Lake Sibiya - Mabibi

Lake Sibiya has 100km of untouched shoreline and at 70km² is South Africa’s largest freshwater lake. The lake falls within the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park, now a World Heritage Site, and the Ramsar Convention assures its international conservation status.

The lake’s diverse flora provides a variety of habitats for birds, mammals and aquatic life. Research reveals that hundreds of years ago the lake was once connected to the sea and with the natural closure of the estuary, numerous fish and aquatic creatures were trapped in a fresh water environment.

Lake Sibiya contains the second largest population of hippopotamus and crocodile in KwaZulu-Natal and is an important breeding, feeding and roosting area for a host of bird species. Surface water in the surrounding coastal plain often disappears completely during dry spells, making the lake the only source of permanent water for birds and mammals.

The wetland also supports many of the rural people of this region, who in many cases are totally dependent on the water resource and its associated flora and fauna. Good management, careful conservation and controlled use of resources make Lake Sibiya an example of the concept ‘wise use in action’.

Fish

Lake Sibiya and its feeder streams support 18 species of fish. The fauna reflects a marine origin and has close affinities with tropical forms. A freshwater goby (Silhouetta sibayi) is almost endemic to this water system, as very few records of it have been received from other localities.

Vegetation

Plants and trees growing around the lake are typical of coastal dune forest vegetation. Of particular importance is the growth of an orchid Vanilla roscheri, which only occurs at Lake Sibiya. Another orchid, Oecevelades decaryanum, was collected at the Lake for the first time in South Africa and an unknown Oecevelades sp. occurs near Sibiya.

Mammals

There are 6 mammal species associated regularly with the Lake. These are white-tailed mongoose, water mongoose, hippopotamus, reedbuck, vlei otomys and African marsh rat. Other mammals associated with the area include Tona red squirrel; Suni; four-toed elephant shrew; samango monkey; red duiker and blue duiker.

Amphibia and Reptiles

There are 22 species of frog recorded at Lake Sibiya, 20 of which are tropical forms. Common species are reed frogs, grass frogs and toads. Larger reptiles include water monitor, African python, forest cobra and Nile crocodile.

Birds

Lake Sibiya is a birdwatcher's dream come true with 279 species recorded at the Lake alone. The water system is environmentally important for breeding, roosting and feeding habits. The most numerous are red and white breasted cormorants; pied, giant and malachite kingfishers; fish eagles and a variety of herons, darters and egrets. Waders include white-fronted sand plover, black-winged stilt, avocent, greenshank and spoonbills. The sheltered bays are home to jacana, crakes, gallinules and bitterns. Also recorded at the lake are the much sought-after Pel’s fishing owl, pygmy goose, palmnut vulture, flamingoes, Woodward’s batis and rufousbellied heron.