About St Lucia and iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Themba offers a variety of options for the casual birder / ecotourists to the serious twitcher. Tours can be on a "Hop On Hop Off" basis using your own vehicle or our truck where required. All trips can be tailor-made to your needs and wish list.
Some tours can be specialized for your own objectives. If you prefer a private tour for just your group, we can arrange that.
Tour rates
International Guests
2 to 3 hours - R550 per person
4 hours - R650 per person
Full day - R1900 for up to four people
South African Residents
2 to 3 hours - R450 per person
4 hours - R550 per person
Full day - R1800 for up to four people
Option A
2-3 hour guided birding walk around St Lucia Village
Ideal for casual or beginner birders just wanting a taste of the wonderful bird life the area has to offer we will look out for Livingstone's Turacos, the Narina Trogon and the much sought after Woodward's Batis.
Option B
Half day tour (4hours)
Includes walks through iGwalagwala forest and down to the St Lucia estuary. This tour option can also include St.Lucia sewerage pond, the bridge as well as pans outside St.Lucia into local Khula Village (Pigmy Goose, White Backed Ducks, Lessor Jacanas, Rufous Winged Cisticolas, etc.)
Other Specials include Green Twinspots, Livingstone’s Turaco, Woodward’s Batis, Scaly-throated Honeyguide, Caspian, Swift and Lesser Crested Terns, Mangrove Kingfisher (winter months) Green Malkoha and Southern Banded Snake Eagle as well as various small mammals
Option C
1. Full day with your vehicle
2. Other Full day option if the terrain preferred is sandy we will use our closed Double Capped high Ground clearance truck
There are various options one can choose for a full day’s birding and sightseeing in the area. We can either explore iGwalagwala forest via estuarine system,then drive to a new Dukuduku western shores and explore wide range of birdlife and wildlife from Lapwings, storks,raptors to Girrafes,Elephants,Buffalos,etc.. This side seems to be much more better in wildlife and birds than the Eastern shores toward Cape Vidal roads.
With an unending drought in the Area Futululu Park in the Western Shores is still remaining dry but the coastal birds are good with Narina Trogons, Southern banded Snake Eagle and Woodward’s Batis.
The alternative option is to drive into the park area and explore Mission rocks, Mfabeni swamp, Catalina bay, Lake Bhangazi and Cape Vidal – the specials in this area include Southern banded Snake Eagle, Swamp Nightjar, Rosy-throated Longclaw, as well as Rhino, Buffalo and other exciting mammals. Cape Vidal also offers a wonderful opportunity for snorkelling or cooling off in the Indian Ocean.
Other more exciting multi-day trips include Lower Mkhuze (Pels Fishing Owl, Africa Broadbills, Pink-throated Twinspots) or doing False Bay, Nibela Peninsula and Mpempe pans.
OR try to stay over Ndumo, Kosi Bay, or Tembe Elephant Park in the north, the only place in South Africa where you can find Plain-backed Sunbird, indegeneous African Elephant, and many other legendary Zululand species such as Rosy-throated Longclaw, Neergard's Sunbird, and Rudd’s Apalis.