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

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?

From whale watching and turtle tours to estuary cruises and forest hikes, iSimangaliso offers one of South Africa’s most diverse and rewarding nature experiences. This guide explores what to see, when to go, and why Ingwenya Lodge in St Lucia is the perfect base for your adventure – with easy access to park gates, great winter rates, and peaceful surroundings on the edge of the wild.