2014-01-03

【Aiden in English】

        If you loved the hippos, crocodiles and aquatic birds, the Greater St. Lucia (iSimangaliso) Wetland Park, South Africa would be the place to be. Particularly when you happened to be at Zulu territory, the outskirts of Richards Bay, a few reasons you should go to this park were because not only that many animals resided here, but it was declared as a UNESCO Heritage Site.

        The St. Lucia Wetland was well protected since St. Lucia Lake flourished with life with the help of a rich supply of fish. The hippos could be seen around every bend and came in pods of ten or twenty. Their giant heads would bob up and down. If you were lucky, you might even catch a yawn or two. The enormous mouth had teeth down both sides with two big ones in the front.

        If you liked the birds, then this place would feel like a paradise. African Fish Eagles flew around while Pie Kingfishers searched for food. The sky was filled with a spectacular variety of birds. The most common one would be the yellow weaver, where you would also find on the reeds. The ever hyper little birds nested in colonies woven from the cattail-like fine leaf-fibers. They shot around looking for insects.

        The Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park turned out to be an amazing place. The ecosystem was so lively that you couldn't help exploring it. Out of all these animals, there was no way to compare them to one another. It was impossible to say which the best was unless you encountered a crocodile. If you saw one, you'd better watch out.

【红霞译文】

        如果你喜爱河马、鳄鱼以及水鸟动物，那么南非大圣露西亚(艾赛门加利索)湿地公园应该属于零距离接触它们的理想场所，特别当你访问理查兹湾远郊南非人口最多的祖鲁族领地，有几个理由叫你非去不可，它不仅动物品种繁多，而且还成为联合国科教文组织《世界遗产名录》之一。

        圣露西亚湿地之所以得到如此厚爱，主要因为圣露西亚湖水产丰富，河马无处不在，十个或二十个成群结队游荡湖中，大脑袋上下摆动。如果你有幸碰到它们打上个把哈欠，硕大的嘴巴里两颗犬齿格外抢眼。

        倘若你为鸟类爱好者，大圣露西亚湿地公园无疑是飞禽生活的天堂。吼海雕鹰击长空，斑鱼狗翩翩起舞，这里各种鸟类荟萃，到处呈现“莺歌燕舞春无限”的美好景象。最常见的当属织巢鸟，芦苇丛中屡见不鲜。这些欢蹦乱跳的小东西群居在用香蒲状的细叶纤维编织的鸟窝，昆虫逃不过它们敏锐的眼光。

        大圣露西亚湿地公园的确是一个难得的好地方。活龙活现的生态系统令人心向往之，每个动物都各有特色，很难说谁比谁更为上乘，除非你遇到了鳄鱼。如果真是那样，你千万要小心为妙。