Off the beaten track per 4x4 through Limpopo

Day 1: arrive Johannesburg -

After arrival at Johannesburg airport you will be transferred to your hotel where you will stay the night.

Day 2: Johannesburg - Marakele National Park -

You will meet your guide in your hotel this morning. Together with your guide you pick up your 4×4 vehicle and after you have done some shopping, drive to the Marakele National Park together. Marakele National Park is located in the heart of the Waterberg mountains. Animals that you can encounter here include elephants, rhinos, big cats and many different bird species, including the rare Cape vulture.

You will spend the night in the Bontle Rest Camp, a beautiful rest camp with shared bathroom / toilets and camping pitches with electricity. This is the first night that you have to ‘bray’ your own meat on an open fire. Welcome to Africa!

Day 3: Marakele National Park - Mapungubwe National Park -

After breakfast, which you prepare yourself, you leave Marakele and go to the Mapungubwe National Park. Mapungubwe means “place of the stone of wisdom” and the rich culture and spiritual powers of Africa can still be felt in this ancient and unchanged landscape.

You will stay in wilderness cabins. By this time you are experienced in ‘braaking’ on an open fire, like the real pioneers did in the past.

Day 5: Mapungubwe National Park -

Today you go on ‘Heritage tour’. You can see an elite cemetery at the top of Mapungubwe Hill, a natural amphitheater and visit the museum. In this interesting museum you will learn more about the history of this age-old landscape and the societies that have lived here.

This park is known for the many baobab trees that occur in this region. The trees can grow up to 20 meters high and 3000 years old!

Day 6: Mapungubwe National Park - Awelani Lodge, near Kruger National Park -

After a ride during sunrise and the breakfast that you have prepared yourself, you drive to the gate. You leave Mapungubwe National Park and drive to Mussina. Here you can refuel and shop for groceries before you continue to Awelani Lodge. This lodge is located near the Pafuri entrance.

Tonight you can enjoy dinner at the lodge’s restaurant.

Day 7: Kruger National Park -

A full day in the Kruger Natioanl Park is on the program today. You have breakfast in the restaurant of the lodge, pack your lunch pack and drive to the Pafuri entrance. Today you are exploring the Pafuri part of Kruger National Park. The Kruger Park is one of the largest game reserves in Africa. It is the habitat of the Big Five, among others: lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo. But cheetahs, hyenas, wild dogs, zebras and giraffes also live here.

You are looking for a nice picnic place for lunch and you drive to the famous Crook’s Corner.

Overnight is again at Awelani Lodge and also tonight you don’t have to take care of your own dinner. You dine in the restaurant of the lodge.

Day 8: Awelani Lodge - Shingwedzi Rest Camp, Kruger National Park -

After breakfast at the lodge you drive to the Pafuri entrance. Today you drive through the Pafuri part of the park in a southerly direction to the Shingwedzi Rest Camp. Along the way you say goodbye to the baobab trees that you have seen so much in recent days and enter the region with mopani trees. The ride will take about 4-6 hours, since you are not allowed to drive faster than 50 km per hour and you will most likely stop regularly for the animals.

You spend the night at the Shingwedzi Rest Camp and have dinner at the camp restaurant tonight.

Day 9: Kruger National Park - Phalaborwa -

After breakfast in the restaurant at Shingwedzi Rest Camp you set off. You drive to Phalaborwa. Of course you will enjoy all the wildlife along the way that you will undoubtedly encounter. You also make a stop at the Mopani Rest Camp. Here you can optionally have lunch in the restaurant. This restaurant has a fantastic view over the park! Then you drive to the Phalaborwa Safari Park where you camp. You share the shower and toilets with fellow campers.

Today you will also do some shopping for the coming days! Make sure you stock enough food, drinks, fuel, etc. for the next two nights.

Tonight you will dine in the hotel restaurant opposite the Phalaborwa Safari Park.

Day 10-11: Phalaborwa - Baderukwe 4x4 eco trail, Greater Kruger National Park -

The day starts quietly. You can prepare your breakfast at leisure and pack everything for the 4×4 adventure of the coming days. You leave Phalaborwa around 11 a.m. You drive the Letaba Ranch, located in the Greater Kruger National Park. There are no gates between the Kruger National Park and Letaba Ranch, so the animals roam freely.

You will experience Africa while you calmly drive the Baderukwe 4×4 eco trail. The route goes through a number of water pools, so you will probably spot a lot of game during the ride. Your camping pitch is located on the banks of the Baderukwe River. There are no toilets and showers, so you are really dependent on your outdoor camping equipment for the next two nights.

On day 11 you pack your camping equipment again and continue the route in the direction of your next camping site. Your next overnight stay is on the banks of the Great Letaba River. After setting up the camp you can have lunch. Around 2 p.m. you set off and drive to the place where the Great Letaba and the Little Letaba rivers meet. At the viewpoints you have a beautiful view of the landscape.

Tonight you fall asleep again to the sounds of the bush. The ‘laughter’ of the hyenas, the ‘trumpet’ sound of the elephants or the cries of the owl.

Day 12: Baderukwe 4x4 eco trail - Malopeni trail -

You leave the Letaba Ranch and drive back to Phalaborwa. You will arrive in Phalaborwa around noon and will do some shopping first. Around 2 p.m. you will set off again and drive to Phalaborwa gate and enter Kruger Park. Today you drive the Malopeni trail in the northeastern part of the Phalaborwa gate to the Letaba River. What makes this trail so exciting and fun is that hardly anyone ever comes here. The route takes you to Malopeni Camp on the banks of the Letaba River. You will camp here tonight. This campsite has chemical toilets and ’empty’ shower cabins. You can hang your own bush shower here.

Day 13: Malopeni trail - Phalaborwa -

After you have packed your camping gear again, you slowly drive back to the gate. Of course you can enjoy the wildlife along the way that you will undoubtedly spot.

Tonight you will camp again at the Phalaborwa Safari Park. You will again have dinner at the hotel across the road from your campsite.

Day 14: Phalaborwa - Johannesburg -

Today you will leave for Johannesburg. After returning the car you will be taken to your hotel for the night. This overnight stay is included. You say goodbye to your guide and get ready for the last night of your trip. Today you can enjoy a warm shower and a comfortable bed again.

Day 15: End trip -

You will be brought back to Johannesburg airport for your flight back to the Netherlands.

Trip number	8026
Price per person	From€ 3416/ per person
Travel duration	15days
Countries	South Africa
Starting point	Johannesburg
endpoint	Johannesburg
Included	13 days 4x4 car rental including insurance and fuel Guidance by professional guide An overnight stay in a hotel in Johannesburg before and after the journey 12 nights on campsites and in wilderness cabins Mentioned meals Entrance fees to the parks Transfer from Johannesburg airport to your first overnight hotel and transfer back to the airport from your last overnight hotel
Not included	Flights and possibly visa Travel and cancellation insurance Not mentioned meals and drinks Groceries Personal expenses and fees
Type of transport	own car
Type of accommodation	Camping
Luxury level	Budget
Malaria	Yes
Child friendly	no

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Off the beaten track per 4×4 through Limpopo

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