Hippos and Crocs in iSimangaliso

Posing with a bloat of hippos behind our boat

The iSimangaliso Wetland Park was listed as South Africa’s first World Heritage Site in December 1999 in recognition of its superlative natural beauty and unique global values.

The 332 000 hectare Park contains three major lake systems, eight interlinking ecosystems, 700 year old fishing traditions, most of South Africa’s remaining swamp forests, Africa’s largest estuarine system, 526 bird species and 25 000 year-old coastal dunes – among the highest in the world. The name iSimangaliso means miracle and wonder, which aptly describes this unique place.

iSimangaliso stretches from Kosi Bay on the Mozambican border all the way down to St. Lucia at the mouth of the estuary. On either side of the estuary are Big Five game reserves where we saw a Black Rhino and a herd of Cape Buffalo, my sister's first sightings of these Big Fivers!

a hippo in the water and a croc on the bank

But we came to iSimangaliso mainly to see hippos and crocs. And we saw lots of each!

First the hippos ...

Next a croc ...