Albatros Travel - Kruger Walking Safari

Upon arrival at OR Tambo International Airport, after clearing customs, make your way through to the departure hall for your onward flight to Hoedspruit Airport.

Scheduled flight from Johannesburg to Hoedspruit.  

Upon arrival at Hoedspruit Airport, you will be met by a local representative and shown to the vehicle for your private transfer to Pafuri Luxury Tented Camp (approx. 4 and half hour drive)  

After check in procedures , depart on afternoon guided game drive (time dependent). An extraordinary wildlife experience awaits. Large herds of elephant roam the area together with healthy populations of buffalo, antelope, leopard, hyena and more. Due to its fantastic riverside location Pafuri Camp is also the destination of choice for avid birders and guests are regularly treated to sightings of rare species including the elusive Pels Fishing Owl.

A delicious set menu dinner is served after the afternoon guided game drive. 

After delicious breakfast, meet your guide at Pafuri Camp reception, your guide will then transfer you via a 4x4 open game viewing vehicle to trails camp. 

After settling in at camp and a safety briefing given by your guide, you will embark on your first-afternoon walk in the bush. 

On our walking safaris you can expect to encounter an array of changing landscapes, from bushveld to riverine forests, mountains to floodplains, and perennial pans which all attract a spectacular variety of animals and birds. Discover forests of fever trees, groves of baobabs and a diverse collection of wildlife.

This rustic base camp consists of walk-in tents with en-suite flush toilets and separate outdoor hot bush showers. At night, light is provided by lanterns, solar lights in the tents and a crackling fire. Each morning the guides place warm water in the standing canvas basin outside your tent. After each game activity, there is the opportunity to shower under the rustic bucket showers about 10 metres from your tent. Hot water is provided from big bonfires.

On your return to the camp, take some time to relax and enjoy the refreshments before dinner is served, prepared perfectly on an open fire.

Relax after dinner under the star-lit sky before retiring to your assigned tent for some well-needed rest.

This morning begins with an early wake-up call and a light snack before venturing out to explore the Northern Kruger National Park on foot in search of the abundance of wildlife. You can expect to walk approximately 10 kilometers a day (4 - 5 hours)

You return to the camp to enjoy a leisurely brunch before retreating to a period of relaxation to prepare for an afternoon walk or drive. The afternoon activity is dependent on local animal activity in the area.

After an exhilarating afternoon walk, you return to camp for a hot shower followed by sundowners and/or refreshments.

Dinner will be served under the stars around the fire.

Nibble on biscuits and a cup of tea or coffee to boost your energy levels for another action-packed walking safari in the vast northern Kruger. You might be lucky enough to witness the African Big Five and other incredible roamers of the bush with your armed game ranger as you make your way through Mopane woodlands, Fever Tree forests, and Acacia thickets.

The northern Kruger National Park has an incredible diversity of birds and species such as grey-headed parrot, wattle-eyed flycatcher and Pel’s fishing owl.

End the day with a late afternoon walking safari and enjoy dinner & swap fireside stories under the African starlit skies. 

This morning you bid farewell to the adventure experienced in the Northern Kruger.

After a light snack and a short morning walk, you return to camp to enjoy a hearty brunch.

After the morning’s activities, you will have some time to freshen up before taking a transfer to Honeyguide Mantobeni Camp. (approx. 6 hour drive) 

Arriving at Honeyguide Mantobeni Camp, check in, freshen before departing on Afternoon Nature Drive.

Honeyguide Mantobeni Camp is located in Manyeleti Game Reserve which is one of the unfenced private game reserves that fall within the Greater Kruger. The private reserves of Greater Kruger lie adjacent to the Kruger National Park. Game roams freely between the two world-famous protected wilderness regions and you’re guaranteed spectacular Big 5 sightings.

Dinner is a communal meal with guests sitting outside (weather dependent) interacting with each other and the rangers. The chef will present the set menu to all guests once seated.

A typical day at Honeyguide Mantobeni: 

05h30: Guests are awoken with the beating of traditional drums. Tea / coffee and rusks are then served before guests meet at reception to go on their game drive.

06h00: Morning game drive – duration 3 hours approx. Snacks & tea / coffee offered during the game drive.

09h30: Breakfast. During the course of breakfast, guests will be offered the opportunity of partaking in a Bush Walk with a ranger/s pending the number of pax interested. The Bush Walk is strictly for persons aged 16 years and older. Junior bush walks can be arranged around camp perimeter for children under the age of 16.

14h00: Lunch.

16h00: Afternoon game drive – duration 3 hours approx. Snacks & soft drinks offered during the game drive.

20h00: Dinner will be serverd at the camp. This is a communal meal with guests sitting outside (weather dependent) interacting with each other and the rangers. The chef will present the set menu to all guests once seated.

After an early morning breakfast, we depart to Blyde River Canyon. 

Today you will be exploring Blyde River Canyon on foot.

The Blyde River Canyon is the third largest canyon in the world 26 946 ha, after the Grand Canyon in the United States and the Fish River Canyon in Namibia, and is the largest 'green canyon' due to its lush subtropical foliage, with the deepest precipitous cliffs of any canyon on the planet.

Leopard Trail

The trail takes around 4 hours to complete and requires you to be fit.  It offers spectacular views of the northern section of the Blyde River Canyon, Blyde Dam, Three Rondavels, Mariepskop and other features of the Canyon. Stop for a packed lunch at northern section of the Blyde River Canyon with spectacular views. A variety of biomes with their specific vegetation types are encountered on this trail.  Although leopards are seldom actually encountered due to their shy and nocturnal habits, their spoor is often seen.  It is marked by yellow leopard paw-prints.

Time permitting, we will embark on an afternoon game drive.

Return in time to freshen up before sitting down for communal dinner outside (weather permitting), the chef will present the set menu to all guests. 

Enjoy the early rise for the morning game drive, followed by breakfast. After some downtime we will visit one of the local communities in the area to experience the survival of their traditional way of life in a sustainable and natural protective way. Here in the village, we get an insight into everyday chores, visiting the school, taste local specialties and may meet the village head.

On arrival back at the lodge, you also get the chance to go on a hike where nature is explored on foot in the company of an experienced tracker and an armed ranger. On the hike you can dwell on the little nuances such as the unique birdlife around rivers and ponds or smaller creatures in the animal kingdom that live in and around shrubs, bushes and under the rocks.

Return in time to freshen up before sitting down for dinner. 

This morning clients can either do an early morning game drive or have a sleep in. 

Upon return to the lodge, a scrumptious breakfast is to be enjoyed before it is time to check out.

Time to say good byes as we depart the lodge for Hoedspruit Airport. 

On arrival at Hoedspruit Airport, proceed to check in for your onward journey.