Part of the Greater St. Lucia Wetland Reserve

Cape Vidal costal resort in Natal South Africa forms part of the Greater St Lucia Wetland reserve. Cape Vidal is located in the north eastern section of St Lucia, for more on the whole area take a look at the Greater St Lucia Wetland Reserve.

Cape Vidal

The waters at Cape Vidal always seem to be buzzing with activity, especially when compared to the tranquility of the waters in the St Lucia Marine Reserve that lies just to the north. Like Mission Rocks, this area is popular with shore fishermen as well as those who fish offshore on boats.

Apart from the fishing, you'll find incredible beaches, just made for walking along, rock pools for exploring and sheltered coves for swimming and snorkelling.

The self-guided hiking trails on the shores of Lake Bhangazi as well as around the fascinating wetlands, in the rich coastal forest are also well worth going on.

Wildlife

Apart from Cape Vidal's fantastic birdlife, it's location is perfect for easy access to the eastern shores of Lake St Lucia, allowing you to go and see it's hippo, crocodiles and buffalo as well as many species of antelope.

In the ocean humpback whales pass Cape Vidal on their way up north to Mozambique in order to calve. You can also often see dolphins and in December both the loggerhead and leatherback turtles come onto the beach to lay eggs.

 

Malaria Area

Cape Vidal sits within an area where there is malaria and it is recommended that you take the necessary precautions if you visit this area. More information on Malaria.

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Cape Vidal Accommodation

There is a variety of types of accommodation at Cape Vidal:

Cape Vidal Camp

The main and probably best known accommodation at Cape Vidal, is known as the Cape Vidal Camp. Within this area there are a number of mostly self catering log cabins:

Cape Vidal Log Cabins
11 x Three bedroom log cabins that can sleep up to eight people. These cabins come with a bathroom with shower, a small kitchen that is fully equipped and lounge/dinning room.

18 x Two bedroom log cabins that can sleep a maximum of five and like the larger cabins, have a bathroom with shower, a small kitchen that is fully equipped and lounge/dinning room.

On top of this there are a few even larger Log Cabins, mostly used for large groups.

Facilities at Cape Vidal Camp include a small supermarket, curio shop, petrol station and information centre.

These self catering Log Cabins make an excellent place to lay your head, to make reservations, contact KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife (contact details below)

Cape Vidal Camping

There are camping facilities in the dune forest, near the beach at Cape Vidal, to make reservations, contact KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife (contact details below)

Lake Bhangazi Bush Lodge

At Lake Bhangazi near Cape Vidal, there is the Lake Bhangazi Bush Lodge, that has four thatched chalets. There are also five fishing cabins on the shore.

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Directions

The St Lucia wetland park is situated in the southern end of the Mozambique coastal plain near the towns of St Lucia, Mtubatuba, Hluhluwe, Mkuze, Mbaswana and Manguzi.

The St. Lucia tourist centre of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park (previously St. Lucia Wetland Park): accessed from Mtubatuba on the R618. After crossing the estuary on a bridge, leave the traffic circle towards the right into McKenzie Street. Along this 500 metre long main road one finds basically all the shops and stores, supermarkets, Internet cafés and restaurants and many accommodation venues. If you go streight through the traffic circle, it takes you to the beaches.

To Cape Vidal from St Lucia Village
Once you have gotten to St Lucia village turn left at the T-junction and take the road that goes past the Crocodile Centre to the Cape Vidal entrance gate, from here you will drive on a gravel road for about 35km to the accommodation at Cape Vidal Camp.

Map of Cape Vidal & the Surrounding Area

Below is a map showing the location of Cape Vidal and other points of interest in the surrounding area.

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Lake St Lucia forms only a part of the whole reserve, below are links to other sections within the Greater St Lucia Wetland Reserve.

The Parts that make up the whole of St. Lucia Wetland Reserve

Because of St Lucia's large size, individual reserves and diversity of habitats, to understand it properly I have decided to break it down into more manageable chunks.

All the areas below are within the Greater iSimangaliso Wetland Park:

• Lake St Lucia
• St. Lucia Village
• St Lucia Crocodile Center
• Maphelana Nature Reseve
• Mission Rocks
• Cape Vidal
• St Lucia Marine Reserve
• Sodwana Bay
• Lake Sibaya
• Mkhuze Game Reserve
• Phinda Game Reserve
• Ndumo Game Reserve
• Tembe Elephant Reserve
  

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Contact Information

KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife
info@kznwildlife.com
www.kznwildlife.com

For Reservations:
webmail@kznwildlife.com
Tel: 27(0)33-8451000

Phinda Resource Reserve:
www.wheretostay.co.za/phinda

Tembe Elephant Reserve:
Tel: +27 (0)31-2670144
info@tembe.co.za
www.tembe.co.za