Kruger National Park

• Rest Camp: Berg-en-Dal
• Nearest Entrance Gate: Malelane

Situated in the south western corner of KNP this wilderness area is characterized by deep quiet valleys and high rocky outcrops with spectacular views. These secluded valleys exclude trailists from the outside world. These high lying outcrops are accessed early in the morning to enjoy the vastness of the landscape as well as to search for game, with surprisingly good results. The broken terrain is ideal for unusual but safe close encounters with big game. The heavy presence of elephant and rhino has resulted in a well marked network of natural game paths and allows for structured and comfortable walks.

Night sounds are unique. Guests can hear a great variety – specifically freckled night jars as well as spotted eagle owls. White rhino are plentiful as well as other game species. Typical to the terrain are antelope species like kudu, klipspringer and mountain reedbuck.

Plantlife is very diverse especially in the higher lying areas – this area is also classified as a botanical reserve within KNP and unique trees only to this area occur. The high altitude of the area accounts for unusual bird sightings from time to time including redthroated wryneck and jackal buzzard.

Bushman paintings are a big attraction as well as other cultural and historical sites. Trips to these sites are a regular feature of the trail routine, the aim of which to educate trailists on San (Bushman) culture and their art. The camp is uniquely hidden between a series of massive granite kopjes providing a very pleasant atmosphere.

• Rest Camp: Satara
• Nearest Entrance Gate: Orpen

The camp is named after “Mathikithi” (GR716976 – 2431BC). Latitude 24:26:03 South, longitude 31:44:10 East, an isolated sandstone hill (313m), situated 6km South West of Satara, next to the N’wanetsi Creek. Mathikithi – named after Mathikithi Mathevula, a person who previously lived at the nearby Nsemani-N’wanetsi confluence. The hill was first called Mpondo, named after Mpondo Mathevula, a relative of Mathikithi who lived at the foot of the hill. This name later fell into disuse for unknown reasons.

• Rest Camp: Pretoriuskop
• Nearest Entrance Gate: Numbi

This wilderness area is situated on the undulating granitic landscape between Pretoriuskop and Skukuza rest camps. Both the Mbyamithi and Napi rivers flow through the area and offers scenic walks along the riverbanks with stunning large trees. Vegetation consists mainly of broad leave woodland and tamboti thickets. Large open sodic patches are pleasant to the eye and host unique plants such as the summer impala lily.

Seasonal pans in these areas allows for lots of big game sightings. Both white and black rhino are regularly seen wallowing in these pans.

The camp is fantastic for night sounds and amongst others giant eagle and barred owl give the night character. The Mbiyamithi river is one of the best habitats to view thick billed cuckoo because of the prevalence of it’s parasitic host the redbilled helmet shrike.

The camp consists out of four safari tents with on suite ablutions and a large veranda from which to view the surrounding bush and the Mbiyamithi river below the tents.

• Rest Camp: Punda Maria
• Nearest Entrance Gate: Punda Maria

The most remote and out of the way Wilderness Trail’s Camp is situated between Punda Maria camp and Pafuri with the spectacular Lanner and Levhuvhu gorges along the Levhuvhu River a big attraction. The camp is hidden in a secluded spot on the Madzaringwe River with towering cliffs of the Soutpansberg Mountains in the background. Punda Maria Rest Camp is the departure point for this trail and is only 540km or a 5 hour drive from Johannesburg.

The area is one of the best in the country for bird watching and various localised species such as Verreauxs’ eagle, Pel’s fishing owl, grey-headed parrot, mottled spinetail and a lot more can be seen. The spine tails roost inside a giant baobab tree in the trails camp and can be watched at leisure. If you are trying to add new birds to your bird list, Nyalaland is a good place to be.

• Nyalaland trail is set in an area which is botanically very rich with scarce sandveld and dry land vegetation communities. The real draw card to this spectacular wilderness area is the large concentration of giant baobabs. This is one of the most spectacular trails within the KNP.
• You may also come across unique species such as nyala, Sharps grysbok, eland, roan antelope, yellow spotted rock hyrax, elephant shrews and red rock rabbits. The name Nyalaland was given to the trail and camp as there are many nyala antelope and nyala trees in the area.

Important cultural sites in the Kruger National Park occur only on the Nyalaland trail, representing Zimbabwe stone culture and San rock art. One of these sites is situated on a hill, high above the Levhuvhu River, seven kilometres from the camp. This is easily accessible and worth the walk to see the spectacular view of the Levhuvhu gorge. Fossilized remains of two types of dinosaur can be seen, making this area unique. Only guests who visit the Nyalaland trail will have the privilege of seeing these fossils.

