Shingwedzi 4×4 Eco-Trail
Rate Per vehicle, max 4 people per vehicle
- Till 28 Feb 2014: R 6 700
Special offer for SADC Residents: R5 360
- 5 night 6 day trail with a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 6 vehicles - Scheduled departures every Sunday of the year Explore the vast wonderland of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park. Our five night and six day guided, self-drive, Shingwedzi 4×4 Eco-Trail offers challenging river crossings and the opportunity to navigate seldom travelled tracks. The glorious adventure of camping-out in this remote wilderness, at the edge of pans and river courses whilst listening to the night sounds of the African bush, will imbue you with the spirit of pioneers gone by. - Maximum of 6 participant 4×4 vehicles each with a maximum of 4 people. - Trails are led by an experienced guide in his own vehicle. For an independent review, read Grant Spolander’s article in SA4x4 here.
The trail departs on Sundays at 8h30 am from the Pafuri Picnic Site in Kruger National Park. The trail follows the Luvuvhu River to its confluence with the mighty Limpopo at “Crooks Corner”, from where we cross the Pafuri border post into Mozambique. After border formalities, the trail passes through a spectacular Fever Tree forest, before following the Limpopo river to the village of Mapai. We’ll have a quick stop at the local shop for Mozambiquan beer, before we officially enter Parque Nacional do Limpopo at the Park’s Mapai entrance gate. From here the trail turns away from the Limpopo valley, and we make our way to our first wilderness campsite at Mamba Pan (with the only serviced ablutions of the trip.) Depart after breakfast, and follow the tracks deeper into the Mozambique sector of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park. Pristine wilderness as the tracks takes us deep into the unique Sandveld region of this Park. Huge Baobab and Pod Mahogany trees guide us past a system of water-filled pans (wet season) and unique vegetation, until we arrive at Impala wilderness camp site (no facilities). This is virgin “Wild Africa”, and who knows which of the African night sounds will keep us spellbound around the camp fire. We travel away from the Sandveld region, and enter a mix of Combretum and Mopane savannah, which takes us closer to the foothills of the Lebombos, and deeper and deeper into a pristine wilderness. Abundant bird life is the order of the day, and after stopping for lunch at the beautiful Fube Pan, we continue to our overnight wilderness campsite in the foothills of the Lebombos (no facilities). Today’s focus is on the Shingwedzi River. Westart by using the rough tracks through the mountains to the spectacular Ngwenya waterhole which is situated in an “S” bend in the Shingwedzi river. Hippo, Crocs, wild life and spectacular bird life is the order of the day, before we re-trace our tracks and continue southwards with our journey. We cross the Shingwedzi River, drive past the village of Chimange, before arriving at our wilderness camp site which is situated on the banks of this wild river – this is one of the “hot spots” from where to watch the Elephant herds as they come down to drink water at the water hole below the camp site. There are no facilities here. Reluctantly we leave the Shingwedzi River valley behind, and follow the tracks through the Mopane woodland into the last of the Sandveld regions, before we once again hit the Lebombos and negotiate our way to the top of the mountains. Frontera wilderness campsite allows you to witness the sun setting over the Kruger Park sector, and the rising again the next morning over the spectacular Parque Nacionale do Limpopo. Depart after breakfast, arrive shortly thereafter at the “inter-park” Giriyondo border post, where after border formalities you cross back into the Kruger sector and proceed to Letaba Rest Camp. - Trail participants meet at the Pafuri picnic site and travel in convoy to the Pafuri border post from where the trail commences. - Trail traverses Parque Nacional do Limpopo travelling from north to south through wilderness areas into which game has been released from Kruger National Park - The fence between the two National Parks has been partially removed in this area but is scheduled for complete removal by 2010. As a consequence no repair work is being done and animals move freely through the holes in the fence line. - Parque Nacional do Limpopo is making good progress in recovering from the ravages of many years of civil war in Moçambique. Trained rangers and an effective anti-poaching programme ensure that wildlife numbers in the Park are ever-increasing. - Large tracts of fence-line between Kruger National Park and Parque Nacional do Limpopo have been removed which allows for the natural movement of game between the two Parks. - In addition Parque Nacional do Limpopo has been re-stocked with game over the past few years in a joint programme with Kruger National Park and many young are being produced. - Sightings of animals previously thought to be extinct such as wild dog, cheetah and black rhino are recorded on a regular basis. - Trailists therefore have every prospect of encountering a variety of wildlife in addition to excellent bird sightings on the journey. - Each night offers the prospect of its own special experience, from the sun setting over the Lebombos, to the call of a fish eagle in the riverine forest, the possibility of elephant trumpeting amongst the mopane or the roar of lion as they prowl the bush. - Gathered around the camp fire trailists prepare their own meals and then head off to the shelter of their tents to be lulled to sleep by the sounds of the night. - Conditions during the summer months can be very hot and humid with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees. - Winter nights can be very chilly with temperatures dropping to around 