Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife   email a friend guestbook sitemap help
member login  
forgot?     register     help  
search site  
browse
WILDERNESS TRAILS
trail destinations
safety
stories
available trails
electronic brochure
prices & bookings
vital information
WCAP
Giants Cup Trail
ecotourism > activities > trails
VITAL INFORMATION
Trails are run throughout the year in various formats and wildlife parks, aimed to include people from all walks of life and enable them to enjoy the Wilderness experience, as well as the broad diversity of fauna and flora, ecological habitat and landforms that characterise KwaZulu Natal.As well as simply providing a pristine and wholesome environment for spiritual, mental and physical rejuvenation, the role of KZN Wildlife Wilderness Trails is also of inestimable value as a forum for informing people experientially of the importance of conserving wild area's, maintaining protected area's and treating with respect the world's dwindling natural resources in the face of an onslaught of advancing technology.

Imfolozi Wilderness Trails:
Imfolozi Game Reserve runs five types of trail in a designated wilderness area, each with it's own ethos and flavour. On all trails you are accompanied by trained, professional wilderness guides who lead you through the area, helping to ensure your safety and facilitate an holistic experience of Wilderness. The Imfolozi Wilderness is a so called 'Big Five' area, and there is always a chance of walking into a black rhino, buffalo or elephant, along with many other species. Trailists have seen wild dog on foot, leopard, cheetah and lions. Also there is a rich diversity of plants and trees which man can live on, and which are still used extensively in Zulu cultural practices for food and natural medicines. There are a host of insects and birds, amphibious creatures and reptiles which will fascinate you. Your wilderness guide will help you to understand some of the vast natural and cultural riches of the area and how they interact, and together you will endeavour to discover where we as mankind find our niche in the whole of life.

Specific Trails Formats:
BASE TRAILS
Duration:
3 Nights
Camp: Mndindini- 2 beds per (3mx3m) tent; shower & toilet with piped water; fridge for drinks.
Staff: Trails Officer; Field Ranger; Cook
After booking in at Mpila camp the visitors are sent to Mndindini Trails Camp where they settle into their tents. The visitors may begin arriving at Mndindini at 15:00 where they are greeted by a Field Ranger and Cook. At approximately 17:00 the Trails Officer arrives to meet the guests and do a trails briefing.
On the following 2 days the visitors leave the camp in the morning after breakfast and spend the entire day in the wilderness area. Trailists carry only daypacks with their personal affects, water and lunch. On the final day the group goes on a morning walk and returns to Mndindini for lunch. The guests then pack and leave- departure time is 15:00.

PRIMITIVE TRAILS
Duration:
4 nights
Camp: No set camp- the Trails Officer chooses a site for the trail to camp for the night. The guests sleep under the stars. Light weight tents are provided for bad weather.
Staff: Trails Officer; Field Ranger
This trail is fully catered (all equipment; bedding; food), the guests are required to assist with food preparation, camp setup and take turns to keep watch at night.
NO SPECIAL DIETS ARE CATERED FOR!
After booking in at Mpila Camp by 10:30 the group is met by the trails staff and trailists pack their backpacks. Trailists then receive a light lunch and briefing before setting off.
The trail spends 4 nights and 3 full days in the wilderness area. On the last day the trail finishes by 10:30.

SHORT TRAIL
Departure Days: Friday; Sunday
Duration:
2 nights
Camp: Both nights are spent at a satellite camp within the iMfolozi wilderness area. The toilet consists of a spade; toilet paper and matches and there is a bucket shower in a tree with warm water. Bedding consists of 2 mattresses in a 3mX3m dome tent.
This trail is fully catered- bedding, food, backpack and water bottle are provided.
Staff: Trails Officer; Field Ranger; Cook.
Visitors book in at Mpila Camp by 12:00. (No Lunch is provided on the day of booking in)and are then met by the trails staff and receive a trails briefing. The group then packs their bags and carries them approximately 7km to the satellite camp. (Guests who overnight at Mpila before the trail can organize to have the bulk of their personal affects carried in to the satellite camp by donkey in donkey bags which will be made available on request. These bags must be packed and ready at Mpila camp by 16:00 the day before the trail.
The group walks out on the third day carrying only their personal affects and lunch. The trail finishes after lunch on the third day.

EXTENDED SHORT TRAIL
Departure Day:
Tuesday
Duration: 3 nights
Camp: All three nights are spent at a satellite camp within the iMfolozi wilderness area. The toilet consists of a spade; toilet paper and matches and there is a bucket shower in a tree with warm water. Bedding consists of 2 mattresses per 3mX3m dome tent.
This trail is fully catered- bedding, food, backpack and water bottle are provided.
Staff: Trails Officer; Field Ranger; Cook.
Visitors book in at Mpila Camp by 12:00. (No Lunch is provided on the day of booking in). They are met by the trails staff and receive a trails briefing. The group then packs their bags and carries them approximately 7km to the satellite camp. (Guests who overnight at Mpila before the trail can organize to have the bulk of their personal affects carried in to the satellite camp by donkey in donkey bags which will be made available. These bags must be packed and ready at Mpila camp by 16:00 the day before the trail.
The group walks out on the fourth day carrying only their personal affects and lunch. The trail finishes after lunch on the fourth day.

WITH THE EXTENDED SHORT AND SHORT TRAILS, IF AN ENTIRE TRAIL IS BOOKED OUT BY ONE GROUP AND IF THE TRAIL BOOKINGS ALLOW FOR IT THE GROUP WOULD BE ABLE TO BOOK 2 CONSECUTIVE TRAILS TO ALLOW FOR A LONGER TRAIL OF EITHER 4 NIGHTS OR 5 NIGHTS DEPENDING ON THE COMBINATION.

BUSHVELD TRAILS
Duration:
2 nights
Camp: Mndindini- 2 beds per 3mx3m tents; shower & toilet with piped water; fridge for drinks.
Staff: Trails Officer; Field Ranger; Cook
After booking in at Mpila camp the visitors are sent Mndindini Trails Camp where they settle in to the tents. The visitors begin arriving at Mndindini at 12:00 where they are greeted by a Field Ranger and Cook. At +14:00 the Trails Officer arrives to meet the guests and do a trails briefing. The group then goes out for an afternoon walk.
On the following day the visitors leave the camp for a morning walk after a light breakfast.
They return to Mndindini for brunch. The group then has the ‘heat of the day' to themselves. Trailists carry only daypacks with their personal affects, water and snacks. After an afternoon snack the group goes on an afternoon walk. On the final day they go on a morning walk and return to Mndindini for brunch. The guests then pack and leave- departure time is 11:30 am.
The morning and day walk split are due to the intense heat of the summer months.
Trailists can arrange to join the Mpila night drive. (normal night drive fees apply).

Note: All trails require a minimum number of four participants to be booked on the trail in order that the trail go out as scheduled. If this minimum number of participants is not booked, the trail will be cancelled timeously and any payments made, refunded. However participants have the option of paying the minimum charge for four people to ensure the trail takes place.

Bookings for Trails may be made through
KZN Wildlife
PO Box 13069
Cascades
Pietermaritzburg
3202

Tel. (033) 845 1000
Fax 086 505884
E-mail: trails@kznwildlife.com

 
© Copyright Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife. All Rights Reserved.
Disclaimer