African Travel Guides - Self Drive Routes - Accommodation - Car Hire

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  INFORMATION:
  LIMPOPO PROVINCE | TZANEEN | KRUGER NATIONAL PARK 

 
Province: Limpopo province
Route: The African Ivory Route


ROUTES
General Tour  |  Big 5 Trail |   Levubu Route  |  Limpopo Route | Olifant safari Route  |  Wilderness Trail

The African Ivory Route extends for some 2 000 km in a giant arc through scenic wilderness areas and game reserves along the eastern, northern and western boundaries of the Limpopo (Northern) Province. The route is an important ecotourism and 4X4 adventure destination popular with safari enthusiasts. It offers excellent Big Five game viewing, birding and guided hiking trails. Other adventure options include exciting off-road driving, horse trails, river rafting and abseiling. 

The route also showcases the fascinating and diverse cultural heritage of the province. From the outset, empowerment through training has been a key priority in the development of the route and camp staff have received training in customer care, communication skills, tourist guiding, food preparation and basic computer skills. Accommodation is available in 12 scenically situated camps comprising traditional huts and luxury or dome tents with communal kitchen facilities. Ablution facilities are en suite or communal. The camps accommodate only ten guests at a time.

The African Ivory Route is for the person drawn to the African wildernesses. It is a world of breathtaking scenery and endless vistas of African bush where to this day large herds of elephants roam. 

Wild and untamed, it is part of the more than 3,6 million hectares of national parks, nature reserves and game farms stretching across Limpopo Province. The route extends for some 2 000 km in a giant arc through remote scenic wilderness areas along the eastern, northern and western boundaries of the province.

Extremely rugged in places, the route skirts or traverses five major mountain ranges: the Strydpoortberge in the south, the Waterberg in the northwest, the Soutpansberg in the central area and the Drakensberg and Lebombos in the east. 

The Ivory Route has its origins in the legendary exploits of early ivory hunters and gold traders and is today an important eco-tourism and 4X4 adventure destination popular with safari enthusiasts. Roads are rudimentary, but not all require off-road vehicles.

WILDLIFE
Wildlife enthusiasts will delight in the opportunities which the route presents for self-drive game viewing of the Big Five, guided wilderness hiking trails, horse trails and excellent birding.

Manyeleti Nature Reserve offers some of the best lion and leopard encounters, while Letaba Ranch is known for its vast numbers of elephant and buffalo. Hippo and crocodile sightings are frequent in the Great Letaba River and the remote Makuya Park is an excellent choice for those in search of elephant, buffalo, hippo and lion. 

ADVENTURE OPPORTUNITIES
The Ivory Route provides great opportunities for nature-based adventure tourism. The rugged terrain is much appreciated by 4X4 enthusiasts, while the guided wilderness trails on offer in Manyeleti, Letaba Ranch, Makuya Park and Mafefe Camp add a different perspective to game viewing. River rafting can be enjoyed in season in the Olifants River. The Mutale and Levubu gorges also offer good opportunities for abseiling. 

CULTURE
The cultural heritage of the fascinating area reflects the diverse cultures of the present day inhabitants of the area, intrepid adventurers from a colourful past and ancient civilisations of which only archaeological evidence remains. 

Cultural highlights along the route include numerous examples of San rock art, the realm of the Rain Queen Modjadji and archaeological sites such as Thulamela in the Kruger National park, Mapungubwe in the north of the province and Makapan's Caves north of Mokopane (Potgietersrus). 

ACCOMMODATION 
Accommodation along the route is available in 12 scenically situated camps comprising traditional huts and luxury or dome tents with communal kitchen facilities. Ablution facilities are en suite or communal. The camps accommodate only ten guests at a time. Staff members at the camps are trained as guides and can show tourists the sights of the area.


CAMPS
Baleni Camp is situated in a remote and tranquil mopane forest on the banks of the Klein Letaba River at Sautini, 'the place of salt'. Baleni provides a glimpse of the traditional lifestyle of the local Shangaan communities, including their salt mining activities. Accommodation is available in five traditional huts. 

Blouberg Camp near Vivo offers traditional huts for ten guests and opportunities for day excursions to Machabeng rock art, the Leibzicht missionary station and various other attractions. Of particular interest is a large expanse of indigenous yellow-wood trees. The area is also home to one of the largest colonies of Cape vultures in South Africa. The colourfully decorated huts have en-suite facilities- 

Dongola-Vhembe Camp, to be situated at the confluence of the Limpopo and Sashe Rivers near Pontdrif. The scenic surroundings, migration of elephants from Botswana and back and the Mapungubwe archaeological site are some of the highlights encountered here. The camp falls within the proposed boundaries of the Dongola-Vhembe National Park which will form the core of the pr;posed Limpopo-Shashe Transfrontier Conservation Area. Dome tents provide accommodation

Mafefe Camp on a high plateau! in the Northern Drakensberg can only be reached with an off-road vehicle and provides plenty of opportunities to test the skill of both vehicles and drivers. The rugged 
mountainous terrain of this remote area, together with hiking and horse trails, will appeal to the more adventurous. The Olifants River Gorge and Lekgalameetsi and Wolkberg Wilderness areas boast stunning scenery. Colourfully decorated ethnic huts provide accommodation.

Masunda Camp in the southern region of the Makuya Park Wilderness area opens in 2002. Situated on the banks of the-t.evubu River in an area frequented by plains game. The wilderness experience is the main attraction here. Guided game trails are also available. Dome tents provide accommodation.

Modjadji Camp near Tzaneen lies in the realm of the mystical Rain Queen in the Modjadji Cycad Reserve. A hiking trail amongst 800-year- old cycads to the cycad interpretation centre and the royal kraal of Queen Modjadji is particularly rewarding for those with a botanic bent. Excellent birding can be enjoyed. Traditional huts offer accommodation.

Mokolo Dam Camp near Lephalale opens for visitors during the course of 2002. The camp is accessible by boat only and offers guided game trails and boat safaris on the dam. Birdlife is prolific in this remote wilderness area. Accommodation is available in dome tents.

Mtomeni Camp is situated in the Letaba Ranch Game Reserve bordering the Kruger National Park, just north of Phalaborwa. Five safari tents offer accommodation. Game drives to view the Big Five and guided hikes are available.

Mutale Falls Camp in the Makuya Park Wilderness area of Pafuri shares the levubu River as the border with the Kruger National Park. The falls. close to the camp. offer scenic surroundings for walks and swimming. while the gorge is ideal for abseiling. provided prior arrangements have been made. Various demanding and exciting 4X4 wilderness trails. as well as guided hikes can be enjoyed. Five safari tents provide accommodation.

Ndzhaka Camp in the Manyeleti Reserve bordering the Orpen Gate of the Kruger National Park and Sabi Sands. is a prime Big Five destination. Day and night game drives and guided hikes are available. Accommodation is available in safari tents.

Ntubu Camp in the Masebe Reserve offers some of the most dramatic sandstone formations along the Waterberg Escarpment. Rock art and game add to the attractions of the reserve. Tented accommodation is available.

Tshivhase Camp in Venda offers a convenient base camp for short trips to visit lake Fundudzi. the sacred forest that is home to the ancestral spirits guarding the Venda. and many other scenic attractions in the land of legends. Cultural huts provide accommodation.