A range of tours with very competent and knowledgeable guides. Shakabarker is the longest running tour operator in St Lucia.
The excellent Shakabarker tour guides are locals with a passion for conservation. All have been extensively trained in all aspects of guiding and are regularly versed in new concepts and facts within the iSimangaliso Park. Whether it’s a hippo and croc sunset boat trip, spectacular whale watching or magical turtle tour, a night safari or snorkeling in Cape Vidal, Shakabarker Tours have many different options on offer.
Our vehicles and boats are fully safety compliant and take care of your comfort where ever possible.
See a list of our tours below. Some are short tours and some involve multi days. We collect you from your St Lucia accommodation and provide complimentary hot drinks, rusks and fruit for you. We also plan tours specifically for your requirements.
Hippo and Croc Sunset Cruises
Duration: 2 hours
Summer: 10am – 12pm / 4pm – 6pm. Winter: 10am – 12pm / 3pm – 5pm / 3.30pm – 5.30pm
Price from: R425 per person
Coffee & Croissants
A perfect way to start or end the day! We will pick you up from your lodge in St. Lucia in our open-air 4X4 vehicle, armed with hot coffee and croissants for an unforgettable cruise. You are guaranteed of great sightings of hippos whilst on this boat trip on the estuary. Keep an eye out for fantastic birdlife including African Fish Eagles and Kingfishers.
Duration: 3 hours
Summer: 6am – 9am. Winter: 6.30am – 9.30am
Price from: R475 per person
Guided Mountain Biking Tour
The Park provides opportunities for mountain-biking around St. Lucia Estuary. These rides are suitable for the novice to intermediate rider and vary in length from 15 km to 25 km on sand tracks, trails, gravel roads and tar.
Guided Walk and Birding
The iSimangaliso Wetland Park is a heaven for bird watching. The estuary attracts a variety of seabirds, water birds and waders. The iGwalaGwala forest offers some of the best forest birding in South Africa. iPhiva trail through the forest, offers a variety of habitats which provides excellent birding close to the town. The ideal opportunity to find the rare and special birds for your life list.
Duration: 3 hours. Anytime between sunrise and sunset.
Price from: R325 per person
Turtle Safari
Experience the miracle of the reproduction of Leatherback turtles and Loggerhead turtles on the beaches north of St. Lucia. Step into the world of these amazing and ancient reptiles as they dodge sharks off-shore and humans, crabs, badgers and jackals on-shore to return to and hatch from these ancient nesting grounds. This is a very special experience.
*SUMMER MONTHS ONLY – NOVEMBER TO MARCH
Duration: 6 – 7 hours at night (dinner on the beach included)
Price from: R1 695 per person
Night Safari
Discover a new way to explore the iSimangaliso Wetland Park – under the cover of darkness. This tour offers opportunity to see chameleon, porcupine, various antelope, hippo, nocturnal birds and occasionally hyena and leopard. Along with fantastic animal sightings, the star gazing offers great views of the Milky Way from the open top Unimog vehicle. Hot chocolate and rusks taste better under the stars!
Duration: 3 hours (8pm – 11pm)
Price from: R750 per person
Eastern Shores Night Excursion
Focusing specifically on the Wetlands, their inhabitants, and the current and past effects of commercial forestry and military activities in the area, this specialised tour can be undertaken as an early morning experience or a late afternoon and night drive.
Duration: 5 hours
Mornings: 7am – 12pm.
Afternoons (summer): 4pm – 9pm, (winter): 3pm – 8pm
Price from: R775 per person
World Heritage Safari
Part of the Eastern Shores Game Reserve, Cape Vidal has beautiful beaches where people like to sun themselves, kick the football around, fish and snorkel. The dunes here run all along the coast and are 150m high. The dune forests are fascinating and have an abundance of interesting life in them. The rare Samango monkey is a special sight.
Duration: 7 hours (8am – 4pm)
Price from: R975 per person