Pafuri Camp (Kruger)

Game Drives

Morning safaris usually produce good general game in the form of nyala, impala, kudu, baboon, monkey, waterbuck, zebra, wildebeest, warthog. And, perhaps, giraffe, grey duiker, steenbok, klipspringer or bushbuck. Other species, seen regularly are Sharpe’s grysbok and yellow-spotted rock hyrax. These are much more difficult to find further south.

Pafuri is big predator country. Leopards are resident along the rivers and in the hills. You might encounter them on your excursions. Or hear their rasping calls at night. Great crocodiles bask on the banks of the Luvuvhu or move between the river and the seasonal pans. Sometimes they emerge at night to scavenge on land. Occasionally driving others off their feast.

But hyenas – the Makuleke totem animal – remain the true apex predators on land. At dusk, you might visit one of their dens. At night, you’ll almost certainly hear their eerie calls as they hunt and scavenge across the floodplains. Lions, cheetah and African wild dogs do roam in and out but the hyenas are ferocious guardians of their land. Here, the rivalry between the great African predators is as fierce today as it was a thousand years ago.

Night drives may yield leopard, hyena, bushpig, jackal, civet, genet, honey badger, African wild cat, porcupine, bushbaby and white-tailed mongoose.

Birding

The spectacular variety of habitats and food sources found in the concession support a mesmerizing array of 450 species of birds. Making Pafuri concession the destination of choice for avid birders. Guests are regularly treated to sightings of rare species including the elusive Pels Fishing Owl, Racket-tailed Roller, Böhm’s and Mottled Spinetails, Lemon-breasted Canary and Arnot’s Chat. Other specials are Black-throated Wattle-Eye, Three-banded Courser, Southern Yellow White-eye, Meves’ Starling and Tropical Boubou.

Walking Safari

Pafuri is the premium bush walking destination in South Africa. If you wish to truly discover the astonishing biodiversity, exquisite landscapes and intriguing history that Pafuri has to offer, there is no better way to do it than on foot. Getting your feet on the ground offers you a chance to experience untamed Africa in close-up. You’ll focus on the little things but you might also explore ancient human settlements. Or experience the rush of adrenaline when you happen upon a great beast of the bush.

Pafuri also offers overnight walking safaris.

Fever Tree Forest

The Pafuri concession is home to the most impressive stand of fever trees in South Africa. Its mass of pale yellow-green trunks and glowing color palette are hauntingly beautiful. Especially in the light of the late afternoon or early morning. Seeing a herd of eland or a giant elephant bull move through is an unforgettable sight. The forest’s cathedral-like ambience makes it the perfect backdrop for wedding ceremonies and sundowners.

Baobabs

Pafuri is a place of baobabs. These great icons of the African continent stud its hills and ridges. Some have been estimated at over a thousand years old. Your guides will tell you about the great array of wildlife they sustain. But also about their indigenous use as remedies, the ancient traditions and folklore.

Visit the Big Baobab and decide whether you dare clamber up its flank to a resting place between its vast branches. Or listen to stories about the baobab where a sangoma lived to dispense wisdom and care to the people. And then there is the one called Deku at the site of the old royal village. Learn about the legend of its naming and how it subsequently became a seat of governance. Where the chief and his headmen gathered next to its bulk to discuss the affairs of the day, declare the laws of the land and prosecute those who contravened them.

Lanner Gorge

One of the most spectacular sites is Lanner Gorge. This is where the Luvuvhu cuts a deep canyon through the sandstones offering an incredible viewpoint. From where you may be lucky enough to spot Verreaux’s eagles, falcons, cape clawless otters, hippos, dassies and crocodiles.

What may be less obvious than the view and abundance of life is that the deeper you look down into the gorge, the further you are looking back in time.

The cliffs tell the story of the past two hundred and fifty million years. At the base, rocks record the mass extinction of the Permian Age. The event that ushered in the age of dinosaurs. Here, the remains of primeval mammal-like reptiles are deposited. The upper layers record a dramatic climate shift as the land warmed and dried.

Ramsar Wetland

There are two major river valleys and more than 30 scattered pans in the Pafuri Triangle. These were listed as wetlands of international importance under the Ramsar convention on 22 May 2007. It was the first Ramsar site owned and co-managed by a community. Not only in South Africa but worldwide. Prominent features include riparian forests, floodplain grasslands, river channels and flood pans. Pans are depressions in the floodplains which are intermittently filled from floods and rains. They are of great importance as they hold water into the dry season. Supporting a high diversity of species and providing an important habitat for water-dependent frogs, fish and birds. They also act as a vital refuge for wildlife during the dry months and water birds during the summer rains.

History

Pafuri has a rich human history stretching back through the Makuleke era. And an earlier precolonial trading past to hunter-gatherer and stone age settlements. There are several impressive archaeological sites. Including the spectacular Thulamela ruins. Where contemporary visitors can encounter the remnants of these early settlements. Hear stories about the stone age ancestors who roamed the game-rich lowlands between the great rivers for millennia. Perhaps find some of their handcrafted tools. Learn about the great trading civilization that thrived here for a thousand years. Linking Pafuri with the interior and, via the East African coast, to the world. You will also encounter the Makuleke people who lived here until 1969 when they were forcibly resettled by the apartheid regime. The remains of their settlements are scattered across the land. Today, they have returned as owners of the land and managers of this operation.

We recommend a 3-night walking safari . The below is an idea of what to expect on your Northern Kruger walking safari:

Day 1

You meet your guide at the Luvuvhu River Bridge. Following a safety briefing, you head out for a short afternoon walk. On return to camp, enjoy a hot shower, drinks, and an evening meal under the African stars.

Guests stay in a mobile tented camp. Each tent has either twin or king beds. Inside there are charging facilities and a clothes racks. En-suite bathroom with a flush toilet and wash basin. With direct access to a private outdoor hot bush shower.

Days 2 & 3

We depart early for a morning walk. Distance and duration may vary. But generally, we spend three to four hours following game paths before returning to camp for brunch. After a siesta, we head out on either a short afternoon walk or drive.

Day 4

After the customary early wake-up, we depart on a shorter morning walk. Arriving back at camp where you’ll enjoy a final hearty brunch before being transferred back to your vehicles.

Pafuri Walking Trail rates (per person sharing per night):

1st April to 31st October 2023: R4550
1st April to 31st October 2024: R5250

Minimum stay: 2 nights

Pafuri Walking Trail’s rates include:
Accommodation in mobile tents
All meals, select local beverages (house wines, local beers, soft drinks, waters, select spirits)
Morning and evening walking activities.

Pafuri Walking Trail’s rates exclude:
Community & Conservation Levy,
Premium beverages,
Road or air transfers,
SANParks entry fees,
Gratuities,
Laundry,
Wi Fi.