Grootbos – South Africa
Grootbos is a jewel in the crown of the Cape Floristic Region. Here you can immerse yourself in the delicate wonders of the fynbos on guided walks, bikes and drives where stunning flowers, milkwood forests and endemic birds of prey are amongst the stars. The superb lodges are perched on a hillside overlooking Walker Bay where seasonal land and boat-based whale watching is a real highlight. The beach is just minutes away and you’ll be immersed in a world of history where the coastal caves serve as a reminder of the first people that one roamed these shores. There are not too many places that offer empty white sand beaches quite like this – walking, horse-riding or simply doing nothing! The list of activities to do and community/conservation programs is long.
Phinda – Rocktail Bay, South Africa
The classic South African Bush & Beach links the world renowned & Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve with Wilderness Safaris’ Rocktail Bay just a short hop to the north of it on the idyllic Maputaland Coast. This region is without a doubt the most biodiverse in the country, combining a range of different habitats with accommodation and activities to match! Here there is simply too much to absorb; from all the big game to the diminutive Suni antelope as well as hundreds of species of trees, birds and butterflies. It is also the place to relax in peace and let the wildlife come to you. After the big adventure of game drives and walks, the adventure of exploring the pristine coast and underwater delights begins…
African Civet po(o)ps by…
One of things we love to do with our guests is find a waterhole or well-used game trail to put up a camera trap. The infra-red sensor takes photos while we sleep and later we get to download the card and find out who came to visit. Better still is to look at the tracks first and try to establish how many species came past. In Karongwe, west of the Kruger National Park, we had a successful nights’ trapping. The highlight was an African Civet which decided to poop right in front of the camera. Anyone that has seen the droppings in a civetry (a special name for their latrine) will have questioned how an animal the size of a civet could pass them – well take a close look at the photo. The answer is it isn’t easy!
I always enjoy finding African Civet on a night safari – for me it is a sign of a healthy environment
A picture says a thousand words!
Although the porcupine is actually quite common, you don’t get to see them too often unless they are raiding the camp veggie garden.
I assume this Common Duiker was headed for a morning drink at the waterhole
This female impala must have sensed something out of place on the tree – she is very alert
If you put a camera trap up just about anywhere for a few days, you are bound to get at least one look-in from an inquisitive baboon!
Incredible wail of the Indri
There are over 100 species of lemurs recognised in Madagascar (only there right!), but none come close to the largest, the Indri when it comes to sound! This short clip is exactly that sound.
Take A Walk On The Wild Side
The Pafuri Walking Trail in the Makuleke Concession of the Kruger National Park is without a doubt one of the most remote and wild walking experiences that can be found today. A 3 night 4 day trail is the perfect getaway to experience nature at its best.
The early hours of each day were spent walking in various parts of this unique and extremely diverse area. We had a number of great sightings of elephant, safety is distance when out walking which can be hard to maintain whilst walking for 4 to 5 hours. Most of the time we were able to get to an elevated area and enjoyed watching the behavior of the elephants whilst they were completely unaware of our presence. Buffalo were fairly common and we had to be very careful where we walked. Once or twice we got a little too close for comfort but with the knowledge and experience of our guides we were able to appreciate the skills needed to spend time safely in this environment and avoided having to climb any trees.
In this areas the cats are difficult to find on foot so in the in the afternoon we would use the the vehicle to explore the area, we were fortunate to see two different leopards which was a real highlight. We found some spectacular spots to enjoy our hard earned sun downers and to relive the days sightings. When we arrived back at camp after each adventure, we were greeted warmly by the friendly staff and treated to some fabulous meals cooked on the open fire.
We really had a fantastic time and enjoyed every minute of the adventure, a special thanks to the staff at Pafuri for such a great experience and for making us feel so welcome and for looking after us so well.
Some of the best walking in South Africa, the Pafuri Wilderness Trail is perfectly situated to explore this incredibly diverse area.
The reputation of a buffalo is well deserved, which is why taking photos from the comfort of a vehicle will generally yield better photos due to less camera shake.
A lone elephant bull in the spectacular Fever Tree forests.
Reading tracks and signs at the confluence of the Limpopo and Levuvu rivers.
Enjoying the freedom of tracking animals on foot in the dry Limpopo River.
Enjoying wildlife from the comfort of the camp. This elephant spent most of the mid day feeding around our tents.
The thrill and excitement of the mornings adventure proving too much for Gareth.
Brett, head of sustainability at Wilderness Safaris enjoying a fantastic photographic opportunity with this herd of buffalo.
Spectacular scenery from Lanner Gorge, probably one of the best place in Africa to enjoy sundowners.
Walking in the wilderness is all about having fun and leaving the daily grind behind.
Time on foot allows you to earn a greater understanding of the natural world. We had an opportunity to spend time exploring the skull of an elephant which was extremely interesting.
Taking a rest after a long morning walk and enjoying the scenic Levuvu River.
Every sunset in the African wilderness is special, one has to make sure to not spend too much time in the city before the next one.
