The St. Lucia Public Resort

The St. Lucia Public Resort is the premier location in the St. Lucia system and has long drawn ski boat fishermen and surf anglers to the wide variety of marine and estuarine species found in the vicinity.

There are launch tours into the lake, a Crocodile Interpretation Centre with hundreds of the reptiles in ponds and several nature trails.  Along the beach is First Rocks with reefs and pools rich in marine life.

The resort is the gateway to the Eastern Shores of the lake, to the Mission Rocks pools and beaches, Cape Vidal fishing area and Lake Bhangazi-South.

There are three camps offering accommodation: Sugarloaf campsite has 92 campsites, Eden Park, 20 sites and Iphiva, 70 sites. The Iphiva campsite has a large timber lodge for the use of educational groups.

Apart from the numerous hippos, there are bushpig, monkeys, monitor lizards and bushbabies.

Near the resort is the Dukuduku State Forest which contains the Mihobi Nature Reserve. Teh forest contains one of the last remaining stands of tropical coastal forest and numbetrs of endangered birds. Dukuduku means 'place of hiding' - by both men and cattle during Cetshwayo's reign.

The Umphafa Trail is a short self guided game trail. The Gwalagwala Trail takes visitors through the coastal forest at the edge of the estuary.

There are two more extended trails available to visitors. The Mziki Trail extends over 40kms and takes three days with an overnight in a hut on Mount Tabor. The trail is in the Mission Rocks region.

In addition to the normal fauna, visitors may also see leopard and bushpig. The Emoyeni Trail</b> is 65 kms and aimed at serious backpackers, taking 5 days to complete. Animals include rhino, hippo, buffalo, crocodile and leopard. The route winds through some of the most beautiful areas of the park.

Next . . .