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we did not do any afternoon walks, only the morning walks, one for five hours, one for four hours (January 2010); afternoons were fillled with games drives...I am pretty sure the guides take the fitness of their clients into consideration when putting up their programme

Hi Daffy,
We did the Metsi Metsi trail in early October last year. We walked both mornings and took drives in the afternoon to a sundowner spot. The walking was all on the flat so no probs with fitness. We took a 2o minute break for a snack and stopped to look at things along the way. I have included my trip report, the trail starts on page 5. A great experiece with some interesting happenings!
Go for!! Enjoy

viewtopic.php?f=27&t=38498&start=60

Thank you all for your advise. We decided to book for 14 sept 2011. When trying the online booking I found that it only runs to 18 aug. Is there another way of booking the trail asap?

it might be too early to book for september 2011, others will know for sure

Thank you all for advice pics and reports. We managed to make reservations for 11-09-2011 ( What's in a date?). Very excited to take the trail on. And sad to wait that long. Just can't wait.

Peter

Daffy , I having spent at least 30 nights at Metsi Metsi would highly recommend this trail .

Ndloti, thank you for your encouragement. The more we read and hear about Metsi Metsi the harder it takes to wait till september 2011. Luckily we have reservations for november this year. Sometimes you get the good ones and the best!

Hi Daffy

Not that its about the big 5 only...but we had elephant, lion and rhino all just about on top of us with in 10 mins of each other. Had the guid not sneezed we may very well have stood on a lioness! It was that close!

All the walks are great but the highlights were the gorge area somewhere to the east (although very hilly but worth it) and then climbing down and walking around Orpen Da. with great birds and the vegetation hides so many spots that could potentially have something interesting! Would seriously request this particular walk! Otherwise lots of good game in the area which is generally very flat!

Regards

o-dog !
The gorges you refer to - there are a number of parallel running river courses towards the east of the trails area at the foothills of the Lebombo hills , these drain into the Nwatwitsontso river below Orpen dam . In one of these gorges we were forced to retreat when a lioness with tiny cubs holed up in a cave about 6m up the side became aware of our arrival and started growling . We could hear the cubs mewing once they were deprived of their milk when the lioness stood up to investigate .
In the dry season , particularly in Sept - Dec - shortly before the first rains of the season - a lot of game tends to congregate in the pools east of Orpen dam - I have seen herds of 200 + common antelope species while we were hiding behind vegetation no further than 50m away , untill one of our group moved position slightly , and they bolted en mass .
I have been so close to an elephant which was drinking no more than 30m away from us on the opposite side of a drainage line that I could hear the water running out of its trunk and down its throat .
I have had many encounters with bold (in the days that many refugees traversed the area - and became their meals) lions , as well as not so bold ones , exciting hippo encounters , leopard twice in one morning (total 3) ...
black rhino sighting for a few minutes at a distance of perhaps 100m ...

Very vivid memories .... a wonderful trail ....

It's a wonderful trail!

I did it towards the end of May this year.

Saw white rhino several times fairly close by (had to hide behind bushes a few times while rangers guarded us with their rifles). Also came close to elephants, giraffes and saw a leopard dart into a bush very close to us, ie less than 10 metre away.

The biggest surprise - and shock - was coming back to our camp on foot on the second day, and almost about to climb over the metal pole "stairs" into the camp next to the Hide, when suddenly the Rangers stopped dead-still, cocked their rifles and signalled to us. A few meters away, almost in touching distance, 4 lions stood up in the long grass and scurried away! Thank goodness they were more scared of us than we were of them, but we hadn't really had time to get scared, it all happened so quickly. A few members of our group had quick enough reflexes to get photos, but I didn't. Though the memory is burned into my mind forever.

Another highlight of that trail was going for an evening drive to a scenic spot for sundowners, and my brother (who I was travelling with) spotted some movement in the bush. It turned out to be 2 black mambas mating. What an exotic dance it was, entwined and slithering around for a long time until we lost sight of them as they disappeared into the bush. The trail rangers were so excited as they had never seen anything like this before.

You'll have a wonderful time - so jealous that I can't join you! It's also really not strenuous if you have a normal sort of level of fitness.

Thank you for your thrilling story's. They don't scare us of. On the contrary, with every new post we get more and more excited. It's good to read that the trail gives one a true wilderness experience and with a little luck some extraordinary events.
We have still vivid memories of a trail in 2001 in Umfolozi Wilderness Area, when on day one 2 white rhino's took a run at us and the rangers shouted them away just 10-20 m before they would reach us. We sincerely hope never to experience though, that shooting is necessary. It would be a shame and feel us very guilty and selfish.
And Pufki.... availability is stil there for 11-9.

Ek is van plan om die Metsi Metsi Wilderness trail te gaan stap, maar ek is glad nie seker oor hoe dit werk ens nie.

Ek het n paar vragies... ASB help?

Vragie 1
Presies hoe werk dit? ek sien die basiskamp is Skukuza en neem aan die veldwagter laai my af by die Metsi kamp. Is daar net een kamp op die roete? Wat ek wil weet is, kom jy elke dag terug na dieselfde kamp toe? Loop jy vanuit die kamp en dan kom jy vanaand terug of gaan laai hulle jou erens in die veld af?

