ISimangaliso Wetland Park : Ask Biography

Protected area information

Name

iSimangaliso Wetland Park

IUCN Category

Location

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Nearest city

Durban, South Africa

Area

3,280 km2

Established

1895

Governing body

iSimangaliso Authority

Home | Protected Area | ISimangaliso Wetland Park

iSimangaliso Wetland Park is situated on the east coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa about 275 kilometres north of Durban. It is South Africa's third-largest protected area, spanning 280 km of coastline, from the Mozambican border in the north to Mapelane south of the St Lucia estuary, and made up of around 3,280 km2 of pristine natural ecosystems, managed by iSimangaliso Authority. The park includes the:

* St Lucia Game Reserve,

* False Bay Park,

* Kosi Bay,

* Lake Etrza Nature Reserve,

* Lake Sibhayi,

* St Lucia Marine Reserve,

* St. Lucia Marine Sanctuary,

* Sodwana Bay National Park,

* Mapelane Nature Reserve,

* Maputaland Marine Reserve,

* Cape Vidal,

* Ozabeni,

* Mfabeni,

* Tewate Wilderness Area and

* Mkuze Game Reserve.

The park was previously known as the Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park, but was renamed effective from 1 November 2007. The word 'isimangaliso' is Zulu for 'a miracle'.