Lake St Lucia boat cruise: Hippos, crocodiles and birds
Watch hippos snort and crocodiles bask while you drift past 450 bird species
A half-day boat cruise on Lake St Lucia in iSimangaliso Wetland Park, departing from Sunset Jetty with a live English-speaking guide, private transport from Richards Bay, snacks and water included. The boat drifts past hippos, crocodiles and fish eagles. Afterward, you walk the boardwalk to the mouth of the lake and can wade into the Indian Ocean. Minimum age is 12. Lunch is on your own account.
Step-by-step itinerary
Boat cruise and nature walk
- Depart Richards Bay to Isimangaliso Park
- Board boat at Sunset Jetty
- Watch hippos, crocodiles, and birds
- Have lunch (own account)
- Visit craft markets
- Walk boardwalk to beach
- Dip feet in Indian Ocean
What’s included
- Private transport from Richards Bay.
- a live English-speaking guide.
- the boat cruise on Lake St Lucia.
- South African snacks.
- bottled water and soft drinks.
- access to the boardwalk and beach afterward.
Times
- Every day 08:00
Before you book
Operated by Under African Skies
Prices and times updated yesterday
Need assistance?Message us on WhatsApp or by emailTraveler reviews
The experience
You're picked up from Richards Bay and driven north to Sunset Jetty, where the boat departs for Lake St Lucia. The park itself (iSimangaliso, a Zulu word meaning "a miracle") became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999 and holds South Africa's largest hippo population. From the deck, you watch them snort in the shallows, see crocodiles stretched on the banks and spot fish eagles diving to catch their meal. The guide points out the birds. 450 species live here, which is why the park is a destination for birders alone.
After the cruise, lunch is on your own, but time permitting you walk off the meal by visiting the craft markets and stepping onto the boardwalk that leads to the mouth of the lake and the beach. You can wade into the Indian Ocean to cool off from the Zululand heat. The whole outing runs about five hours from pickup to return.
Is this one for you?At five hours total, this tour leaves the rest of your afternoon free: the boat cruise and walk fit inside a half-day without eating into evening plans or requiring an early start.
Compare the 4 alternatives
Top questions
What animals will I actually see on the Lake St Lucia cruise?
Hippos, crocodiles and fish eagles are the main sightings. The guide will point them out as the boat drifts past. The lake is also home to 450 bird species, so you'll see a wide range depending on the season and time of day.
Is lunch included in the half-day tour?
Lunch is not included and is on your own account. South African snacks, bottled water and soft drinks are provided during the cruise, but you'll need to arrange and pay for your own meal in town.
How long is the boat cruise itself on Lake St Lucia?
The entire outing is about five hours from pickup in Richards Bay, which includes the drive, the boat cruise and the time to walk the boardwalk and markets afterward. The cruise itself takes up the main part of that time.
Do I need to arrange my own transport to Lake St Lucia?
No, private transportation from Richards Bay is included, so the driver picks you up and takes you to Sunset Jetty and back.
What is the minimum age for this tour?
The minimum age is 12 years old. The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels, though you'll be walking the boardwalk and potentially wading in the ocean afterward.
Can I visit the craft markets and boardwalk on the same day?
Yes, after the boat cruise, time permitting, you walk to the craft markets and the boardwalk that leads to the mouth of the lake and the beach, where you can wade into the Indian Ocean.
Lake St Lucia boat cruise: Hippos, crocodiles and birds
5h · EN · at your hotel
from US$ 211 per person
Next, you choose your date and number of travelers and see the final price.