Day notes
Upon arrival into Johannesburg airport you will be met and transferred to your hotel for the night.
Private Transfer from OR Tambo International Airport [JNB] to Garden Court Sandton City
Private Transfer
OR Tambo International Airport [JNB]
Garden Court Sandton City
Check-in to Garden Court Sandton City
Day notes
JOHANNESBURG to HOEDSPRUIT AREA via DULLSTROOM
This morning borad a shuttle for the road travel to Hoedspruit via Dullstroom. Arrive late this afternoon at the lodge.
Check-out from Garden Court Sandton City
Scheduled Transfer from Garden Court Sandton City to Timbavati Safari Lodge
Scheduled Transfer
Garden Court Sandton City
Timbavati Safari Lodge
Check-in to Timbavati Safari Lodge
Day notes
HOEDSPRUIT to MAKULEKE CONCESSION
This morning transfer by to road to Kruger National Park’s Pafuri Gate in the north-eastern corner of the Limpopo Province. At the Pafuri Gate you will meet your guide from Makuleke Camp, continue onto the camp.
Settle in and after lunch there will be an orientation tour of the camp and and overview of what to expect in the week ahead.
Leisure time to settle-in before the afternoon’s practical activity either on a game drive or a bush walk.
Check-out from Timbavati Safari Lodge
Transfer from Timbavati Safari Lodge to Makuleke Camp
Transfer
Timbavati Safari Lodge
Makuleke Camp
Check-in to Makuleke Camp
Day notes
MAKULEKE CONCESSION - Basic ecology and geology (theory and practical experience)
Meals are served at the camp and each day’s activities are divided into three sessions.
Board a vehicle for a game drive or join a guided bush walk. The focus of the morning activity is on basic ecology and geology. Lanner Gorge is carved into the sandstone and although thought to be younger than 2 million years old, it’s an important feature in the Makuleke Concession. The landscape is ancient and is thought to date back more than 250 million years.
Around noon, partake in an interactive discussion with the instructor on geology and soils; weather and atmosphere; food web and energy flow; and habitat ecology and conservation. The Makuleke Concession of the ‘Pafuri Triangle’ is created by the intersection of the Limpopo and Luvuvhu rivers. The Limpopo, a dying river, is estimated to be more than 65 million years old. The Luvuvhu, a young river, has carved its way through the region’s sandstone to form Lanner Gorge.
Participants board a vehicle for a game drive or join a guided bush walk. Apart from elephant and buffalo, guests may see nyala, eland and Sharpe’s Grysbok not commonly seen elsewhere in Kruger. Guides will illustrate the theory discussed earlier in practical instruction, whilst out in the field. Guests are encouraged to apply these skills in an informal Q&A session whilst out in the field.
Day notes
MAKULEKE CONCESSION - Animal, bird and tree identification and behaviour (theory and practical experience)
During the morning game drive or guided bush walk, guests are introduced and exposed to the nuances of animal, bird and tree identification; essential skills for any avid outdoorsman.
You will be encouraged to engage with the instructor and join the interactive discussion on the finer details of animal, bird and tree identification during the noon session. The Makuleke Concession is locally-renowned for five bird species resident in the area. With luck see Pel’s Fishing-Owl, Three-banded Courser, Racket-tailed Roller, Bat Hawk and Black-throated Wattle-eye.
The afternoon game drive and walk will emphasis on animal, bird and tree identification. Although Africa’s mega-fauna features highly on most participant’s lists, why not try and identify the more iconic trees in the concession? Find the muvuvhu (Venda) from which the Luvuvhu River gets its name; the nyala tree and the region’s iconic Adansonia digitate.
Day notes
MAKULEKE CONCESSION - Animal tracks and sleep-out/astronomy (theory and practical experience)
This morning you will walk the trails from camp focusing on animal tracks. This is wilderness immersion at its best. The science of animal tracking is, perhaps, the world’s oldest. This is an exclusive, hands-on experience.
Participate in an interactive discussion on the theories and practical application of tracking in the African bush. Tracking contributes to key insights on how animals behave. It’s an art that teaches observation, reasoning, and deduction. The discussion topic and practical application elements includes an introduction to basic tracks and trailing skills.
In the afternoon, focus on the key points of the day’s theory, and apply those principles either on a game drive or on a bush walk. Why not apply the theory of speculative tracking and try and anticipate the animals behaviour?
This evening spend the night in the bush applying basic survival skills including the sourcing of water; preparing a bush fire; practical bush cooking and safety. Understand your energy-output-for-benefit ratio and make smart decisions.
Activities will include astronomy and orientation by understanding the Southern Hemisphere constellations including the Southern Cross. Survivalists claim that navigation is the key to getting home. On clear nights and on a full moon participants can also apply basic navigation theory and get a directional fix from the moon.
Dinner around the camp fire with storytelling.
Day notes
MAKULEKE CONCESSION - Anti-poaching, and 4 x 4 driving (theory and practical experience)
This morning guests walk back to camp applying tracking, navigation and orientation skills.
Participate in an interactive discussion on anti-poaching. There are two general categories of anti-poaching. The first targets the illegal incursions and includes coercive methods to track and catch poachers. The second deals with campaigns and policies to prevent the illegal trafficking of animal products i.e.: targeting the supply and demand chains of the trade. The discussion will include basic anti-poaching strategies and logistics out in the field. The specifics covered will include snare collection and rifle safety. Learn the basics of effective rifle-safety and 4x4 driving, an essential skill in the field.
Join an afternoon game drive to an area where they will practice basic 4x4 skills and other aspects of good marksmanship. En-route, apply the basic theory of snare collection.
Day notes
MAKULEKE CONCESSION - Field observation challenge and awarding of certificates
Meals are served at the camp. Guests are assessed on the application of their newly acquired bush and survival skills in a practical and fun way.
Attend the awards ceremony and a spectacular bush dinner.
Day notes
MAKULEKE CONCESSION to HOEDSPRUIT via KRUGER NATIONAL PARK
Board an early transfer from Makuleke and spend the day travelling southwards through the Kruger National Park. Breakfast packs will be provided.
Lunch in Kruger National Park (own account). Guests exit the park at Phalaborwa Gate arriving at the night’s accommodation, late afternoon. Board an open safari vehicle for a game drive.
Dine at the lodge.
Check-out from Makuleke Camp
Scheduled Flight from Makuleke Camp to Timbavati Safari Lodge
Scheduled Flight
Makuleke Camp
Timbavati Safari Lodge
Check-in to Timbavati Safari Lodge
Day notes
HOEDSPRUIT – Day of departure
Morning open safari vehicle game drive followed by breakfast at the lodge. Transfer to Hoedspruit airport.
Check-out from Timbavati Safari Lodge
Self Drive from Timbavati Safari Lodge to Hoedspruit - Eastgate Airport [HDS]
Self Drive
Timbavati Safari Lodge
Hoedspruit - Eastgate Airport [HDS]
