There many places within the St Lucia Wetlands Park (iSimangaliso) which offer good snorkeling for beginner level snorkelers, and more challenging snorkeling for more experienced swimmers and snorkelers. The follwowing snorkeling packages include the best snorkeling spots in the area as well as some other interesting destinations

Cape Vidal has snorkeling spots which are very tide dependent, but with the correct timing, the snorkeling is safe and suitable for all ages and skill levels. Snorkeling at Cape Vidal can be very dangerous when tidal conditions are not taken into consideration. Contact us for free safety advice if you decide to snorkel at Cape Vidal without a guide.

Day 1

Depart from St Lucia at 07h00, drive to Sodwana Bay for a snorkeling session in the protected bay. Sodwana snorkeling is also tide dependent and is very safe at low tide with a huge variety of tropical fish. For the more adventurous snorkeler, there is the option of taking a boat ride out to sea to snorkel the shallower reefs usually used by scuba divers. On these trips we often see dolphins, sea turtles and whales.

After lunch we depart for Mabibi, in the central part of the St Lucia Wetlands Park, where we spend the night in a camping site in Paradise. There is also 5 star accommodation at Mabibi for those who prefer. The evening is spent relaxing around the campfire, with the sound of the ocean in the background.


Day 2

After a bush breakfast, we walk down the vegetated sand dunes to one of the best snorkeling spots in South Africa. The bay at Mabibi is protected from the breaking surf and offers safe snorkeling at low tide.  The diversity of species at Mabibi is remarkable and the water is always a tropical shade of turquoise and never drops below 20°C, allowing comfortable snorkeling in winter and summer.

After a day of sun, sand and snorkeling, we return back to St Lucia in the late afternoon.

Depart from St Lucia at 08h00 for a day of snorkeling, game viewing, sun, sand  and good food in the St Lucia Wetlands Park, now know as the iSimangaliso Wetlands Park. Sightings range from all the tropical fish and other marine organisms to large land animals such as rhinoceros, buffalo, hippos, zebra and wildebeest.


Day 2

Drive from St Lucia to Mabibi, just north of Sodwana bay, the famous scuba diving resort. At Mabibi we snorkel in the protected bay behind the sandstone reef in an area that gets as calm as a swimming pool at low tide. From Mabibi, we drive along a 4x4 track through the northern part of the iSimangaliso Wetlands Park to a place called Bhanga Nek, 15 km south of the Mozambique border where we spend the night in a rustic beach camp.


Day 3

After a hearty breakfast, we drive north to Kosi Mouth for some snorkeling in a place called 'the Aquarium'. This is also a great opportunity to see the fish kraals (fish traps) made and maintained by the local Thonga community, a form of sustainable fishing which has been practiced at Kosi Bay for the last 500 years.

From Kosi Bay, we drive to the Tembe Elephant Park, home to Africa's largest elephants, and arrive back in St Lucia in the late afternoon.

This snorkeling package can be extended for another day to include one day at Ponta Do Ouro to snorkel with wild dolphins.

Keywords
St Lucia South Africa Snorkeling | Cape Vidal Snorkeling | Sodwana Bay Snorkeling
Mabibi Snorkeling | Kosi Bay Snorkeling | Swim with Dolphins