One of the most rewarding ways to experience the exceptional biodiversity and untouched wilderness of the Pafuri region is on foot with Pafuri Walking Safaris. These exclusive walking trails are limited to small groups of up to eight guests, ensuring a personal and immersive experience in one of Kruger National Park’s most remarkable landscapes.

Each trail is fully guided by highly experienced and passionate professional guides, supported by an additional qualified trails guide. Together, they share detailed insights into the ecology, wildlife, and natural history of the region, offering a deeper understanding of this unique ecosystem as you explore it step by step.

Accommodation is provided in comfortable walk-in canvas dome tents that allow guests to remain closely connected to the surrounding bush. The trails camp is set up in a fixed location each night, with guests setting out on daily walks in different directions depending on terrain, wildlife movement and environmental conditions. Facilities are simple yet practical, including bucket-style hot water showers and en-suite chemical toilets attached to each tent, ensuring essential comfort while maintaining a low-impact footprint in this pristine wilderness setting.

What to Expect 

• Rustic, eco and off the grid trails camp in the heart of the bush
• No electricity or running water
• Comfortable camping beds
• En-suite bush bathroom with flush toilet and hot bush shower
• Bucket showers
• Minimum two-night stay
• Can accommodate a maximum of eight guests
• Professional walking guides
• Short game drives to reach different parts of the concession where walks will take place
• Walks last anywhere between 2.5 – 4 hours
• Lead guide will take into account the fitness levels of the entire group
• Highest biodiversity in Kruger National Park
• Diverse scenery and landscape including Lanner Gorge, Crook’s Corner, the Fever Tree
• Forest, pans, mountains and floodplains
• Birder’s paradise (over 450 species of birds) with unique species only occurring in Pafuri
• The Walking Trails operate from 01 April to 31 October

About Pafuri / Makuleke Concession 

The Pafuri (Makuleke) Concession is perhaps the best area for walking in the entire Kruger National Park. It is blessed with exceptional biodiversity, spectacular scenery, seasonally high densities of many large mammal species, a feeling of wilderness and remoteness, and a sense of deep history. The 26,500-hectare area is sandwiched between the life-giving arteries of the Limpopo and Luvuvhu Rivers, both with well-developed floodplains and a series of vitally important seasonal pans. Between the floodplains lies a ridge of hills with a network of drainage lines and secret perennial springs to which the area's game is drawn. Rugged baobab dotted kopjes jut from mopane woodland providing endless vistas across palm-studded floodplains, acacia woodland and ethereal riverine forest.

The Pafuri area is one of the few true wilderness areas left in South Africa. Large herds of elephant occupy the area during the dry season while several herds of buffalo are resident. There are resident prides of lion and the Luvuvhu riparian system supports a healthy population of leopard. A small white rhino population also exists. The area is well-known for its strong nyala and eland population however as well as other regional specials like four-toed elephant shrew, Sharpe's grysbok and even a small herd of sable. On the easternmost boundary at "Crooks Corner" the Luvuvhu supports a large population of hippo and crocodile. The concession is widely regarded as one of the best birding areas in South Africa with specialties such as Pel's Fishing Owl, Black-throated Wattle-Eye, Three-banded Courser, Racket-Tailed Roller and Dickinson's Kestrel seen regularly.