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DuQues, the river walk leaves at about 10h00 I think.

I think that's a nice idea.

I must add that I haven't done a morning walk from Olifants, so can't comment on how similar or different it is to the river walk

I'm not sure if you're serious but assuming that you are, I'd suggest that your chance of dying on the road to Kruger is greater than being attacked on a bush walk.

Actually the two armed people are in the front of the file.

Bush walks have been the highlight of our time in Kruger.

The rangers and trackers that I've encountered respect and value the animals and so do everything possible to avoid any animal-human confrontations. Such confrontations on bush walks are minimal based on the available information.

Hi dino123

Last week I did a guided walk in Kruger for the first time I had always been really nervous to do one. Had similar thoughts to you and plenty "what if's"

The minute we stepped off the vehicle and the guides had completed their brief, I was totally comfortable with the whole situation. They are totally in control and if you take their instructions seriously I honestly don't think you have anything to worry about. They are so in tune with the bush. I don't believe they will ever put anyone in danger.

I can only echo what tletter has already said


I did a morning walk from Orpen with Thomas and Chester and they were great.

Try it sometime, it's an awesome experience

....and I am told the paperwork is a lot less that if you shoot an animal!

But seriously, we train to use our rifles quickly and accurately if necessary - but the main focus of our training is being able to avoid that kind of situation and staying safe.

Having a good giggle at some of you here

We have done many walks, and always felt, and been very safe.
As EJ says, the guides are trained to avoid getting the group into any serious situations in the first place. Obviously, no matter how bush wise one is, there is always the unknown.
But I really recommend to those of you who have not done a walk, to do one - just try it.

Some of the things that amaze me - is one can enter the bush at one point, walk all around for three hours, and exit from another direction but exactly where you entered.
The guides are trained not to get you lost.
And it is not like they walk the same path day after day.

The guides hearing is excellent and tuned into the bush sounds ... so is their sight.

We see only so much from our vehicles, once you are on the ground in the bush, it is amazing to see the tracks, the spoor and all the signs on the bush.
It always strikes me how a 'quiet' bush can actually have so much activity.

And remember the golden rule ... don't run

This reminds me of our first walk we ever did, donkey's years ago, before they were really 'the thing' in the Park. We did it at Shimuwini with Frank Watts; he told us that leopard could hide in the trees which we were going to walk under along the bank of the Letaba river. If we did see one eyeing us from above, we were not to have eye contact with it, and to walk on calmly

Dino - something else to put your mind at rest, and encourage you to try a walk, animals do their best to avoid humans. They all have a comfort zone as well (the distance they feel comfortable between them and humans), and the guides are trained to respect the animals comfort zone.

And Hilda has a good point; even if animals do not get shot, humans walking in the bush still leave a footprint and disturb nature. Just leaving our smell disturbs nature.

Hi Dino

I really hope you will pluck up the courage to try a morning walk when you are in Kruger.
The guides are very well trained, highly alert and the areas selected for walks well considered.
They will go through everything with walkers before leaving the vehicles, what you can and cannot do, what ifs etc.
It is an incredible experience and you will learn more than you could ever imagine.
We were so lucky to be on the very first walk from Malelane last year, led by Raymond and Stanley from BnD, and were able to watch a group of white rhinos at the same time as two black rhinos.
The blackies were a first for us in Kruger so a truly special day. I
n truth, we have always felt safer on a bush walk than at some of the Kruger look-out points.

You learn a lot when doing a walk - even if you don't see much actual game - We did the Olifants wilderness trail many, many years ago and were privileged to see an elephant as close up as were were allowed without invading his "space" - all our guide did was pick up few stones to have handy to distract him if necessary - they had been doing the trail for 12 years at that time and never once had to use their weapons

when explaining things to us in the bush the guides spoke to us in very low tone and we were told to snap our fingers or or pat on our leg if we wanted to attract their attention and then to speak in almost a whisper and no chatting between ourselves

This to keep OUR disturbance to the animals and nature to the minimum. We were told that any danger would come from the front - if we startled an animal - that's why the guides both walk in front - BUT the likelihood of that happening would be very minimal as our group of 8 would sound like a herd of buffalo coming through which would scare off animals - quite apart from the human smell

We had the unique experience of running after a lion on that trip!

The guides had tracked a mating pair - when we were near they whispered to us that as soon as the lions saw us they would take off so if we wanted to keep them in sight we would have to run with the guides - towards the lions - this is exactly what happened - the pair were under a tree - as soon as we saw them - and they saw us - they jumped apart and ran off - AWAY from us

It is still one of my most treasured memories of being in KNP

Dino, check the statistics. The first bush walks were started during middle 1978 with the Wolhuter route. Now you can calculate how many people up to now, went on these walks without any incidents. As Ecojunkie has said, the people that take visitors on these walks are highly trained and not any Tom Dick or Harry are allowed to do this.

I think if one looks at the statistics as well, if you take how many people go on walks in Kruger alone every year and then take how many incidents or accidents occur, I am sure it would it be very very small to virtually nil.

I can only agree with the previous posts.

Doing a Guided walk is a lifetime experience you will never forget.
How much closer can you get to nature than being able to walk in one of world’s best nature reserves instead of sitting in your car.

The guided are fully qualified and highly trained.

We did our Guided morning walk at Satara on the 17th of July and enjoyed every minute of it. The next time we go to Kruger or any National Park we will certainly do a Guided walk again.

You leave very early and are accompanied by two armed guided who walk in front of the group…if you are lucky like we were you will see lots of animals before the walk starts because you leave before sunrise and will drive from the camp to the walking spot. We encountered previous to the walk: giraffe, rhino, BBJ, martial eagle and 2 lions.

Prior to the walk you get instructions on the do’s and don’ts(Major Rule: DON’T RUN).

During the walk we encountered a pride of lions …..you can’t imagine what an adrenalin kick you get …..we had to stand behind the guides and were able to make pictures as long as we didn’t run and make a noise. The fun part was that the lions looked at us and ran of.

We went to the spot where the lions had been lying and had breakfast…still feeling the warmth of the lions on the stones and smelling them.

So don’t hesitate and just experience the thrill of a guided walk or a wilderness trail(I haven’t had the opportunity to experience this myself but I’ll certainly do this one time after reading about this on the forum.)

Below just some pictures as example of the morning walk.

Giraffe before the walk


Starting the walk


Information about tracks and animals


Lions during the walk


walking in a line

Hi
A PDF with some answers. At least the price
tariffs

A) generally what time do these leave the camps at? About 1 to 1.5 hours before the gates open, although Olifants used to do a shorter walk along the river, starting at about 9ish.

B) Are they recognised trails they use each day or is it dependent on known animal sightings? The guides choose on the day. They know the area and the paths but it's not a trail/path as we mere mortals would recognise.

C) How much do they cost? Bert's link has the tariff.

D) how many in a group?Maximum of 8 guests and always 2 guides. There may be a minimum number of participants, depends on the camp.

E) are they exciting as they sound? Yes, even if you aren't tracking animals, getting to know about the small insects, plants and spoor is great.

Hi All,

I was just wondering how the morning walks from balule work as it is not a main camp. Could anyone fill me in?

Regards