New 4x4 trails recently opened on the Western side of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park (in South Africa)

 Letaba 4x4 trail:  departing from Phalaborwa, and running though Letaba Ranch, just north of Phalaborwa, including the area between the Great and Little Letaba Rivers.  This is a game-rich Big5 area, and self-drive, guided trailists are able to choose between bush camping along the rivers, or accommodation in Ntomeni Tented Camp.  The trail is a 2 or 3 night adventure.

 The Luvuvhu 4x4 trail: departing from Phalaborwa, the trail first covers the Letaba ranch area, before moving north into the beautiful Makuya Park. This is a 4-night bush-camping experience, and people experienced in this type of travelling say that there is no other multi-day 4x4 trip in South Africa where you will see more game.  The trail ends at Kruger’s Pafuri Gate.

 The Makuya Park 4x4 Trail: departs from Punda Maria, one of Kruger’s northern gates, and explores Makuya Park. Trailists have the option of camping wild on the banks of the Luvuvhu River, or staying each night at Singo Tented Camp, with its spectacular views across the park.  This is a three night trip, ending at Pafuri.

 The Great Limpopo 4x4 trail is the most comprehensive 4x4 trip available in the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park.  It starts in Phalaborwa and enters the Letaba Ranch sector. After crossing the Letaba Rivers it continues up the fence-line with Kruger to Makuya Park. Trailists then enter Kruger at Pafuri, and cross into Mozambique. They follow the Limpopo River and enter Parque Nacionale do Limpopo at Mapai, and head south through the fever trees and sandveld, camping wild along the Shingwedzi River. The trail re-enters South Africa at Giriyondo Border Post (at the same level as Letaba rest camp and Phalaborwa). This is an 8-night trip.  (Essentially the trip is a combination of the Luvuvhu and the original Shingwedzi 4x4 trails.)

 The trails are all run by experienced and qualified guides who have been working in the area for decades.

 Further details at http://www.dolimpopo.com

Palarangala Wilderness Trail

•3 night 4 day walking trail with a minimum of 4 and maximum of 8 guests.
Accommodation is in a remote unfenced rustic bush camp with two-man dome tents, camp mattresses and bush ablutions. Wake at dawn, you set out on foot shortly after sunrise in the company of your guide and armed ranger following the river course or exploring the Lebombo plateau close to the boundary with Kruger. Brunch is back at camp before a siesta and late afternoon walk in search of fresh signs of activity. Trails are led by an experienced guide and are fully catered.  More details here

Lebombo Hiking Trail

•3 night 4 day hiking trail with a minimum of 4 and maximum of 8 guests.
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. More details here 

Elefantes Gorge Backpacking and Fishing Trail

•4 night 5 day backpacking trail with a minimum of 8 and maximum of 8 guests.
Camp wild for four nights and traverse the plateau above the Rio Elefantes gorge on foot, descending to the shores of Massingir dam to fish for Tiger amongst others – the epitome of freedom in an amazing wilderness area. Trails are led by an experienced guide but you are required to be totally self-sufficient. The terrain is rugged and requires a good level of fitness for the 15 to 20 km hiked each day. More details here

Rio Elefantes Canoeing Trail

•3 night 4 day canoe trail with a minimum of 4 and maximum of 8 guests.
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.  More details here

Shingwedzi 4x4 Eco-Trail

•5 night 6 day 4x4 self-drive trail with a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 6 vehicles
This self-drive route traverses Parque Nacional do Limpopo, the magnificent wilderness area that lies adjacent to Kruger and is Moçambique’s contribution to the 3.7 million hectare Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park. We meet at Pafuri picnic site in Kruger and set out on this awe-inspiring adventure through the border post located at Pafuri, going south and and ending at the Giryondo border post, just north of Letaba Rest Camp in Kruger. More details here