The Palms, a self catering accommodation holiday establishment, is situated in the heart of the exquisite St. Lucia World Heritage site between Lake St. Lucia and the Indian Ocean. With its lakes, lagoons, freshwater swamps and grasslands, St. Lucia supports more species of animal than the better known Kruger National Park and Okavango Delta– although these areas are much larger. With more than 530 species of birds, this is a bird watchers paradise. The Hluhluwe and Umfolozi Game Reserves are 55 kilometers away — close enough for a day trip. St. Lucia offers game viewing, self guided walks, Hippo and Crocodile launch tours, picnicking, swimming, fishing, boating, snorkeling, ski boat launch site as well as seasonal Turtle Tours and Whale Watching trips. What about a night drive to view Turtles with dinner on the beach? A visit to our famous Crocodile Centre and Snake park, or let us organize you a round of golf, a game of tennis or squash at our nearby Monzi Country Club. Walking distance to all the local shops and restaurants, The Palms is the perfect location for your holiday to St Lucia. Each unit is fully furnished and equipped to accommodate from four to six people, including an M- Net channel on your TV. In addition to this, our friendly staff clean and service your unit daily so you can truly relax. All units have their own private BBQ area. Why not contact us now to escape from the frustration of city life and visit beautiful St. Lucia where you are one with nature.

Check-In 02:00 PM   Check-Out 10:30 AM

Self-catering flat x 10

Includes: Self-catering

2 Bedroom units. Sleep maximum of 4 people. One double bed and two single beds. Lounge, kitchen, full bathroom, patio with braai. Fully equipped with daily cleaning service. Central to beach, lake, Cape Vidal and walking distance to all shops and restaurants. Swimming pool and parking available.

Contact Details:

Cheryl Blignaut

]]> http://4u2stay.wordpress.com/2011/05/22/the-palms-holiday-flats/feed/ 0 forafrica http://4u2stay.wordpress.com/2011/05/18/cape-vidal-snorkeling/ http://4u2stay.wordpress.com/2011/05/18/cape-vidal-snorkeling/#comments Wed, 18 May 2011 13:54:34 +0000 For Africa http://stlucia.org.za/?p=269 ]]> Cape Vidal iSimangaliso Wetlands Park South Africa

Daily Activities – Snorkeling

Cape Vidal is 38km due north of St. Lucia Estuary and it is the main atraction, since the Eastern Shores of Lake St. Lucia is the  Wetlands, of iSimangaliso Wetlands Park. Worth a one day visit from St. Lucia, this beach destination is as far up the coast the road will carry you into the Wetlands Park. Althoug the golden beaches with majestic towering vegetated sand dunes gaurding over them seems relaxing and safe, this is an unprotected swimming beach and visitors must be aware of strong rip currents.

In the absense of Shark Nets the naturally protected beach has not futured on the front page of any publication because of a fearsome shark attact yet. Only people in danger of Shark attacts is spear fishermen and maybe Kayak Fishermen. Even they have been pretty safe over the decades. Rocky Shores in the warm sub tropical waters makes for great fish spotting under the water with several hundreds of aquatic species florishing in the bay area.

Gate Hours

More From: St. Lucia Estuary

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Accommodation St. Lucia Estuary
St Lucia Estuary the town is the southern most entrance
to The iSimangaliso World Heritage Site’s Wetlands area.
This small town is renowned for the frequent visits of
Hippo and other park animals during the night.

Ndiza Self Catering Accommodation
You will find Ndiza Lodge & Cabanas nestled onto the
verge of the Wetlands. With easy access to the restaurants,
supermarkets and rest of the town yet private and quiet.
This ideal location makes Ndiza your best choice for
exclusive accommodation.
………………………………………………………………………….….Adds by For Africa

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The Drive – Cape Vidal

If one drive straight through it is about 35 minutes along a tar road, but a liesure game drive is very rewarding and many animals future along the way. The Eastern Shores is home to Four of the Big Five with some claims of Hyhena and Lions made from time to time, but the most frequented visitor along the route would be the White Rhino. Elephants migrate often between the Eastern and Western Shores accross the shallows of the lake and Black Rhino are more into the Wilderness area.

Buffalo can be see on the various loop roads and all these roads are accesiable by ordinary motor vehicles.

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Contact Person: Imelda

Contact Details: Telephone and Fax: Int. (+2735) Local (035) 590 1033

E-mail: info@stluciawilds.co.za

| Accommodation |  Activities | Information | Booking | Map | Photos |

We offer self-catering holiday accommodation in Zululand, South Africa for couples, single travellers, families, birders, eco-tourists, “mature” backpackers and nature enthusiasts. Our vacation units are neat, clean in a garden setting on the embankment of the St Lucia Estuary away from the town noise.

