Parque Nacional do Limpopo (PNL)
Posted by Glynn O'Leary on Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Under: Mozambique
Much has transpired on the Mozambique side of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park since it was first proclaimed in November 2001 and it has truly come into its own. It is no longer as some put it "Kruger's stepchild."
The Park now has its own modern entrance gate and reception, together with Head Office infrastructure and staff housing at Massingir Dam, and an impressive border post at Giriyondo, north of Letaba. The Park itself offers three different campsites, one at Massingir gate, another overlooking Massingir Dam and the third at Mapai gate near the Limpopo river crossing. Two of PNL's camps also offer self-catering cottages.
We, under the banner of Transfrontier Parks Destinations, have developed and operate the following products in the Mozambique sector of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park:
Machampane Wilderness Camp which is situated in Parque Nacional do Limpopo. With five luxury safari tents, this tranquil camp is on the banks of the Machampane River. Guests get close to nature through morning and evening walks with guides and armed rangers. It's all about seeing the flora and fauna that are never seen while driving. Evenings are spent around a fire in the boma giving guests an opportunity to hear and view the African night. More details: www.dolimpopo.com
Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park Wilderness Trails offers various Wilderness Hiking Trail options, 4x4 self-drive Eco-Trails, Canoe Trails and Backpacking & Fishing Trails in Parque Nacional do Limpopo. The Wilderness Hiking and Canoe trails are fully catered and portered, while the 4x4 Eco-Trail and Backing & Fishing Trail is self-catered. All trails are guided. Below is a brief description of the 5 different trails we offer:
Rio Elefantes Canoeing Trail: Spend three days paddling the Rio Elefantes from its confluence with the Shingwedzi, 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 enthrall you on your 70km journey to its confluence with the Limpopo.
Elefantes Gorge Backpacking and Fishing Trail: Camp wild for five days and four nights as you traverse the plateau above the Rio Elefantes gorge, descending to the shores of Massingir dam to fish for Tiger amongst others – the epitome of freedom in an amazing wilderness area.
Palarangala Wilderness Trail: Spend four days and three nights in a remote rustic camp with dome tents and bush ablutions. Daily guided game walks follow the river or explore the Lebombo plateau close to the Kruger border. Located in an area that has been restocked with game in partnership with Kruger, you have every prospect of encountering a wide array of wildlife.
Lebombo Hiking Trail: An unforgettable wildlife experience when you spend four days and three nights hiking through this pristine wilderness area, a perfect setting for game and bird viewing. You carry a day-pack, hike 12 to 15 kms per day and overnight in unfenced rustic bush-camps.
Shingwedzi 4x4 Eco-Trail: Explore the vast wonderland of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park. Our five night and six day guided, self-drive, Shingwedzi 4x4 Eco-Trail offers challenging river crossings and the opportunity to navigate seldom travelled tracks.
We have also recently taken over the management of Covane Community Lodge (re-named Covane Fishing and Safari Lodge). In partnership with the Canhane Community we are in the process of developing 12 new tent & stone thatched units on the site which is situated on the southern shores of Massingir Dam, part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area.
In addition two 4-sleeper houseboats and a game-viewing boat have been acquired for operation on the dam, the first of which was launched on Monday 6 September 2010. The other two will be delivered and be operational by mid- October. These are the first houseboats to ever operate on this huge stretch of water that backs into Kruger National Park. The lodge also provides accommodation in traditional units and camping facilities for adventure travellers, backpackers and those looking for access to Massingir Dam and the surrounding area. Ideal for catch-and-release tiger fishing, as well as boat-based game watching, there are pods of hippo and crocodile to view in the Elefantes Gorge. Covane is a paradise for bird watchers and a great overnight destination for travellers en-route to the Mozambique coast. More details: www.covanelodge.com
There has been a reasonable amount of tourism product development on the Mozambique side of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park. In addition game numbers are increasing and birding is outstanding. Sightings of species such as wild dog, cheetah, rhino and buffalo, whilst not regular, are definitely more frequent. Elephant are regular visitors to the Machampane River in front of the Machampane camp. Lion are often heard at night and their spoor seen the following morning on wilderness walks and on occasion even the lion themselves! Herd sizes generally have increased significantly and the game-product is on an upward trend especially in the areas in which Machampane Camp is located and our Wilderness Trails operate. The Park has a large contingent of ranger staff and is active in anti-poaching programmes.
