South Africa’s premier game reserve KNP has in recent years become extensively larger as its boundaries shift into transfrontier parks and conservation areas in the form of conservancies.
Three of these areas are exclusive due to their 4×4 access only. The Makuya area in the northwest, the Letaba Ranch area in the central west and the Manyaletie area bordering the Sabi Sands. We spend two nights in each area; in private camps with bush lodge accommodation that only sleep ten people.
This is a private safari with all the perks of luxury bush lodge accommodation, high-tech game viewing and with guided drives and walks.
Your tour leader will be an experienced nature conservationist and adventure guide. He will be in radio contact with you at all times and impart a wealth of biological, cultural, historic and four-wheel drive knowledge.
Three meals a day will be prepared by our experienced bush chef in his mobile kitchen, with fresh salads, potjiekos, braais and many other surprises appearing on the menu. The good old “koffie pot” will be on the fire from six till late.
This is not a very “technical” 4×4 trip, but should you experience any difficulty, the crew do have the “know how” and recovery equipment to assist with most off-road problems.
Scridb filterItinerary
Day 1:
We meet at the petrol station in the small village outside Mutala mine; savour some of the wonderful biltong from the local spar. Each vehicle will receive a hand held two-way radio for the duration of the trip, to enable your guide to pass on snippets of biological, historical and cultural information.
After a short drive, we enter Makuya Park, which shares a fenceless border with the north-eastern Kruger National Park (KNP). At slow game viewing speed we reach our exclusive lodge after about an hour, where we spend the next two nights.
In the evening, whilst sitting around the campfire, and before being spoilt with the first of many wholesome meals, your tour leader will elaborate extensively on what to expect over the next six days.
Day 2:
After a good nights rest with the sounds of the African bush and a hearty breakfast, we head off on a guided bush walk with our local guide. The walk takes us past the spectacular Mutale Falls and along the Mutale River where our guide informs us about the local flora, their medicinal uses and their cultural.
Back to our exclusive lodge for a wholesome lunch on the raised decks overlooking the river.
The afternoon is spent game viewing from in our own vehicles as we explore the various 4×4 routes. We end the day around the campfire under the African Sky.
Day 3:
After an early start we exit the Makuya Park and enter the KNP through Pafuri Gate. Equipped with our radios we travel southwards spotting game and meet up for lunch at Mooiplaas Picnic site.
The afternoons see the convoy head out of KNP through Phalaborwa Gate and enter Letaba Ranch Reserve where we stay at Emtomeni Lodge, built on the banks of the Letaba River. For the next two days, we have 50 000 hcts to ourselves.
We once again end the day around the campfire, listening to all the night sounds.
Day 4:
The experienced Ivory Route Guides take us on a morning walk along the Letaba River, looking out for game while they share their wealth of knowledge with us.
Another scrumptious lunch is served under the Jackelberry trees.
In the Late afternoon we climb aboard an open game viewing vehicle and head out for our early night drive and later return to our lodge for dinner to the sounds of hippos.
Day 5:
Another early start, we re-enter the KNP through Phalaborwa Gate and break up the convoy to allow everyone to explore the Park at leisure.
Your tour guide will arrange to meet everyone for a picnic lunch at the Timbavati Picnic site and then lead the convoy again to exit KNP through Orpen Gate. Just outside the gate we enter the Manyeleti Game Reserve, this reserve shares a fenceless border with KNP and the Sabi Sands and has large game concentrations.
Our lodge for the following two nights is Ndzhaka Camp.
Day 6:
The Manyaleti Game Reserve is known for regular sightings of the big cats, we therefore spend the morning and late afternoon/evening on open game viewers with our local Ivory Route Guides.
The heat of the day is spent at the lodge where our chef will once again delight us with his cooking. The bird life in and around the camp is another highlight and your guides will be happy to identify some of the different species with you.
We spend our last night around the campfire enjoying the unique bond of friendship that can only be made by fellow travellers who, together, have experienced the magic of the African Bush.
Day 7:
Sadly after breakfast we say our goodbyes and head for home until our next adventure together
Scridb filterTour details
Tour date : 08 – 14 August 2010
Duration : 6 night/ 7day adventure (tented bush-camp with on suite accommodation)
Tour price : R7 350 per person (limited to 10 persons)
Included : 3 meals daily, bush-camp accommodation, entrance fees, guide, radio’s
Excluded : Transport, fuel, things of a personal nature.
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