Kruger Walking Safaris

What does walking in the African Bush entail?

What is the style of accomodation like? Please note that this is not* a luxury-safari itinerary. This is about experiencing "real" Africa. Undiluted and in all its naked glory, stripped of all the frills and distractions. Here in Kruger the frills are seen and heard out in the wild. While you are outside the reserve you will be in a lovely Bed & Breakfast house in White River. When you are at the walking trail camp you are sharing in small 2 bed rooms (either thatched or tented). You may have to share clean and decent abutions with the other hikers (this depends on which trail is booked). The beds are single beds with a matress and linen is provided. The camp is solar powered with parafin lanterns. Its basic and rustic but its a step up from camping thats for sure. What is a typical day at the walking camp like? Wake up early (before sunrise) to a hot cup of coffee/tea and get ready for a morning walk. The walk goes out early so as to avoid the heat of the day and to coincide with the movement of the animals that tend to be more active at this time. Birding is especially good early in the morning. Head out of camp after being breifed by your guide on the plan of action. You will sometimes walk straight out of camp or maybe drive a bit and then walk from there. Look for recent signs (tracks and dung) that may indicate animals have passed this way in the night. The morning walk usually takes 4-5 hours (depending on the group) Bringing you back to camp in time for brunch and a well-earned siesta. After a good rest you will again set out into the bush for an afternoon walk. These walks are usually shorter and a bit more leasurely but again this is up to you & your guide. Enjoy Sunset in the bush and then head back to camp for dinner around the fire. Whats the big deal? To be able to walk in an area the size of Belgium or Wales and you know there are no fences, just miles and miles of untamed bush. The Kruger Park protects and conserves an area greater than 3 million Hectares, making it one of Africa's greatest natural assets. Why walk when you can drive? Walking in the park is very different to driving and when you get out on foot you appreciate so much more, one being your own insignificance in the world around you. You start to smell, hear, and feel the essence of a land that has remained largely undisturbed over thousands of years.		Is the game viewing any good? When driving around the park we will cover a good distance and so have a chance of coming across various animals along the way. Your guide will try to find as much as possible and generally wildlife photography can be best from a vehicle. When you are walking it is important to remember to appreciate even the small creatures. You will discover so much more of the circle of life and while walking along you might encounter the larger mammals. Large mammals generally dont let you get as close on foot as in a vehicle but seeing things on foot is always very exciting. On previous trips guests have witnessed incredible sightings while walking in the Kruger, from elephants, rhinos, and huge herds of Cape Buffalo, to the nocturnal small spotted genet. This region of the Park supports a large healthy population of White & Black Rhino which is very special! THIS IS A TRIP FOR PEOPLE WHO LOVE NATURE How fit do i need to be? I would say that you should be comfortable walking 20km in a day. (with rest-stops in between of course) You try to follow game-trails (animal paths) and for the most part the walking is not on a steep gradient. Still, you should be prepared to walk over uneven ground and up small hills. You walk at the pace of the slowest member in the group and stop at regular intervals to inspect signs that animals have been here before you. Is it Dangerous? You are walking in a "Big Five" or "Big Game" area (ie. Lion, Elephant, Rhino (Black & White), Cape Buffalo, Leopard, Hippo). All of these are potentially dangerous when you encounter them on foot. You are however lead by expert guides (2 armed and well trained rangers) who know how to handle these animals. Their experience allows them to predict and therefore avoid threatening situations. The guides watch for animals behaviour that might say "dont come any closer" and so they will avoid that individual and give it a wide berth. African wildlife is also, in my opinion, not "out to get you" and if we leave them with other options then they tend to leave humans well alone. Is there an Age Restriction? Yes! - Children under the age of 16 will not be allowed on the walking trail. Should I be worried about Malaria? The trip will expose you to what is termed "a low risk Malaria area". In winter the mosquitoes (that carry the malarial parasite) are much less active than in Summer (Oct - April). having said this it is always advisable to chat to your local travel doctor or clinic about the risks and also the possible medication you may want to take (please avoid a drug called Larium as it has a tendancy to make hikers a little crazy aswell as affecting sleep patterns) A bug (insect) repelent will be provided but feel free to bring your own if you know what you like to use.