Kruger Wilderness Trails
Overview-Kruger Wilderness Trails
Kruger Wilderness Trails is a walking safari in the Greater Kruger Park Area. It showcases the best of South Africa’s wildlife and offering world class nature experiences. The proximity to nature and the unrivalled feeling of “being in the bush” is the consistent theme of the Kruger Widerness Trails. The discerning features of the authentic safari experience are exclusivity of game viewing and access to a knowledgeable guide and trackers.
| Type | Guided walk with professional guide | |||||
| Location | Greater Kruger National Park, Limpopo Province, South Africa | |||||
| Group size | Minimum 4 and maximum of 8 | |||||
| Duration | 4 days- 3 nights camping | |||||
| Grading | Moderate | |||||
| Day Stages | About 5-7 hours walking per day and evening game drives | |||||
| Distance | Slow walking/driving | |||||
| Terrain | Bush | |||||
| Accommodation | Dome style tents | |||||
| Meals | Included | |||||
| Cost | R12 940 per person plus private reserve conservation/bed levies. (R14 250 pp from 2025) | |||||
| Dates | 1 April-30 Nov starting only on a Monday or a Thursday. |
Trip details
Kruger Wilderness Trails is a unique 4 day walking safari for adventurers and nature lovers. Each day is spent walking through the 8000 hectare Greater Kruger Park reserve and 3 nights camping in a scenic location in the wilderness. A maximum of 8 guests per day (sleeping in 4 tents) ensures a private Kruger walking adventure of a lifetime. A professional trained guide and tracker team will lead an informative, thrilling, and unforgettable walk in the wild. While guests are out exploring the reserve on foot, a support team will be moving the camp to a new location. A packed brunch can be enjoyed in the bush, while snacks and refreshments will be on offer upon arrival at the camp. Spend the evening on a game drive, a mouthwatering campfire dinner and overnight in a canvas dome tent.
The emphasis of the trail is to spend time on foot in the Greater Kruger National Park, not only looking for the large mammals but also the smaller creatures. Your experienced trails guide will introduce you to aspects of the bush that are normally overlooked when driving around the Kruger Park. In keeping with the wilderness atmosphere, sites for the safari trail camps are carefully selected for their scenic beauty.
Highlights
The Kruger Lowveld area
Kruger Lowveld is a region of superlatives. From the Great Escarpment’s scented forests and tumbling waterfalls, to the majestic Blyde River Canyon with its endless vistas over the Lowveld; from the southern reaches of the Kruger National Park, where it abuts the rolling cane fields of the Onderberg, to Barberton, in the lea of some of the world’s oldest mountains and the memories of the thrilling Gold Rush that once took place here.
Game
Animals exposed, fabulous photos, wild walks and bright-plumed birds. South Africa is globally renowned for its phenomenal game viewing and sound conservation ethics. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the iconic Kruger National Park, where 147 species of mammals – more than any other African wildlife area – exist alongside 517 bird species, 114 different types of reptile (there are 3 000 Nile crocodiles), 33 species of amphibian and 50 kinds of fish. Bordering the Kruger National Park are a number of private reserves- hundreds of thousands of hectares of conservation land adjacent to the Kruger National Park, with no fences in between and unlimited movement of game. The reserves showcase the best of South Africa’s wildlife and the Big 5. They offer the very best, authentic, close-up wildlife viewing and photography to be found anywhere on the African continent.
Birds
The Greater Kruger Park region has some of the most diverse habitats in South Africa and boasts an impressive bird list of close to 600 species. Birdwatchers can expect to see Kori Bustard, African Fish Eagle, etc.
Accommodation
Groups spend their nights in dome style tents. Dining / socialising area where the campfire’s flickering shadows encourage stories of adventures in the African bush. Enjoy the Greater Kruger Park nightlife and dining experience
Culture and history
The Kruger Lowveld is also a place of historical and cultural significance. Iron Age trade routes and African traditions reach back across many centuries. Gold rushes at Pilgrim’s Rest and Barberton were precursors to the discovery of gold in Johannesburg. Steeped in the history of traditional cultures, pioneers and fortune seekers, visitors will encounter a contemporary Lowveld culture with a wealth of stories that inspire the senses and connect them to the land and its people.
Full-day guided walking safaris in the Greater Kruger – 3-4 hour morning walk, brunch in the bush, followed by 2-3 hour afternoon walk wilderness trails
Evening game drives in the 8000 hectare
Birdwatching
Stargazing
05h30 – Wake up to coffee and rusks, and kit up in walking gear
06h30 – Depart camp for 3-4 hour walking trail
10h30 – Stop for brunch and a siesta in the bush
12h30 – Continue on walking trail to next camp site
15h00 – Arrive at new camp site, enjoy a refreshment and some snacks while settling in
16h30 – Depart on evening game drive
19h00 – Return to camp, enjoy refreshments around the fire before dinner is served.
4 Canvas dome tents each sleeping 2 people on swags/mattresses
En suite bucket showers and chemical toilet facilities
Standing hand basins with warm water each morning and afternoon
Central mess tent for kitchen and dining
Camp fire in the evenings
Solar powered lanterns in the camp and tents
Light breakfast in the morning before departure, packed brunch to be enjoyed in the bush, snacks in the afternoon and 3-course evening dinner
Safari vehicle for game viewing and transfers in and out of the reserve.
