|
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.
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 hiked 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.
|
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
http://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.
|
