Elephant Lake Hotel

Elephant Lake Hotel stands on the shore of the St Lucia Estuary in the centre of St Lucia, the town at the southern entrance to the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Every room faces the estuary, and the setting is the point: hippos are known to wander onto the hotel lawn. It is a solid mid-sized hotel for families and travellers who want a restaurant, a pool and tours arranged on the spot.

What to expect

There are 58 rooms, and each has a private terrace looking over the estuary. The Hippo Steakhouse serves breakfast, lunch and dinner with views over the gardens and water, and room service is available. There is a swimming pool, a children’s entertainment area and a conference centre for about 100 people. The hotel belongs to a small group that also runs Hippo Lodge and St Lucia Lodge in town.

Practical details

• Address: 3 Mullet Street, St Lucia Estuary.
• The group arranges boat cruises, fishing charters, cultural tours, nature walks and safaris.
• Cape Vidal and Mission Rocks are nearby coastal outings, and a Zulu cultural village is also nearby.

Good to know

The estuary is home to hippos and crocodiles, as well as flamingos and pelicans, so keep well away from the water’s edge and give hippos plenty of room, especially at night. An estuary boat cruise is the obvious first outing from here, and turtle-hatching tours, deep-sea fishing and snorkelling trips can also be booked. The group’s sister properties in town are worth a look if the hotel is full.

Last updated 6 October 2026. Sources: Elephant Lake Hotel Group, Siyabona Africa.