The word iSimangaliso has rich historical
context. Ujeqe was King Shaka's insila (aide who keeps all the King's secrets
and gets buried with the King when the King dies). He fled after uShaka's death
to avoid the customary burial with his master. He wandered into Thongaland,
present-day Maputaland, and came back, saying: I saw wonders and miracles in
the flat land and lakes of Thonga. From that follows an isiZulu saying that if
you have seen miracles, you have seen what uJeqe saw: Ubone isimanga esabonwa
uJeqe kwelama Thonga." Ujeqe might just have been one of the first
tourists to visit what is now the iSimangaliso Wetland Park."
The Elephant Coast in KwaZulu Natal, embraced by
the warm Indian Ocean, the Umfolozi
River
and Mozambique
is one of South Africa's
most beautiful and unspoiled travel destinations. It is a perfect destination
for everyone - be it for the sensitive ecologist, the great outdoors fan or the
happy camper sitting on the boulders at Mission Rock sporting his hook, line
and sinker. At the heart of this heaven-on-earth is a popular holiday village
with a saint-like name - St. Lucia,
the only private village surrounded by a Natural World Heritage Site
(iSimangaliso / Greater St Lucia Wetlands Park).
St. Lucia is an eco-tourism Mecca,
and centre point to an incredible 21 different eco-systems. Adam and Eve's
playground lures with dense evergreen forests of towering fig trees, a lush
undergrowth of ferns and wild orchids hanging from the trees. Palm savannahs
with thousands of wild date and Lala palms dot the white sand, and swamp
forests are home to myriads of exotic birds.
Since the 1999 listing of iSimangaliso as South Africa's First World Heritage Site,
alongside Robben Island and the Cradle of Humankind,
significant progress has been made relating to Park conservation and community
benefits. The enlarged Park, consolidated under the iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Authority now stretches along one third of KwaZulu-Natal's coastline.
Working with Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, iSimangaliso has reintroduced thousands of
head of game into the Park including oribi, wild dog, buffalo, elephant, black
and white rhino and cheetah. Lake St Lucia is malaria free.