St Lucia town is uniquely situated surrounded by a World Heritage Site, the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, an ideal base to explore and experience our unspoilt natural heritage.

The park stretches 220 km along the northern coastline of Kwa-Zulu Natal, against the warm Indian Ocean. This area boasts:

St Lucia Wilds is privately owned and managed, situated in the main street away from the noisy town centre but within walking distance of shops and restaurants. Our units are set in a natural tranquil garden on the embankment of the St Lucia Estuary (lake). Wildlife visit the garden overlooking the lake like Tree Squirrels, Banded Mongoose, an abundance of birds, insects, butterflies, small reptilians, small bucks like Red Duiker and Bushbuck, Vervet Monkeys and Thick-tailed Bush babies at night and hippo grazing the grass form time to time.

“The Wilds” as we are locally known, offers fully equipped self-catering holiday accommodation and you are invited to stay in our standard, comfortable, clean and neat units. We offer 3 joint ground floor chalet/apartment type units and 1 affordable (budget) flatlet. No meals, drinks and toiletries are provided. We provide accommodation for single travellers, families, self-drive visitors and backpackers, especially nature enthusiasts.

All units have access to the lake via a communal path through the premises to the big garden and swimming pool too. The chalet/apartment units have no view of the lake. Each unit has a little garden with lots of plants as view. Come and enjoy the big garden view of the Estuary while watching the many birds, or just relax on a lounger chair under a tree in the cool breeze, drink a “sundowner” while you watch the sun set over the lake or cool down in the swimming pool also on the lake side.

The owners live onsite and are always ready to give information and share their passion for the environment, part of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park – World Heritage Site. We are also a Birder Friendly Establishment with own garden list and Igwala Forest site map and the directions to other hot spots. This area provides lots from Zebra to Mangrove Forest to beetles, the sea, forest and lakes.

ALL UNITS

On premises we have a swimming pool, access to the Estuary and a tree house with slide for small children.

For More enquirers leave a Reply …

Children under 12 – half price and children under 5 yrs stay free.

Secure parking on our premises. The Lodge with a lovely wooden deck offers beautiful views over the Ocean and part of Famous Lake St. Lucia. (From here Ndiza’s guests are privileged to be the first to see the whales on their way to the warm Mozambican’s waters.)

The Conference Room caters for up to 28 delegates and is equipped with flip charts, overhead projector, television and VCR. The Conference can be used for hearty Dinners and come togethers for larger tour groups. (Many Christmas meals flowed over into dinners and lifelong friendships in this very same room!)

KwaZulu Natal abounds with nature reserves and game parks, which offer a diversity of wildlife experiences and nature trails, from birding and rambling outings in indigenous forests to breathtaking trails through the wetlands and coastline.

Our guests will be assisted with all activities or tours, such as:
· Lake Cruises (See and hear more about the Crocodiles, Hippos and the unique history of the wetlands and Lake   St. Lucia)
· Boat trips
· Nature trails: self guided or guided
· Turtle Tours. See the Giant Leatherback turtles return to the beaches to lay their eggs. (During November, December and January.) Please bear in mind this outing is weather and tides permitting.
· Snorkelling Tours
· Game Reserve Trips.
· Cultural Site seeing
· Cano Trips. (Not for the faint hearted!)
· Horse riding.
· Night excursions.
· Golf, tennis and Squash at Monzi Country Club. (Not too far from St. Lucia.)
· Private Scenic flights: when aircraft is based at St. Lucia.

Ndiza Lodge offers Traditional South African cooking: Braais, potjiekos and traditional home cooking by prior arrangement. Our hearty breakfasts are served on the wooden deck.

(We will do our best to provide for special requests.)

Nearby Attractions

Facilities and Services
Parking Available, Garden, Braai / Barbecue, Bar on the Premises, Swimming Pool

Dining
Breakfast Served

Activities Nearby
Bird Watching, Fishing, Canoeing / Kayaking, Horse Riding, Rowing, Scuba/Snorkeling, Hiking / Backpacking

Environment
Beach

http://www.ndizastlucia.co.za/

Amanda de Gaspary

083 442 1896

Email:  info@ndizastlucia.co.za

Theo Tours is a tour operator, but with a difference and I’ll explain why!

Depending on which tour you join us on, you will have the chance to experience, enjoy and learn all about either

1. • the Zulu people of the area and their beliefs and traditions,

2. • the wildlife, their behaviours and habitat,

3. • the nature, culture and history of KwaZulu-Natal

OR

1. • a combination of all of these.

