iSimangaliso Wetland Park

South Africa's first UNESCO World Heritage Site, inscribed in 1999, iSimangaliso encompasses 280,000 hectares of coastal wetlands, coral reefs, and pristine beaches on the KwaZulu-Natal coast. The park supports Africa's largest population of hippopotami and Nile crocodiles, over 530 bird species, and the continent's most southerly nesting grounds for leatherback and loggerhead sea turtles — boasting 15% more bird species than the nearby Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, and attracting 300,000 visitors annually.