wolhuter wilderness trail

We were a group of 8 friends. All agreed that this was a fantastic experience. The rangers and cook all deserve praise. It is important that you make your preferences very clear to the rangers on the first night: do you want to spend most of your time doing long walks or would you prefer a balance between walking and relaxing in camp.The facilities are in urgent need of a makeover: the very basic "shelters" are very tight and will benefit from increased space for clothing, luggage, getting dressed, etc. The units constructed at the Vhembe Trails camp in Mapungubwe should be used as model.The routine is rather militaristic so be prepared for being woken early, rushed coffee and rusks before leaving for the morning walk as if you have an early meeting scheduled somewhere in the bush.Despite these slight criticisms it remained a wonderful experience that can be recommended without hesitation.

We recently walked the Wolhuter Trail which was an excellent experience and we had an outstanding, interesting guide. However, unfortunately we had a VERY VERY bad experience. After we stayed in the A-frame houses we discovered we were infested by mites living in the thatched roofs. This is very unfortunate, as it really spoiled our experience. It has left us (four of the eight people) with hefty doctors bills and a lot of discomfort and itching.

I recently finished the Wolhuter Wilderness Trail and had an unforgettable experience. There aren’t a lot of write-ups about the trip here, so I thought I’d offer some advice for people thinking about doing this wilderness trail (and I’m guessing these would be useful for other trails as well).First of all is a wilderness trail right for you? Take this simple test:1. Is your main goal in visiting Kruger is to see the Big 5? If so then you’ll see more of the big five by staying in your car and perhaps taking a couple of ranger-led drives from the main Rest Camps.2. Do you want to get out of your car and walk the terrain, exploring the trees, the landscape, and small animals like insects? If so, then yes you should seriously consider doing a wilderness trail. If you don’t have the time I suspect the 2-4-hour ranger-led walks that leave from the rest camps could give you a similar experience.3. Do you think you would lose your composure when a rhino fifty feet away from you starts to bolt? If so, then no. Don’t put your guide and other hikers in danger. At least on the Wolhuter trail this seems to be a reasonably common event. And please, do not listen to other reviewers who suggest you should run from rhinos. Your guides will explain that running is the most dangerous thing you can do. If you obey your guides they can keep you safe.4. Do you want to learn about the bush from people who have lived all their lives in it? If so, then yes. I don’t know what all the guides are like, but ours were rangers who have clearly been reading the land and tracking animals since they were kids. 5. Do you expect 5 star service and accommodation? Forget the trails then. The camp was much more civilized than I expected – with hot showers and tiny but reasonably comfortable A-frames – but it is still roughing it compared to the Bungalows we stayed in elsewhere in the camp.Are you still with me? If so, I can’t completely prepare you for the 3 night excursion, nor would I want to, but here are a few tips that will make your experience better:1. Bring the right clothes. I was a bit worried about being a cliché tourist. I needn’t have been. Khaki or olive drab green clothes are expected. Bright colors frighten the animals. Should you wear a silly bush hat? Your guides wear them to protect from the sun and occasional tree branches, so why not? Long pants are a must and we found that treating our clothes with permethrin did a good job of keeping the mosquitoes away.2. Bring the right shoes. Waterproof hiking boots are almost a must. You are going to be trudging 15-20 km a day through fields, puddles, streams, and scrub. Dry comfortable feet will make your experience much better. An extra pair of lighter, comfortable shoes to wear around camp is good too.3. Bring gaiters. I wasn’t quite sure what these were when I saw previous reviews of the trails. Now I know. You are going to be walking through dozens of different kinds of grasses, most of which will find a way to work themselves through your socks and into your skin. If you don’t wear gaiters you’ll be slowly picking rather painful seeds and burrs out of your ankles while the rest of the group watches a parade of elephants. 4. Other recommended items to pack: a headtorch for navigating the camp at night (there’s no electricity); flip flops for the shower; binoculars; water bottle / camelback5. If you like to drink with dinner or around the campfire at night, feel free to bring along some alcohol – there is a good-sized fridge to store it in. And if you do, make sure to bring a little extra to share with your guides and the cook. 6. Everything is included in the package – transportation, food, housing, and tours. The only cash you’ll need is for tipping the staff. Ours certainly did a wonderful job at keeping us safe and entertained and well fed.