And this is why we are different…

As well as offering exciting tours with an authentic Zulu experience to our national and overseas visitors, and teaching our visitors about life in this area, Theo Tours also works closely with the local communities to help educate them about the benefits of conservation and tourism. We do this in a number of ways:

Firstly our Village tour takes visitors to the village of Nkundusi to experience the real life of a Zulu community. People within the community, such as the crèche, the high school, the sangoma, all benefit from this tour whether it be via help, donations or simply giving the children the opportunity to meet people from outside the village. Click here to learn more!

Secondly, as part of the Zulu experience, visitors spend some of their time staying in the village and helping the community in a number of ways, such as in the crèche, high school, clinic, etc. This provides both the visitors and the people of the village an opportunity to work together and learn about different cultures and ways of life. Through this combined work, the community will benefit from the introduction of managed tourism. Click here to learn more!

And thirdly, Theo Tours works closely with the principals and tourism teachers of high schools in the province to run school trips offering school learners the chance to experience and appreciate the incredible beauty of this area in order to enhance their learning in the classroom and understanding of the need for conservation. Click here to learn more!

Kwalucia Private Safari Retreat is nestled in the beautiful village of St Lucia in KwaZulu-Natal, the only private village in Southern Africa to be completely surrounded by a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site, the iSimangaliso Wetland Park (Formerly the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park) .

Kwalucia Private Safari Retreat is the first 5-star Bed and Breakfast/Guest house in St Lucia. This a newly built exclusive African Safari Retreat is born from the combination of the Zulu spirit and the passion for unspoiled wilderness. We offer 4 exclusive African styled en suite guestrooms, all of which have each a private patio leading onto a romantic tropical garden with indigenous trees.

All suites are equipped with bar fridge, tea and coffee making facilities, air conditioning, ceiling fans, Digital wall safe, hairdryer and WiFi access point.

All bathrooms are equipped with spacious showers, wash hand basin and a relaxing Victorian free standing bath, bath robes, toilet and shaving plugs, all in a beautiful African style design.

After a wonderful day of unforgettable experiences in St. Lucia and the surrounding areas your luxury and cosy room will fulfil your dreams. Wake up in the morning knowing that each day will allow for the adventure and peace of Africa to enter your soul.

At Kwalucia Private Safari Retreat hearty breakfast is served in the dining area in- or outside, overlooking the large rim flow pool, or on your request on your private patio.

At this romantic intimate Safari Retreat, all our guests have access to a large well lit swimming pool with rim flow. A well designed sundeck awaits you for relaxing and peaceful afternoons.

The main lounge provides you with full DSTV and a small library for your leisure and relaxation.

Around the fire in the boma, it is the perfect place where tales of the day are told. Dinners can be arranged on request.

Kwalucia Private Safari Retreat is situated within safe walking distance (just watch out for the hippos at night) to the main road (McKenzie Street), where numerous excellent restaurants are situated to cater all your desires.

Kwalucia Private Safari Retreat form a combination of calm and convenience, resulting in absolute comfort for guests who want to relax and rejuvenate their spirits with an opportunity to explore and to discover the staggeringly beautiful surroundings.

Owner management – English, Afrikaans, French & Dutch spoken.

THE RATES:

CANCELLATIONS: our cancellations or non arrival policy is as follow:

• 4 weeks before arrival 50% of full amount is forfeited
• 2 weeks before arrival 75% of full amount is forfeited
• 1 week or less before arrival 100% of full amount is forfeited

ACTIVITIES

ISIMANGALISO WETLAND PARK TOURS (Eastern shore):
You will discover the many treasures of the park. Guided tours in safari vehicles or self-drives tours in your own vehicle will give you the opportunity to discover the rocks pools at Mission Rock, Cape Vidal, Banghazi lake, a number of gravel roads (accessible with sedan cars) through the different ecosystems, short walks to suited look out point with views of the Indian ocean, rolling grassland and lake St Lucia will give you the opportunity to experience nature close up; to taste; to smell and feel the bush….

BIG 5 GAMES DRIVES:
There is nothing as iconic of Africa as the Big 5. In the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve,once the hunting grounds of the famous Zulu chief Shaka,the park is renown for its efforts in saving the white rhino from extinction and the magnificence of these first foothills of the coastal escarpment. White rhino abound and sightings of elephants are not unusual. The park also has lion, cheetah, black rhino, leopard, wild dog, a large population of giraffe and much more. Bird sightings may include lesser jacana, lapped-vaced vultures ,bateleur eagles, white-headed vultures, southern banded snake eagle etc…Guided safari in open vehicles or self guided safari in your own vehicle can be organized.

BOAT TRIPS AND SUNDOWN CRUISE:
On the estuary will leave memories of St Lucia that will always be treasured.

