Kayaking in St. Lucia, South Africa: An Exhilarating Encounter with Africa's Dangerous Wildlife
Adventure Awaits on the iSimangaliso Kayak Safari: Encounter Crocodiles, Sharks, and Hippos!
Brace yourself for an adventure! Kayaking through St. Lucia estuary, teeming with Africa's most fearsome creatures, is an adrenaline-pumping experience you won't forget. So, strap on your life jacket, and let's dive in!
Google the "Top 10 most dangerous animals in Africa," and there you'll find the usual suspects - crocodiles, sharks, and hippos. We were about to paddle with them all! And let's be honest, it was probably one of the craziest things I've ever done.
The estuary is part of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that boasts an astounding diversity of wildlife and swamp forests. Interestingly, the park spans three countries - South Africa, Mozambique, and Swaziland!
A Kayaking Trip Like No Other
I confess, I've kayaked plenty of times over the years, but never among wild animals that could end my life in an instant if they found the urge. This was bound to be a unique experience!
Our guide, from St. Lucia Kayak Safaris, warned us to keep our distance from the animals, reminding us they can be unpredictable. But what they didn't tell us is that Bull Sharks call this estuary home too...
It took Wandering Earl spotting a shark fin gliding past him for us to learn about the other aquatic menace lurking in the waters.
So, one more lethal swimmer in our kayaks? No biggie!
Chased by Crocs and Hunted by Hippos
Alright, so Earl saw the shark, but soon enough, we encountered crocodiles - those malevolent-looking beasts with their evil eyes peeking at us from the water's edge, or sunbathing lazily on the shore. We counted around six of them during our 2.5-hour tour.
Swimming towards them, they'd disappear quickly into the depths, revealing their fear. Well, except for one...
This one vanished under us, only to reappear right behind us! Alarming, to say the least! We hoped Earl & Rachelle from The Travel Bite, who were trailing behind, would become the main course if anything went wrong.
Fortunately, the predator lost interest and vanished again.
Africa's Most Dangerous Animal
Next came our brush with hippos, Africa's deadliest animal. They're responsible for more human deaths than lions, elephants, snakes, and buffalo combined! From a distance, they seem like large, awkward, vegetarian, and even comical creatures.
But don't be fooled. Misjudging a hippo can cost you your life! Those short legs are surprisingly fast, they are extremely territorial, and their tempers are rapid. And forget about their best-before label - a fully grown hippo can weigh up to 3 tons!
Fortunately, we spotted the hippos playfully and didn't encounter any aggression. But we did exercise extra caution as we navigated around the thick grass and reeds along the riverbank to avoid any hidden ambushers.
Unforgettable Wetland Adventure
Besides the crocs, sharks, and the hippos, we saw a variety of colorful birds, including the African Golden Weaver with its peculiar upside-down nests and the Yellow-Billed Stork.
A bonus encounter awaited us as we were leaving the tour - we came across a Forest Cobra snake slithering across the road!
The St. Lucia estuary is brimming with fascinating wildlife. Despite the potential dangers of a run-in with Africa's deadliest creatures, spending time in this breathtaking area via kayak was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It's just a shame I don't have life insurance for incidents involving wild animals.
[su_box title="Travel Planning Resources for St. Lucia, South Africa" style="noise" box_color="#333333" title_color="#FFFFFF" radius="3" class="resource-box"]Company:St. Lucia Kayak Safari & Julnic ToursCost: $35 US
Packing Guide
Check out my travel gear guide to help you start packing for your trip. Pick up a travel backpack, camera gear, and other useful travel accessories.
Book Your Flight
Book cheap flights on Skyscanner, my favorite airline search engine to find deals. Also read my tips for how I find the cheapest flights.
Rent A Car
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Book Accommodation
Booking.com is my favorite hotel search engine. Or rent local apartments on Airbnb ($35 discount!). Read my post for tips on booking cheap hotels.
Protect Your Trip
Don't forget travel insurance! I'm a big fan of World Nomads for short-term trips. Protect yourself from possible injury & theft abroad. Read more about why you should always carry travel insurance.[/su_box]
READ MORE SOUTH AFRICA TRAVEL TIPS
I hope you enjoyed my guide on the iSimangaliso kayak safari! Maybe you even found it useful. Here are a few more inspiring articles that I recommend you read next:
- Scuba Diving At Protea Banks
- Cage Diving With Great White Sharks
- Rafting South Africa's Orange River
This adventure was made possible with help from South African Tourism. However, as you probably know by now, all opinions & thoughts are my own.
I must admit, this kayaking expedition was unlike any other I've embarked on before, offering an adrenaline-fueled adventure blending home-and-garden (the reeds and swamp forests) with outdoor-living (paddling in the wildlife-teeming estuary). As we traveled along, we encountered the Top 10 most dangerous animals in Africa—hippos, crocodiles, and sharks—transforming our casual kayak trip into a thrilling adventure-travel escapade.
Despite our encounter with the stealthy Bull Shark, we were entranced by the vibrant avian life, such as the African Golden Weaver and Yellow-Billed Stork, sharing the waters with us during our journey. As we ventured deeper, we witnessed the dominance of Africa's most dangerous animal, the hippopotamus, negotiating our way through the thick grass and reeds while avoiding any hidden ambushers. This unique travel experience, filled with potential thrills and perils, is surely worthy of inclusion in our lifestyles, showcasing the breathtaking beauty and inherent dangers of South Africa's wilderness.
Join me on an exhilarating journey through South Africa’s iSimangaliso Wetland Park, combining travel, sport (kayaking), and adventure-travel, observing Africa's staggering wildlife and unforgettable landscapes. With this newfound inspiration, you too may embark on a transformative outdoor-living and home-and-garden adventure that leaves unforgettable memories etched in your lifestyle.
