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About St Lucia ( World Heritage Site )
Ramsar and World Heritage Site status
Lake St Lucia (37 000ha) and the Eastern Shores (30 000ha) together comprise the largest estuarine system on the African continent. Lake St Lucia was declared a Natural World Heritage Site by UNESCO protocol – South Africa’s first- on December 1, 1999. It is a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention. This means that its value as a conservation area extends beyond the borders of the country. It’s a habitat for birds such as the small waders, which breed in northern Eurasia, and migrate to the southern hemisphere to avoid the northern winter. It is also of regional importance for duck and other water bird populations, which are able to survive at St Lucia when there are severe droughts elsewhere in southern Africa. Once the drought is over, these birds migrate northwards to restock the wetlands in Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
South Africa has an obligation to look after its Ramsar site and to ensure that it is adequately conserved. The Convention secretariat maintains a list of threatened Ramsar wetlands, and assists member countries by sending monitoring teams to advise on how to conserve these threatened wetlands. A monitoring team sent to St Lucia a few years ago advised the South African Government that mining of the Eastern Shores would be detrimental to the St Lucia wetland.
The Greater St Lucia Wetland Park has been inscribed upon the World Heritage List of the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. Inscription on this List confirms the exceptional universal value of a cultural or natural site which deserves protection for the benefit of all humanity.
The ongoing fluvial, marine and saeolian processes in the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park World Heritage Site have produced a variety of landforms including coral reefs, long sandy beaches, coastal dunes, lake systems, swamps, and extensive reed and papyrus wetlands. The interplay of the park’s environmental diversity with major floods and coastal storms and a transitional geographic location between sub-tropical and tropical Africa has resulted in exceptional species diversity and on-going speciation. The mosaic of landforms and habitat types creates superlative scenic vistas. The site contains critical habitat types creates superlative scenic vistas. The site contains critical habitat for a range of species from Africa’s marine, wetland and savannah environments.
The greater St Lucia system can be described in 5 recognizable ecosystems namely”
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The marine system – East of the park and 280
kilometres of Indian ocean coastline and adjacent marine eco system. The endangered leatherback turtles swim thousand of sea miles, to return to the place of there birth, to lay eggs in the metal enriched beech sand
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Eastern shores (Dune & Forests) – inland and east of lake St Lucia consisting of grassy plains, wetlands and ancient coastal dune forests that grows on the world famous sand dunes, dunes that extents the full length of the reserve. The dunes form a natural barrier between the lake, rivers and the Indian ocean and are covered by climax forest
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Lake St Lucia – Largest estuary system in the world. this extensive 85 km lake is an average dept of 1 meter and home to more than a thousand hippos, several thousand crocodiles, 526 birds, and 114 species fish. Migrating birds – some flying more than 18 000 miles and fish use this lake as a nursery
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Mkuze swamps – Northern end of lake St Lucia and Expansive papyrus wetland
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Western shores – savanna and thornveld – the driest area
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UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) protects what it considers “important” parts of the Earth by inscribing them as World Heritage Sites. Once proclaimed, these sites are considered sacred and conservation treaties shield them from the threats of social and economic conditions and natural decay. They are saved to ensure that families in the future also have an opportunity to see untouched, natural beauty and important historical landmarks.
In recognition of the wondrous, natural beauty and rich cultural heritage of our planer, more than 700 sites around the world have been inscribed as World Heritage sites by UNESCO to date.
World-renowned World Heritage Sites; inscribed for their natural significance; include the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and the Grand Canyon in the USA. Cultural sites include the Great Wall of China, the Tower of London and Egypt’s Pyramids of Giza. Only 23 mixed natural and cultural sites have been inscribed worldwide, among them the Goreme National Park and Rock sites of Cappadocia in Turkey, and now the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Parks in the Kingdom of the Zulu.
Measured against strict international criteria, World Heritage Sites are chosen for their outstanding universal qualities of natural or cultural significance and; in rare cases; a combination of natural and cultural factors. Due to these stringent criteria, there are few places on Earth with more than two sites in close proximity of each other. South Africa boasts four World Heritage Sites with the Kingdom of the Zulu being one of the only provinces with the unique attribute of 2 sites: the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park and the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park. South Africa’s other two World Heritage Sites are the Cradle of Mankind at the Sterkfontein Caves complex in Gauteng, and the island prison of
Robin Island in the Western Cape. The Cape Floral Kingdom is earmarked to become South Africa’s fifth World Heritage Site.
St. Lucia is located on the coastline & the St Lucia Estuary ( Indian Ocean) . It is essentially a resort Village, with numerous bed and breakfast establishments, holiday flats, Hotel , Backpackers, the Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife caravan park, holiday chalets, shops, banks, restaurants, tour operators and recreational facilities.
St Lucia village is surrounded by an estuary, the Indian ocean and a Game Park Big 4 - the Isimangaliso Wetland Park - declared a natural world heritage site in December 1999. Crocodiles, Hippos, Red duiker, Bushbuck, Impala, Zebra, Wildebeest, Fish Eagles, Goliath Herons, Egrets & the elusive Leopard are regularly seen without entering the park. In season whales and dolphins can be viewed from our beeches as well as Flamingos and Pelican in the estuary - over a period of a year 542 different species of birds have been counted.
The town of St Lucia has developed as a tourist destination and offers a wide variety of excursions and activities year round.
The splendour of world-renowned African game reserves … the unique eco-systems of one of the largest wetland parks in Southern Africa … the customs and traditions of the People of Heaven … the big blue allure of the Indian Ocean.
