St Lucia Safaris

Located in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, South Africa's first World Heritage Site, St Lucia Safaris has the boat, Fannas 'Spirit of St Lucia', on which they give the St Lucia Hippo & Croc Boat Cruise.

St Lucia Safaris is a family-owned business. Since we began operating in 1998, St Lucia Safaris has upheld its commitment to customer service, professional excellence, and ecological conservation. St Lucia Safaris has provided over 10,000 tours to more than 200,000 satisfied men, women and children.

St Lucia Safaris client base consists of dozens of tour companies and agencies, as well as the ever increasing number of individual holiday makers we help enjoy the beauty of our wetlands wilderness and wildlife.

Come and see for yourself why the St Lucia Wetlands and our Hippo & Croc Tours are so inspirational!

FANNAS the "Spirit of St Lucia" is a custom built vessel for the estuary. The boat requires only three hundred millimeters of water to float in. This enables us to get up close to the hippos and crocodiles. You will be able to take photographs and videos from as close as five metres. The boat will come to rest alongside animals and birds and the highly qualified skippers and tour guides will give you interesting information and facts about the various wildlife. All information shared by tours guides is specific and well researched.

If so wished an arrangement can be made when booking, for us to cater on board. We can supply a delicious breakfast and/or a variety of platters including either meat, snacks or sandwiches. With tour groups which run on a tight schedule this is the ideal opportunity to gain some time by having your meal during the cruise. However this will not have a negative impact on your tour and the minimal disruption is ensured. The tour is not only educational but heaps of fun as well. Family and friends can sit back and relax while sharing quality time together. There is ample space on the boat and one can walk around while it is cruising. The boat has an on board cash bar.

St Lucia Safaris has a long standing commitment to conservation, since even before the worldwide push towards grren living of recent years. St Lucia Safaris has been helping the provincial wildlife and environment authority, Ezemvelo KwaZulu Natal Wildlife (EKZNW), since our takeover of the company in 1998. Our assistance to Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife has included but has not been limited to:

• Reporting of illegal fishing nets
• Reporting of illegal (poaching) homemade boats
• Reporting of crocodiles trapped in nets or ropes
• Reporting of injured animals
• Picking up of harmful waste on the estuary (plastic bags, bottles, etc.)
• Regular donations to conservation efforts and environmental sustainment groups

St Lucia Safaris does all of these things within the guidelines of EKZNW. While reporting these things, we do not attempt to remedy any of them, as Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife are well trained and equipped to handle such occurences. By doing this, we have maintained a long standing, good relationship with Ezemvelo, and will always be there to help.

St Lucia Safaris is committed to the community and making a difference in our community, as well as the national and worldwide community, just as much as making a difference to our ecology and environment. Here are some, and just a few of, the many ways we have committed our company and ourselves to being a 'change for good' in our societal and community circles:

• Substantial discounts to visiting schools learning about our ecology & environment
• Regular donations to charities for various disabilities
• Use of local community members for all maintenance on the boat
• Use of local community entertainers (Zulu dancing next to the boat's jetty)
• Sponsorship of all our staff (local community only) to improve their qualifications
• Sponsorship of our boat cruise as a prize for Non-Profit Organizations

Many people might say that we have our fingers in too many pies. But when was giving not better than receiving? This is our company and we love it just the way it is, giving back to both society and the environment.