WHALES WATCHING:
(Seasonal) From June to November, humpback whales pass along the coastline during their annual migration from their feeding grounds in the Antarctic, to calve off the coast of Mozambique. These phenomenal mammals can weigh up to 45 tons and are sometimes visible from the shoreline, however a boat based whale watching tour is highly recommended.

TURTLES TOURS:
(Seasonal) From November to March the female turtle emerges, under the cover of the darkness, from the sea, seeking a suitable site to dig a 1 meter deep nest….Where you experience the miracle of nesting of the leatherback ( weighs up to 900 kgs) and loggerheads turtles. Step into the world of those amazing and ancient reptiles as they dodge sharks offshore and humans,crabs,badgers and jackals on shore to return and hatch from these ancient nesting grounds.
An overnight tour with qualifies guides

OCEAN SAFARIS:
Explore marine magnificence: Scuba diving and snorkeling are found to various destinations within the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, from Cape Vidal to Sodwana Bay….Sodwana Bay is one of the top 10 diving sites in the world. Over 1200 species of fish, whales, sharks, manta ray and the rare coelacanth have been recorded. The reefs have 95 known species of 43 groups of hard coral and 11 known groups of soft coral.

BEACHES AND DUNES SAFARIS:
iSimangaliso Wetland Park is a sub tropical paradise with massive golden sand dunes, which are some of the world highest vegetated dunes ,tumble onto miles of glistering golden beaches lapped by the blue waters of the warm Indian Ocean…Walking along the sea shore with sea spray dancing on your face will simply rejuvenate your soul….

BIRDING SAFARIS:
The Zululand Birding Route as developed an experienced network of local guides to assist birders find the “specials” of a specific birding site using local knowledge and observation skills…

WALKING SAFARIS:
Self-guided walk to wilderness trails with qualified rangers will leave you with memories of a life time as you go “game viewing”.

CYCLING SAFARIS:
Guides cycled trips including bicycle hire, are offered in and around St Lucia taking in views of the ocean and trips through the forest…

HORSE RIDING SAFARIS:
A number of different horse riding safaris are on offer. From a 1 hour ride along the beach up to a multi-day safari through the bush…

CANOEING AND KAYAK SAFARIS:
Kayaking tours with experienced guides on the Estuary allow visitors to get up close to an array of water birds, hippos and crocodiles…

NIGHT DRIVE SAFARIS:
Share the quietness and the peace of the African nights trying to spot one of our local leopards, hippos ,bush babies and many more of the night life…

DEEP SEA FISHING:
For the big game fisherman the waters of the Indian Ocean provide a spirited challenge, with the deep zones of the continental shelf being home to species such as marlin, seal fish, barracuda, tuna, king and queen fish…

CROCODILE AND SNAKE CENTER:
You can visit the crocodile center on your own or join a guided tour and watch the feed of the crocs on certain days.
A nice well stocked curious shop is situated within the center…

CULTURAL TOURS:
There are several cultural villages that provide a historical experience of Zulu traditional life. Learn about the task performed by different members of a community, watch energic Zulu dancing and taste traditional brewed sorghum beer.

GOLF, TENNIS AND SQUASH:
2 golf courses are within close distances of St Lucia: the Monzi Golf Course is situated 16 kms from St Lucia and the Umfolozi Golf Course is 55 kms away. Both courses are 9 holes courses with 2 tees off positions, this making them 18 holes courses. Other facilities at the clubs include tennis and squash courts…

KWALUCIA:
At KWALUCIA PRIVATE SAFARI RETREAT, you can just indulge yourself around the swimming pool, at the sundeck or at your private patio…

P.O. Box 33
17 Katonkel St
3936 St Lucia Estuary
KwaZulu Natal
South Africa

Tel: 0027(0)35 5901077
Cell: 0027(0)72 9930077
Fax: 0027(0)86 6174128

kwalucia@kwalucia.com
www.kwalucia.com

http://static.issuu.com/webembed/viewers/style1/v1/IssuuViewer.swf?mode=embed&viewMode=presentation&layout=http%3A%2F%2Fskin.issuu.com%2Fv%2Flight%2Flayout.xml&showFlipBtn=true&documentId=100628163113-41006f79443e489ca07a0bb9e257752d&docName=adv-activity-list-2010&username=forafrica&loadingInfoText=Advantage%20Tours%20-%20iSimangaliso%20Wetlands%20Park&et=1277816987884&er=61

CHARL: +27 (0)82 257 5612

PETER: +27 (0)76 4855 366

FAX: +27 (0)86 545 2264

charlextremenaturetours@telkomsa.net

Extreme Nature Tours

One of Africa’s premier Big 5 parks.

Let us take you there…Extreme Nature Tours