South Africa Safaris > Walking Safaris

Pafuri Walking Trails

Northern Kruger National Park ~ South Africa

3 nights / 4 days

The Pafuri (Makuleke) Concession is perhaps the best area for walking in the entire Kruger National Park. It is blessed with exceptional biodiversity, spectacular scenery, seasonally high densities of many large mammal species, a feeling of wilderness and remoteness, and a sense of deep history. The 24 000 hectare area is sandwiched between the life giving arteries of the Limpopo and Luvuvhu Rivers, both with well developed floodplains and a series of vitally important seasonal pans. Between the floodplains lies a ridge of hills with a network of drainage lines and secret perennial springs to which the area’s game is drawn. Rugged baobab dotted kopjes jut from mopane woodland providing endless vistas across palm-studded floodplains, acacia woodland and ethereal riverine forest.

Undoubtedly the best way to experience the biological wealth of the area and its timeless wilderness is on foot. Safari & Adventure Co is proud to offer a limited number of trails that will allow up to 8 trailists at a time access to this most valued of Kruger’s assets.

Guide

The entire safari is guided and hosted by professional, experienced and passionate guides. The guide will be accompanied by a skilled back-up trails guide and between them they will share their in-depth knowledge of the region and it’s ecosystem with the guests.

Accommodation

Accommodation is in walk-in canvas dome tents ensuring that guests are intimately connected with the surrounding wilderness. The trails camp will have two bucket type hot water showers, and en-suite chemical toilets are provided, attached to each guest tent. The site of the camp is the same each night, with trailists walking in different directions from the camp each day, dependent on local conditions.

Game Viewing

The Pafuri area is one of the few true wilderness areas left in South Africa. Large herds of elephant occupy the area during the dry season while several herds of buffalo are resident. There are resident prides of lion and the Luvuvhu riparian system supports a healthy population of leopard. A small white rhino population also exists. The area is well-known for its strong nyala and eland population however as well as other regional specials like four-toed elephant shrew, Sharpe’s grysbok and even a small herd of sable. On the easternmost boundary at “Crooks Corner” the Luvuvhu supports a large population of hippo and crocodile. The concession is widely regarded as one of the best birding areas in South Africa with specialties such as Pel’s Fishing Owl, Black-throated Wattle-Eye, Three-banded Courser, Racket-Tailed Roller and Dickinson’s Kestrel seen regularly.

Recommendation: Over-nighting at Pafuri Camp either before or after the three night walking trail allows guests an opportunity to rest and relax in comfort.

ITINERARY

Trails operate between 1 April and 31 October each year on a scheduled departure basis; either Monday to Thursday or Friday to Monday. We can, however, offer tailor-made itineraries for longer than three nights or trips that depart on other days of the week.

Day 1: Pafuri region, Makuleke Contract Park within Kruger National Park

All guests need to check in at Pafuri Camp by 14h00, where they will meet their guide and enjoy lunch before going through a thorough safety briefing. The trails group will depart by road and/or on foot to the trails camp.

Upon arriving at our trails camp guests will have time for a hot shower and some drinks before the evening’s meal is prepared on an open fire. After dinner we relax around the fire before retiring to bed with the sounds of the African night.

Days 2 & 3: Pafuri region, Makuleke Contract Park within Kruger National Park

We are woken early by the sounds of the dawn chorus and after a light snack, coffee and rusks; we depart shortly after first light for a morning walk. Carrying only our snacks and water in our day packs and returning to camp for lunch. After a siesta we head out on either a short afternoon walk or drive. The directions of the walks and/ or drives will depend on local animal activity before returning to camp in the evening to enjoy warm showers, ice cold drinks and dinner.

Day 4: Pafuri region, Makuleke Contract Park within Kruger National Park

After a customary early wake up and snack, we depart on a shorter morning walk, arriving back at Pafuri Camp itself, where the trail ends and we enjoy a hearty brunch.

Please note that we recommend an additional night at Pafuri Camp, which will allow guests a chance to relax further in comfort and enjoy game drives to the more remote regions of the concession and closer observation of the wildlife of the region.

ADDITIONAL SAFARI NOTES

Camera battery charging facilities: Unfortunately no charging facilities are available on the walking trail, due to the remoteness of the area.

Dietary requirements and special occasions:

Due to remote locality of the overnight camps, please ensure that full dietary requirements and special occasions are advised at the time of your booking confirmation.

Terms and Conditions

Number of guests: For scheduled departures on Mondays and Fridays, the minimum number of guests is 2 and the maximum is 8. For the FIT departures, the minimum is 4 and the maximum is 8. This will allow a group of people to book out the entire trail.

Rates for the trail include accommodation in the trail camps, services of professional trails guides, all meals, purified borehole water, 14% VAT and the SATOUR Tourism Levy.

The rate excludes: Kruger Park Conservation Levy of R40 per person per stay which must be pre-paid to Wilderness Safaris.

All drinks and items of a personal nature. An Honesty Bar is run during the trails and all personal accounts are to be settled at the end of the trail.

2010 rates	Pafuri Walking Trails
	$1,137/per person double occupancy	Single Supp: $450.00

Photos courtesy of Wilderness Safaris

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