Lebombo Hiking Trail

• 3 night 4 day trail with a minimum of 4 and maximum of 8 guests.
• Scheduled departures every Tuesday of the year

Hike through pristine wilderness, a perfect setting for game and bird viewing.

Overnight in unfenced rustic bush camps set deep in this remote wilderness, reminiscent of the pioneers of days gone by.

Distances hiked are around 12-15 kms per day which affords the opportunity for numerous stops for bird and game viewing and interpretation by your guide.

Campsites have bush ablutions and accommodation is in two-man dome tents equipped with camping mattresses.

Trails are led by an experienced guide and are fully catered and portered so you need carry only a day-pack.

Lebombo Hiking Trail (3 nights / 4days)
Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park MoçambiqueFact Sheet

Lebombo Hiking Trail 

• Located in Parque Nacional do Limpopo, the 1,1 million hectare Moçambique sector of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, adjacent to Kruger National Park.
• Trail traverses a Big 5 pristine wilderness area stocked with game from Kruger National Park
• Trail starts from the Elephant Release Boma (S23 46.2:E31 46.8) located 31 kms south of the Giriyondo border post which in turn is 45kms north-east of Letaba Restcamp in Kruger National Park
• The fence between the two National Parks has not yet been removed in this area but is scheduled for removal by 2010. As a consequence no repair work is being done and animals move freely through the holes in the fence line.

Trail Description

• The Lebombo hiking trail offers an unforgettable 3 night 4 day hiking adventure through a pristine wilderness area.
• Trails are led by an experienced guide and armed game ranger equipped with hand-held radio communication and a GPS.
• Trailists, in groups of no more than 8, hike about 12 to 15 kms per day and overnight en-route, camping wild in rustic unfenced bush-camps.
• Trailists depart on foot from the meeting point at the Elephant Release Boma (see details below) for Marula, the first night’s camp, a distance of around 4 to 5 kms.
• The trail then crosses the Machampane river and traverses the Lebombo plateau before reaching Palarangala, the second night’s camp in the riverine forest of the Palarangala river valley. (Should you wish to extend the trail to 4 nights then we spend two nights at this camp and walk-out on a circular route exploring the surrounding bushveld)
• The route then follows the course of the Palarangala river to a large pool at its confluence with the Machampane river before meandering through the Mopane treed sandveld to Pumbe, the last night’s campsite.
• Being located in an area that has been re-stocked with game over the past few years in a joint programme with Kruger National Park, trailists have every prospect of encountering a wide array of wildlife.
• Each night offers the prospect of its own special experience, from sunset over the Lebombos, to the call of a fish eagle in the riverine forest, to the trumpeting of elephant amongst the Mopane or the call of lion as they prowl the bush at night.
• Trailists gather around the fire as the evening meal is prepared and then head off to the shelter of their 2man-tent to be lulled to sleep by the sounds of the night.
• The trail is fairly rugged and therefore a reasonable level of fitness is essential.
• The purpose of the Lebombo Hiking Trail is to afford trailists an intimate encounter with the wilderness. The Guide therefore adjusts the pace and distances walked to accommodate the group’s pace and interests.
• The Lebombo Hiking Trail is a portered and catered trail with trailists having to carry only a day-pack.

Campsites

• Campsites are unfenced and located in the bush.
• Basic ablution facilities (bush shower and short-drop toilet) are available,
• Water for cooking and washing as well as firewood is provided.

Equipment provided

• Two person dome tents with camping mattresses are supplied.
• Basic cooking utensils, cutlery and crockery are provided

Beverages

• 1 litre of drinking water per person per day is supplied. We recommend that trailists have water purification tablets or an additional supply of water to meet their individual needs.
• Trail participants need to cater for their own beverage requirements bearing in mind safety considerations and import duty regulations (see general information sheet). Moçambique beer and cooldrinks are available for purchase at the Giriyondo border post.

Meeting point and time

• Trailists enter Parque Nacional do Limpopo from Kruger National Park via the Giriyondo border post or from Moçambique via the Massingir dam entry gate
• Meeting time is 15.00 for 15.30  at our parking area at the Elephant Release Boma which is located on the road to Machampane Tented Camp, 3kms west of the T-junction (for directions see map on www.dolimpopo.com)
• Vehicles are parked here for the duration of the trail.
• Hiking starts from the elephant release boma at 15.30 which allows for a 1,5 hour hike in order to arrive at the first night’s camp in time to settle in before sunset, which here is between 17.15 in winter and 18.30 in summer.
• On the last day trailists walk out after breakfast from Pumbe camp to reach their vehicles at around 10.00. This allows sufficient time to return on the same day via Kruger Park and Phalaborwa to Gauteng or to continue to the Moçambique coast.

