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Machampane Wilderness Trail
Machampane Wilderness Trails Camp offers visitors an intimate encounter with wild Africa on foot.
The three-night/four-day trails are based at the luxury Machampane Camp, sited in a fabulous setting overlooking a small waterhole on the Machampane River in the Limpopo Park.
Guests walk out from camp every day guided by two armed rangers who not only protect the trailists, but also help interpret the scenery and cultural and ecological comings-and-goings they encounter along the way.
The camp sleeps a maximum of eight people, and it is not to be missed.
This includes all meals, transport in game drive vehicles from Kruger's Letaba Camp or Massingir in Mozambique and all entrance fees.
Not included are all drinks (including soft drinks), visa fees (not required for SA citizens), Kruger entrance and conservation fees and other personal items.
Trails commence on 1 November 2005.

Massingir Hiking Trail
Bookings are also open for the rugged Massingir Hiking Trail; the first trail is scheduled for March 2006.
This unique, four-night/five-day hiking trail through the Limpopo Park departs from the tree-lined shores of Massingir Dam and follows the Machampane River Gorge west.
A maximum of eight guests will be guided by experienced, armed rangers who will protect the trailists while serving as their guides, providing invaluable insight into the ecological functioning of their environment. Participants need to be relatively fit capable of hiking between 15 and 20 kilometres a day and self sufficient carrying in their own food, beverages, clothing and sleeping bags, while carrying out their refuse.
Each night is spent in a different camp, consisting of small, two-person tents on wooden platforms with a communal lapa were meals will be prepared around an open fire.
Basic ablution facilities, water for cooking and washing and firewood is provided.
The trail costs which includes transport from Letaba Camp in Kruger and Limpopo Park entrance fees.
This price does not include meals, snacks, drinks (including water), Kruger National Park conservation fees and accommodation, Mozambique border fees and visas (not required by SA citizens) and other personal items.

For reservations for both Machampane Trails Camp and the Massingir Hiking Trail, contact Bridget Bagley at SANParks in Pretoria on Tel. 012 426 5111 or e-mail bridgetb@sanparks.org or visit http://www.dolimpopo.com

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This will probably seem like a daft question to many of you out there who have done the trails before but I'm booked on a wilderness trail and haven't quite understood what happens about personal luggage.
I guess we leave our car with most of our belongings in the camp and just take a small bag with a change of clothes, toiletries etc with us, which we'd leave in the wilderness camp?
This will be part of a long trip so don't want to turn up with all the luggage but will it be OK left in the car? Thanks for any help!

Hi Daj
You can take whatever you like to the trails camp. When I did the Metsi-Metsi in December, they had a trailer on the back of the 4x4 for carrying luggage. Saying that, the accommodation is snug and unless you have an A-frame to yourself, I would suggest only taking what you really need plus, perhaps, your valuables. You will have to leave your vehicle in a public place, but it should be quite safe.

Yes, you should only take what you require @ the Wilderness camp. The rest can be locked in the trunck of your vehicle in the camp where you depart from. It should be safe enough there.

As for the stuff you take along to the wilderness trails camp. you will leave it in your A-frame hut or in the case of the Boesman's trail a lil round rondavel when you go out on foot.

Pics of the Metsi-Metsi trail Here

Did the trail in December - fantastic experience, want to do another one .

Hi Bushmad,
See that there was no reply to your post the past month.
I'm browsing this forum now because i just booked for a trail for next year - Metsi-Metsi in April My 4th, and already looking forward to it!
I know that the Napi-camp was redone after being destroyed by fire in 2001/2002 (i think) & you are right, it's the only one with en-suite bathrooms.
Someone i know at Pretoriuskop advised that the best time of the year to do the Napi is usually August or September. You have better visibility then as the grass ("dekgras") around there grows quite tall during the summer months and it also tends to be sour, so it doesn't attract as much game as the areas with sweeter grass. All depends on what your interest is however, because in summer obviously the birding will be better.
Do give it a try though... looking @ what you get it is good value for money. Just imagine what you would have to pay in any other "big name" & "big 5" reserve for the exclusive services of two game guards for two full days as well as all meals and acommodation for three days. Being close to nature is what it is all about & for that i am willing to forfeit the 5-star abode

Yes you may indeed.

And yes there are huge fridges to store your stuff within.

Cheerio.

