A dissertation of limited scope submitted to the Faculty of Arts in partial fulmment of the requirements for the course-work degree of Masters of Recreation and Tourism in the Centre for Recreation and Tourism at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2003. / Dukuduku forest is one of the largest remaining stretches of coastal sand forest in South Africa More than 10 000 illegal squatters have invaded the forest and chopped down the trees and undergrowth in the area. This has created many problems such as extinction of some plant and animal species. The cleared areas have become breeding grounds for mosquitoes, which in turn scares off the tourists from the area. The invasion of this indigenous forest has led to it being excluded from being part of St Lucia Wetland Park, which has recently acquired the status of being a World heritage site. Pursuant to problems associated with St Lucia Wetland Park and the neighbouring natural forest, the objectives of this study include the following: • To discover the impact of subsistence farming and informal settlement on the Dukuduku Forest as a tourist resource. • To identify activities the Dukuduku Forest dwellers are engaged in which may be a direct cause of the destruction of the natural forest S • To reveal forest management options that may be taken to save the natural forest from devastation. • To distinguish tourism related benefits, which are associated with the Dukuduku Forest reserve. • To indicate the extent to which the local community participates in the management of the forest The collection of data was achieved through the survey questionnaires and field observations in the study area. Residents of the forest and principals of five schools in the forest were interviewed. Person-to-person interviews were conducted with the resettlement project manager. The study revealed that more and more people still invade the forest. They include fugitives who have committed a number of illegal acts, refugees from violence-ridden areas, immigrants from Mozambique and many unemployed and homeless folk. Attempts to resettle the Dukuduku forest dwellers have so far not been a success, but the government is still trying to resolve the issue. Loosing Dukuduku natural forest will be a huge blow to South African tourism since the forest is a natural resource for leisure and an aesthetic potential to attract tourists.