St Lucia Tours and Charters’ Hippo Croc Tour takes place in the first UNESCO-proclaimed World Heritage Site in South Africa, iSimangaliso Wetland Park (formerly known as Greater St Lucia Wetland Park).

The tour is taken on a luxurious boat with passenger safety and comfort in mind, upholstered spacious seats, a full bar and tuck shop, ladies and gents toilets, carpeted for children and babies, wheelchair friendly, sophisticated PA (public address) system, and then the popular sun deck for better viewing, equipped with a bow-thruster for easy maneuverability. The tour is two hours in duration and offers something for every interest – adventure, nature and breathtaking scenery!

One of FTTSA’s key principles is Respect for Environment, which can be measured in relation to planning, operational management, and investment in conservation activities. St Lucia Tours and Charters operates one of the first boats in the area that switched over to new 4-stroke engines, which comply with EPA* standards – reducing pollution and the resultant impact that the Hippo Croc Tour has on the marine ecosystem. St Lucia Tours and Charters’ Hippo Croc Tour also present a range of social benefits to the St Lucia area such as donations to various charitable organisations and arranging educational trips for youth by offering various local schools free boat trips in order to teach them not only about conservation of this valuable ecosystem, but also about how tourism can be operated in a way that respects it and ensures its sustainability.

“Everybody in our area that knows us knows our commitment to St Lucia, the community and tourism. Now they can see that our commitment is an ongoing process. We were notified that we are apparently the very first company in KZN that has qualified for FTTSA certification. Hopefully, other businesses in our area will follow suit very soon.”
Riëtte Bennett, co-owner of St Lucia Tours and Charters

*EPA: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). South Africa is in support of U.S. EPA’s Clean Water Act, Section 104. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_quality#South_Africa).