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Have just returned from 20 days in Kruger and we were lucky enough to stay at Pafuri for the first three nights.
It was my girlfriends first trip to Africa and I couldn't wait to show her
Before going we had heard that the north of Kruger would be unbearably hot and we wouldn't see as many animals as we had down south on a previous trip.
Well, how wrong they were!

Whilst it was warm, it was never unbearably so (late February) and we were blown away by the number of animals.
The camp at Pafuri was beautiful right on the banks of the Luvuvhu, and daily we were treated to some fantastic sightings.
We had requested tents numbers 19 and 20, which are the furthest away from the dining/bar area and were lucky enough to get them.
It's a good five minute plus walk on a raised platform to get to those rooms, so at night you really do get that fantastic sense of being in the middle of nowhere.
The first night we awoke to one of the resident male lions roaring nice and close, an awesome welcome to Africa for my SO

I'd love to post a trip report for you but am not sure it belongs here or on trip report thread, being a private camp?
Also will post some pics when I know where to put them.
The amount of baby animals we saw was brilliant, as last time in Kruger we were there in August and for my SO who is a big bird lover the place was paradise.

Any feedback as to where I can post a trip report and pics for Pafuri would be appreciated. I've got some beautiful pics to share

You were lucky! I've spent a couple of weeks at Pafuri Camp every February since they opened in 2005, and this February was the least hot by far, with temparatures some 8 to 10°C lower than normal.

Letaba is officially the hottest place in South Africa, but I strongly suspect that if proper meteorological data had been available, Pafuri would easily take the top spot.

Johan

So, can everyone confirm that to go to Lanner Gorge, the only way is to sleep at Pafuri Camp and choose this activity among the ones they offer?
Thanks in advance.

Pafuri Camp or The Outpost (which is closer).

Lanner Gorge is not an "activity" as such, it is a tea/coffee or sundowner stop on a morning or afternoon game drive respectively. I would go for sunset any day.

Personally, I prefer Mutale Gorge (also closer to The Outpost), but then again, I can afford to be blasé about Lanner, having lost count of the number of times I've been there.

If you are at either camp for only a night or two, you will need to express your interest in visiting Lanner Gorge, which visit will then be arranged. If you stay longer, it is sure to be included on one of the game drives sooner or later.

Lanner Gorge can of course be reached on foot from the KNP side (I'm not sure whether that's feasible from the Nyalaland trails camp, though), but the hills on the southern side are much lower, so the view not as spectacular.

Johan

The walk is not feasible from Nyalaland - it involves an approx 12 hour round trip (according to an ex trails ranger I contacted the walk exhausted the group) .
There are beautiful views of the Luvuvhu gorge from Makahana which I think is close to the Outpost .
I believe Lanner Gorge is far more breathtaking ?

Spectacular, amongst others because you can see so far. If you look carefully you can make out Pafuri (the border), even with the naked eye, but otherwise it is just wilderness in all directions, even though you can see beyond Kruger's western boundary. Wildlife is very sparse, however. On the other hand, I've seen four Black Eagles at the same time, one pair in the east and one in the west.

Johan

We did the Nyalaland trail in January 2007.
We were only 2 people on the trail and told the guides that we very much would like to see Lanner Gorge. They drove us up to the Nyala loop and past the Thulamela site on a no-entry road where we eventually got off and started walking.
We walked into a pride of lions that morning, lying in ambush on the river bank.
Quite an exciting experience.
Sat on the rocks looking out over the gorge having our morning snacks.
What an awesome morning!
Would love to go back.
The guides did mention that they only rarely go that way anymore.
It's a very long walk and/or drive from the camp and they tend to give it a miss with the larger groups.
I also got the feeling from the conversation that the people from the north of the river 'has got the rights' to it.

Anyways. If you ever get the chance to go then GO! It's stunning place.

To the northern bank they obviously do, but on the other side SANParks can do whatever they want, including trails.

And yes, never pass up an opporunity to visit Lanner, on whatever side.

Johan

I do agree ,it's really a stunning place and each time I went there from Pafuri camp (by car), I felt I was somewhere else.
This place like a few others around Pafuri makes this Northern section ok Kruger park a very very different and special place.
I was lucky to stay at different occasions at Pafuri camp since the opening and I can only recommend this lodge (not really cheap but nothing compare to some other luxury lodges further down in the south.Overall quality of this lodge,professionnalism of guides and birding,birding,birding is worthwhile !)
I will post some shots i took when in Lanner

Yes, that's the theory but in real life it doesn't work exactly like that. Nevermind all that. If you ever get the chance to go, grab it with both hands!

They are eagerly awaited !

Here's one from February 2006, looking downstream. The Luvuvhu was rather low for the time of year.



No, that's not me in the picture, I'm not that pretty.

Johan

Here we are, one shot one from august 2006, my first visit to Lanner

Some others....











Buy the way could you tell me the name of this flower




I have more if you're not fed up

Great pics
Thank you for sharing.
Most definitely on our bucket list.