Access self-catering camping inside iSimangaliso Wetland Park, where shaded forest meets the Indian Ocean. Walk to the bay, explore the Eastern Shores by car, and return to camp under the calming shade of milkwoods.
Cape Vidal is a place to reconnect – with nature, with loved ones and with the freedom of the outdoors. Set in the heart of iSimangaliso Wetland Park, it offers a chance to experience the rugged Indian Ocean coastline and the African bush. This is an authentic coastal safari experience, in which tranquillity, adventure and nature come together.
Enjoy the best of both worlds
Cape Vidal sits on iSimangaliso’s Eastern Shores, where warm Indian Ocean meets coastal grassland and dune forest. It is a short 45-minute drive from St Lucia, with a marine reserve on one side and a wildlife-rich protected landscape on the other.
Dolphins work the backline at first light, kudu and buffalo move along the grassland loops by mid-morning, and by dusk there is nothing more pressing than a fire and the sound of the surf. In winter, humpback whales pass offshore. Cape Vidal Coastal Safari offers the self-catering camping; guided activities are arranged with licensed local operators.
1999 iSimangaliso becomes South Africa’s first World Heritage Site
33km north of Bhangazi Gate
No 4x4 needed to reach camp
Key features
50 shaded sites in indigenous dune forest
The beach is a short walk from camp
No 4x4 needed to reach camp
Turtles in summer, whales in winter
What you can see
Turtle nesting on the beaches (Nov-Mar)
Humpback whales passing offshore (Jun-Nov)
Zebra, kudu, buffalo and reedbuck on the game loops
Snorkelling in the bay when conditions are suitable
Camp between the forest and the sea
One camping ground, 50 shaded sites tucked into indigenous dune forest, with the beach a short walk over the rise. Bring a tent or tow in your caravan; the trees and the tides will take care of the rest.
From a barefoot beach walk to a full day on the water: the wild ones are yours to wander into freely; the guided and seasonal outings we will happily line up for you.
Guided walks to see loggerheads and leatherbacks nesting in summer (Nov to Mar).
How to book
We arrange licensed turtle tours for our guests through the local operators. Tell us your dates and we will secure a spot; places are limited and the season is short.
Our assistant has read every page of this site – the campsite and its fifty shaded sites, the beach and the launch site, the wildlife through the seasons and what to pack for a self-catering stay. Type a real question and it will answer from what is published here, or point you to the contact page for anything still being confirmed.
Mammals & Reptiles