Rates
Rates are quoted per person sharing and are subject to change without prior notice. Rates include government taxes, where applicable.
If taxes or private reserve levies increase, we reserve the right to increase the rate accordingly. Children 12 years and older are welcome to join at the standard rate.
Included
Accommodation, all meals, bottled water, bush walks and game drives, teas and coffees, professional trails guide and tracker, full day walking safari and evening game drive, transfers between Lamai gate and the camp.
Not included
Items not mentioned above, eg: travel insurance, conservation levy, all soft and alcoholic drinks. The Maseke Conservation levy of R450 per person per night and the Maseke Bed Levy of R100 per person per stay, will be added to your invoice ( Aug 2022 rates)
Grading
Overall rating of Kruger Wilderness Trails: “Moderate”. You do not need to be ultra-fit but if you should be able to walk between 13 and 20 km per day. The route takes you along paths, tracks and through the veld. See Walking grades for more details about “Moderate” rating.
Location
The walking safari is in the Greater Kruger Park, situated between Hoedspruit and Phalaborwa in Limpopo Province. It is an 8000 hectare private game reserve, which shares open borders with the Kruger National Park. The Olifants River courses through the reserve, while prominent mountainous ridges and boulder koppies characterise the terrain, making it an incredibly diverse and interesting region to explore on foot.
Wildlife
The area affords you the opportunity of excellent game viewing in this diverse habitat of mountains and plains. More species of mammals than in any other African wildlife area
Mammals
Some of the world’s largest mammals find their home in South Africa, where elephant, giraffe, hippo, buffalo, and rhino reside in the wild Kruger Park and surrounding private game reserves. Game drives lead to unforgettable sightings of these large species, in addition to general game, such as zebra, impala, kudu, gnu, waterbuck, bushbuck, duiker, and wilderness trails steenbok, while nyala are frequent visitors to the camp itself.
Predators
Following in the footsteps of the herbivorous mammals are the carnivorous species of the South African bush. Lion, leopard, hyena, cheetah, African wild dog, and the Nile crocodile are some of the prominent predators residing in the Kruger. Smaller predators include jackal, mongoose, civet, and genet, honey badger, among others.
Birdlife
The Kruger habitat accommodates a complete smorgasbord of birder’s delights. Water birds such as herons, storks, plovers, spoonbills, and sandpipers are common along dam edges; kingfishers, orioles, robins, chats, larks, cisticolas, and coucals are some of the veld and woodland birds around; while birds of prey are seen and heard throughout the day.
Your guides
Tours to add to your trip
You can combine the Kruger Wilderness Trails with one or both of the following:
Kruger Park Safari, and
Additional activities
When to do the Kruger Wilderness Trails
Bookings can be made from 1 April to 30 November, starting on a Monday or a Thursday.
Climate
Mild winters, with chilly evenings Summer months (September to April) are hot with occasional rains.
The average mean rainfall for the year is 350mm, with most rainfall occurring during mid-summer (November – February). The rainfall generally occurs in the form of thunderstorms where a downpour is experienced, very seldom lasting longer than a few hours. The average maximum temperatures range from 24°C in July to 31°C in January with the average minimum occurring in July at a temperature of 8.5°C.
Getting there
Self-drive or transfer from Hoedspruit or Johannesburg to Maseke Balule Game Reserve in the Greater Kruger, situated between Hoedspruit and Phalaborwa in Limpopo Province.
Self-drive: Report at Chacma Bush Camp, which is about 50 km from Hoedspruit. Parking is available. Conservation levy payable.
Route from Johannesburg by car: Take R21 from OR Tambo International Airport, then N12, N4, R540, R36 en R527 to Hoedspruit (About 430 km- 4/5 hours). Directions and suggestions about places to visit along the way from Johannesburg will be given when we confirm your booking
Fly to Hoedspruit/Eastgate Airport: Pick up and drop off is scheduled to tie in with flights into and out of Hoedspruit from Cape Town and Johannesburg
International visitors: Fly to OR Tambo International Airport. From there an internal flight to Hoedspruit or we can arrange a transfer from Johannesburg to Hoedspruit or you can self-drive.
What to take
Comfortable, well ventilated clothes. Wear neutral coloured, lightweight clothing with short and long sleeves. Good walking boots (already worn-in) and long trousers for walking safaris. Bring a thick windbreaker/jacket and gloves for evening game drives. For your daily needs, you are advised to have a day-bag, a plastic bag to waterproof your day-pack, sun-hat, sunglasses, sun block, a water bottle, personal first-aid kit, camera, binoculars. A torch and headlamp are important. Basic solar heating is provided. Cell phone charging facilities not available. Bring a solar charger.
Insurance
We recommend that you arrange appropriate holiday insurance giving you cover against illness, injury, and loss or damage to luggage. This insurance should also cover the possibility of your having to cancel your holiday for any reason.
Availability and Booking
To enquire or reserve a date, go to: Availability request
For general information: Contact us, or
email: info@trailsandtravel.co.za, or
Booking process and -conditions – Go to How to book
Map
Location of Hoedspruit
Gallery
Pictures can be viewed in Kruger Wilderness Trails Gallery
Reviews
For details, go to Reviews
Area information
For more information about the area, Contact us
Kruger Wilderness Trails is a unique wildlife experience.
Go back to the top of the page
Contact us
If you want more information, compare options or have a question
Availability request
If you have chosen a tour & date and want to reserve the date