Primitive Walk

Directions And Park Fees

Meeting at The Outpost

The meeting point for the start of your trail will be The Outpost in Kruger National Park. This is the luxury camp operated by Rare Earth in the northern section of the Kruger Park. You can use this map point to see where the camp is.

Directions from Johannesburg

The best route to your starting point is using the N1:

• Take the N1 to Louis Trichardt (Makhado)
• Continue on the N1 over the Soutpansberg and turn right onto the R525 towards Tshipise
• Continue past Tshipise on the R525 to Pafuri Gate
• Enter the Kruger Park and continue on the H1-9 about 6kms until you see the sign for The Outpost on your left. The turnoff is to the right, and you’ll travel along this road for about 4km until you reach the lodge.

The service station at Tshipise is the last service station along the route. There is no fuel pump at Pafuri Gate.

Directions from Hoedspruit

There are two options, based on how much time you would like to spend driving through the park versus around the park:

• Either you choose to enter at Phalaborwa Gate and make your way north through the Park to The Outpost. This takes about 6.5 hours, depending on what you see.
• Or you go around the park and only enter at Punda Maria Gate. The route takes you through Giani to Malamulele, and then to Punda Maria Gate and on to The Outpost. This takes about 5 hours (with about 1.5 hours of this being inside the park)

When you arrive

Once you take the turnoff to The Outpost, follow the road for about 4km until you reach the lodge. Follow directions for parking and then walk up to the main guest area. This is where your African-Born Safaris guides will meet you.

NB! Recommended gate entry times

To reach The Outpost by no later than 14:00, we recommend entering:

• Punda Maria Gate by no later than 11:30
• Pafuri Gate by no later than 13:00
• Phalaborwa Gate by no later than 07:00

Please ensure that you arrive on time, and expect travel to be slower in the park due to sightings along the way.

Kruger National Park entrance fees

When you enter the Park, you will be required to pay a SANParks once-off levy per person at the gate. It is a one-time fee to enter the Park and can be paid in cash or you can use your Wild Card if you have one.

(This is separate from the conservation fees you have already paid as part of your trail which covers your time on trail).

PLEASE NOTE:

Additional daily levies (fees) will have to be paid at the gate when you enter if you are staying in the Park for any number of days prior to the trail and/or any number of days after the trail.

Primitive Trails Day To Day

Arrival at The Outpost

The guides will be ready to meet you all at The Outpost on the day of your arrival between 13:00 and 14:00.

Here you will park your cars, have a chance to go to the bathroom and grab a cold drink after your long trip. The Outpost has a Wi-Fi connection, so this would be a good time to communicate with family or to let everyone know that you have made it safely to your destination. Once you leave the lodge there will be no Wi-Fi or Cell signal until you return on your day of departure.

This temporary disconnection from the modern world is one of the most important tools available, in order for you to get back to basics and find a true connection to the wilderness that we’re sure you are all seeking.

Before heading via road to the trails drop-off point, you will receive an important safety briefing from your guides and do a final equipment check.

Where you’ll be sleeping

Each night you will sleep wild in a different magnificent location. As this is a primitive trail, you will be sleeping under the stars wherever the guides decide to stop for the day.

Meals

The primitive trail is about getting “back to basics” and to simplify for a few days by removing yourselves from the usual luxuries of everyday life. This will help to ensure a greater connection with the wilderness. Guests are required to bring their own food for the duration of the trail. You will be surprised how little you actually need. Please take a look at the suggested food options below. Dependent on a 3 or 4 night trail:

• 3 or 4 breakfasts
• 3 or 4 lunches
• 3 or 4 dinners
• Some snacks for between meals
• There is no need to feast at every meal. The idea is to simplify for a few days. You will be surprised at how little food you need
• There may be a small fire at night as a companion to those on watch duty, but in order to minimize the impact, no one will be cooking on this fire. All cooking must therefore be done with a camping stove/gas burner per guest

Here are some meal ideas:

• Breakfast – Oatso-Easy, Nuts and dried fruits, Pro-nutro, Futurelife, energy/muesli bars, trail mix
• Lunch – Provitas or Salty Cracks with cream cheese, wraps, biltong, chicken-mayo sachets, tuna sachets
• Dinner – Cous cous, wraps, pasta, soya mince, bully beef, salami, biltong, little packaged rice meals
• Snacks – breakfast/energy bars, biltong, droewors, trail mix, dried fruit
• Drinks – coffee sachets, tea, sachets of Game (1 or 2 per day)

You will be exploring the Pafuri region of Northern Kruger Park on foot for the duration of the trail.

We cover between 10km and 12km per day. The distance is very flexible though and varies according to group dynamics, interests, encounters and physical ability. We usually stop at midday to eat lunch and have a sleep under the trees.

Please note:

A moderate level of fitness is required and guests over the age of 65 years must supply a medical certificate to prove they are fit to take part in the hiking trail.

Departure

On the last day, you usually have a slightly shorter morning walk and will be picked up at the trails pick-up point for transfer back to The Outpost. You will be able to use the WiFi and bathroom before collecting your cars and departing from the lodge.

