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Discover Mtubatuba and its
links to the Elephant Coast of KZN South Africa |
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Eastern shores is a large conservation area within the iSimangaliso wetland park world heritage site. This area runs from the Town of St. Lucia Northwards past Mission rocks, Cape Vidal and half way to Sodwana bay. Eastern shores is basically the area between the Indian Ocean and lake St. Lucia. This area lies east of the lake St. Lucia and runs all the way to the shores of the Indian Ocean. The area used to be planted up with pine forests, which have only recently (1994-2006) been cleared of commercial forests. These commercial forests have been partially rehabilitated, and there is still some areas that need attention to the removal of alien vegetation that was introduced during the commercial forestry operations. In the late 1800's and early 1900's the wild animals and game was systematically removed and destroyed to prevent the spread of Foot and Mouth and other communicable diseases within the cattle farming industry. Further north in the Kozi Bay / Manzi Ngwenya / Mbazwane region there was a foot and Mouth barrier that was functional up until the late 1990;s. The GSLWPA (Greater St. Lucia wetlands Park Authority) and the NPB (Natal Parks Board) were instrumental in re-introducing game including Elephant, rhino and buffalo into this section of the park The Eastern shores of lake St. Lucia has some unique land formations and is in reality vegetated sand dunes, with savannah grass and sand forests which has the odd thicket of swamp forest that has developed in low laying areas that are very close to sea level. This area is also very rich in titanium deposits which create unique problems as the mining industry wants to mine, but the tourism industry is objecting in no uncertain terms. The fact that this area now falls within a world heritage site, and motor vehicle access to the beaches has been banned also adds to the social spice which makes the region a political hot potato. The eastern Shores of lake St, Lucia is one of the few undeveloped areas of the KZN Coastline, and is closely guarded by the new protectors, the IWPA (iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority) who are systematically re-introducing game and fixing ecological problems caused by past malpractices by the government and the local population. The IWPA are getting stick from all sides and are doing the best they can to protect the area and promote the eastern shores as a tourism attraction. Land claims and the attitude of the local residents from St. Lucia village and Mtubatuba Municipality is also a concern for the well being of this very beautiful piece of our cultural heritage that is now part of South Africa's First world heritage site, and worth a visit by any tourist, foreign or international. visit www.isimangaliso.com, for more details on eastern shores and other jewels of the iSimangaliso wetland Park. read more about Kozi Bay, Mapelane, Cape Vidal and Mission rocks |
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