An absolutely amazing place for all lovers of wilderness. Lots of rhinos; be prepared to run... Fantastic food. Incredibly competent rangers. Accommodation pretty basic, which is part of the charm. Not suitable for people who cant be quiet on walks or who cant cope with bugs. Will definitely go back

Feeling like something different? Wanting to experience the bush in more natural surroundings than driving thru in a car? Prepared to rough it a bit but still want all the basics provided? Looking for a touch of "daring" and excitement but still feel safe? Then consider a Wilderness Bush Trial Walk. You really don't need to be all that fit! The Kruger Park offers several - some are based at small camps (like Wolhuter) and others are more strenuous, no base camp, walk and carry your tent and provisions. I fully endorse the review by Project 25 "Get up and personal to the real Kruger" , it's still as valid today as it was in 2011 for the Wolhuter trail. His kit list is spot on, please use it, and also add the following:-for your comfort a "must have" item is carve height gaiters. The bush (underveld) is thick and lush and gaiters prevents itchy seeds and stuff working themselves into your socks and shoes. You can buy this at Cape Union Mart (at the airport and branches thru out SA), not cheap (about R200) but please do yourself a favour and buy it - calve height will suffice. Drifters Xtreme Sports at De Waterkant Centre Cape Town sells it for R100, and it works well. (See photo - if I can manage to upload it!)- a rain coat/cover as it can rain heavily and unexpectedly- sunglasses- medium thickness socks ( I used trail runner socks)- good quality lightweight binoculars, I recommend each should have his own- you can wear colours but autumns shades, dark, nothing bright or white, cotton clothing breathes well.Nowadays one don't have to book ages in advance, we booked end January for the beginning of April and had a choice of several dates. I think this is due to the many private reserves nowadays active around the Kruger Park. Keep in mind the different trails are in different regions of the Park and the Park is huge. Thus you see different species, depending which trail you choose. Wolhuter is all about rhinos ( I am not going to say anything much about poaching, except that poachers are very active in the area).If you want to include the possibility to see lions and the rest of the big five gang on foot, then consider the Metsi-metsi Wilderness trial in the Kruger Park.We were a group of 8 friends aged 54 - 60, most of us have done some trial walking in our earlier days but were quite unfit. Still, we found the walks (5 hours in the morning and about 2 in the afternoon) manageable and there were lots of breaks and rest periods. You don't have to be super fit at all!I suggest that for the perfect combination you book a trail walk with some days of game viewing prior to the walk. Don't try to cover too much of the park, I suggest two nights at a camp to allow you to pack off and enjoy, not to rush to the next spot. Sartara is the most popular, as that is the known territory of the Big Five.Enjoy!

Wow, it was such an amazing bush/nature experience. No electricity and only outside bathrooms and showers! Arrived on Friday evening, we were a group of 8 friends. Dinner was served around the fire (compliments to the chef)!. Awoken very early in the morning, served with tea and biscuits before the long walk. Amazing experience. Moses and Rangani (our rangers) were wonderful!! Cant say enough. The afternoon drive and the beautiful sunset, all unforgettable. Had a fantastic time. If you want the safari experience, go ahead, try the wolhuter!

Our guides, Rangani and Moses were excellent. Very knowledgable, experienced and great at tracking the animals. They could really explain in great detail all that we were seeing and experiencing, far beyond our expectations.Note that you will walk, a lot... For those not prepared then don't bother but note that you are probably missing an experience of a lifetime.We were a bit ill prepared expecting it to be warmer so recommendations are to have a rain jacket and sweater available during the Spring and possibly summer. The huts are basic but clean, the food was plentiful and well prepared by our camp host and chef, Henry who always had a smile on his face and happy to get you anything you needed.Make sure you bring your selection of drinks as aside from the camp water, there aren't any other options.We saw lots of Rhinos, Elephants, Giraffes, Hippos, A nesting Crocodile, Zebra and tracked a herd of buffalo as well. We heard hyenas and lions but never managed to walk up on them... Rangani and Moses showed us bushman paintings and caves in a few locations and were amazing at spotting the smallest of animals or other wildlife.A great trip, book well in advance (6 months at least) as these trips are limited to 8 only...

Our guide Jannie was an absolute joy. He is contracted by SANPARKS to conduct the walk and his knowledge and skill is par excellence. Accommodation: Simple A Frame hut... raised and sleeps two in single beds. Walking: The walk takes place in the southern region of Kruger and covers some spectacular bushveld. Magnificent scenery, prolific bird life and a wide variety of general game will keep you on your toes. Food: Perfect bush tucker!This is the best way to experience the African Bush. If you want to take lots of photos of leopards and lions then do not go on this walk. Walking in the bush is really about the little things (birds, reptiles, plants, insects, plants and spectacular scenery). Every morning the tracks and signs of the animals are apparent and it is akin to reading the morning newspaper to see who has been doing what and where! This walk comes highly recommended.

