The Luvuvhu Trail runs from Phalaborwa to Pafuri, through the Greater Kruger’s Letaba Ranch and Makuya Park. Trailists need to be fully self-sufficient with low-range, high-clearance 4×4 vehicles (soft-riders can’t get through this territory). The option exists for trailists to use off-road, 4×4 trailers. Bring your own camping equipment, food and drinks.The lead guide has his own vehicle, and 2-way radios are provided for all vehicles on the trail.
Itinerary
Day 1
Depart from Phalaborwa at 12h00. We follow the main road and 20km further enter the Limpopo provincial reserve of Letaba Ranch, a sector of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park (no fence between Kruger and Letaba Ranch). Experience “Africa” as we slowly grind along the off- road tracks through this virgin bush travelling in a northerly direction. The route takes us past various water holes in order to maximise our game viewing opportunities, and on to our overnight campsite on the banks of the Baderoukwe River. Because there are no amenities at the campsites, you will have the opportunity to use the full range of your outdoor camping equipment
Day 2
Depart after breakfast and follow the tracks to the confluence of the Great Letaba and Little Letaba Rivers where we will stop for lunch. The route will now take us up river to our camp site which is situated on the banks of the Great Letaba River. Who knows which of the “sounds of the wild” will accompany you to sleep? Will it be the laugh of hyena, trumpeting of elephant or the whistle of the tiny Scops owl?
Day 3
Exit the exciting Letaba Ranch sector, and slowly make our way along the Little Letaba River. Although we are technically outside the Park, we will however have to keep a watchful eye out for Elephant and Buffalo as we slowly make the steep decent into the wide and sandy river bed. “Plough” through thick sand while trying to keep momentum, as we follow the Kruger boundarybefore we have to climb up the steep ascent to exit the river bed.
4×4 tracks will take us all along the Kruger fence, before we stop for a well deserved rest and lunch in the bush. After lunch the route takes us through a couple of traditional African Shangaan Villages, before we cross the Luvuvhu river and arrive at the foothills of the Tshamavudzi Mountain range. We enter the wild Limpopo reserve of Makuya Park, a sector of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park and carefully follow the rough tracks down into the Luvuvhu River Valley to our overnight campsite on the banks of the Luvuvhu River (No amenities).
Day 4
The early sounds of nature and the whiff of fresh coffee will undoubtedly tease you out of your tent! Depart after breakfast, and follow the off- road 4×4 tracks in a northerly direction along the Luvuvhu river. We will stop for lunch under the shady trees that line the river bank, visit the famous “World’s View” before reaching our camp site which is once again situated on the banks of the Luvuvhu River (Limited ablution facilities).
Day 5
We continue our off- road 4×4 adventure journey across the foothills of the Tshamavudzi Mountain range to the Mutale River. We cross the Mutale River on its riverbed (no bridge) and end our adventure at the Kruger National Park’s Pafuri Gate.