6 degrees. -Participants on the trail must be well prepared for the climatic conditions and should be reasonably fit. - Campsites are unfenced and located in the bush. - Rustic ablution facilities are only available on the first and third night of the trail. - No water is provided for cooking or drinking. Water is available only at the first and third night stops for you to refill your tanks, however: - this cannot be guaranteed owing to the possibility of elephant or other damage - this water is not suitable for drinking - Should you need to replenish fixed water tanks in your vehicle at one of the camps you will require a 30m hosepipe. Night before trail starts - Trailists are required to arrange their own accommodation for the night before the trail begins at a location that will allow sufficient time to get to the meeting point Vehicle Types and Insurance - The terrain is such that it is suited only to off-road 4×4 vehicles, off-road trailers or off-road caravans - Vehicles must be equipped with low range transmission and have good ground clearance. - 4×4 “soft roaders” or vehicles with low profile tyres are not suitable. - Vehicles should be given a long distance service before the trail. - Please ensure that you have adequate insurance cover for your vehicle and equipment whilst in Moçambique. - It is not a requirement that you have Moçambique Third Party for your vehicle so long as you don’t exit Parque Nacional do Limpopo into the rest of Moçambique. Equipment and Supply’s - No camping equipment is supplied. - Trailists must for safety considerations sleep in a tent. - Trailists must be totally self sufficient for the duration of the trail. This includes all fuel, food, water, firewood, camping gear, cooking utensils, cutlery and crockery etc. - No waste may be burned or left in the Park therefore you should have strong plastic bags available to manage waste effectively. Rate Per vehicle, max 4 people per vehicle - Till 28 Feb 2014: R 6 700 Special offer for SADC Residents: R5 360 Trail prices includes - Professional 4×4 guide with lead vehicle equipped with a satellite phone - Camping fees for exclusive wilderness campsites - Two-way radio communication between vehicles Trail prices excludes - Parque Nacional do Limpopo entrance fees. - Kruger National Park conservation fees. - Moçambique border fees. - Moçambique visa fee (not required for South African citizens). - Items of a personal nature e.g. curios, gratuities, etc. - Personal insurance: medical, baggage, cancellation, etc. Payments - Payments for gratuities etc may be made in Rands, Meticais, US$ or Euros. Cancellation Policy - Within 30 to 15 days of departure, 50% forfeiture of total booking value. - Within 14 days of departure, 90% forfeiture of total booking value. Non-or Late Arrival - The trail takes place in Moçambique and customs and immigration procedures have to be followed at Pafuri border post (see General Information sheet for operating hours). - Any person not in possession of the necessary travel documents on arrival at the border post will not be able to accompany the trail but will be liable for and will forfeit the full trail fee. - This forfeiture also applies to all persons who by virtue of their late arrival are unable to accompany the trail. No refund of the trail fee will be made. Indemnity - The Shingwedzi 4×4 Eco-Trail is located in Big 5 territory and overnight camps are unfenced. - The trail takes place in an area populated by wild animals and whilst it is accompanied by a guide it nevertheless carries the risk of injury or death - In light of the exposed nature of the Shingwedzi 4×4 Eco-Trail trailists must complete an indemnity form. Minors must be in possession of an indemnity form signed by a parent or legal guardian. These forms must be signed in the presence of the Trails Guide. Child policy - Regrettably, when all places on a trail are not booked by a single group, children under the age of 10 may not participate, unless those that have already booked agree. Safety Policy - The general rules and regulations of Letaba Ranch, Makuya Park, Kruger National Park and Parque Nacional do Limpopo apply to our guests. - Trailists depend on the trails guide for their safety and for guidance. For their own safety and that of the other trailists, the instructions of the guide should be obeyed at all times. Failure to co-operate in this respect could lead to the immediate cancellation of the trail. - For reasons of safety and sensitivity, excessive consumption of liquor is strongly discouraged. Liquor may only be consumed at the overnight campsites. Malaria - The Great Limpopo Park is located in a Malaria area. - Malaria prophylactics are essential. Tailists should consult their doctor or chemist. Disclaimer Whilst every endeavour is made to adhere to the trail description set out above, our trails are conducted in remote wilderness areas and occasionally circumstances in the park or prevailing weather conditions, over which we have no control, may arise. We reserve the right to amend the routing, location of campsites, distances travelled etc of any specific trail or trails and the guide’s decision in this regard is final. If this happens on a trail on which you are a participant, we would appreciate your understanding. Trailists need to be fully self-sufficient with low-range, high-clearance 4×4 vehicles (soft-roaders can’t get through this territory). Bring your own camping equipment, food and drinks. The lead guide has his own vehicle, and 2-way radios are provided for all vehicles on the trail.
Overview
Itinerary
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Location
- Located in Parque Nacional do Limpopo, the 1,1 million hectare Moçambique sector of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, adjacent to Kruger National Park.Wildlife
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