Makakatana House

Fax: +27 33 3434201 | email: enquiries@stluciaselfcatering.co.za | Postal: Makakatana, Box 11, Hilton, 3245, South Africa

In the area:

iSimangaliso Wetland Park

Makakatana House is surrounded by iSimangaliso Wetland Park. This is a large chunk of sub-tropical paradise stretching 220km along the East Coast from St Lucia to the Mozambique border.

As well as an incredible range of natural systems, ranging from dune, swamp and coastal forests to rocky and sandy shores, coral reefs and submarine canyons, mangroves, savanna grassland, thickets, woodlands, and the largest protected wetland in southern Africa, it is a culturally fascinating area and - more importantly - has immense fun potential.

Lake St Lucia

Just 5 minutes drive away, Lake St Lucia offers visitors some of the most diverse wildlife and outdoor experiences imaginable. This unique expanse of lake, islands and estuary, incorporates an astonishing variety of habitats ranging from the Lebombo mountains to grasslands, forests, wetlands, mangroves and vegetated dunes, with magnificent beaches and coral reefs. This diversity gives rise to a multiplicity of fauna and flora. It supports an a abundance of Nile Crocodile and Hippo, as well as Black Rhino, Buffalo, Elephant, Leopard, Waterbuck, Kudu, Nyala, Impala, Duiker and Reedbuck, amongst a host of other species.

St Lucia Town

The delightful town of St Lucia is just a 30 minute drive from Makakatana House. The town is home to a variety of local artists who display an incredible array of crafts at the local craft markets. Such work includes art, beadwork, wood-carving and basketry.

Charter's Creek Nature Reserve

A 15 minute drive to the nearby Charter's Creek Nature Reserve on the western shores of Lake St Lucia will allow visitors to enjoy what has become a favourite destination of anglers and birdwatchers. Charter's Creek is full of picturesque walks and tranquil spots for relaxation. Launch tours are run from Charters Creek onto Lake St Lucia where a awesome variety of water birds, including huge flocks of pelicans can be spotted. Keep an eye out for crocodiles and hippos too!

Hluhluwe Umfolozi National Park

A 30 minute drive will take you to the oldest proclaimed park in Africa. Due to great efforts in conservation, the park now has the largest population of white rhino in the world. This is an incredibly scenic and large park. On offer to guests are game-viewing drives, two self-guided auto trails. A number of scenic picnic sites and several self-guided walks providing magnificent views are also available.

Cape Vidal

Just an hour's drive away is Cape Vidal, which has the best of both worlds! With access to the eastern shores of Lake St Lucia where there is a large variety of game such as antelope, crocodiles, hippo and buffalo. Enjoy a spectacular array of water, forest and grassland birds. The Indian Ocean shore line boasts a startling array of marine animals and is well known for its sport fishing and snorkelling. The bay has a specially designated site for launching skiboats. It is sheltered and superb for snorkelling at a low tide.

Mkuze Game Reserve

A sixty minute drive will get you to a place of great beauty and high contrasts - Mkhuze Game Reserve. This reserve is a favourite with bird lovers as it is home to more than 420 bird species. The Mkhuze River winds along the reserve's northern and eastern borders with fig forests along its banks. The reserve has an amazing diversity of natural habitats, from the eastern slopes of the Lebombo mountains along its eastern boundary, to broad stretches of acacia savannah, swamps and a variety of woodlands and riverine forest.

Sodwana Bay

Enjoy a scenic two hour drive to Sodwana Bay, renowned for its scuba diving, sport fishing and snorkeling. It has a variety of exciting coral reefs and offers many popular dive sites with a great diversity of underwater seascapes and marine flora and fauna. A favourite are the spectacular night dives. In summer, loggerhead and leatherback turtles come out of the sea to nest on the beaches. A five-km self-guided trail is alsoavailable for the enjoyment of outoor enthusiats and bird lovers.

Kosi Bay

Two and a half hours drive away is Kosi Bay Nature Reserve - a tropical paradise of crystal-clear blue water and marshland, interspersed with raffia, wild date and palm, mangrove swamp and sycamore fig forest. These provide homes for approximately 250 species of bird.

Turtle tracking is offered every night from 15 November to 15 January, when guests get a chance to watch these magnificent creatures swim ashore to lay their eggs.