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There’s something almost otherworldly about arriving in St Lucia. The coastal air carries a mix of salt and forest scent, the streets are shaded by dense tree canopies, and now and then, a hippo might amble lazily down the main road at night as if to remind everyone that this is still their turf. It’s a village where the wild and the relaxed coexist and where international travellers are increasingly finding the South Africa they’ve always dreamed of.

When guests arrive at Lidiko Lodge, many pause to take in the moment — the scent of the tropical gardens, the rustle of palm leaves, and the calls of birds drifting through the coastal air. It is often described as the instant when the journey melts away and a feeling of belonging takes its place. For years, this sense of arrival has been at the heart of what makes a stay at Lidiko so memorable, a place where comfort, care, and the spirit of St Lucia come together.

Long before St Lucia became a beloved holiday haven and a gateway to hippos and humpback whales, it was a place steeped in mystery, exploration, and legend. The history of this remarkable corner of KwaZulu-Natal is as colourful as the sunsets over the estuary, filled with tales of early explorers, Zulu kings, shipwrecks, and stories passed down through generations.

It was mid-morning when guests of Lidiko Lodge set off into the Eastern Shores of iSimangaliso Wetland Park, bound for a day at Cape Vidal. The sun was already high, the air bright and hot, when the extraordinary unfolded just three kilometers from the lodge near the Bhangazi Gate into the iSimangaliso Wetland Park.
There, on the tar road ahead, a leopard was walking calmly, her small cub padding close behind. For a few precious moments, mother and youngster moved together in plain sight before slipping silently into the roadside bush. As the guests sat in hushed amazement, another adult leopard suddenly appeared, only to vanish just as quickly into the thicket. Though the cats melted back into the wild almost as swiftly as they had appeared, the guests managed to capture the encounter on video. An unforgettable record of one of Africa’s rarest sights.

As dusk settles over St Lucia, the sound of grunts and splashes drifts across the estuary. Soon, dark shapes begin to emerge from the water, heading up the same well-trodden paths they have used for generations. For many first-time visitors, it is almost unbelievable to see, hippos wandering the streets of town, grazing on verges, or ambling past restaurants as if they own the place.
And in many ways, they do. Hippos are the undisputed icons of St Lucia, drawing visitors from across the globe to witness this remarkable coexistence of humans and wildlife. The phenomenon has made St Lucia world-famous, yet the hippos themselves are far more than a quirky tourist attraction. They are ancient, complex creatures with surprising traits that reveal just how extraordinary life on Africa’s waterways really is.