Human activities include subsistence farming and fishing. A large variety of endangered or endemic species of reptiles, fish, birds, mammals and plants occur. The site is important for numerous species of breeding birds and supports the second largest population of hippopotamus in Kwa Zulu. A research station is located within the site. The lake provides water for Mbazwane and Vasi.
Human activities consist of livestock grazing and cultivation.
A large, shallow marine lagoon, includes islands, reedbeds , sand flats, saltmarshes and dwarf shrubland. The lagoon is an important nursery area for a number of fish species and supports a diverse and ecologically important algal and shoreline biota. Important for wintering and staging wading birds, and the numerous breeding birds include the largest colony of gulls in South Africa. There are an environmental education centre, bird observation hides, and several nature trails. Ramsar site no. 398.