Rio Elefantes Canoeing Trail

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

Paddle the Elefantes - between the confluence of the Shingwedzi and the confluence of the Limpopo
Spend three days journeying down the Rio Elefantes, camping wild in rustic bush camps on its tree-lined banks. A cast for tiger fish, a pod of hippo or the sighting of a rare bird will enthral you on your 50km journey that ends close to the confluence with the Limpopo – the epitome of freedom in an amazing wilderness area.

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.
• Trailists paddle the Rio Elefantes, which forms the southern boundary of Parque Nacional do Limpopo, starting near its confluence with the Shingwedzi and ending 50 km downstream, close to its confluence with the Limpopo.

Trail Description

• The Rio Elefantes Canoeing Trail offers an unforgettable three night, four day adventure through a remote wilderness area for groups of no more than 8 paddlers (by special arrangement this can be extended to 10).
• Trails are led by an experienced guide.
• Three days are spent paddling the meandering river and three nights camping wild on its tree-lined banks.
• On the first day trailists meet their guide at Campismo Albufeira (see details below) from where you are transported along tracks through remote villages to the starting point of the trail, a distance of around 40 km, where we enter the amazingly clear water of the Rio Elefantes. From here it’s a 10 km paddle to the first overnight camp
• Day two starts with breakfast and then it’s a gentle 20 km paddle, breaking for a picnic lunch, before reaching the overnight campsite.
• Day three is also a paddle of around 20 km before leaving the water close to the Limpopo confluence. Lunch is enjoyed in a village after which we return by road to the overnight camp.
• On the fourth day, after coffee and rusks, we depart camp and journey by road through this remote area back to Campismo Albufeira
• The river flows at four to six kilometres per hour and provides a relaxing and thoroughly enjoyable paddle and an opportunity to cast for Tiger fish (catch and release)
• Birding is excellent en-route and sightings of hippo and crocodile, as well as a shy buck or two are likely.
• Each night offers the prospect of its own special experience, from the sun setting over the river, to the “laughing” of a pod of hippo or the call of a fish eagle in the riverine forest. Even the possibility of trumpeting elephant.
• Trailists gather around the fire chatting whilst ‘bush cuisine’ meals are prepared by the camp assistants. Then head off to the shelter of your tent to be lulled to sleep by the sounds of the night.
• The purpose of the Rio Elefantes Canoeing Trail is to afford trailists an intimate and adventurous wilderness encounter in this remote area. The Guide will, within reason, adjust the pace at which the trail is paddled to accommodate the group’s pace and interests.

Campsites

• Campsites are unfenced and located in clearings in the bush on the river bank.
• 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 highly 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 (see general information sheet re. import duties.) Moçambique beer and cooldrinks are available for purchase at the Giriyondo border post or in a village shop.

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 point for the trail is Campismo Albufeira at the Massingir dam entrance gate to Parque Nacional do Limpopo (for directions see map on www.dolimpopo.com.)
• Meeting time is 07.00 for 07.30 departure
• Vehicles are parked at Campismo Albufeira for the duration of the trail.
• Travelling time is approximately 2,5 hours from the pick-up point at Campismo Albufeira to the start of the trail.
• On the last day travelling time from the campsite back to your vehicle at Campismo Albufeira is approximately 4,0 hours with an estimated time of arrival of 11.30 to 12.00. This allows sufficient time to return on the same day to Kruger National Park or to continue to the Moçambique coast.
• In order to arrive on time for the departure of your trail you will need to spend the previous night at one of the following places:
  • Machampane Tented Camp, a luxury tented camp which offers full catering and walking trails and is located approximately 1.0 hour from the meeting point. Call +27 21 701 7860.
  • Covane Community Lodge which offers self catering camping or chalets (prepared meals can be pre-arranged.) Covane is located approximately 45 mins from the meeting point. Call +258 82 545 4457.
  • Campismo Aguia Pesqueira which offers self-catering camping or chalets and is located approximately 45 mins from the meeting point (suitable for access with 4x4 vehicles only.) Call +27 72 447 4279.
  • Campismo Albufeira which offers self catering camping or chalets and is located at the meeting point. Call +27 72 4474279

Clothing and footwear

• 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.
• Trailists with sensitive skins are advised to wear a long sleeve vest and long pants with closed shoes while paddling
• 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.
• Sandals
• Swimming shorts
  

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

• Sleeping bag, towel and pillow
• Sleeping mat (if you would like an additional one to the one we supply)
• Powerful torch and spare batteries
• Beverages
• Additional snacks
• Additional drinking water (and/or purification tablets)
• Camera, binoculars and reference books (mammals/trees/birds)
• Appropriate clothing, hat or cap and an all-weather jacket/raincoat
• Sun-screen
• Personal toiletries, medication, malaria tablets, mosquito repellant
• Antihistamine ointment, tablets, eye drops, paracetamol, stingose etc
• Cottonwool/gauze/plasters, scissors and tweezers
• Toilet paper
• Light-weight fishing rod and tackle
• Water-proof bag for carrying camera equipment, binoculars etc

Canoeing trails policy

• Maximum 8 persons may participate on each trail (this can be extended to 10 by special arrangement).
• Scheduled Friday departures are guaranteed with a minimum of 4 participants.
• For a “full group booking”, departures can be scheduled on request.
• No upper age limit but participants on the trail must be medically fit and be aware that the experience involves paddling distances of up to 20 km per day.
• Regrettably due to the nature of the environment 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 10 may not participate on the canoeing trail.

Safety Policy

• The general rules and regulations of Parque Nacional do Limpopo and Kruger National Park also apply to our guests.
• Guests depend on the trails guide and our staff for their safety and for guidance. For their own safety and that of the other trailists, the instructions of the guide and staff 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 Rio Elefantes Canoeing Trail takes place on a river that contains crocodiles and hippo and is located on the perimeter of Big 5 territory.
• Overnight camps are unfenced.
• The trail is accompanied by a guide but nevertheless carries the risk of injury or death should big game be encountered
• In light of the exposed nature of the Rio Elefantes Canoeing Trail, all 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.

Trails price includes

• Experienced guide.
• Tent and camping mattress
• Camping cutlery and crockery
• Canoes and paddles
• Safety equipment
• Meals (trails lunch and dinner on day 1; breakfast, trails lunch and dinner on days 2 & 3; coffee and rusks on day 4)
• Cooler box for beverages
• Road transfer from meeting point to start of canoe trail and return

Trails price excludes

• All road transfers, other than specified above.
• Snacks other than specified above
• All beverages other than specified drinking water
• 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 gratuities etc may be made in Rands, Meticais, US$ or Euros.

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 Rio Elefantes Canoeing Trail meeting point

• By road from South Africa, through Kruger National Park:
  • Distance from Phalaborwa gate to Letaba Restcamp is 50km, from Letaba to the Giriyondo border post is 45km and from the border post to the Massingir dam entry gate / Campismo Albufeira is 80km – a total of 175km.
  • The route is through National Parks all the way and takes approximately 5,0 to 5,5 hours
  • 70 km is on tarred road and the remaining 105km on gravel, 30 km of 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 400km and takes around 5,0 hours.
  • The meeting point at Campismo Albufeira is at the park entry gate at Massingir.
  • Road is good tar from Maputo to Massingir.
  • Vehicle with good ground clearance is strongly recommended if you are continuing your journey through Parque Nacional do Limpopo into Kruger National Park, but a 4x4 is not essential.

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 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.