Explore St Lucia – Travel Tips, Wildlife & Lodge Stories - Page 2

You won’t find signs pointing to Lake Sibaya from the main road. No cafés nearby. No crowds, either. It’s the kind of place that doesn’t ask for attention — and yet, the silence here has a way of holding it.

Just 2 hours north of St Lucia, the lake lies tucked between coastal forest and wide sky. It’s still. Undisturbed. Most days, you’ll have it to yourself — just you, the call of a fish eagle, and the soft rustle of reeds on the breeze.

There’s something about Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park that stays with you. It could be the history - this is the oldest game reserve in Africa, after all - or maybe it’s the untamed feel of the place. The valleys, the ridges, the deep wildness of it all. One thing’s for sure: it’s a proper Big 5 safari, and an easy day trip from Ingwenya Lodge.

Just over an hour’s drive from the lodge (or even less if you go via Nyalazi Gate), this is one of the most popular outings for our guests. Some choose to self-drive, some prefer to book a guided safari - but either way, most come back full of stories. Hluhluwe isn’t a park where the animals are on display. You have to work for your sightings - and that’s part of the magic.

There's a special kind of magic to a Cape Vidal day trip. One moment you're leaving the leafy streets of St Lucia village, and the next - just minutes later - you're cruising past zebra, buffalo, and kudu as the road winds through the wild landscapes of iSimangaliso Wetland Park. The entrance is barely 5 km from Ingwenya Lodge, which makes it one of the easiest and most rewarding day trips on the Elephant Coast.

At the end of this scenic drive, Cape Vidal reveals itself - a place where dense coastal forest opens to rolling dunes and the warm Indian Ocean sparkles beyond the reef. It's wild, yes, but wonderfully accessible - ideal for snorkelling, swimming, birding, or simply relaxing by the beach. And with the self-drive safari en route, it's a day out that blends the very best of bush and beach.

St Lucia is the kind of place that invites you to slow down – but it's also the perfect springboard for those who want to see more. When you base yourself at Ingwenya Lodge, you're not just booking a unit – you're settling into a quieter rhythm, with the estuary on your doorstep and adventure in every direction.

So, you’ve booked your stay in St Lucia. Maybe you’re dreaming of hippos at sunset, early morning walks through iSimangaliso, or simply unplugging somewhere warm and wild. But now you’re staring at an empty suitcase and wondering, what on earth do I pack for this place?