5 NIGHT TRAIL - 3 nights Plains Camp & 2 nights Rhino Post Safari Lodge

Day 1: Rhino Walking Safaris - Plains Camp Kruger National Park

All guests coming to Rhino Walking Safaris are to meet at Rhino Post Safari Lodge. The lodge will transfer all guests through to Plains Camp at 14h00 in an open 4x4 game vehicle. If coming from Johannesburg, to arrive in good time, you should leave Johannesburg by 07h00 at the latest.

Rhino Walking Safaris is situated on a 12000-hectare private concession in the Kruger National Park. It is approximately 10km northeast of Skukuza Rest Camp. The concession shares a 15km boundary with Mala Mala in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve, with game moving freely between the two reserves and comprises of environmentally sensitive areas previously unexplored, with huge diversity of both fauna and flora.

Plains Camp is situated in the heart of the wilderness concession overlooking the spectacular Timbitene Plain & waterhole. Built in authentic pioneer tradition, it has the serenity of a 19th century naturalists rest, nestled in an Acacia Knobthorn thicket. Plains Camp offers 4 comfortably furnished African explorer style tents, with en suite & hot running water and the African Wilderness right on your doorstep. The concession is an environmentally sensitive area previously unexplored, with a huge diversity of both fauna and flora – an ideal setting for wilderness walking safaris in an internationally renowned Big Five area.

After settling into your tent and exploring the camp, high tea is served followed by a brief on the ‘do’s & don’ts’ of bush walking by your guide. Rhino Walking Safari guides meet the stringent requirements of the South African National Parks and senior guides hold the highest guiding qualification possible in South Africa. After the brief, you will depart with your 2 armed guides for an introductory walk, returning to the vehicle in time for sundowners and enjoying a short night drive before returning to camp.

Day 2: Rhino Walking Safaris - Plains Camp Kruger National Park

After an early morning wake-up, fresh coffee, tea and rusks (a South Africa tradition!), everybody departs with the guides for the next safari walk. Nothing is predictable in the bush; therefore each safari offers a potentially new experience. Our guides will share their wealth of “bush culture’’ - the identification of animals, trees, grasses, insects, birds, the medicinal uses of plants, local folk lore and basic tracking & survival skills.

All walking trails are enjoyed in the early morning and late afternoon to avoid the midday heat, with the average duration of the morning walk being between 3 and 4 hours. The Guide will structure the trail taking into account the fitness level of the group and any special requests. After a light snack on the walk, you will be served a well deserved brunch on your return to the camp. Relax during the heat of the day, enjoying our small Africana book collection or the plunge pool overlooking the plain, which is often host to zebra, buffalo, giraffe, elephant, rhino and lion.

The afternoon safari activity is a short drive in the game vehicle to a specific location, after which you will depart on foot again for your trail. Upon returning to the vehicle, you will enjoy sundowners before returning to camp. Back at camp you will enjoy a sumptuous dinner, all the while accompanied by the night sounds of the African bush.

Day 3: Rhino Walking Safaris – Sleep Out Kruger National Park

The morning activities are the same as the previous day, however after high tea guests depart for an unrivalled wilderness experience.  Guests leave Plains Camp in the late afternoon for a 1-1 ½ hour walk led by the guides and arrive at the platforms in the early evening, carrying only a lightweight rucksack containing a change of clothes and refreshments. The platforms are elevated about 4 metres above the ground and after the guests have chosen their sleep out, guests enjoy sundowners overlooking the waterhole as the guides start the fire and preparing dinner.

While dinner is being prepared on an open fire, enjoy the sounds and senses of the wild at night, while being safely guarded by our observant guides. The rumbles of the elephant passing by, or the roar of the lion at the nearby waterhole, are some of the noises that might disturb guests in this peaceful wilderness. This is the only place in the Kruger National Park offering this unusual accommodation.

Day 4: Rhino Walking Safaris – Rhino Post Safari Lodge Kruger National Park

The following morning, enjoy a light snack after which you will depart back to Plains Camp for a hearty brunch & shower before packing up and being transferred back to the luxurious Rhino Post Safari Lodge.

Rhino Post Safari Lodge is built on the banks of the dry Mutlumuvi riverbed using natural materials of stone, wood, thatch & canvas. Stilts raise the 8 spaciously appointed suites along the riverbank, allowing views of the Mutlumuvi riverbed from your bedroom, bathroom and private deck. The suites are set out in an open plan style with wooden floors, thatched roofs, canvas walls and glass doors and windows. Each en suite bathroom includes a deep, freestanding bath, ‘his & hers’ basins, a separate toilet and an outdoor shower surrounded by thick reed poles. The raised walkways linking the spacious rooms to the main area, allows wildlife to walk through underneath, undisturbed by mankind.

On arrival at Rhino Post Safari Lodge, after a refreshing drink and a brief introduction to the lodge, you will be escorted to your room.  After settling into your suite, guests are invited down to the lounge, overlooking the water hole to enjoy a scrumptious high tea before departing for an afternoon / evening game drive.

Game-drive safaris at Rhino Post Safari Lodge are conducted in specially adapted open 4x4 Land cruisers, with professional guides. In addition to our private wilderness concession, we make use of the Kruger Public Roads and also have exclusive use of some of the Kruger Park public roads at night. Rhino Walking Safaris are allowed to utilise certain public roads for night / evening drives well after gate closing times.  At sunset the game drive will stop for sun downer drinks while watching an African sunset before continuing into the night, spotting nocturnal animals. Returning to the lodge in time to freshen up, enjoy a drink before a sumptuous dinner on the deck as you recount the day’s events, all the while accompanied by the night sounds of the bush.

Day 5: Rhino Walking Safaris – Rhino Post Safari Lodge Kruger National Park

The next morning you will depart again on another exciting drive into the Kruger. Returning for a leisurely brunch before spending the rest of the day relaxing at the lodge.  High tea at Rhino Post is highly recommended and many guests enjoy it as their favourite activity. Munching on delicious snacks whilst overlooking the waterhole, and catching up with fellow safari enthusiasts before venturing onto the game vehicles again.  On the afternoon/evening game drive the guide will stop at one of the many picturesque spots known to the lodge for sun downers before continuing the drive looking for the nocturnal animals and birds of the Kruger.

The day ends with a delicious dinner in the dining room and reminiscing with your guides and other guests on all the day’s activities.

Return to your luxurious suite to relax and fall asleep to the sounds of the night.

Day 6: Rhino Walking Safaris – Rhino Post Safari Lodge Kruger National Park

After an early morning wake-up and an invigorating cup of fresh coffee or tea and muffins in the lounge, you will set off again for the final early morning game drive. Upon returning to the lodge enjoy a leisurely brunch, shower before packing up and checking out from Rhino Post.

The 5 night walking safari detailed in this itinerary includes 2 nights at Rhino Post Safari Lodge and 3 nights at Rhino Walking Safari –2 nights at Plains Camp and a Sleep out. Sleep outs are weather dependant and the actual date will be finalised on the night of arrival.

The order of accommodation may change from that described as it is dependent upon availability and the day of arrival.

5 night trail rate

Includes:

Plains Camp – 3 nights accommodation – with sleep out, brunch, high tea& dinner, teas & coffees, morning walks & afternoon game activity combination, soft drinks, house wine & local beers Rhino Post – 2 nights accommodation, brunch, high tea & dinner, teas & coffees, morning & afternoon/night game drives

Excludes – Park fees, transfers, additional alcoholic drinks at Plains Camp and all drinks at Rhino Post