beautiful beaches we have been to. Crystal clear warm water and untouched.
From Sodwana, we travelled about 80km to Mabibi.
We were advised to take the R22 towards Kosi Bay, then the D1849 Road to Mabibi. This route is much longer and less scenic than the D1848 road, but much safer especially if you are only travelling in one vehicle.
From the D1849 Road, there are clearly marked signs to Thonga Beach Lodge and/or Mabibi Beach/Campsite. Following these will eventually get you to the pristine Mabibi Beach. For the specific route see here:
goo.gl/maps/Ga...
The tracks are sandy and a 4x4 high clearance vehicle is recommended. There aren't many fuel stations nearby on this route, so be sure to fill up and air down tyres in advance.

[@magdaseguin]

I wish I could time travel 😍

[@the.sher.khan.]

It would be absolutely amazing indeed!

[@4WheelingSA]

Cool video and content. Well done. 👍🏻

[@the.sher.khan.]

Thanks so much. Appreciate the support!

[@moshe1085]

Iaminterestedin-is it for sale?