Eco Ranger Experience

This morning board a shuttle transfer from Johannesburg to Hoedspruit via Dullstroom.

The village of Dullstroom is South Africa’s premier fly-fishing destination. Lunch stop en route (own account). On arrival in Hoedspruit, guests are transferred to the lodge. Enjoy dinner at the lodge.

Overnight at Timbavati Safari Lodge or similar – Dinner and breakfast

Enjoy breakfast at the lodge and then are transferred to the Kruger National Park’s Pafuri Gate in the north-eastern corner of the Limpopo Province.

You will be met and transferred from Pafuri Gate to the Makuleke Camp. Enjoy lunch at Makuleke Camp, followed by a attend a safety briefing and orientation of the camp, including an introduction to the camp staff and an overview of this experience.

Meals are served at the camp and each day’s activities are divided into three sessions.

Enjoy some time at leisure to settle in before the afternoon’s practical activity either on a game drive or a bush walk.

Overnight at Makuleke Camp – Dinner, lunch, breakfast, and activities

This morning board a vehicle for a game drive or join a guided bush walk.

The focus of the morning activity is on basic ecology and geology.

Around noon, partake in an interactive discussion with the instructor on geology and soils; weather and atmosphere; food web and energy flow; and habitat ecology and conservation.

The Makuleke Concession of the ‘Pafuri Triangle’ is created by the intersection of the Limpopo and Luvuvhu Rivers. The Limpopo, a dying river, is estimated to be more than 65 million years old. The Luvuvhu, a young river, has carved its way through the region’s sandstone to form Lanner Gorge and although thought to be younger than 2 million years old, it’s an important feature in the Makuleke Concession. The landscape is ancient and is thought to date back more than 250 million years.

Enjoy an afternoon game drive or join a guided bush walk. Apart from elephant and buffalo, guests may see nyala, eland and Sharpe’s grysbok, not commonly seen elsewhere in Kruger National Park. Guides will illustrate the theory discussed earlier in practical learning, whilst out in the field. You are encouraged to apply these skills in an informal Q&A session whilst out in the field.

Overnight at Makuleke Camp – Dinner, lunch, breakfast, and activities

This morning, walk the trails from camp focusing on animal tracks, a hands-on experience.
Participate in an interactive discussion on the theories and practical application of tracking in the African bush which include an introduction to basic tracks and tracking skills. Tracking contributes to key insights on how animals behave and is an art that teaches observation, reasoning, and deduction.

Second discussion will cover anti-poaching which consists of two general categories. The first targets the illegal incursions and includes coercive methods to track and catch poachers. The second deals with campaigns and policies to prevent the illegal trafficking of animal products i.e. targeting the supply and demand chains of the trade. The discussion will include basic anti-poaching strategies and logistics out in the field.

In the afternoon, you will focus on the key points of the day’s theory, and apply these principles either on a game drive or on a bush walk. This evening, spend the night in the bush applying basic survival skills including the sourcing of water; preparing a bush fire; practical bush cooking and safety. Understanding energy-output-for-benefit ratio and making smart decisions.

Activities will include astronomy and orientation by understanding the southern hemisphere constellations including the Southern Cross. Survivalists claim that navigation is the key to getting home. On clear nights and on a full moon guests can also apply basic navigation theory and get a directional fix from the moon. Enjoy dinner around the campfire with storytelling.

Overnight at Makuleke (bush sleep-out) – Dinner, lunch, breakfast, and activities

This morning you will walk back to camp applying newly found skills tracking, navigation and orientation skills as well as focusing on the unique bird species that are found in the Northern Kruger National Park.

Participate in an interactive discussion on birding and identification using bird reference guides. Join an afternoon game drive to an area where you will practice basic birding skills and incorporate general game viewing and enjoy your last sundowner before returning to camp for a special boma dinner.

Overnight at Makuleke Camp – Dinner, lunch, breakfast, and activities

This morning board an early transfer from Makuleke and spend the day travelling south through the Kruger National Park. Breakfast packs will be provided and enjoy Lunch in Kruger National Park (own account).

You exit the park at Phalaborwa Gate arriving at the lodge late afternoon. Board an open safari vehicle for an evening game drive. Dine at the lodge which will be followed by issuing of certificates of participation.

Overnight at Leopards Lair – Dinner, breakfast, and 2 game activities

Enjoy a last early morning game drive in an open safari vehicle before breakfast. Afterward you will be transferred to Hoedspruit airport, where your arrangements end.