Bib's Holiday  Accommodation

St Lucia (iSimangaliso Wetland Park), with over 520 species, is South Africa's top birding destination, active year-round due to its transition zone climate. Birding shifts between the wet summer (migrants/waders) and dry winter (altitudinal migrants/specials).

The Summer Peak 

This is the busy season with Palaearctic and Intra-African migrants. Residents are in full breeding plumage.

Nov: Major migrant influx (Red-chested Cuckoo, Yellow-billed Kites, European Bee-eaters). 

Dec: Peak breeding (Weavers). Best time for Livingstone's Turaco and Narina Trogon.

Jan: Estuary packed with waders (Curlew Sandpipers, Little Stints, rare terns). Buff-spotted Flufftails in forests.

Feb: Peak waterbirds (Pelicans). Amur Falcons visible.

Mar: Abundant fruit attracts Trumpeter Hornbills and Purple-crested Turacos.

The Autumn Transition 

Activity slows as breeding ends.

Apr: The "Great Departure" of Barn Swallows. Fruiting Tassel Berry trees attract Barbets, Starlings, and Greenbuls.

May: Summer migrants leave, Winter "Specials" arrive, including the Mangrove Kingfisher (migrates from Eastern Cape).

The Winter Specials 

Fewer species, but better visibility due to dry, thin bush.

Jun: Aloe and Coral Tree flowering attracts many Sunbirds (Purple-banded, Grey, Collared, Scarlet-chested).

Jul: Prime month for the endangered Spotted Ground Thrush (altitudinal migrant) on the Igwalagwala Trail.

Aug: Mangrove Kingfisher most reliable. Chorister Robin-chats present.

The Spring Return 

The cycle restarts with the first migrants and courtship displays.

Sep: Yellow-billed Kites return first. Southern Banded Snake Eagle soaring. Waders trickle back.

Oct: Excellent for Eastern Shores grasslands: Rosy-throated Longclaw, Black-rumped Buttonquail. African Emerald Cuckoo call echoes.

Pro Tip: Always check the tide table for the estuary mouth; waders and terns are best viewed at low tide.

St Lucia is a Natural Habitat The self-guided trails (Igwalagwala, Iphiva, Boardwalk) and the town itself are natural habitats for potentially dangerous wildlife.

HIPPO WARNING:

Do not walk at night! Hippos graze throughout the town and on trails after dark and are extremely dangerous.

Stay on the Path: Do not stray from marked trails.

WATER & OTHER ANIMALS:

Crocodiles: Do not approach or wade into any water body (estuary, pans, etc.).

General Awareness: Be aware of surroundings for animals like buffalo, leopards, and antelope.

Do Not Feed: Please do not feed monkeys or mongoose.

Plan Your Beach Day

The best beach experience is approx. 2 hours before and after low tide.There are no shops or restaurants at Mission Rocks or Cape Vidal. Please take adequate supplies (food/water). Braai facilities are available.

Best Days for: Walking/Rock Pools 

New & Full Moon create Spring Tides. This means the sea goes out the furthest (lowest low tide), making it perfect for, walking on the sandbank, or exploring rock pools.

Safe Swimming

 The days between these peaks (Quarter Moons) have Neap Tides. The water movement is softer, and rip currents are generally weaker, making it safer for swimming 

Safety Warning: These beaches are unprotected with NO lifeguards. The currents are strong and the surf is often rough. Swimming is entirely at your own risk!

📅 The Fishing Calendar

Much like our birdlife, fishing in St Lucia is driven by water temperature.

The 3–4 days centered around the New Moon (dark moon) are generally the most productive (the "Major" period). The Full Moon is the second-best window.

Here is what you can expect during your stay at Bib's.

Summer: The Game Fish Season (Nov – Mar)

Theme: Big Fights, Warm Water, and Flatfish The water is warm (26°C+), attracting pelagic game fish close to shore and large rays into the surf.

• November: The deep-sea frenzy begins. Dorado (Mahi-Mahi) arrive in large numbers. In the surf, look for Diamond Rays and Sand Sharks.

