St. Lucia Wetlands Guest House

Trails around St. Lucia Wetlands Guest House

Emoyeni Trail

"Emoyeni" is the Zulu word meaning spiritual wind. The Emoyeni Trail is situated in the Mfabeni Section of the Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park, and is designed to show off some of the most beautiful parts of the park. Experiences on this trail are both varied and unique.

The trail has been developed as a four night, five day excursion - a trail for the serious backpacker. It begins and ends at the Mission Rocks office and its total length is approximately 65 km. Each of the four nights is spent at a different camp.

Mission Rocks office, Sonja at tel no. (035) 590 9002

Wilderness Trails

To the north of Cape Vidal is an area of approximately 15 000 ha, known as the Tewate Wilderness area. Here no permanent structures or roads are permitted. Wilderness trails are conducted in this area between April and October.

These trails start on Friday afternoons and end on Tuesday mornings. Bookings through KZN Wildlife Reservations, tel. (035) 845 1000 or email bookings@kznwildlife.com

The area in which the trails are conducted is particularly scenic and ecologically unique, ranging from wetland to dune forest. Birdlife is plentiful and thee is always the possibility of seeing black rhino as well as all the other species already listed. A large variety of flowers, including lilies and orchids, can be seen during spring.

Umvubu Trail there is a guided trail through the forest down to Lake Bhangazi South.

Imboma Trail This 3 km. guided trail leads through the wetlands south of Lake Bhangazi South.

Mziki Trail Trail One

The first trail leads in a southerly direction and is about 10 km. long. The outbound section meanders through open hill sides, indigenous dune forest and pine plantation. Most of the return leg is along the rocky coastline where tidal pools abound with interesting marine life.

Trail Two

Known also as the Lake Trail, this 10 km route takes you in a westerly direction through indigenous forest, past the Mfazana freshwater pan. During the rainy season this pan is the home of may species of waterfowl, hippos and crocodiles.

From the pan the trail crosses the St. Lucia/Cape Vidal road, goes over open grassland until it reaches the shore of Lake St. Lucia. At this point the trail swings north along the lake shore for about 1,5 km. then leads inland and back to Mount Tabor. Trail users are advised to be cautious when near the pans or lake as hippos are plentiful and often lie up in the indigenous forest during the day.

Trail Three

The third leg is nearly 18 km. long. This takes you through areas that are remote and relatively free of the sights and sounds of man. The trail heads northwards along the Mount Tabor ridge, then drops down into Bokkie Valley where you will be fascinated by the abundance of reedbuck.

From here the trail leads through forested dunes and then returns to Mount Tabor along approximately 8 km. of uninhabited coastline. As beach walking during high tide is often difficult, hikers are advised to plan their walk on this stretch to coincide with the low tide when the going will be easier.

Parties or groups are limited to eight and it is always advisable to make reservations by contacting Sonja at tel: (035) 590 9002 or fax: (035) 590 9090.

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