Tourism Attractions
One of the boldest and most exciting cross-border initiatives currently unfolding in Southern Africa is the development of transfrontier parks and transfrontier conservation areas. At the forefront is the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park which will bring together some of the best and most established wildlife areas in the subcontinent. This will then be managed as an integrated unit across three international boundaries. The Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park will include South Africa's world-famous Kruger National Park with its extraordinary abundance of wildlife, established infrastructure and tourism-base, as well as the stunning geological splendour of Gonarezhou in Zimbabwe. Mozambique's Limpopo National Park is a pristine wildlife area which has ben open to visitors since 2005. 
Tourists will be able to drive across international boundaries into adjoining conservation areas in the three countries with minimal fuss. In addition to the usual game-viewing opportunities, visitors will have a broader range of new attractions including bird-rich tropical wetlands, lake cruises, tiger-fishing, rugged 4 x 4 adventure drives, and much more. A mix of cultural experiences will be offered, with traditional healers explaining their trade, story-telling, foods, dance, music, handicraft, art and general lifestyle to explore and enjoy. 
The Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park will be a world-class eco-tourism destination, with extensive private sector involvement, but managed to optimize benefits for biodiversity conservation and economic development of local communities. Accommodation details Limpopo National Park, accessible via Giriyondo Access Facility from Kruger National Park, as well as from Mozambique, offers exciting tourism ventures. The following tourism projects now exist in Limpopo National Park:
- Machampane Luxury Tented Camp, which is situated in the solitude of a pristine wilderness area in the Lebombo Mountains. Accommodation consists of luxury en-suite tents on raised decks, set into the river bank and overlooking the Machampane River;
- Rio Elefantes Canoeing Trail, where you can spend three days paddling the Rio Elefantes, camping wild in rustic bush camps on its tree-lined banks. A cast for tiger fish, a pod of hippo or the sighting of a rare bird will enthrall you on your 70km journey to its confluence with the Limpopo.Trails are portered and catered, and led by an experienced guide. All equipment is provided and you paddle 20 to 25 kms per day;
- Elefantes Gorge Backpacking and Fishing Trail allows you to camp wild for five days and four nights as you traverse the plateau above the Rio Elefantes gorge, descending to the shores of Massingir dam to fish for Tiger amongst others - the epitome of freedom in an amazing wilderness area.
Trails are led by an experienced guide but you are required to be totally self-sufficient. The terrain is rugged and requires a reasonable level of fitness for the 15 to 20 kms hiked each day;
- Palarangala Wilderness Trail, where you can spend four days and three nights in a remote rustic camp with dome tents and bush ablutions. Daily guided game walks follow the river or explore the Lebombo plateau close to the Kruger border. Located in an area that has been restocked with game in partnership with Kruger, you have every prospect of encountering a wide array of wildlife.Trails are led by an experienced guide and are fully catered;
- Lebombo Hiking Trail, which offers an unforgettable wildlife experience when you spend four days and three nights hiking through this pristine wilderness area, a perfect setting for game and bird viewing.Trails are portered and catered, and led by an experienced guide. You carry a day-pack, hike 12 to 15 kms per day and overnight in unfenced rustic bush-camps;
- Shingwedzi 4x4 Eco-Trail which allows you to explore the vast wonderland of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park. The five night and six day guided, self-drive, Shingwedzi 4x4 Eco-Trail offers challenging river crossings and the opportunity to navigate seldom travelled tracks. The glorious adventure of camping-out in this remote wilderness, at the edge of pans and river courses whilst listening to the night sounds of the African bush, will imbue you with the spirit of pioneers gone by;
- The Aguia Pesqueira (Fish Eagle) Camp, which is situated halfway between Giriyondo and Massingir and provides the opportunity to camp on a plateau with a spectacular view of the Massingir Dam, measuring 103 km˛ and featuring an abundance of bird life. The camp features an overlander site that has space for 10 campers, 10 individual camp sites and four chalets; and
- Campismo Albufeira that was opened late-2007 and is situated close to the Massingir Entrance Gate, as well as the Massingir Dam wall. It consists of nine chalets and 10 camp sites.
For reservations at the Aguia Pesqueira Campsite and/or Campismo Albufeira, contact the Limpopo National Park Office at +27 (0)72 447 4279 or e-mail limpopo@wol.co.za
For reservations for both Machampane Luxury Tented Camp and any of the trails, open the PDFs below or e-mail info@tfpd.co.za , telephone +27 (0)21 701 7860 or visit www.dolimpopo.com
For details of accommodation in Gonarezhou National Park, kindly visit the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority website and for reservations contact the
Department of National Parks and Wildlife Management
Head Office in Harare, Zimbabwe at
Phone: +263 (0)4 792 786
Fax: +263 (0)4 724 914
e-mail: tfca@africaonline.co.zw
For details on the very wide variety of accommodation that exists in Kruger National Park, kindly visit www.sanparks.org |