My partner and I took part in the Wolhuter trail recently and had a fantastic experience.A brief overview of the trail:Day 1 - late afternoon, meet at Berg-en-Dal and transport to camp (1 hour). By the time you arrive it will be early evening, time enough for a camp overview and then an early bed.The camp is small, just 4 guest huts , a dining area, 2 toilets, 2 showers and the staff area.It is encircled by a low wire fence to let visitors know of the boundaries rather than to keep animals out - more on this later.The huts are small, two single beds with a little storage space. There are no washing facilities in the huts, you must walk to the loo/shower.The dining area is big enough for 8-10 people and there is always hot water and tea/coffee making facilities for any time of day.Loos and Showers are basic with no lighting so you will need a head torch for the evenings, although best not to shine it about too much if you aren't keen on spiders, lizards and snakes!We didn't have any 'creatures' in our hut though so rest assured they are well lined.Day 2 - Early morning call at 5:30am. A bowl of warm water is left outside your hut for washing. A small breakfast of rusks (a bigger version of the baby biscuit) a quick briefing and you are off.The morning's are cool, even in summer and you may want to wear a light sweater, but by 8am, the sun is up and it will be very hot. Make sure you take plenty of sun lotion and water.The morning walk lasts about 5 hours and you will have a breakfast stop on the way. There will be two guides, both with .458 caliber rifles (big) so you feel safe enough, but you will have plenty of encounters with animals.Back to the camp by 10:30/11 for a lunch (usually hot - you get plenty of food) and a rest until about 3:30.Take some games / cards / books to read in these long gaps.The afternoon walk is a lot briefer and you will be back by 6:30. The sunset views are spectacular.Day 3 = same as day 2 with slightly different routes. You will get to see some San bushart on one of the days too.On the third day, the camp pump water into the water hole just outside the boundary which means that a good deal of animals come to drink. You can expect to see zebra, elephant, warthog, giraffe at the least during the afternoon rest. It's a great chance to get some close up photos of the animals you will have seen on the trail.Day 4 = up later, around 6:30, time to leave the camp by around 8am. No walks this day.Other things to know:Wildlife: The Wolhuter trail is in white rhino country. You can expect to see a LOT of Rhino. We saw almost 100 over the two days. While they are fantastic to see, and are likely to charge if they get wind of you, which can be quite exciting, there is a bit of a lack of variety after a while.We did see other animals, zebra, buffalo, giraffe, elephant, lots of antelope....we were lucky enough to see a lion eating a buffalo kill and got quite close. But do expect to mainly see rhino on this trail. The more northern trails (there are 7 to choose from) offer a wider variety (although may be limited to one or two her trail) so look around.Camp Life: The water hole attracts a number of different animals to the perimeter of the camp at night and as a result also attracts a number of predators. We saw and heard hyena every evening and while they are on the other side of the fence, this can be quite disconcerting, especially if you need a late night loo-trip.One evening, we heard a hyena and lion fight which was thrilling but a bit scary!There are traces of animal dung in the camp but the guide assured us that visits are rare.Fauna: The majority of the trek takes place in the low veld where there are lots of types of grasses. HIgher up on some of the mountains there are lots of types of wild flowers. I am no expert and while we did have a few types of plant pointed out to us, i think there are probably better trails for botanists.Guides: We had two guides who were extremely knowledgable and made us feel safe. They can answer most questions and if you have a particular interest, for example ours was antelope, they will try their best to point out things of interest including tracks and droppings.Safety: there were a few occasions when we were charged by rhino and got very close to a lion. This was scary but the guides tell you want to do in all situations. Most of the advice is based around not running and you would do well to listen to this.Kit list: - Neutral clothing (no white or colours) for the walks. Shorts and light pants are best - Neck cover for the midday sun - Trail shoes or boots - Plenty of changes for the above - it is hot and sweaty - Day rucsac with water reservoir if you prefer - Hat - Headtorch for the evenings - Games/cards/books for the mid-day - Phones/ipads etc will have no reception but you can take them - Camera and SPARE BATTERY. there are no charging facilities, don't miss out on that shot - Travel towel - there are towels provided but they are pretty mini - Mosquito net - these are provided but ours had holes in - Beers / wine - there are plenty of opportunities for drinks and sundowners and also big freezers and fridges to keep cool. Ice is provided - Sun cream and mosquito repellantEnjoy!

definitivamente lo mejor de mi viaje a sudafrica! estuvimos todo el dia en el kruger (desde las 5.30 am hasta las 5 pm) y todos los momentos fueron increibles, los guias que nos llevan en las jeep son los mejores y tratan de hacer todo lo posible para que veamos la mayor cantidad de animales. nada mas lindo que encontrarlos en su habitat natural, nunca sabes cuando te puede aparecer alguno! una experiencia de lo mejor y algo que no pueden dejar de hacer en sudaffrica. el kruger park es sin dudas el mejor de todos!