This is the Zululand experience COME EXPLORE…
Imagine the thrill of game viewing the big five , Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Rhino and Buffalo from an open safari vehicle ( See Heritage Tours & Safaris for specials) … or witnessing a traditional Zulu healer communing with the spirits or go on a canoe safari on breathtaking Estuary wetlands, or swapping stories around the campfire before retiring to sleep with the birds in a luxury tree top lodge. Plan an exploration of world famous battlefields, where British troops and Zulu warriors clashed in bloody conflict 120 years ago … or beach launch a ski-boat to head into the big blue in search of marlin and sailfish.
This is the Zululand experience. An out-of-Africa opportunity to discover a getaway world of fascinating contrasts and incredible natural beauty. Wildlife is bountiful and still in their natural habitat.
For the energetic there is hiking trails and wilderness rides on horseback …
snorkelling or scuba diving some of the best coral reefs in the world … bird trails & quad biking.
Accommodation in the region varies from luxury game lodges to back packers hostels (see budget back packers for specials) & traditional Zulu beehive huts
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Geographical Info
The Indian Ocean is the third largest body of water in the world, covering about 20% of the Earth's water surface. The water temperatures remain warm throughout the year. Therefore water sports are very popular in the area.
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Zulu Culture
Culture is a way that people do things from what they have been taught from a young age, it is transferred from generation to generation and it differs from person to person. It is the Zulu culture not to look into an elder persons eye when he talks to you, if you do it is considered as disrespectful. Men must always take off their hats when entering a house in Zulu culture in order to show respect to the people in the house. In the Zulu culture a man is the head of the family he alone has a right to make decisions and the women only have to bow and respect, that is the " Zulu culture"
Labola is still practiced whereby a man has to pay the brides father various amounts of head of cattle.
Shaka Zulu
Shakas year of birth is estimated to be 1787, he was born in Kwa-Zulu Natal. His father was Senzangakhona born in 1762 a child of a chieftain of the small clan of the Zulu succeeding his father as king. Senzangakhona had sixteen wives , fourteen sons, daughters not known, he died in 1816. Senzangakhonas name derives from the Zulu word meaning he who acts with good reason. His mother was Nandi kaBebe a child of a deceased chieftain of the Elangeni clan, the third wife to Senzangakhona. Born in 1760 and died in 1827(a year before Shakas death). Shakas name derives from a Zulu word "iShaka" an intestinal beetle on which menstrual irregularities were usually blamed, this was said to Nandi because of her out of marriage pregnancy.
Shaka was born out of marriage that in Zulu culture was considered bad practice, the marriage didn't work out Nandi returned back to the Elangeni tribe only to find that they were not welcome, because people believed that Nandi had shamed the Elangeni tribe by giving birth to a child out of marriage and the other children taunted Shaka by calling him names like , fatherless one.
Out of suffering, Shaka and his mother moved to the Mthetwa tribe lead by Chief Dingiswayo, that is where Shaka trained to be a warrior for six years. When Shaka was 23 years of age, Dingiswayo saw the ambition and potential Shaka had and gave him a leadership position to lead and train the Mthetwa army. Shaka demanded the strictest of discipline and perfection from his warriors any violation of his laws , punishment of death was sure to follow.
During this great hunger a sad thing begun to happen amongst the Zulu people. Tribes begun to attack each other
confiscating each others cows, cattle and food. That is the exact time when the tribes h ad more passion to conqueror the other tribes and take them under themselves to have more power and people. Two people in the Zulu Kingdom became famous by doing this, Dingiswayo who belong to the tribe of Mthethwa and Zwide from the Ndwandwe tribe. Even the Zulu tribe of Sonkana was under Dingiswayo's power.
Story of the Zulu Warrior
Shaka Zulu grew up amongst the warriors of Mthethwa where he learned the clever & unbelievable tactics of leading a war. For Shaka to be in the Mthethwa tribe as a young boy i t was because he was running away from his mothers people, Nandi from the eLangeni. In eLangeni Shaka stayed with his grandmother Mfunda. When he arrived kwaMthethwa he was welcomed by Ngomane kaMqomboli from Mdletshe, the deputy chief of Dingiswayo. After learning that Shaka is of kingship, he took him to Dingiswayo who made him his servant.
Shaka Zulu took to fame when he attacked a tribe that was most feared by the Mthethwa tribe, from then on he became the chief of warriors. Zwide succeeded in killing Dingiswayo in 1818, and Shaka Zulu's brother uSigujana became king.
After Shaka Zulu discovered that Senzangakhona was dead "usekhotheme" (zulu language ), he went back to his nation , killed Sigujana, Mudli and Zivalele and took over as King of the Zulu people. Because Dingiswayo was dead, Shaka also took over the Mthethwa tribe.
When Shaka became king, he first attacked uMacingwane from Mchunu and followed with Phungashe from the Buthelezi's side. He attacked these zulu tribes because they were torturing the Zulu nation during the times of Jama and Senzangakhona. In no time Shaka Zulu conquered Zwide, who was the only one left that could stand against Shaka. In this way Shaka became the only king of all the available tribes in that area. And he then called them ZULU!
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What to do when in St Lucia
The area offers visitors of all ages excursions and activities , Hippo & Croc viewing , numerous trails in and around St Lucia , warm Indian Ocean swimming is possible throughout the year , Cape Vidal game drives , Hluhluwe / Imfolozi game drives , Croc centre & croc feeding , bird parks , mountain biking trails , birders paradise , deep seas fishing charters , whale watching , turtle viewing , Cultural Zulu dancing , Horse back safaris , Kayaking on St Lucia Estuary , rock & surf fishing , quad biking & numerous other activities.
The town of St Lucia has a wide variety of shops , restaurants , curio shops & craft markets due to the size and close
proximately of all shops clients walk freely within the area of the town , however be
cautious of the Hippos wandering the streets at night.
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