The Isimangaliso Wetland Area, known as the Santa Lucia Reserve, is located on the east coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It was renamed in November 2007 when a number of other ecosystems were added to its area. Isimangaliso means "miracle" in the Zulu language. Isimangaliso Park is to be integrated into the Ponta do Oro-Cosi Bay Border Game Reserve, covering the territories of three countries - South Africa, Mozambique and Swaziland. There are plans to bring it into the greater Lubombo Transfrontier Reserve in the future.
The reserve currently has 280 kilometres of unspoilt coastline and covers an area of 328,000 hectares of magnificent scenery. The park covers a huge mosaic of land ranging from coral reefs and beaches with coastal forests on marshlands, salt and fresh water in the Lake St Lucia area, to lush coastal plains and verdant forests. This amazingly beautiful place in South Africa is located in the coastal plain near the towns of St Lucia, Mtubatumba, Hluhluwe, Mkuze, Mbaswana and Manguzi. The zone lies between the temperate zone in the south and the tropics in the north. Many plant and animal species are endemic to this coastal plain.
The park was declared a World Heritage Site because of its rich biodiversity, bringing together several unique ecosystems of amazing beauty spread over a relatively small area. The reason for the huge diversity of fauna and flora is the large number of different ecosystems, ranging from coral reefs and sandy beaches, to subtropical forests, savannahs and wetlands. The reserve is home to leopards, black and white rhino, buffalo, antelopes and zebras. Whales, dolphins and sea turtles can be seen in the coastal waters of the park. Elephants have been introduced to the reserve since 2001. The park is also home to 1,200 Nile crocodiles and 800 hippos. In December 2013, lions were introduced to the reserve after an absence of 44 years.
The coastal area of the park is also rich with a large number of underwater reefs, which are home to colourful fish and corals. The largest variety of coral in the world is found in Sodwana Bay, located within the reserve. The reefs are also inhabited by octopus and squid. A giant whale shark can sometimes be seen gliding through the water on the shores of the park. Lake St. Lucia, which makes up a significant portion of the park, is home to 24 species of bivalves.
More than 500 different species of birds live here or pass through the reserve's wetland system throughout the year. The park is also home to several species of frogs, vipers and a large variety of snake species in the coastal subtropical forest.
The park is a popular destination for tourists. You can go fishing, boating, bird watching, diving, or pick up a camera and try to capture the amazing world of the reserve.