Hi Bushmad
About bringing your own food, i'm sure that they won't object. They do have a set menu for the trip as well as a full time cook - maybe just advise them ahead of the time if you intend to do some of your own catering. (Our meals included at least one evening braai.)
They supply light snacks during the morning walk and it may be a good idea to take some cereal/energy bars/dry wors or the like if you want. You then return to base camp to enjoy a scrumtious brunch & then you have time to rest/read/shower before going on the afternoon/sunset walk & supper is served shortly after your return. Unless you have special meal requirements the best thing (especially for our ladies) is to sit back & do NOTHING
Apart from the fridge available, there is a cooler box with ice to have in your drinks, wine etc. It seems Amarula is the forum favourite

I have been fortunate enough to have done 3 wilderness trails:
Did the Olifants first - magnificent - and very appropriately almost got charged by an elephant
Our guide spotted the huge male & we headed to the little waterhole where we waited for him to come down for his drink.
He came down the slight embankment and then sensed our presence.... he stopped, smelling the air and then moved forward, a bit too close for comfort
Our guides shouted at him and pounded on the side of their rifles - our video footage has the barrel of the rifle clearly visible in the frame filled with one BIG elephant.
We stepped backwards and the giant reconsidered and slowly turned away.

On our second - the Nyalaland - it was a lone buffalo that caused our eyes to be as big as saucers.
Our gentle afternoon stroll next to the stream close to camp turned out to give us a major adrenaline surge. He came tearing out of the bushes just about two metres short of my dad, bringing up the rear of the group. The buffalo turned sharply and disappeared back into the bush.
Our guide said we were very lucky because they rarely turn away.
Needless to say we didn't go any further and quickly made our way back to our base camp.

On the Sweni we headed off on our morning drive & found 3 male lions next to the road.
We did our walk & returned to camp - all very uneventful.
That afternoon we didn't realise that the guide was taking us back to the area where we had seen the lion earlier.
We were circling back to the vehicle when we came across the area where the lion had slept that morning. The guide pointed out the flattened grass, spoor and relieved we thought they had moved off when suddenly... 3 big manes appeared out of the grass.
We had startled the 3-some while they were sleeping.
Not sure whether us or them got the biggest fright.
The constant growling warned us that we were way too close, about 12 metres.
We retreated slowly until we were out of their comfort zone and finally reached the bakkie via a detour where a hyena awaited us, smelling at the tyres!
Can't wait for the next experience... Doing the Metsi-Metsi in April 2007

Hi there. Lucky you for going on the trail!

A bag is not neccessary as there are 4 bags to be shared amongst the 8 trailists. But I always take my wo nto keep all my stuff in nevertheless. A smallish rugsack or something similar is hundreds! You don't need a too big a bag as the walk itself is not that long too carry oodles of stuff with you. The trails rangers provide water, but if you don't wanna share with someone else, then I suggest you take your own along.

Enjoy! It is an experience of a lifetime!

Hi,

Could any of the experienced travellers in this forum comment on the weather conditions on wilderness trail trip the beginning of October Vs. last week of October? are weather conditions become better or worse? what is needed in terms of dressing and equipment for such a trail?

Thanks,
A.

I think you could have good or bad weather at the beginning or end of October. Traditionally, I believe the rainy season starts in October so its more likely to be dry at the beginning rather than the end. Also, it is likely to be warmer at the end of October as it is closer to full-on summer. It should be pleasant temperatures whatever week you choose but cooler in the evening at the beginning of the month. It also depends on where in the park you are planning your wilderness trail as the climate does vary (normally, but not always, warmer further north). Sorry for the vagueness here but weather forecasters cant normally get the forecast right so I'm not going to be much better! I'd personally go for the end of the month and take a chance on the rains....

Fredi

I have done the trail, before the fire destroyed the old camp, but I am sure the new huts are even nicer than before. It is awesome, I guess it might be hot but it's great fun. Hopefully you will be lucky to see as much as I did, including getting really up close and personal with some white rhinos, ellies and lion, and I mean up close. Plenty info on the vegetation and insect life and of course plenty bird info. two bits of advice, take a small back pack with you for snacks and drinks, and make sure you have a good pair of waterproof hiking boots. If you are going to buy new, do so now and wear them in a lot, make sure they are very comfy. You will need the waterproof type for 2 reasons: firstly it's summer so there might hopefully hve been some rain and the ground might be wet and the other reason is that the camp is situated right on a river and every day you will need to cross it as you begin the walk. If there has been no rain its ok but if the river is flowing strong you will get your tootsies wet. Anyway enjoy it, its awesome

Sweni trail

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