• December: Peak Billfish season. Black Marlin and Sailfish are active offshore.

• January: Wahoo start to appear—fast and ferocious. Early morning surf spins often yield Kingfish (GTs).

• February: Best month for Giant Sand Sharks in the surf. Offshore, Marlin and Yellowfin Tuna are strong.

• March: The water cools slightly. This signals the start of the Couta (King Mackerel) run—the prized eating fish for boat anglers.

Autumn: The Couta Run (Apr – May)

Theme: Couta and Crocodile Size Shad

• April: Peak Couta season and the time for the annual "Couta Classic" competitions. In the surf, Pompano start biting.

• May: The summer game fish leave, and the first shoals of large "Blue Shad" begin to appear.

Winter: "Sardine Fever" (Jun – Aug)

Theme: The Shad Run and Garrick This is the most popular time for Rock & Surf anglers as predators move up the coast.

• June: Snoek appear offshore near the backline. The Shad run begins in earnest (Cape Vidal is excellent for this).

• July: Prime time for Garrick (Leervis) in the surf zone. Kob (Salmon) are frequently caught at night.

• August: Peak Shad run. Offshore bottom fishing is excellent for "Reds" (Slingers and Rockcod).

Spring: The Spawn (Sep – Oct)

Theme: The "Closed" Season

• September: Last chance for Shad before the season closes. Stumpnose are active in rocky gullies like Mission Rocks.

• October: SHAD BAN IS ACTIVE. No Shad may be caught or kept. The cycle begins to reset for summer.

This is the "must-do" activity in St Lucia. These 2-hour boat cruises depart directly from the town jetties. You’ll get up close (safely!) to the massive pods of Hippos and basking Crocodiles that call the estuary home, along with incredible birdlife like Fish Eagles and Kingfishers. 

Witness a prehistoric miracle. These guided night tours depart from St Lucia and take you onto the beach to search for colossal Leatherback and Loggerhead turtles laying their eggs or (later in the season) the hatchlings making their run for the ocean. 

Whale Watching (Seasonal: June – Nov) Launch through the surf on a specialized boat to see the migration of the Humpback Whales. These tours offer some of the closest whale encounters in South Africa, often featuring breaching whales and playful calves. 

In the Eastern Shores section (accessed via the Bhangazi Gate), concession activities are specialized paid tours operated by licensed guides.

Because self-driving is allowed here, the "concession" (paid) activities focus on experiences you generally cannot do on your own, such as driving after dark or accessing restricted areas.

Here are the main concession activities for this section:

Night Drives: This is the most popular concession activity. You cannot drive in the park after gate closing times (sunset) unless you are on a guided night drive. These tours use spotlights to find nocturnal animals like leopards, hyenas, porcupines, and hippos grazing on land.

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Guided Game Drives: While you can self-drive, paid concessionaires offer open-vehicle safari game drives (half-day or full-day). These are often better for spotting wildlife as the vehicles are higher up and the guides communicate via radio about sightings (like Rhinos or Buffalo).

Deep Sea Fishing Charters: Authorized charters launch from St Lucial for game fishing excursions.

The Western Shores (Dukuduku Gate) allows self-driving, so the "concession" activities are primarily the guided tours that offer expertise or after-hours access.

Because this side of the park is drier and includes the massive Dukuduku coastal forest, the activities focus more on the bush experience than the beach.

Here are the key paid activities for your Western Shores section:

• Night Drives Just like on the Eastern Shores, you can only enter after dark with a licensed concession operator. The Western Shores is often preferred for night drives because the thicker forest and savannah are excellent for spotting Elephants, Giraffes, and nocturnal hunters like Leopards and Hyenas.

Guided Game Drives (Sunset or Day) Licensed guides take you on open game viewers to spot the animals that are more common on this side of the park, specifically Giraffe, Tsessebe, and Elephant herds. These tours often include a stop at the uMthoma Aerial Boardwalk for coffee or sundowners overlooking the lake.