Spring on Lake Saint Lucia’s Eastern Shores

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While visiting the town of St. Lucia and the iSimangaliso Wetland Park at the end of October and into early November, my brother and I set aside three days for visiting Cape Vidal and the Eastern Shores section of the Park – an area that absolutely overflows with natural beauty!

A very easy-driving tar road leads directly from the Bhangazi Gate on the outskirts of town to Cape Vidal and offers wonderful opportunities for close encounters with a wide variety of wildlife.

White Rhinoceros
Spotted Hyena
Yellow-billed Kite
Green Malkoha
White Rhinoceros (photo by Niel de Wet)
White Rhinoceros (photo by Niel de Wet)
Common Reedbuck
Small Buffalo herd in the rain
Rufous-winged Cisticola
Bushbuck
Common Reedbuck
Buffalo bull
Crested Guineafowl
The last stretch of the road into Cape Vidal
Grey Duiker (photograph by Niel de Wet)
Side-striped Jackal
Hippo on land
Buffalo bull
Spotted Hyena sneaking up on a bushbuck (photo by Niel de Wet)
Water Thick-knee
Water Thick-knee (Water Dikkop) close-up (photo by Niel de Wet)

Don’t miss the turnoffs for the Pan Loop and then the Vlei Loop shortly after entering!

Kudu cows
Malachite Kingfisher (photo by Niel de Wet)
Painted Lady Butterfly
kuMbhukwana Pan
Little Bee-eater
Southern Banded Snake Eagle (photo by Niel de Wet)
Spur-winged Geese (photo by Niel de Wet)

The short cul-de-sac leading to the iZindondo Pan always has something interesting on offer

Southern Banded Snake Eagle
African Pygmy Geese (photo by Niel de Wet)
White-backed Duck
Small herd of Elephants at iZindondo Pan

Cape Vidal’s lovely setting in the dune forest is always enchanting…

Green Twinspot
Arriving at Cape Vidal
Samango Monkey
Red Duiker
Red Duiker
Samango Monkey
Ashy Flycatcher
Black-bellied Starling
Banded Groundling dragonfly

and I am yet to be convinced that there is a beach more beautiful in all of South Africa!

White-fronted Plover
Grey-headed Gull
Lesser Crested Tern in low-level flight
Ghost Crabs on the beach at Cape Vidal
Cape Vidal has the most interesting rocks and intertidal pools
Grey-headed Gull
The beautiful beach at Cape Vidal
Grey-headed Gull
Lesser Crested Tern
Lesser Crested Tern
Flock of Sanderlings
Lesser Crested Terns
Common Whimbrel feeding on a ghost crab
Common Whimbrel flying away with a ghost crab
The dunes at Cape Vidal are among the highest vegetated sand dunes in the world
Mole Crab
Ghost Crabs on the beach at Cape Vidal
Ghost Crab in the surf at Cape Vidal
Ghost Crabs in the surf at Cape Vidal

Finding a Sub-Antarctic Fur Seal on the beach at Cape Vidal was an enormous surprise – more about that in the next installment of DeWetsWild!

Male Sub-Antarctic Fur Seal on the shore at Cape Vidal after a heavy storm

The Grassland Loop is an excellent alternative to a large stretch of the main road when heading south again towards Saint Lucia town

Elephant Bull walking away near Cape Vidal
The start of the Grassland Loop meanders through an excellent example of swamp forest
Banded Mongoose
Crested Guineafowl
eMfabeni Swamp
Green-banded Swallowtail
I wasn’t exactly thrilled to come across a Common Myna – an alien invader – on the Grassland Loop
Baby Nile Crocodile
Waterbuck herd in the eMfabeni Swamp
Buffalo in the eMfabeni swamp
Secretary Bird
eMfabeni Swamp
Fan-tailed Widowbird
Red-breasted Swallow taking off with mud in its mouth
Samango Monkey (photo by Niel de Wet)

Don’t think that taking the short Forest Loop leading to the hides at kuMfazana Pan is going to be a quick detour – the butterflies alone will keep you entertained for a long time!

Novice Butterfly
Water Thick-knee (or Dikkop) with two chicks
Reed Cormorant
Large Striped Swallowtail
Large Vagrant
Green-banded Swallowtail
Tailor Ant nest
Yellow-bellied Greenbul (photo by Niel de Wet)
Candy-striped Crinum flowers

I sincerely hope this quick overview gives you a sense of all that the Eastern Shores section of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park has to offer! If you are interested in visiting St. Lucia and the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, remember that De WetsWild can assist you with reservations in the Eden Park and Sugarloaf Campsites in town or at wonderful Cape Vidal set on the Indian Ocean in the Eastern Shores section of the Park.

Map of the eastern shores section of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park (from https://isimangaliso.com/)

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16 thoughts on “Spring on Lake Saint Lucia’s Eastern Shores”

  3. wetanddustyroads

    Ons gaan nog Cape Vidal besoek – jy skets ‘n pragtige prentjie hier! Pragtige foto’s … ek hou veral van die buffel en wat ‘n lieflike strand! ‘n Egpaar wat saam met ons by Sodwana was verlede jaar, het oppad terug Kaap toe, by Cape Vidal aangery en kon nie uitgepraat raak oor hoe mooi dit daar is nie … en jou foto’s het ons beslis oortuig!

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. DeWetsWild Post author

      The Dikkop was my brother’s handywork, Anne. One of several photo’s of his I included in this post. It was really nice to be able to visit with him. iSimangaliso deserves its name – a place of wonders – and you won’t be sorry for visiting when you get the chance.

      Liked by 1 person

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