Lembombo Hiking Trail - 4 days - rates start from 560 USD pp based on two persons sharing. Ex international flights (prices can fluctuate due to seasonality and availability)

Located in Parque Nacional do Limpopo, the 1,1 million hectare Moçambique sector

of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, adjacent to Kruger National Park lies the Lembombo Hiking Trail. The trail traverses a Big 5 pristine wilderness area stocked with game from Kruger National Park and starts from the Elephant Release Boma located 31 kms south of the Giriyondo border post which in turn is 45kms north-east of Letaba Restcamp in Kruger National Park.

Only for those who really like to go back to nature and to rough it, a 3 night 4 day hiking trail is set up for minimum of 4 and maximum of 8 guests. The Lebombo hiking trail offers an unforgettable 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. Campsites are unfenced and located in the bush and have basic ablution facilities (bush shower and short-drop toilet) whereas water for cooking and washing as well as firewood is provided.

Day 1. Elephant Release Boma to Marula

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. You will depart on foot from the meeting point at the Elephant Release Boma for Marula, the first night’s camp, a distance of around 4 to 5 kms.

Day 2. From Marula to Palarangala

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 two nights at this camp are spend and walk-out on a circular route exploring the surrounding bushveld)

Day 3. From Parangala to Pumbe

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.

 

The experience

Hike through pristine wilderness, a perfect setting for game and bird viewing. Overnight

in unfenced rustic bush camps set deep in this remote wilderness, reminiscent of the pioneers of days gone by. 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.

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. For every campsite a two person dome tent is available and camping mattresses are supplied. Basic cooking utensils, cutlery and crockery are provided

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. The meeting time is 15.00 for 15.30 at the parking area at the Elephant Release Boma which is located on the road to Machampane Tented Camp. 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.