The Park now has its own modern entrance gate and reception, together with Head Office infrastructure and staff housing at Massingir Dam, and an impressive border post at Giriyondo, north of Letaba. The Park itself offers three different campsites, one at Massingir gate, another overlooking Massingir Dam and the third at Mapai gate near the Limpopo river crossing. Two of PNL's camps also offer self-catering cottages.
We, under the banner of Transfrontier Parks Destinations, have developed and operate the following products in the Mozambique sector of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park:
Machampane Wilderness Camp which is situated in Parque Nacional do Limpopo. With five luxury safari tents, this tranquil camp is on the banks of the Machampane River. Guests get close to nature through morning and evening walks with guides and armed rangers. It's all about seeing the flora and fauna that are never seen while driving. Evenings are spent around a fire in the boma giving guests an opportunity to hear and view the African night. More details: www.dolimpopo.com
Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park Wilderness Trails offers various Wilderness Hiking Trail options, 4x4 self-drive Eco-Trails, Canoe Trails and Backpacking & Fishing Trails in Parque Nacional do Limpopo. The Wilderness Hiking and Canoe trails are fully catered and portered, while the 4x4 Eco-Trail and Backing & Fishing Trail is self-catered. All trails are guided. Below is a brief description of the 5 different trails we offer:
Rio Elefantes Canoeing Trail: Spend three days paddling the Rio Elefantes from its confluence with the Shingwedzi, 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 enthrall you on your 70km journey to its confluence with the Limpopo.
Elefantes Gorge Backpacking and Fishing Trail: Camp wild for five days and four nights as you traverse the plateau above the Rio Elefantes gorge, descending to the shores of Massingir dam to fish for Tiger amongst others – the epitome of freedom in an amazing wilderness area.
Palarangala Wilderness Trail: Spend four days and three nights in a remote rustic camp with dome tents and bush ablutions. Daily guided game walks follow the river or explore the Lebombo plateau close to the Kruger border. Located in an area that has been restocked with game in partnership with Kruger, you have every prospect of encountering a wide array of wildlife.
Lebombo Hiking Trail: An unforgettable wildlife experience when you spend four days and three nights hiking through this pristine wilderness area, a perfect setting for game and bird viewing. You carry a day-pack, hike 12 to 15 kms per day and overnight in unfenced rustic bush-camps.
Shingwedzi 4x4 Eco-Trail: Explore the vast wonderland of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park. Our five night and six day guided, self-drive, Shingwedzi 4x4 Eco-Trail offers challenging river crossings and the opportunity to navigate seldom travelled tracks.
We have also recently taken over the management of Covane Community Lodge (re-named Covane Fishing and Safari Lodge). In partnership with the Canhane Community we are in the process of developing 12 new tent & stone thatched units on the site which is situated on the southern shores of Massingir Dam, part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area.
In addition two 4-sleeper houseboats and a game-viewing boat have been acquired for operation on the dam, the first of which was launched on Monday 6 September 2010. The other two will be delivered and be operational by mid- October. These are the first houseboats to ever operate on this huge stretch of water that backs into Kruger National Park. The lodge also provides accommodation in traditional units and camping facilities for adventure travellers, backpackers and those looking for access to Massingir Dam and the surrounding area. Ideal for catch-and-release tiger fishing, as well as boat-based game watching, there are pods of hippo and crocodile to view in the Elefantes Gorge. Covane is a paradise for bird watchers and a great overnight destination for travellers en-route to the Mozambique coast. More details: www.covanelodge.com
There has been a reasonable amount of tourism product development on the Mozambique side of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park. In addition game numbers are increasing and birding is outstanding. Sightings of species such as wild dog, cheetah, rhino and buffalo, whilst not regular, are definitely more frequent. Elephant are regular visitors to the Machampane River in front of the Machampane camp. Lion are often heard at night and their spoor seen the following morning on wilderness walks and on occasion even the lion themselves! Herd sizes generally have increased significantly and the game-product is on an upward trend especially in the areas in which Machampane Camp is located and our Wilderness Trails operate. The Park has a large contingent of ranger staff and is active in anti-poaching programmes.
In : Mozambique
Tags: parque nacional do limpopo machamapne covane
TFPD markets and operates community-owned lodges in Southern Africa's transfrontier parks. A small group of passionate, practical people, we believe that community-owned tourist destinations can be world-class operations.
