St. Lucia
In St. Lucia, wild hippos are often spotted walking through the streets and crocodiles swim at the edge of hotel grounds. This small wetland town, just a few hours north of Durban, certainly doesn't disappoint. St. Lucia is the ideal remote safari remote playground with pristine beaches and dunes as well as the largest wetland in the entire continent of Africa.
Hippo and crocodile boat tours are available to kids of all ages and are well worth an evening cruise. However, don't feel you need to hire a guide to find the hippos - simply walk or drive to the mouth of Lake St. Lucia at the edge of town at sunrise or sunset where you'll view active hippo families (alongside local fisherman).
iSamangaliso (Greater St. Lucia) Wetland Park - The only place where hippos, crocodiles and sharks all share the same water, this game park is also ideal for easy game viewing from your own car. A day drive will likely encompass Cape buffalo, wild dog, zebra, black and white rhino, vervet monkeys, hippos, impala and nyala. Bring a picnic and end your safari beneath forested sand dunes at the beaches of Cape Vidal where whales, dolphins and nesting turtles are spotted at different times of the year. Monkeys will even entertain you in the parking lot for free.
St. Lucia Crocodile Center - Kids can view nearly every species of crocodile in the world, including the local Nile crocodile, Africa's largest. The staff is geared towards kids and hold daily children's presentations, even allowing brave ones to pet a juvenile crocodile (with its snout safely bound shut). Crocodile eggs and hatchlings are also on display, plus croc feedings daily.
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve - South Africa's oldest national game reserve in the heart of Zulu country and a Big Five viewing park (elephant, leopard, lion, cape buffalo and rhino). If staying in St. Lucia, several tour operators can be booked in town and will pick you up at your hotel for a morning or evening tour - check if they have child-friendly options.
Another alternative is to stay in one of the many camps or game lodges on the fringes of the park. Hluhluwe-Imfolozi is often compared to the popular Kruger in terms of animal sightings, but its size is relatively tiny. Be sure to book a night drive for older kids as the animals are all the more exciting under the stars!
