ST Lucia ISimangaliso Boat Safari and Dumazulu Cultural Village Tour
The tour departs from Durban heading northward along the coast to northern KwaZulu-Natal. The first stop is the small town of St Lucia inside the iSimangaliso Wetlands Park. There you will board a river boat for a 2 hours guided tour of the estuary. The local guide will inform you of the reserves history and educate you on the park’s incredible wildlife whilst cruising along the estuary on a Boat Safari.
The iSimangaliso Wetlands Park was declared South Africa's first Natural World Heritage Site in 1999. Previously known as the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park, the UNESCO site dates back over 120 years. Established in 1895 the reserve is considered South Africa's third largest park with its’ unique ecosystem spanning over 280km of
near pristine coastline and 328 000 hectares of magnificent scenery. The protected area is home to one of the largest population of hippopotami in SA as well as an estimated 1000 crocodiles. Isimagaliso has a wealth of plant, bird and animal life, including lion, zebra, African elephant, leopard, giraffe, black and southern white rhino and fish eagles.
The tour moves onto DumaZulu Cultural Village
DumaZulu Cultural Village is located near the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve in the heart of Zululand. Translated as “Thundering Zulu” DumaZulu is South Africa’s largest Zulu cultural village boasting a large tradition sibaya and over 50 Zulu locals who live and work at DumaZulu. This village is depiction of what Zulu culture was like before modernization and is considered living museum. The village is laid out in the tradition Zulu design of Zulu beehive huts arranged in a circle around a cattle kraal.
Visitors are welcomed by a local DumaZulu tour guide who explains and shares interesting traditions and customs of the Zulu people. The locals display traditional basket-weaving, spear and shield making skills and techniques. Guests enjoy buying decorative beadwork from the locals, viewing the village Sangoma perform tradition bone throwing as well as an impressive Zulu dancing and singing performance. After the DumaZulu Cultural Village you will head back to Durban.
