Kruger Park Wilderness Trails - South Africa Tours, Hiking
Kruger Park Wilderness Trails
The ultimate African experience. Groups of up to 8, traverse the wilderness under the guidance of experienced, armed rangers, who unwrap the wonders of the Kruger Park to the uninitiated.
Tour Code: KPWT
Depart From: Kruger Park
| Ending at: Kruger Park
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Duration: 3 Days
Country:
South Africa
Departures: Weekly
(Wednesdays and Saturdays)
Type: Safari | Hiking | |
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Tour Description
Established in the world-famous Kruger National Park, wilderness trails allow adventurous visitors a close personal encounter with nature by traversing large areas of unspoilt wilderness on foot for 3 days.
Groups of up to 8 people, traverse the wilderness under the guidance of experienced, armed rangers, who protect, but more importantly unwrap the wonders of the Kruger Park to the uninitiated.
Groups spend 3 nights in a base camp with 4 rustic two-bed huts and during the day covers distances of about 20km on foot. Ablution facilities comprise reed-walled showers and flush toilets. A covered lapa serves as a dining & socialising area.
In keeping with the wilderness atmosphere, sites for the trail camps are carefully selected for their scenic beauty and diverse plant and animal life.
Please Note
Hikes depart on Sundays and Wednesdays only.
A maximum of eight persons between the ages of 12 and 60 years may participate per trail. To derive the optimum benefit and enjoyment from a trail adventure, it is recommended that a group comprises persons of a similar age, with common interests and the same level of fitness.
A reasonable level of fitness is required as up to 20 km may be walked per day. The distance is covered at a leisurely pace, however, to afford trailists an intimate encounter with the wilderness.
Due to the terrain covered and the safety factor, handicapped persons should not participate in these trails.
Malaria prophylactics are essential. Please consult your chemist.
Bookings should be made well in advance.
Itinerary
These are long distance daily walks in the wild returning to overnight to the base camp. The wilderness trails last 4 days, either from Sunday to Wednesday or Wednesday to Saturday.
Groups spend 3 nights in four rustic two-bed huts. Ablution facilities comprise reed-walled showers and flush toilets. A covered lapa serves as a dining/socialising area where the campfire's flickering shadows encourage stories of adventures in the African bush.
The day commences with coffee and rusks in the crisp morning hours. Simple, wholesome meals are provided. A light meal is enjoyed in the bush and brunch awaits the group when they return at noon.
Evening meals comprise either hunters' stew or barbecues, supplemented with salads and vegetables.
A camera, binoculars, sunscreen lotion and reference books are optional. A powerful torch is essential.
The trails are conducted in a malaria area and the necessary precautions must be taken.
All you need to know about the KNP Wilderness Trail
Trail Sites
BUSHMAN
This trail lies in the southwestern section of the Kruger National Park, in a secluded valley near the Berg-en-Dal restcamp. The landscape is characterised by many awe-inspiring granite hills, reminiscent of the Zimbabwean Motopo Hills. Bushman paintings, which are a major feature on this trail, can be viewed in many of the hill shelters. White rhino, elephant and buffalo are some of the animals prevalent in the area.
METSI-METSI
The Metsi-Metsi Trail runs through the area east of the Nwarmuriwa Mountain near Tshokwane (Skukuza). The trail camp nestles at the foot of the mountain and overlooks a small waterhole. A nearby hide provides the ideal place for viewing many of the bird and mammal species found in the area. The Nwaswitsontso River Attracts an abundance of game during the dry winter months, especially elephant, black rhino and large predators.
NAPI
Situated midway between Skukuza and Pretoriuskop, in picturesque woodland bushveld lies the trail camp of the Napi Trail, nestled in the luxuriant riverine bush at the confluence of the Napi and Byamiti streams. The landscape along the Napi Trail is composed of undulating terrain with granite hills. It has a high resident population of white rhino. Black rhino, elephant, lion and buffalo also frequent the area. Birdlife is prolific.
NYALALAND
This trail winds through one of the prime wilderness areas in Southern Africa. The trail camp is situated on the banks of the Madzaringwe stream north of Punda Maria restcamp, near the Luvuvhu River. The area offers splendid views of the Southern African bushveld including, among others, the magnificent Lanner Gorge.
Other interesting attractions along the trail includes the fever tree forest and Boabab Hill, and cultural heritage sites such as Thulamela in the Pafuri area.
The beauty of this wilderness area more than makes up for the lack of big game.
OLIFANTS
The trail area covers a large slice of land immediately south of the Olifants River, near the confluence with the Letaba River (Letaba restcamp). The trail camp is beautifully located on an elevated natural embankment less than 300 metres from the swirling waters of the Olifants, and gives a magnificent view of the river and surrounding hills.
The landscape varies from riverine bush and gorges to the foothills of the Lebombo and supports a variety of wildlife, including large predators, elephant and buffalo.
The Olifants River is home to crocodiles, hippo and many bird species. The call of the African fish eagle is almost synonymous with this trail and the rare Pel's fishing owl can sometimes be seen along the riverine vegetation.
SWENI
Conjure up a picture of Africa at its wildest: herd of zebra and wildebeest and tall, stately giraffe scattered across sundrenced grass plains; the pungent smell of buffalo in one's nostrills, the heart-stopping sight of an enormous elephant bull feeding in a thick stand of lala palms only metres away...
The trail camp of the Sweni Trail, which overlooks the Sweni stream in the wilderness area near Nwanetsi, (Satara restcamp) provides a view of the surrounding marula and knobthorn savanna.
The area is home to the Sweni lion pride. Black rhino and white rhino have also been sighted in the area.
WOLHUTER
As the name implies, the Wolhuter Trail commemorates the legendary father and son rangers, Harry and Henry Wolhuter, who for many years patrolled the southerns section of the park. the trail camp is situated midway between the Berg-en-Dal and Pretoriuskop restcamps in the southern section of the park - the heart of white rhino country.
Tour Include
Accommodation, meals and trained guides.
Tour Exclude
For safety and ethical reasons liquor may be consumed at the trail camp only. Excessive consumption of liquor is strongly discouraged. Trailists provide their own liquor and soft drinks.
Limited space is available in a communal refrigerator.
Trailists have to provide their own transport to the restcamp from where they will be transported to the trail camp.
Daily conservation fees (from R30 per person / day for SA Citizens to R120 per person / day for foreign visitors) are excluded from the trail cost. See details.
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