The Levhuvhu River, one of the big rivers in the Kruger National Park, is used to cool our guests down when it is hot. There is a beautiful walk to the baobab forests, hyena caves where you eat your breakfast on top of the rocks, surrounded by the baobabs and overlooking Lanner gorge. A walk to Lanner and Levhuvhu gorges is also part of the itinerary, which is a place that looks like God had enough time to make it.

We have a magic wheelbarrow which has served guests their food for a long time.

If any of the above appeals to you, then book a place on the next Nyalaland Trail.

• Rest Camp: Letaba
• Nearest Entrance Gate: Phalaborwa

The departure point is from Letaba Rest Camp.

Situated on the banks of the Olifants river this wilderness area is very popular as it offers remote valleys and gorges where the river flows through the Lebombo mountains as well as flat open plains with good game viewing potential.

The river is a big attraction especially as both the Olifants and Letaba rivers join before flowing into Mozambique. These rivers are the focal point of the trail experience as it has a lot to offer. Large concentrations of hippo and crocodiles are dominant features.

The day is incomplete without the call of fish eagles, ever present on the rivers. Birding as well as a divers plantlife are a big plus for this popular wilderness trail.

• Rest Camp: Satara
• Nearest Entrance Gate: Orpen

Satara Rest Camp is the departure point for this trail.

The biggest attraction on this wilderness trail is the Sweni river surrounded by open flat thorntree savannah where large herds of game concentrates at certain times of the year. This in turn attracts large concentrations of predators and the biggest drawcard of the trail experience is to be part of this predator/prey relationship. Hearing lions roar at night occurs frequently as sound travels far in this open landscape.

Birds typical of plains landscapes occur. The Sweni river accounts for frequent sightings of the shy nocturnal white backed night heron. Mozambique night jar and scops owl are dominant night calls from camp.

The flatness and remoteness of the area offers excellent star gazing opportunities.

The camp is situated on the Sweni river and is surrounded by open plains. A covered lapa allows one to view the surrounding plains and associated game through out the day.

• Rest Camp: Berg-en-Dal
• Nearest Entrance Gate: Malelane

The first of all the wilderness trails is situated roughly between Berg-en-Dal, Ship mountain and Afsaal picnic site. It was named after one of the first rangers that were appointed in the establishment of the Sabie Game Reserve in those days – 1902. Harry Wolhuter later in his career killed a lion single handedly with his hunting knife while out on patrol on horseback.

It is a spectacularly scenic wilderness area characterized by high granite outcrops with deep valleys as well as a flatter undulating landscape. Wilderness qualities are high as the trail area is far removed from the boundaries of the Kruger National Park.

Culturally, Wolhuter Trail was a very active area in days gone by and a lot of relics of the past can be seen everywhere. Evidence of Bushmen and stone and iron age people can be found on the higher lying areas and rocky outcrops.

The famous Jock of the Bushveld and his master Sir Percy Fitzpatrick were also criss-crossing this area on their adventurous hunting trips and transport driving routes.

Plantlife is very diverse especially in the higher lying areas – this area is also classified as a botanical reserve within the KNP.

Birdlife is good with a lot more species to be seen in summertime when all the summer migrants return.

White and black rhino can be found in the Wolhuter Wilderness area with the former very concentrated. Elephant and buffalo are also regularly seen as well as sable, mountain- and common reedbuck can be seen. Other more common species include zebra, giraffe, kudu, waterbuck, blue wildebeest and warthog.

Wolhuter Wilderness Trail’s biggest plus point however is to sit on a granite outcrop and to stare into the distance and experience a wild feeling in a wildland amongst wild creatures.

• Wilderness trails start on either a Wednesday afternoon to a Saturday morning or a Sunday afternoon to a Wednesday morning.
• It is a three-night trail with the two days in between spent walking.
• Trailists arrive and book in at the reception of the rest camp from where the trail departs.
• The trail ranger meets the group at 15h30 in a designated parking area in the respective rest camp.
• At this point trailists must be ready and equipped as well as all last minute shopping done before the trail departs which only comes back after the three nights in the wilderness camp.

