St. Lucia was first named in 1554 - "Rio de Areias de Ouro" (River of the sand of gold)  by the survivors of the Portuguese ship Saint Benedict.  At this stage the Tugela river mouth was known as St. Lucia.  Later, in 1575, the Tugela river was properly named Tugela and St. Lucia received its current name.

The next naming phase took place in 1822 when a British survey expedition visited the area.  Lieutenant Vidal was the captain of this ship - the H.M.S. Leven.  Cape Vidal was then named, as well as Leven Point.  Later Mission Rocks was named in 1888, when a Catholic Mission was established on the Eastern Shores, approximately 10km north of the St. Lucia mouth.

The 19th Century saw extensive hunting for ivory, rhino horn and hippo.  Fortunately, the ecological significance of the wildlife and fish resources were recognized and protected by declaring this area a Nature Reserve on 27th April 1897.  This reserve included the Lake and some of the surrounding land.  The original reserve of 36 826ha is considered the oldest permanently declared reserve in Africa.

Elephant Coast Holiday letting has holiday accommodation in St. Lucia. Contact us for Self catering accommodation in St. Lucia.

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St. Lucia is surrounded by the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park, South Africa's first National World Heritage Site, on the North Coast of KwaZulu Natal Lake St. Lucia, part of the Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park  is a large estuarine lake abundant with hippo, crocodiles, fish and hundreds of bird species. The area comprises rivers, lakes, marsh, mangrove swamps and huge sand dunes, with beautiful unspoilt beaches.

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The small village of St. Lucia has most amenities e.g. supermarkets, restaurants, curio shops, petrol stations, library etc. Close to St. Lucia are the magnificent game reserves including Hluhluwe/Umfolozi Park and Cape Vidal. On offer in the area are night drives, boat, wetland, guided fishing, cultural, hiking, seasonal whale watching and birding tours.

So if you want to relax on the beaches, fish or tour a most diverse and unspoiled area, St. Lucia has it all.

For directions to St. Lucia click on the map.

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