Who can share their bush walking experience in Kruger?

Did one in the morning, this was about 4 years ago. Forgotten which camp were we at/near for it. Walk lasted about 2 hours?? Saw, if I remember, a giraffe in the distance, besides birds only animal we saw. Not sure, but I have a feeling the rangers pick the safest, quietest area they know of to do the walk . Buffalo or eles would be most -not- welcome!!!

regards - tom

We did this out of Berg-en-Dahl this past April. It is a great experience and I highly recommend it. We saw elephants in the distance and rhino at about 40-50m. Just amazing. The Rhinos were a little spooked by us, would stay a bit then off they'd go. They wouldnt go too far as we would see them later again. The guides also explain different plants and other things that are all very interesting. Sitting on a rock in the middle of the bush having a snack, with rhinos nearby, I couldn't wipe the smile off my face.

We did this again in Sabi and saw an elephant very close, our guide had us kneel down in the grass to observe him. Buffalo at about 150 meters as well.

Two camps that are especially noteworthy for bush walks are nThammo and Africa on Foot, both managed by the same company and both located in the Klaserie area.

Don
Owner ... Don Topaz Safaris

nThammo = nThambo

nThambo does not offer walking safaris, except as a little extra after the morning game drive and breakfast. But lots of lodges offer this.

There's a practical reason behind this; you need two heavy weapons licenses to be able to do a foot safari, and nThambo only has one. So that's why, after the morning game drive, Jan (main guide) or Isaac (tracker) get a 2nd gun from AOF and only start a (shorter) walk then. I heard they're in the process of getting an extra license though.

An other reason is product diversification, I assume. It's not very useful to have two camps offering exactly the same at exactly the same area (Ross farm, Klaserie).

If you really are into foot safaris or if you'd like to try it but would like to make sure that you get a good quality product, then I can certainly recommend Africa On Foot. They really put a lot of effort into their product, and it shows.

Booking AOF (or nThambo for that matter) is best done via Sun Safaris; they own part of those lodges, and thus you are sure of getting the lowest prices possible.

B.regs,

J.

Thank you all for your responses. Still trying to decide.

Mohlabetsi also offers morning walking safaris.

I've done 2 of the 3-day "wilderness trails" that Kruger offers (3 nights in a camp with 8 maximum people) and one morning bush walk from Lower Sabie camp. The wilderness trails are without a doubt always the highlight of my trip. We've come close to elephants, rhinos, and lions, and I honestly don't think one could call themselves a nature lover and not enjoy them. You learn a little bit about everything, and I mean everything.

I have been on a few and found them excellent fun but hugely variable in terms of what animals you see as most run away form you ! We went on one near Olifants camp.

Do you have a website we can see?

902alert: Yes, but Fodor's editors' request that one not to link to one's own sites. You might find the info you want in my profile.

Don