• Clothing should be comfortable and durable. Neutral colours such as khaki are preferable. Light or bright coloured garments should be avoided. T-shirts are not recommended as they provide little protection against the sun on the neck. A hat and an all-weather jacket should be taken along. A tracksuit, either woollen or lightweight depending on the season, is a useful garment.
• Footwear should be worn in prior to the trail, have thick soles and provide good ankle support. Sandals can be worn in camp.
• Cameras, binoculars, walking sticks, sunscreen lotion and reference books are optional.
  A good quality torch is essential for moving around camp at night. Lighting is provided in the form of kerosene lanterns, as there is no electricity.
• Malaria prophylactics are essential. Consult your chemist. Insect repellents can also help to avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes or other insects.

• The trail provides simple but wholesome meals prepared by a cook on either an open fire or a gas stove. Trailists with special dietary requirements must please realize that although the trail can cater for some (e.g. vegetarians) it is very difficult to suit every individual’s special need. Prior arrangements in this regard are essential. We will help if it is in any way possible.
• Trailists provide their own liquid refreshments in the form of alcohol or any other cool drinks. Drinking water is provided as well as coffee and tea with a fruit juice as part of the bush breakfast. There are limited cooling facilities in each camp. Alcohol abuse will not and can not be tolerated.

The camps are situated within a wilderness trail area and far away from normal tourist activities. The reason why people come on these trails is to get away from modern day living. We request all trailists to respect the environment that they are in and to keep the atmosphere wild even when in camp.

Please comply by the following rules:

• No cell phones
• No radios or tape/cd/mp3 players
• No private vehicles out to trail camps
• No generators

• A maximum of eight persons between the ages of 12 and 65 years may participate per trail. To derive the optimum benefit and enjoyment from a trail adventure, it is recommended that a group comprises persons of a similar age, with common interests and the same level of fitness.
• A reasonable level of fitness is required as up to 20 km may be walked per day. The distance is covered at a leisurely pace, however, to afford trailists an intimate encounter with the wilderness. Due to the terrain covered and the safety factor, handicapped persons should not participate in these trails.
• All participants have to complete an indemnity form before embarking on a trail. Minors must be in possession of a form signed by a parent or legal guardian. These forms should be handed to the trail ranger before departing on the trail.
• The general rules and regulations of the Kruger National Park also apply to trailists.
• Trailists depend on the trail ranger for their safety and for guidance. The trail ranger should therefore be obeyed at all times. Failure to co-operate in this respect could lead to the immediate cancellation of the trail.
• For safety and ethical reasons liquor may be consumed at the trail camp only. Excessive consumption of liquor is strongly discouraged.
• Trailists provide their own liquor and soft drinks.
• Limited space is available in a communal refrigerator.
• Malaria Prophylactics are essential. Please consult your chemist.

• Trailists arrive at the trail camp late afternoon after a slow drive from the individual restcamps. Upon arrival guests are orientated or introduced to the camp and then given time to settle in and relax. The trail leader will give the trailists a full briefing on the camp rules, routine for the next couple of days, what to expect, safety aspects and will answer any questions.
• After a wholesome meal the guests have the opportunity to sit around the fire, socialise, listen to night sounds and marvel at the stunning night skies.
• The mornings start before the crack of dawn with a cup of coffee, tea and a rusk after which the walk will start from camp or a drive might be taken out into the wilderness area to a point from where the morning walk will commence.
• We return late morning and after a well-deserved brunch a siesta is a welcome treat till mid afternoon. The afternoon activity consists of a short walk and traditional “sundowners”.
• We return to camp where once again a well cooked meal is served to restore body and soul.
• The second day is a repeat of the first day’s activities.
• The last morning trailists have the opportunity to enjoy the early morning bush chorus from the camp as no walking takes place. Guests are then returned to point of departure after a small breakfast.

• The trail camps are rustic and spartan. There are no electricity or power generators. Accommodation consists of A-frame huts or tents, as is the case at Napi camp. There are four units that sleep two each. Ablution facilities are communal except the Napi tents where it is en-suite. All linen and towels are provided.
• Ablutions consist of flush toilets and gas geyser showers.
• There is a communal social area (lapa) with thatched roof or open campfire area.
• Cooling facilities consists of a fridge with limited space.
• The cook prepares all meals in a very basic kitchen with washing up basins and storing facilities.
• A fence surrounds the camp but it is basically only to tell animals and people where the camp boundary is.
• Water for washing gets pumped from boreholes close to camp. Water should not be wasted unnecessarily – especially in dry times.