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.
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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
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