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gigib,

Send a PM to Diesel, she did the Wolhuter recently. Maybe she can send you some photo's.

Have seen her photo's on another forum and it looks amasing!!

I but would recommend either for various reasons .
They use adjoining and very similar areas , but I prefer Wolhuter as it is further from the western boundary than Bushman trail .

See Travel Tales on this forum for my photos and report.

We did Bushman's 2 years ago and Wolhuter last month and Wolhuter definitely had more animals.

Go for Wolhuter ... it is close to Stolsnekdam. We saw many animals passing the camp on their way to the dam. For me it was great sitting at the dam at late afternoon watching the elephants on the other side.

And how many times did you walk both in the same week, Ndloti?
Maybe you saw two elephants on Bushman's and one on Wolhuter on the one time you walked both trails; and now you are assuming that Bushman's Trail has more animals...
We saw elephants and rhinos all the time (at Wolhuter)... there is no way Bushman's Trail could have more animals.

Lovely, thank you! That was fun to read and look at.

Now I have a crass question about sundowners: The only alcohol my husband and I like is BEER. I read somewhere that we need to limit the amount of drinks we bring because their fridge space is limited at the trail camps, and beer takes up a lot of room!

What would be a reasonable amount to bring?!?

There is a fridge of about 150 litre capacity that can contain at least the equivalent of about 6 dozen tins , provided you restock the fridge regularly then there is plenty enough space for a dozen or so tins per person per day .

Hi all
has anyone been on one of the Wilderness trails and if so maybe share their experience. I am thinking of going in May 2009 but would like to chat to people who have already walked it.

We went on the Sweni trail in February, absolute magic.
One has to like the basic things in life though . no lectrics etc But the sounds and smells are super
We are two "elderly" folk who are fit and found the walking very easy. Guides superb and food good. Company or other guests super!!
Have booked again in August 2009 for the Bushmans trail
It was hot in February but we managed to keep cool enough. PM me if you need any other details

Hi Hugh. I did the Bushmans Trail (my first Kruger hike) in April this year. It was also magical - very hilly terrain and lots of Rhino! Lovely camp and as you say, rustic, but well equipped and superbly wholesome meals. Scenery is superb! Hope that the lion attack on the ranger at Metse-Metse doesn't have a negative affect on trail bookings now!

I'd like to go to Sweni trail (recommended by Diesel )
It seems to be only on Sunday and on Wednesday...

Can I came directely from Tamboti, to be on time (15h00) at Satara ?
If I understand right, it's one night in the hide. In this case, what I need to bring (except for camera, battery etc...), something for sleeping, eating, drinking ?
At what time the "trail" finished ? (maybe 15h00 - 15h00 the day after ?)
I'd like to stay at Satara one or two nights after the "trail"...

How I have to book ?
Tamboti - Sweni Trail - Satara ?
or Tamboti - Satara with Sweni Trail - Satara ?
I saw... not a lot of place, so I have to decide quickly

thanks in advance for your informations

Hi anne-marie

Sweni is a three night trail, not just one night. It either starts on a Sunday or a Wednesday.

Food and basic drinks such as tea and coffee are included, but not cold drinks or alcoholic beverages.

The route from Tambotie to Satara can easily be done in that time.

Here is a link: TRAILS

Anne-marie , with just moderate fitness this is easily achievable . I think that 15 km a day is normally about the maximum , and it is split between a longer walk in the morning , whereupon the trail returns to the camp for lunch , and then a shorter walk in the afternoon . The trail actually walks for 2 days , the arrival on the first day is in the late afternoon , departure on the third in the early morning around 7 am .
The camp is fenced , it provides a degree of safety , very few dangerous animals come into camp . even at night . Toilets are within easy reach of the sleeping accomodation .

Each trail differs from year to year as far as game sightings are concerned , I suppose due to differences in rainfall in different areas . As a lot of the rain comes via isolated thunder showers , an area which had rain the previous season may again not have the following season , and the opposite is also true , so different areas have different amounts of vegetation available . The relatively vast area used by the trail may offer good sightings in one area , yet very little only a few kilometres away .
The Sweni and Metsi Metsi trails generally offer the best animal sightings , but due to the above reasons you may see very little game . I have for instance been on the Sweni trail a number of times both as a trailist as well as accompanying staff on duty where contrary to the norm we have seen very low amounts of game .
I would certainly recommend the Metsi Metsi due to having experienced excellent game viewing on occasions , but again I have also seen very little there .
In short , any trail may just bring surprises .

As Ndloti says Metsi Metsi is normally the best (With Sweni which is booked up) for game however March has very lush vegetation (long grass and shrub) conditions .

Olifants would be a little more open (lower rainfall area and not on Basalt (clayey) soils ) and more condusive to game-viewing and always a good 3rd choice .
Also you could be seeing some things for the last time before Masingiri dam floods up the gorge .

I did the Wolhuter Trail in April, and while it's true that there is some light pollution from outside the park, I did not hear any sounds that originated from outside the park. I've done the Napi and Wolhuter, and I enjoyed Wolhuter just a tiny bit more. I think it's because of the mountain landscapes. The en-suite bathrooms at Napi are nice, however.