What animals you can see and how to spot them on your next St Lucia holiday

What animals you can see and how to spot them on your next St Lucia holiday

South Africa is host to many beautiful places, exquisite wildlife, lush scenery and exciting things to do, but a St Lucia holiday is one of our favourite destinations to travel to.

About St Lucia

Its diverse ecosystems and wide range of habitats make St Lucia an important wildlife destination in South Africa. Surrounded by the warm tropical waters of the Indian Ocean and reinforced by golden sandy beaches, a St Lucia holiday is a world-class wilderness experience.

Located at the southern end of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park on the east coast of KwaZulu-Natal, St Lucia is on the edge of a unique ecosystem that hosts a collection of fantastic things to do – and animals to see.

Go on a night safari to spot rare turtle hatchlings making their way to the sea, take a boat ride on the estuary passing hippos or even crocodiles, or drive through the bush to spot giraffes, elephants or buffalo behind the tall blades of grass.

This magnificent World Heritage site protects magnificent beaches, aquatic life and coral reefs, as well as a patchwork of vegetated dune forests, lake systems, estuaries, swamps, bushveld and riverine forests with all its resident wild fauna.

Your wildlife checklist for your St Lucia holiday

St Lucia is surrounded by the UNESCO World Heritage Site, and many of these wild animals are frequent visitors to the town. Visitors include Hippos, Leopards, Hyenas, Monkeys and Baboons to name a few.

There are 53 recorded species of snakes in the area. One should always be cautious when using self-guided trials around St Lucia. This area is home to venomous snakes such as the Puff Adder, Forest Cobra, and Gaboon Adder.

The lush subtropical scenery provides the canvas for a noteworthy expedition. St Lucia is an experience full of surprises; here’s how to make the most of it, spotting all the animals you possibly can.

Hippos

One of the things you may have heard about St Lucia is that hippos roam the main streets. And it’s true. Hippos spend most of the day lazing in the water, eyes poking just above the surfaces, yawning occasionally. But at night, they often travel up to 15 kilometres on dry land in search of food. While it may be fun to sight a wild animal, we encourage people to be vigilant and respect the animal. By all means, check out this fascinating feature of St Lucia, but do it from the safety of your car. And if you do spot a hippo, keep a respectable distance so you don’t scare them.

A two-hour boat ride on the St Lucia lake is an information-crammed excursion through a delicate, but rich ecosystem – and it’s where you can spot the hippos during the day.

The best time to spot a hippo on your St Lucia holiday? The good news is that hippos, St Lucia’s star attraction, are easy to see all year.

The tours depart from Sunset Jetty on the north side of the bridge just at the entrance to the town.

Turtles and their hatchlings

If there’s one experience not to be missed in the area, it’s a night drive to see the turtles nesting on the beach. Professional tours start late in the evening and include a brief night safari on the way down to Cape Vidal. Once there, the blackness of the night sky envelops the beach with just a hint of moonlight flicking on the waves. This lack of light pollution protects the Loggerhead and Leatherback turtles that seek to lay their eggs.

Watching these massive prehistoric creatures pull themselves back into the ocean is a mesmerising experience.

Turtle nesting season is bang in the middle of summer. It’s incredible to witness, but it does get hot and humid. The best time to spot the females laying eggs is between November to January; hatching is from January to March.

Whales

Over the winter months, humpback whales migrate to the warmer waters around St Lucia to give birth. So, if you’re enjoying a St Lucia holiday between mid-June and November, it’s the perfect time to join a whale-watching tour.

Whale watching is best from mid-June to November. Keep in mind that December to February is thunderstorm season and it’s not uncommon to get a brief, but heavy downpour every afternoon.

The big 5

Apart from the unique ecosystem of iSimangaliso, St Lucia is well-positioned to take advantage of the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Wildlife Park.

Hluhluwe has a Garden of Eden feel where troops of monkeys scamper over jungle-like vines and elephants bathe in picturesque rivers. It’s a beautiful park and small enough to get a good feel of the place on a day trip from St Lucia.

The park offers the opportunity to spot many African safari animals, including all of the big 5. Almost guaranteed are the excellent sightings of rhinos. These majestic creatures can regularly be found wandering through the trees with their young in tow looking for food.

It’s one hour drive from St Lucia to the Nyalazi Gate – the closest entrance into Hluhluwe-Imfolozi. Spotting animals, particularly cats, is best done early in the morning. So, leave as early as you can.

The dry and mild winter season (May to September) is best for animal spotting. This is particularly good for seeing big cats as the foliage is less thick, giving them fewer places to hide.

Other animals you can spot in this picturesque holiday destination;

• Leopard
• Vervet Monkeys
• Crocodiles
• Dolphins
• Banded Mongoose
• Buffalo
• Nyala
• Warthog

There’s no perfect time to go to St Lucia. With year-round sun and balmy subtropical weather – we’d consider it any time of year. However, the experiences you are looking for will determine the best time to go to St Lucia.

Book your St Lucia holiday home

We can offer you a beautiful self-catering holiday home near iSimangaliso Wetland Park. Our guest house includes three bedrooms and two bathrooms (enough space for the whole family), a full kitchen, a six-seater dining space, and an open-plan living room with a DSTV-equipped TV. Explore the Bridge. The Bridge is also home to Harry, a resident hippo we have named affectionately. He can sometimes be found lounging next to the patio outside. You'll enjoy your stay even more with his friendly company. Make a booking.