The Sutherland telescope (above) and
Olifants Trail and camp (below and right).
6
6. WALK WILD IN LIMPOPO
The world knows the Kruger National Park
to be a really wild place, but did you know
that just 6% of the park’s roads are open
to the public?
To see the true wilds of this iconic
destination, you have to walk it.
Seven Wilderness Trails are offered
in the park and walking safaris are set
far away from normal tourist activities.
Each three-night fully catered tour can
accommodate eight people and consists
of a morning and afternoon walk each day.
We chose the Olifants Trail, and on the
first day our guide, Steven Oosthuizen,
emphasised, “If you’re doing this
to see the Big Five, it’s going to be
disappointing.”
These trails are tailored so that visitors
can experience the bush of the Kruger
without the barrier of a vehicle: see how
dung beetles roll elephant dung into
breeding capsules and learn the difference
between lion, leopard and spotted hyena
spoor. The tour will have you listening
for birdcalls and will sharpen your other
senses, too, as you wander the wild with a
guide to guard the way.
THE DETAILS: Walks centre around the
picturesque Olifants Trail camp on the
banks of the Olifants River. Although
not guaranteed, you may find yourself
within range of big game. Each day’s
walk is about five to six kilometres and
takes roughly four hours. Bring good
walking shoes, a hat, dark, neutral
clothing and binoculars. There are
only four huts, which sleep two people
each, so if you go solo you may find
yourself sharing. Accommodation at
Olifants, with meals and two walks a
day, costs R4 640 per person.
MAKE MEMORIES FOR LIFE // 41