Elephant Coast Route

The Elephant Coast in northern KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa, stretches from St Lucia in the south to Kosi Bay in the north, across to the Lubombo Mountains in the west and includes the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve. Although a relatively small area – not only is it home to the traditional Big Five, but also offers all that the Greater St Lucia Wetlands Park has to offer – whales, turtles, protected reefs and pristine, protected coastline. An area world-renowned for conservation, untamed wilderness and unparalleled diversity, the huge variety of habitats and eco-systems are linked and inter-connected, creating a place where visitors are truly ‘spoilt for choice’.

The name Elephant Coast was decided on after a long consultative process where community members, municipal representatives and product owners workshopped to arrive at a name that was agreeable to everyone and which adequately described the area.  Elephants have a long history in northern KZN, with the Tembe Elephant Park being the site of the old migratory border crossings of these gentle giants. The Greater St Lucia Wetland Park was formerly home to a number of free-ranging elephants and they are now being reintroduced to this area.

Read more about this magnificent route:

• Look Closer;
• Delve Deeper;
• Feel Freedom;
• Live It.

Due to the large size of the Elephant Coast Route, the route is sub-divided into four regions: the Southern, Central, North Eastern and North Western. Each region is then further divided into accommodation establishments, activities and services, and ‘of interest’ places.

Look Closer:

Africa’s oldest Game Reserve, Hluhluwe-iMfolozi, is only one of many reserves in the area where visitors can encounter the ‘big five' and have access to myriad other creatures both rare and abundant. A couple of decades ago the parks were still separate and there was not enough space for lion and elephant, but today the park boasts a full wildlife capacity. This has meant that through its annual game auction, the park assists with the reintroduction of various species into parks and natural resource areas around the world. Bird watchers will delight in the fact that Mkuze and Ndumu Game Reserves are recognized as two of southern Africa’s birding hotspots. The region boasts some 600 species of birds.

Delve Deeper: 

Around 280km of pristine coastline links the Elephant Coast to the warm Indian Ocean.  Beautiful hard and soft coral abound, as do more than 1 200 species of fish in addition to a wide variety of marine life. The largest sea turtle, the leatherback, along with the loggerhead turtle, use this coastline as their breeding ground. Snorkelling opportunities at Cape Vidal and in the Kosi Bay estuary provide excellent underwater experiences while whale-watching opportunities off the Elephant Coast must be regarded as one of South Africa’s best.

Feel Freedom:

The Greater St Lucia Wetland Park – a unique, dynamic and exceptionally scenic area – was awarded World Heritage Status in 1999. Some 60 million years ago the area was covered by the ocean. Over time the water retreated, exposing a sandy coastal terrace covered with marine shells and shallow depressions that filled up with sea and fresh water to form lagoons, lakes and estuary systems. The astonishing variety of habitats include grasslands, forests, wetlands, mangroves, dune forest, massive stretches of beach and an offshore coral reef, as well as a 38 000ha expanse of tidal and semi-tidal water to enjoy and explore.

Live It:

The area is made up of three main cultures, most notably the Zulu culture. The turbulent yet proud Zulu history is testament to a people who embrace change in a dynamic world where tradition and customs incorporate innovation and transformation. Further north along the border with Mozambique the local amaThonga (resident Thembe community) settled, having migrated south from Maputo (then Lourenco Marques) in the 16th century. They are well known for their ancient fish-traps – an innovative and sustainable means of fishing that has been passed down through generations. Missionaries, adventurers and hunters have been drawn to the area over the last 200 years for the people, the place and the potential. Share in the harmony of a community driven to preserve their habitat with passion and pride because the people of the Elephant Coast are known for their deep love of the area.

Travelling in the area:

Weather:

The Elephant Coast has a sub-tropical climate with mild winters and hot summers. Summer temperatures are usually between 28° and 30°C with December to February being the hottest months, when temperatures can reach 40°C. Winters are never cold – temperatures rarely go below 17°C during the day. Warm jackets are advisable for game drives in the mornings or evenings.

Banking:

Banking hours are between 09:00 and 15:30 on weekdays. There are banks with foreign exchange services at Hluhluwe, Mkuze and Mtubatuba, and automatic teller machines in most of the towns. Cash is preferred at smaller shops or curio stands, but all larger establishments accept most credit cards.

Medical:

There are excellent private medical practitioners in most towns and professionally staffed hospitals at Ubombo, Manguzi and Ingwavuma. Dentists are available in Mtubatuba and Pongola. This is a malaria area, so it is advisable to take precautions, especially during the summer months. Consult a doctor or pharmacist before visiting the area. Mosquito sprays or creams are advisable for the evenings.

Postal and Telephone Services:

All the towns on the route have post offices and public telephones. Business hours are usually 08:00 to 16:00 on weekdays and 08:00 to 12:00 on Saturdays. The area dialling code is 035.

Local Distance Table:

Useful Links

• http://www.elephantcoast.kzn.org.za
• http://www.zulu.org.za
• http://www.southafrica.net

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