St. Lucia, South Africa
The St. Lucia estuary is filled with some of Africa’s most unsafe animals. Paddling kayaks through it on safari is likely i of the craziest things I’ve ever done.
Just create a Google search for “most unsafe animals inwards Africa” together with consider what pops up.
Yup. In almost every Top 10 list, you’ll abide by Crocodiles, Sharks, together with Hippos.
And nosotros were nearly to larn kayaking with all three. Yay!
In fact the large ol’ fatty Hippopotamus is Africa’s MOST unsafe animal. Turns out they go on to endure merely a chip faster than they look…
The iSimangaliso Wetland Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, renowned for it’s various wild animals together with swamp forests. The common is truly located inwards iii unlike countries: South Africa, Mozambique, together with Swaziland.
Not Your Typical Kayaking Trip…
I’ve done a lot of kayaking over the years, inwards both lakes & whitewater rivers. But I’ve never kayaked amongst wild animals that could easily kill me if they wanted to.
This was going to endure a completely novel experience!
Before nosotros began the adventure, our conduct from St. Lucia Kayak Safaris warned us non to larn likewise unopen to the animals. They are unpredictable, subsequently all.
While nosotros knew nearly the crocodiles together with hippos that we’d probable see, he failed to advert that the estuary is also habitation to Bull Sharks… which was likely a goodness thing, every bit everyone was already a chip nervous nearly the other creatures.
It wasn’t until nosotros were out on the water, together with Wandering Earl saw a shark fin swim yesteryear him, that nosotros were briefed on this other tiddler detail.
But if yous recollect nearly it, what’s i to a greater extent than lethal fauna swimming with us anyway?
There was no turning dorsum now. :D
Chased Down yesteryear Crocodiles!
After Earl saw the shark, crocodiles were the side yesteryear side monsters nosotros encountered. Their evil-looking eyes peering at us from merely inwards a higher house the water, or out sunbathing along the shore.
I counted nearly six of them during the 2.5 lx minutes tour.
We would paddle upwards towards them — alone to bring the prehistoric creatures slither away together with dive into the water. It seems the crocodiles were to a greater extent than afraid of us than nosotros thought.
All except one…
One of the beasts disappeared nether us, alone to all of a precipitous reappear correct behind us. He together with hence proceeded to follow our kayaks!
Luckily Earl & Rachelle from The Travel Bite were inwards the rear, hence if anyone was going to larn eaten, it would endure them. :twisted:
But eventually the croc lost involvement together with disappeared again.
Most Dangerous Animal inwards Africa?
Next nosotros glided our boats into hippo territory. The Hippopotamus kills to a greater extent than people inwards Africa than Lions, Elephants, Snakes, or Buffalo. You’d never suspect this when looking at it from a distance. At get-go glance it’s big, fat, vegetarian, together with pretty awkward.
But underestimating a hippo tin easily larn yous killed.
Those tiny legs tin propel the residuum of it upwards to twenty MPH, they are extremely territorial, together with they bring a hateful temper! H5N1 hippo’s oral cavity is also total of jagged ivory teeth covered inwards toxic bacteria.
Not to advert the beast weighs every bit much every bit a large SUV at 2-3 tons…
For the most business office they are slow to spot though — nosotros kept our distance patch watching them play, grunt, together with present off their ugly smiles.
But extra caution was needed patch kayaking around the thick grass & reeds along the riverbank, merely inwards illustration a few were hiding nearby.
Most hippo attacks occur when people brand it betwixt them together with the water. They search for nutrient on province inwards the evenings, together with remain inwards the H2O during the solar daytime to hold cool & protected from the sun.
We were truly able to witness some of their aggressiveness the solar daytime earlier when a large virile individual hippopotamus charged our tour boat with over twenty people on board.
Incredible St. Lucia Kayak Safari
In add-on to crocodiles, a shark, together with the hippos nosotros encountered, at that spot were enough of colorful birds to see. We spotted the brilliant blood-red eyes together with foreign upside-down nests of the African Golden Weaver, every bit good every bit the funny looking Yellow Billed Stork.
While leaving inwards a truck subsequently our kayaking adventure, a poisonous Forest Cobra ophidian slithered across the route inwards forepart of us!
St. Lucia’s estuary is absolutely filled with interesting wildlife.
It was a pleasance to pass a few hours exploring the beautiful iSimangaliso Wetland expanse via kayak — peculiarly since nosotros all made it dorsum inwards i piece.
Because getting eaten yesteryear wild animals volition ruin anyone’s day. :D
Company: St. Lucia Kayak Safari & Julnic Tours
Cost: $35 US
Packing Guide
Check out my travel gear guide to assist yous start packing for your trip. Pick upwards a locomote backpack, photographic idiot box camera gear, together with other useful locomote accessories.
Book Your Flight
Book inexpensive flights on Skyscanner, my favorite airline search engine to abide by deals. Also read my tips for how I abide by the cheapest flights.
Rent H5N1 Car
Discover Car Hire is a bully site for comparison automobile prices to abide by the best deal. They search both local & international rental companies.
Book Accommodation
Booking.com is my favorite hotel search engine. Or rent local apartments on Airbnb ($35 discount!). Read my post for tips on booking inexpensive hotels.
Protect Your Trip
Don’t forget locomote insurance! I’m a large fan of World Nomads for short-term trips. Protect yourself from possible injury & theft abroad. Read to a greater extent than nearly why yous should e'er demeanor locomote insurance.
This opportunity was made possible with assist from South African Tourism. However, every bit yous likely know yesteryear now, all opinions & thoughts are my own.
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