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South Africa: Kruger Walking Safari

South Africa: Kruger Walking Safari

From $ 3,050 AUD

Description

Brimming with elephants, lions, buffalo, rhino, zebra and hundreds of bird species, Kruger National Park stands tall among the great wildlife arenas of Africa. But it’s only a fraction of adventurers that see the park’s extreme northern reaches, where some of the most profound nature experiences await. Join an exciting new Intrepid expedition that explores the depths of this wilderness on foot, tackling the remote northern Kruger and visiting the likes of the Limpopo River Valley, Crooks Corner, Hutwini and Lanner gorges. With comfortable accommodation, quality food, and knowledgeable guides helping you get the most out of trail walks and game drives, this expedition proves you can stray from the beaten track in southern Africa without actually having to ‘rough it’.

Trip Name
South Africa: Kruger Walking Safari
Last Updated
2019-07-02
Days
7
Capacity
8
Highlights
  • Experience the real Johannesburg on a Soweto bicycle tour, followed by dinner at a top traditional steakhouse
  • Venture to where relatively few visitors to South Africa go – the arid and atmospheric remote northern corners of Kruger National Park
  • Tackle the Pafuri Walking Trails with local guides, marvelling at such unique landscapes as the Luvuvhu fever tree forest
  • Half the fun is getting to the starting points of your walks each day, as en-route game drives maximise your chances of diverse wildlife sightings
  • Witness anything from cheetah to lion to elephant to eland, plus some of the hundreds of bird species of Kruger – perhaps a mottled spinetail or lemon-breasted canary
  • With well-appointed permanent tents, this adventure is a cut above your average camping trip when it comes to comfort

Itinerary

ITINERARY CHANGES: Our itineraries are updated regularly throughout the year based on customer feedback and to reflect the current situation in each destination. The information included in this Essential Trip Information may therefore differ from when you first booked your trip. It is important that you print and review a final copy prior to travel so that you have the latest updates. Due to weather, local conditions, transport schedules, public holidays or other factors, further changes may be necessary to your itinerary once in country. The order and timing of included activities in each location may also vary seasonally to ensure our travellers have the best experience. Your tour leader will keep you up to date with any changes once on tour. OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES: A selection of optional activities that have been popular with past travellers are listed in the day-to-day itinerary. This isn't an exhaustive list and should be used as a guide only for some of what might be available. Prices are approximate, are for entrance only, and don’t include transport to and from the sites or local guides unless indicated. All activities are subject to availability. It may not be possible to do all the activities listed in the time available at each destination, so some pre-planning for what you are most interested in is advised. When it's recommended that travellers pre-book these activities, look for a note in the Special Information section of the day-to-day itinerary. For most, they can either be organised independently on the day, or let your leader know you are interested and they can assist. Where activities are considered medium or high risk, we work with operators whose safety and credentials we have sighted and assessed. Although it is possible that you may find the same activity cheaper with another operator on the ground, we cannot vouch for the safety or quality of that operator. Medium and high risk activities not listed above have not been assessed by us and as such our staff and leaders are unable to assist you with organising these activities. Activities that contravene our Responsible Travel policies are also not listed. Please remember that the decision to partake in any activity not listed is at your own discretion and risk.

Day 1 - Johannesburg
Sawubona! Welcome to South Africa. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm. You can arrive at any time as there are no activities planned until this important meeting. Please ask the hotel reception where it will take place. If you arrive early, get out and explore lively Johannesburg. Maybe visit the cultural hotspots of Newtown, Braamfontein or Maboneng. The Apartheid Museum is an essential visit.
Day 2 - Johannesburg
Tour the historic Soweto neighbourhood by bicycle today. Take a short drive then set off riding to a lookout point that takes in Orlando West and East – from here you can see across the township the Orlando Pirates' home soccer ground. Your next stop is Mzimhlophe Men’s Hostel, a former migrant workers’ hostel, where you'll soak up a few morsels of history; you may notice traditional African customs still run strong in this area. Continue via Meadowlands to the memorial site of Hector Pieterson, who died alongside hundreds of other youths in the 16 June 1976 uprising against the Apartheid education system. Lastly, visit Nelson Mandela's former home on Vilakazi Street, and the home of Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu. Cycle back to Lebo's, return to the hotel to freshen up, then head out to a nice traditional steakhouse for dinner.
Day 3 - Kruger National Park
Rise and shine at 5 am and travel north to Kruger National Park, where adventures on foot will take place. On the way there'll be a stop so you can seek out some lunch. You should arrive at your accommodation, Pafuri Camp, around mid-afternoon. Here you'll be introduced to your walking guide who will lead the way for the next few days. Attend a safety briefing and a short walk to kick things off. We return to camp in the early evening for a delicious meal under the African skies. Get a good rest tonight, as tomorrow the hiking kicks up a notch.
Day 4 - Kruger National Park
The day starts with an early morning walk. Venture into the Limpopo River Valley, and Crooks Corner, where the Limpopo and Luvuvhu rivers converge to form the demarcations between Mozambique, Zimbabwe and South Africa. The name Crooks Corner can be traced back to the early 20th century, when ivory poachers and various shady types sought refuge from the law here in this far-flung pocket of the wild. If the river levels are low enough we can walk barefoot through the river. If the water levels are higher, we'll need to keep to the riverbank, on slightly tougher terrain to keep clear of the crocodiles. Return to camp for brunch and relax in the beautiful bush setting. This afternoon it's time for a different perspective of the area – head off on a game drive in a 4WD vehicle.
Day 5 - Kruger National Park
Embark on another adventure on foot. Venture deep into the bush and spend some time (approximately 3–4 hours of walking) exploring the Banyini area. This wetland is a true birder's paradise. The pan, sometimes overflowing with water after heavy rain, attracts an awesome array of birds and wildlife. Afterwards, return to camp and tuck into a delicious brunch. In the middle of the day, relax and unwind as the peak heat of the day sets in – perhaps enjoy an afternoon nap. In the mid afternoon, walk the Reedbuck Vlei and Fever Tree Forest (3–4 hours of walking). These magnificent trees only germinate after floods or after exceptionally heavy rains, and the forest seems to take on its own mood. If you’re lucky you may come across a herd of graceful eland or a perhaps a lone bull elephant walking through this special place. Return to camp for sundowners and dinner.
Day 6 - Kruger National Park
This morning it's off to Hutwini Gorge and to some of the beautiful natural springs of the area. The walk (approximately 5–6 hours) heads towards the base of the Hutwini Mountains. The gorge does not have any water flowing through it and is frequented by animals walking towards the river to drink. The Mashisti spring has water all year round and is constantly visited by crocodiles, hippos, babboons, even leopards. You'll carry your packed lunch with you today before heading back to the camp in the afternoon. Later in the afternoon will be a 4WD game drive, a chance to search for the animals you missed on the morning walk.
Day 7 - Johannesburg
Enjoy one final walk this morning before returning the camp for brunch. Then it's time to make our way back to Johannesburg, where the adventure comes to an end.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
16-09-201922-09-2019AUD $ 3,050-

Accommodation

Hotel (2 nights),Permanent tents (4 nights)

Transport

Minibus,Bicycle,4x4 safari vehicle

Map