In 2001, President Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela said “iSimangaliso must be the only place on the globe where the world’s oldest land mammal (the rhinoceros) and the world’s biggest terrestrial mammal (the elephant) share an ecosystem with the world’s oldest fish (the coelacanth) and the world’s biggest marine mammal (the whale)." Today after 44 years of absence it also has lions.
In 1999 iSimangaliso Wetland Park was strategically nominated and listed as South Africa’s first world heritage site as South Africa’s foremost natural wonder, along with Robben Island and the Cradle of Humankind, under Tata’s Presidency.
The first family of four lions to be introduced to iSimagaliso – of a planned three groups - were released to the uMkhuze section of the Park. The animals, an adult female and three sub-adult offspring (a male and two females), are the first of a total of eight planned for this section of the park. The lions were translocated from Tembe Elephant Park and had spent five weeks in a purpose-built boma to acclimatise them to their new environment before being released.
Lions were last seen in uMkhuze some 44 years ago. Two more females and a coalition of two males (brothers) will follow to form the base of the new iSimangaliso lion population.
Read the full story here...
Stay in Mkuze
Portfolio Collection has two lovely lodges in the Mkuze section of iSimangaliso.
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Check out Ghost Mountain Lodge (above left) and Leopard Mountain Lodge (above right) for 4 star accommodation and great bush cuisine - you could fall asleep to the sound of distant roaring lions....