Hostels in St. Lucia, South Africa

St. Lucia, South Africa, is the gateway town to Isimangaliso Wetlands Reserve and further afield to Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Reserve. It's one of the jewels in the tourism crown of Kwazulu-Natal and is well set up for foreign and domestic tourists alike, with varied types of accommodation including St. Lucia, South Africa hostels. St. Lucia, a two-hundred-forty-kilometer drive north of Durban, is high on the list of most visitors' wish list. It gives tourists the opportunity to see hippos (in the street!) and crocodiles on boating trips. St. Lucia is located on an estuary and offers great opportunities for self-guided walks in the surrounding forest. Isimangaliso Wetland Reserve and Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Reserve are both a short drive away, and game drives can be easily organized by through all the guesthouses and hostels in St. Lucia, South Africa. The Big Five are fairly easily seen in Hluhluwe Reserve, so a day's safari is a really good deal here. St. Lucia is a small town and well set up for tourists, but still retains its small-town ambience. Monkeys and mongoose are common visitors around town, and you'd be really unlucky if, on a half-day walk in the forest, you don't spot any red duiker, bushbuck, vervet monkeys, or banded mongoose. The forest trails eventually lead out to the large estuary and the massive expanse of beach. There is a boardwalk that will take you all the way down to the sand and you can walk along the beach for miles. Just outside St. Lucia, there is a crocodile farm, a butterfly dome, and a bird park, if you can't get enough wildlife. Bird-watching is excellent here, particularly in the migratory season as the estuary is a stopover for many waders and shore birds. Hornbills, turacos, barbets, and sunbirds are easily seen and are very colorful. An expert bird guide can be hired in town -- your hotel, guesthouse, or hostel in St. Lucia, South Africa should be able to help you with this. Accommodation in St. Lucia is plentiful for all budgets. Backpackers are also well-served by a number of hostels in St. Lucia, South Africa, all offering budget dorm beds and all offering game drive, boat trip, and hiking options. This is a beautiful and relaxing place to spend a few days and all travelers really should make the effort to get to this area of South Africa. You won't be disappointed.