Vragie 2.
Kos, moet ons niks kos saamvat nie? ek sien mens kan extra water vat? Dalk n Camelback?

Vragie 3.
Die area waar mens stap, ek wil graag die Metsi gaan stap om tot by die boom te kom waar Wolhuter die leeu doodgesteek het, dis my droom, en as hulle nie daar stop nie kan ek maar net so wel die Sweni gaan stap. My vragie is dus, gaan hulle my tot by die boom en gedenkplaat vat?

Vragie 4
Die Dierelewe….. my ander droom is op leeus te voet te kry. dink jy dis n moontlikheid of sal die Sweni beter dien?

Jammer vir al die vrae en jammer om te pla, maar ek Is so verlore ek weet nie watter kant toe nie…..

Stellie , I can answer in Afrikaans , but the moderators will object as the official forum language is English .
I will translate your questions as well as possible ...

Ek het n paar vragies... ASB help?

A few questions .. please help ?

Vragie 1
Presies hoe werk dit? ek sien die basiskamp is Skukuza en neem aan die veldwagter laai my af by die Metsi kamp. Is daar net een kamp op die roete? Wat ek wil weet is, kom jy elke dag terug na dieselfde kamp toe? Loop jy vanuit die kamp en dan kom jy vanaand terug of gaan laai hulle jou erens in die veld af?

Question 1

How does it work precisely ? I see the base camp (actually the meeting point) is Skukuza and the trails ranger will take us to Metsi Metsi camp ? Is there only 1 camp on trail ? Do we return to the same camp after the days walks ?

Answer

The Metsi Metsi trail departs from Skukuza , where you park your car , report to reception , meet the trails officers and then depart in a Sanparks open safari vehicle for the trails camp which is a few km east of Tshokwane .
At the base camp there are four A frame huts with 2 beds in each with bedding (sheets & blankets & pillows) as well as 2 ablution units with gas heated showers and flush toilets . There is a camp kitchen where a cook prepares tasty wholesome meals for the trailists .
Day walks are undertaken from her , a morning walk of about 5 hrs and a more leisurely afternoon walk of about 3 hours - often incorporating a sunset drive thereafter.

Vragie 2.
Kos, moet ons niks kos saamvat nie? ek sien mens kan extra water vat? Dalk n Camelback?

Q 2
Regarding food ? Do we have to take our own food ? We can take extra water with us ? Perhaps a Camelback ?

Answer

All the food is provided . You may bring your own snacks and food provided there is space to store them , rodents etc. make short work of unprotected foodstuffs . There is little need to bring your own food unless you have specific dietary requirements , and your own snacks may be usefull if you have a high metabolism , and provided there is space in camp / and you can carry them in your daypack , though I personally have never had any requirement therefore .
Before departure on the morning walks coffee / tea & rusks are provided . Sanparks provides a picnic lunch on the morning walk usually consisting of Provita , sausage (wors) cheese , fresh and or dried fruit , nuts etc. which the trailists carry in daypacks which are also provided . There is drinkable water on tap in camp , but those spoiled city mallwalkers used to bottled water should bring their own supply which can be carried in the daypack . Remember there is no electricity , so hairdryers , TV sets etc are of no use , likewise there is no cell phone reception (cellphones and music I- pods , loud talking etc are explicitly forbidden , in fact the trails officer should insist they are left in your car at Skukuza .)
On returning from the morning walk a brunch usually consisting of eggs , bacon or sausage , toast is provided , as well as an evening meal of chicken or beef stew or braaied meat .


Vragie 3.
Die area waar mens stap, ek wil graag die Metsi gaan stap om tot by die boom te kom waar Wolhuter die leeu doodgesteek het, dis my droom, en as hulle nie daar stop nie kan ek maar net so wel die Sweni gaan stap. My vragie is dus, gaan hulle my tot by die boom en gedenkplaat vat?

Q3 .
Will we be able to walk to the Wolhuter memorial where Wolhuter stabbed & killed the lion ? If not , I could just as well walk the Sweni trail ...

Answer

The trails officer may on request take you there by vehicle from which a walk may be undertaken in the general area , subject to the area being on the rotational schedule , no fires occuring, etc .
The memorial is along a tourist road , thus according to Sanparks procedure you may not be seen on foot by tourists in vehicles , so the chances of walking to the site are probably zero , as it possibly encourages visitors to get out of their cars .

Vragie 4
Die Dierelewe….. my ander droom is op leeus te voet te kry. dink jy dis n moontlikheid of sal die Sweni beter dien?

Q4

Animal life ... another of my dreams is to see lions on foot , is there a possibility of this on Metsi Metsi , and is there a greater liklihood of this on the Sweni trail ?

Answer
There is a good chance of lion sightings on foot on both the Metsi or the Sweni , I have seen them on both trails , though there is no guarantee on either , as it depends on many factors , rainfall , vegetation , natural game movement , as well as a large proportion of luck !

I hope I have been of assistance , Stellie ! Feel free to PM me (as you have done before) for more info !
In closing , I would recommend the Metsi Metsi above the Sweni !

Thanks ndloti!

HI Ndloti

YES! i am eventually booking this trail, achieved a BIG personal goal.

SO

Decided on the Metsi Metsi, an will do the Sweni next year rather.

Thank you so much for your help!!!