Elefants Gorge Backpacking and Fishing Trail

About the Elefants Gorge Trail

The Elefantes Gorge Backpacking and Fishing Trail offers an unforgettable four night five day hiking adventure through a remote 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 up to about 15 km on three of the days and overnight en-route, camping wild.

On the first day trailists meet at the Elephant Release Boma (see details below) and depart on foot for the first night’s camp, hiking a distance of around 5 km.

Early the following day trailists return to the Elephant Release Boma from where they depart by vehicle (approx one hour drive) for the drop-off point for the hike to the gorge.

The trail crosses the Machampane river and traverses the Lebombo plateau from where the amazing Elefantes Gorge is first sighted. It is in this remote wilderness area that you spend three days hiking, fishing and camping wherever you find yourself as the sun begins to set.

The gorge is home to large numbers of hippo and crocodile which you are certain to see as you wander along the slopes or beaches of the gorge.

In addition to the excellent bird sightings you are likely to enjoy, 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 also have every prospect of encountering other varieties of wildlife.

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 or sounds of hippo from the gorge. Even the possibility of elephant trumpeting amongst the Mopane or the roar of lion as they prowl the bush.

Trailists gather around the fire to 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.

On the last day you walk out around 5 km to meet the transport that will return you to your vehicle.

The purpose of the Elefantes Gorge Backpacking and Fishing Trail is to afford trailists an intimate encounter with the wild-side of this remote area. The Guide will, within reason, adjust the pace and distances walked to accommodate the group’s pace and interests but trailists are reminded that the distances and topography of the area are challenging.

The trail is rugged and you are required to carry all your own equipment and supplies therefore a good level of fitness is essential.

Accommodation

Campsites are selected at random, unfenced and located in the bush.

No ablution facilities are available,

No water is provided for cooking and washing.

Guides will arrange wood for a fire for aesthetic purposes only. All cooking is done on your camping gas stove (see: “What to take” below)

Rates

Per person: 01/03/2010 – 028/02/2011 – R 14 040.00

Number accommodated: max 8 people

Duration: 4 nights, 5 days

Min age: 12

Meals: None

Summary of Service: Totally self sufficient

Trails price includes

- Experienced guide and armed ranger on the trail, equipped with two-way radio communication and hand-held GPS for emergencies.

- Transfer from and back to the Elephant Release Boma

Trails price excludes

- Transfers, other than mentioned above.

- Food, snacks, drinks, soft drinks and 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.

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.

Trail traverses the most southerly section of a Big 5 wilderness area stocked with game from Kruger National Park

Trail starts from the Elephant Release Boma (S23 46.2:E31 46.8) located 31 km 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

Pack List

The items below are suggested as a check list:

- Lightweight tent

- Sleeping bag, towel and pillow

- Sleeping mat

- Powerful torch and spare batteries

- Fishing equipment

- Food and beverages

- Camping gas stove

- Cooking, eating and drinking utensils

- Drinking water and purification tablets

- Refuse bags

- 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 tweezers

- Toilet paper (just in case!!)

Tips

Beverages

It is highly recommend that trailists have water purification tablets, in addition to a 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.

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.

- 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.