Clothing and footwear

• For trailists planning to participate on our guided trail, clothing should be comfortable and durable.
• Neutral colours such as khaki are preferable. Light coloured garments such as whites and creams should be avoided.
• T-shirts are not  ideal as they provide little protection against the sun on the neck.
• A hat or cap and an all-weather jacket are important items.
• A tracksuit, either woollen or lightweight, depending on the season, is useful.
• Footwear should be worn-in if possible, have thick soles and provide good ankle support. It is preferable not to wear white shoes.

What to take
The items below are suggested as a check list:

• Sleeping bag, towel and pillow
• Sleeping mat  (if you want an additional one to the one we supply)
• Powerful torch and spare batteries
• Food and beverages (back-packing only)
• Additional drinking water (and/or purification tablets)
• Refuse bags (back-packing only)
• Camera, binoculars and reference books (mammals/trees/birds)
• Appropriate clothing, hat or cap and an all-weather jacket/raincoat
• Personal toiletries, medication, malaria tablets, sun-screen, mosquito repellant
• Antihistamine ointment, tablets, eye drops, paracetamol, stingose etc
• Cottonwool/gauze/plasters, scissors and tweezer
• Toilet paper (just in case!!)

Hiking trails policy

• Maximum 8 persons may participate on each trail.
• Scheduled Tuesday departures guaranteed with minimum of 4 participants.
• No upper age limit but participants on the trail must be medically fit and be aware that the experience involves hiking distances of up to 15kms per day.
• Regrettably due to the nature of the terrain covered and the safety factor, persons with mobility impairment are not able to participate on the trail.
• Whilst not necessarily over-strenuous, conditions during the summer months can be very hot and humid. Participants on the trail must be well prepared for the climatic conditions.

Child policy

• For safety considerations regrettably children under the age of 12 may not participate on the hiking trail.

Safety Policy

• The general rules and regulations of Parque Nacional do Limpopo and Kruger National Park also apply to guests.
• Guests depend on the trails guide and ranger for their safety and for guidance. For their own safety and that of the other trailists, the instructions of the guide and ranger 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

• Parque Nacional do Limpopo is located in a Malaria area.
• MALARIA PROPHYLACTICS ARE ESSENTIAL. Guests should consult their doctor or chemist.

Indemnity

• The Lebombo Hiking Trail is located in Big 5 territory and overnight campsites are unfenced.
• The trail is accompanied by a guide and armed ranger but nevertheless carries the risk of injury or death should big game be encountered
• In light of the exposed nature of the Lebombo Hiking Trail, all trailists have to 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.

Trails price includes

• Experienced guide and armed ranger on the trail, equipped with two-way radio communication and hand-held GPS for emergencies.
• Tents, mattresses and equipment as specified
• Meals (breakfast, trail lunch and dinner).

Trails price excludes

• All road transfers
• Snacks, drinks, soft drinks and drinking water (except as specified).
• 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.

Non- or late arrival

• The trail takes place in Moçambique and customs and immigration procedures have to be followed at Giriyondo border post (see General Information sheet for operating hours).
• Any person not in possession of the necessary travel documents on arrival at the Giriyondo 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.

Payments

• Payments for beverages, tips etc may be made in Rands, Meticais, US$ or Euros.
• Credit cards are not accepted.

Cancellation Policy

• Within 120 to 61 days of arrival, 33.3% forfeiture of Total booking value.
• Within 60 days of arrival, 100% forfeiture of Total booking value

Access to Lebombo Hiking Trails meeting point

• By road from South Africa, through Kruger National Park:
• Distance from Phalaborwa gate to Letaba Restcamp is 50kms, from Letaba to the Giriyondo border post is 45kms and from the border post to the meeting point at the Elephant Release Boma is 31kms – a total of 125kms.
• Game drive all the way and takes approximately 3,5 to 4,0 hours
• 70kms is on tarred road and remaining 55kms on gravel which is corrugated and stony.
• Vehicle with good ground clearance is strongly recommended, but a 4x4 is not essential. 
• By road from Maputo via Macia, Chokwe and Massingir:
• Distance from Maputo to Massingir is approximately 400kms and takes around 5,0 hours.
• From park entry gate at Massingir to Machampane Tented Camp is approximately 50kms and takes 1,5 hours.
• Road is good tar to Massingir. From Massingir the road is gravel (currently being upgraded) and traveling is done through a National Park with a speed limit of 40kms.
• Vehicle with good ground clearance is strongly recommended, but a 4x4 is not essential.

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