Primitive FAQs

Electricity and charging your devices

There is no facility on the trail to charge camera batteries etc, so please ensure that you bring spare batteries. A portable image-storage device is also a good idea.

Cell signal while on trail

There is no coverage while on the trail. The guides do carry a Satellite Phone at all times in case of an emergency.

You are welcome to pass on the following number to family members if they need to contact camp in case of an emergency: The Outpost lodge +27 13 735 8907. The camp will then get hold of the guides via radio/satellite phone.

Items to pack

You will be required to carry all of your bare essentials on your backs. You will need to supply your own lightweight and basic hiking/camping equipment as per the suggested packing list below.

• Hiking backpack (at least 50l capacity with a good frame & hip support as you will need to fit all of your equipment)
• Bed roll
• Sleeping bag
• Inflatable mattress small (optional, recommended)
• Inflatable pillow small (optional, recommended)
• Gas bottle small
• Gas burner small
• Water bladder (3l capacity, we will dig for fresh water)
• Cooking utensils (minimal)
• Binoculars
• Camera (small)
• Leatherman/Utility Tool
• Head torch + Batteries

• Tooth brush, toothpaste and toilet paper and lighter
• Small quick-dry towel
• Water purification drops
• Sunscreen
• Walking stick
• Clothing: (lightweight, neutral colors)
• Pants/Shorts x 2
• Shirts x 2
• Warm, lightweight jacket
• Sleeping clothing x 1
• Socks x 2
• Underwear x 3/4
• Walking boots
• Flip Flops
• Hat
• Any personal medication

Malaria

This is a malarial area and although the malaria risk is low in the dry months we recommend malaria prophylaxis. Please consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Mature Guests

A basic level of fitness is required and guests over the age of 65 years should supply a medical certificate to prove they are fit to take part in the hiking trail.

Guest information forms

You will be receiving / have already received guest information forms. Please complete the relevant fields for each traveller (leave out dietary and drinks info) and send back to us. These help to ensure that the Main camp has all your details in case of an emergency.

Activities

This is a wildlife area, hence no pets are allowed.

No firearms are allowed, unless by special prior permission.

RATES AND BOOKINGS

The below Packages provide the minimum basic rate for six (6) guests in the camp, whether they are SA or SADC guests.

Our Packages

PRIMITIVE WALK

3 Night Package

R17 100 Per Person

R5 700 *p/p/p/n (*per person per night)

International Persons +20%

Minimum base rate of six (6) persons

4 Night Package

R20 032 Per Person

R5 008 *p/p/p/n (*per person per night)

International Persons +20%

Minimum base rate of six (6) persons

5 Night Package

Rxx xxx Per Person**

Rx xxx *p/p/p/n (*per person per night)

International Persons +20%

**If you would like to do a 5 night or longer trail, let us know and we can let you know about available dates and the relevant costs.

Minimum base rate of six (6) persons

Bookings: enquiries@leadingleopardsafaris.co.za

INCLUDES

• 2 expert guides to facilitate your wilderness connection and keep you safe

EXCLUDES

• Personal trail clothing etc…
• Your travel arrangements to and from Pafuri
• Conservation fees for your nights at Pafuri
• Kruger National Park entrance fees
• Any additional park fees should you be staying in the park before or after your trail
• Gratuities
• Medical and travel insurance
• Anything of a personal nature
• Government taxes
• Any required visas and associated fees
• Passport applications and associated fees
• Any covid vaccinations, tests and associated fees required at the time of travelling.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Booking and Cancellation Policy

• Leading Leopard Safaris Booking and Cancellation Policy below is based on the lodge’s policy. Their policy may change at short notice, and in such cases, the newer policy will apply. Our current Booking and Cancellation Policy is as follows:
• A non refundable deposit of 30% of the total trip is due to confirm the booking.
• The remainder is due 12 weeks before you travel.
• If you cancel between confirmation and 61 days of the start of your trail, you will forfeit your 30% deposit.
• If you cancel 60 days or less before the start of your trail, the full reservation value is forfeited.
• The above policy applies should you fail to join or start your safari for any reason, including airline delays or missed connections.

Please note
Leading Leopard Safaris will not be held responsible for guests travelling without insurance. Please ensure you have adequate travel insurance for this purpose. You are liable for cancellation penalties immediately on confirmation of our booking services.

Services are subject to availability at the time of booking confirmation.
If camps that you will be travelling to are in potential malaria or yellow fever areas, we advise you to consult a doctor for the required precautions or vaccinations.

Gratuities
Gratuities are always appreciated and we have many guests ask about how much is appropriate. Other than your two Wanderings of Africa Trail Guides there are 3 staff at the camp. A chef, a camp-hand and a housekeeper.


They will share any amount given to them, equally amongst themselves. They always go above and beyond and a great gratuity would be somewhere in the region of R50-100 per guest per day. Given to the staff on the last day for them to split.

ENQUIRE

OUR LOCATION