Basic Itinerary - Kruger Park Walking Safaris
Affordable and unique walking safaris in the exclusive Big Five Greater Kruger National Park
There is a world of difference between experiencing a safari in Africa on foot, "old style", thansay, from the tinted windows of a luxury bus! To walk is to be out there with the African wildlife, sharing their paths and waterholes, the daily drama's of their lives, sharing their space.
To walk is to follow their tracks, feel the tingle of your own senses and hear the beating of your heart as you edge closer to a herd of elephant resting in the shade. To sleep in a tent under the trees with only the canvas between you and the bush is an experience not easily forgotten.
A safari is a journey of the body and the soul, a venture into the unknown and an opportunity to face some of the mysteries of nature. With over 20 years of experience, we still believe in the magic of the bush and strive to offer that "once in a lifetime experience" to all our guests.
"The wilderness is something special. To me, the only way to experience the real spirit of Africa is on foot. Away from the noise and turmoil of modern society, it truly helps you to get your terrestrial problems into perspective." – Norman Carr, Kakuli
Daily Itinerary 4 or 5 Day Walking Safari
On the day of departure you will be collected from your selected hotel at first light and Transferred to the reserve gate. The journey takes approximately 5 hours with stops along the way. You will meet your ranger at a lovely bush pub at the edge of the reserves, where you will sign the indemnity forms and have lunch together. After lunch, we transfer you into open safari vehicles to one of our bush camps in the Greater Kruger National Park making sure that you spend the maximum time out in the bush!
In the mornings we set off at first light after a snack breakfast of rusks and coffee or tea. Enjoying the cool morning air we may walk directly from camp or else use a vehicle to getfurther out. Your ranger will decipher the tracks and signs left by the passing animals during the night. The thrill of walking, tracking and getting up close to one of the creatures of the bush is an unforgettable experience. On the walks there is a lot of emphasis on all the interesting things seen such as trees, plants, insects and birds. A big breakfast is preparedback in camp and then there is time to unwind and siesta during the heat of the day. After lunch is served it is time to head out again.
The afternoon activity is a walk/ drive combination, looking for tracks and activity in otherareas. After the walk we drive to a beautiful spot in the Reserve, where we'll have sundowners while waiting for a stunning African sunset. As the diurnal animals and birds anxiously get ready for bed, the stage and sounds change and a whole new world awakens. This is when we connect the spotlight and night drive back to camp, looking for the nocturnal creatures that are so rarely seen during the day. Back in camp a hearty supper and a warmcampfire will be waiting for you. After a long day in the bush there is nothing more rewarding than to sneak off to bed and listen to the sounds of the night under a blanket of theoverwhelming African stars!
On the last day you will still go out for one last walk. Sniffing the typical scents of the bushyou'll realize how much you've learned already! After breakfast it's time to pack up and goback to the bush pub, where you will pay the Conservation Fee and the drinks you'veconsumed in our camps. Then we say our goodbyes and transfer you back to the city.
Hopefully till we meet again!
Location
Our operation is based in the bush in the Greater Kruger, but the safaris run JHB - JHB.Transfers are included in the package, but your safari only really starts on arrival at a lovelybush pub on the edge of the Greater Kruger National Park. From there, open 4x4 Landrovers transport you to one of our exclusive unfenced tented camps where you will stay during yoursafari. There are no fences between the Kruger National Park and the Reserves, hence the name Greater Kruger NP. The big advantage of these exclusive wilderness areas is theirprivacy, so no shared sightings or camps with other tourists.
Appeal
The safaris appeal to all with an adventurous mind, keen on a learning experience. Every walkis a book on its own, with the emphasis on information on all the wonders of nature, big andsmall. Because of the dangerous aspects of a walking safari, the minimum age is 16. Althoughthere is no maximum age, the walks can last up to 4 hours and tracking might lead the trailthrough thick bush, riverbeds and gullies. Therefore an average fitness level is required,especially in the hotter summer months (Nov - March). A maximum of 8 people makes up atrail, no minimum.
Schedule
The safaris run every Mon-Fri (5 day / 4 night) and every Fri-Mon (4 day / 3 night). Weoperate throughout the year and all departures are guaranteed but bookings need to be madein advance. The unfenced camps are private and secluded and not open to day visitors. Eachcamp can sleep up to 12 people in large walk-in twin-bedded tents (linen is provided, sosleeping bags are not needed) with sown-in mosquito screens. Ablutions are separate butclose with hot showers and flush toilets.
Although there is no electricity, there is solar lighting, candles, lanterns and a campfire to guide you around the camp at night. Meals are prepared in the kitchen tent and served in thedining tent. Each safari is accompanied by one or two experienced and armed rangers andeach camp is serviced by a chef. The combination of walks and drives in the open 4x4 Landrover are dependent on weather andanimal movements and are conducted from camp in the early mornings, late afternoons and at night.
Each safari is basic and designed to experience the bush the way one should: on foot. Afterthe first walk you'll realise you've gone back in time – one with your ancestors who roamedthese African trails. Although in Big Five areas, there are no guarantees on sightings – whatyou see is what you get. We do however guarantee a real bush experience!
The safari prices are inclusive of transfers to and from JHB and Pretoria (pick-up from aselected list of hotels, drop off at a hotel or JHB International), all meals and accommodationin our unfenced tented camps, all walks and drives. Excluded are drinks from the honesty barin camp and the once-off payment of max R200 pp for Conservation Levies for the Reserveswe operate in. This money goes back into conservation and is used for purposes such as antipoaching, animal monitoring and research.
Please contact the office for further information. |
