St Lucia & iSimangaliso Wetland Park Tour: Hippos & Crocs

Hippos, crocodiles and bull sharks in the same estuary

A full-day guided tour from Durban to St Lucia in iSimangaliso Wetland Park, South Africa's first World Heritage site, where you walk the boardwalk to spot hippos and crocodiles, visit a crocodile farm, and take a 2-hour boat cruise through five different ecosystems. Hotel pickup and an English-speaking guide are included; the tour runs 8 to 10 hours and suits all fitness levels.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Isimangaliso Wetland Park

• Arrive at Isimangaliso Wetland Park
• Guided educational boardwalk tour
• View hippos and crocodiles
• Visit crocodile farm
• Learn about hippos and crocodiles
• Visit St Lucia town
• 2-hour boat cruise on Lake St Lucia

The Experience

The tour starts with pickup from your Durban hotel and a drive to St Lucia, where your guide leads you onto the boardwalk to watch hippos and crocodiles in their natural habitat. You'll stop at a crocodile farm for a closer look at these animals and learn how they live in the park. The town of St Lucia itself is worth noting—hippos move through it at night to reach grazing areas, a detail that shows how the wildlife and the settlement coexist here.

The centerpiece is a 2-hour boat cruise on Lake St Lucia, where the water holds mangrove swamps, savannas, grasslands and riverine forest all within sight. This is one of the few places on earth where hippos, crocodiles and bull sharks share the same estuarine waters. The park contains five different ecosystems compressed into one area, which is why the biodiversity is so concentrated—you're not traveling between separate habitats, you're moving through them as the boat moves.

Bottled water is supplied throughout the day, though quantities are limited. Transport, the guide, and all listed activities are included in the price. A minimum of two people per booking applies, or a solo rate will be charged. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Specialized infant seats are available if you're traveling with very young children.

What’s included

• Transport with hotel pickup and drop-off.
• English-speaking guide.
• boardwalk access and crocodile farm entry.
• 2-hour boat cruise on Lake St Lucia.
• bottled water throughout the day.

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats available

Operated by Tim Brown Tours

Is this one for you?Pick this if you want a guided wildlife tour where the guide drives you through the park—you'll see hippos, crocodiles, and bull sharks together in estuarine waters while the guide handles navigation and spotting.

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Top questions

What animals will I actually see on the St Lucia tour?

Hippos and crocodiles are the main wildlife you'll encounter on the boardwalk and during the boat cruise on Lake St Lucia. The estuary is one of the few places where hippos, crocodiles and bull sharks inhabit the same waters, though sightings depend on the day and season. The crocodile farm visit guarantees close views of these reptiles regardless of what you spot in the wild.

How long is the boat cruise on Lake St Lucia?

The boat cruise lasts 2 hours and covers the lake's mangrove swamps, savannas, grasslands and riverine forest. It's the main water-based portion of the day and shows you the park's different habitats from the water.

Does the tour from Durban include hotel pickup?

Yes, pickup and drop-off from your Durban hotel are included. The full tour runs 8 to 10 hours from start to finish.

What is iSimangaliso Wetland Park?

iSimangaliso Wetland Park, also known as St Lucia, is South Africa's first proclaimed World Heritage site. It contains five different ecosystems—mangrove swamps, savannas, grasslands, riverine forest and estuarine waters—all within one protected area, making it exceptionally biodiverse for its size.

Is this tour suitable for children?

Yes, the tour suits all physical fitness levels and is suitable for children, though they must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Specialized infant seats are available if you're bringing very young children.

What's included in the tour price?

The tour includes transport with pickup and drop-off from your hotel, an English-speaking guide, entry to the park and all listed activities (boardwalk, crocodile farm, boat cruise), and bottled water. Lunch, alcoholic beverages and gratuities are not included.