Sobhengu Lodge‚ a time share in KwaZulu-Natal‚ is normally known for its stunning views of Lake Saint Lucia – but two years of drought in the province has hit hard.Vast plains of dry earth and a small boat marooned in a puddle of water show what the lake looks like now.In March‚ The Times reported that more than 90% of Lake St Lucia’s surface water had dried up because of ongoing drought conditions in the province‚ with 315km² of the 350km² lake “lying exposed and barren”.St Lucia residents block estuaryArmed with just buckets and spades, two dozen residents in St Lucia on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast built a sandbank at the mouth of the uMfolozi River to prevent precious water from flowing out to sea. Provincial premier Willies Mchunu said in May: "As much as we know that it has affected other provinces as well‚ but as the province of KZN we think we have been hard hit. We have had drought before any other province could declare a disaster‚ we already declared a disaster‚ up to now we haven't improved that much‚" according to the SABC.“KZN is facing droughts with increasing severity and frequency‚” MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs‚ Nomusa Dube-Ncube‚ said in a statement‚ urging coordinated water conservation by all consumers.The drought is severely affecting people in towns‚ as well as farmers and the wildlife conservation areas that attract tourism to the region.The devastation in the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park is described by government officials as the worst in 25 years. The 960ha park‚ proclaimed in 1895‚ is home to all of the Big Five and has the biggest white rhino population in the world.Drought stalks KZN wildlifeRivers in Africa's oldest proclaimed game reserve, the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, in northern KwaZulu-Natal, are running dry. Scientists warned five years ago that the crisis was looming‚ citing the need for improvement management of the Lake St Lucia estuarine system - the most important nursery ground for juvenile marine fish and prawns along the KwaZulu-Natal coast.But these words do not convey the impact of seeing it for yourself. To really grasp that‚ consider that this is Lake Saint Lucia just a few weeks ago:This is how Lake Saint Lucia normally looks:Photo taken by Smurfatefrog, sourced via Wikimedia Commons...