The St. Lucia Wetland covers roughly 280,000 hectares (690,000 acres), encompasses 14 distinct nature reserves and stretches 220km (136 miles) along South Africa's northeastern coast from Cape St. Lucia north to Mozambique. And while it may be smaller than the Kruger National Park, South Africa's largest park, and Botswana's Okavanga Delta, it has nothing to envy. Situated at the confluence of the tropical-subtropical interface, centuries of wind, water and drought have produced five distinct ecosystems and ensured that an outstanding number of species make their home here.

Explore the underwater caverns of Africa's southernmost coral reef at Sodwana Bay. Observe Loggerhead and Leatherback turtles at Kosi Bay. Watch birds in a mosaic of wetlands, lakes and forested dunes. View wildlife from a boat at the St. Lucia Estuary, from an open-air jeep at the Mkhuze Game Reserve, or horseback along the coast. Spy on nature at night or during the day. Take an afternoon hike through subtropical forests, grasslands and lily-covered pans or multi-day trek along the Emoyeni Trail. And fish in just about every way.