With 22% of the South African population of insects found in iSimangaliso Wetland Park, it is no surprise that insect repellent is one of the most important things to take when visiting the area. With insects like sand fleas, mosquitoes, ticks and flies, one can never be overly prepared 😉

From a different perspective, iSimangaliso Wetland Park is home to the most magnificent insect species. Insects that perform many crucial functions in the eight inter-locking ecosystems found within the park.

Insects aerate soil, pollinate blossoms, and control insect and plant pests. Many insects, especially beetles, are scavengers, feeding on dead animals and fallen trees, thereby recycling nutrients back into the soil. As decomposers, insects help create top soil, the nutrient-rich layer of soil that helps plants grow. Burrowing bugs, such as ants and beetles, dig tunnels that provide channels for water, benefiting plants. Bees, wasps, butterflies, and ants pollinate flowering plants. Finally, all insects fertilize the soil with the nutrients from their droppings.