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Pafuri, a great wilderness area
The northern Kruger National Park
Male lions resting in the winter bush.
© Chris Marais
Did you know?
The world's oldest baobab tree, the Sunland Baobab, is over 6 000 years old.
The northern section of the Kruger National Park is an area of unique biodiversity. It's one of the few places where fever tree forests grow side by side with forests of giant baobabs. The trees line the banks of the Limpopo and Luvuvhu rivers: the slim, pale, luminescent green trunks of the fever trees glimmering between the massive dark brown trunks of the baobabs.
When you stay at Pafuri Wilderness Camp, one of the Kruger National Park's private lodges, you're in the ancestral lands of the Makuleke people, who, in partnership with Wilderness Safaris, act as custodians of this wildly beautiful area. Local staff are trained and encouraged by experienced rangers and service staff from all over South Africa.
Your birding guide will spot a fleeting feather as easily as you can find your way around your home town. If you're looking for that special bird, they'll find it, entice it nearer with its own individual call, and then all you have to do is tick it off on your list.
The crowned eagle, the wattle-eyed flycatcher, Bohm's spinetail and, of course, the elusive and highly sought-after Pels fishing owl, are some of the specials. The Big 5 – lion, elephant, leopard, rhino and buffalo – are present, and you will encounter elephants everywhere.
Well over a million years ago, Homo erectus walked and lived here. You'll be shown Stone-Age hand-axes and unexcavated dinosaur fossils.
Crooks' Corner, which links South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, is where the villains of yesteryear hung out. In winter, when the Limpopo is dry, they could easily move from one country to another, dodging the herds of elephants which take mud baths along the banks.
Travel tips & Planning info
Who to contact
Wilderness Safaris
Tel: +27 (0) 11 807 1800
South African National Parks Central Reservations
Tel: +27 (0) 12 428 9111
Email: reservations@sanparks.org
How to get here
By road from Johannesburg to Phalaborwa, and then north to the Pafuri gate. Pafuri Wilderness Camp can organise charter flights from Johannesburg to the Satara airstrip in the Kruger National Park and will collect you from there.
Around the area
If you are doing a self-drive, then you can drive to other areas in the park. The area around Satara camp is particularly rich in game.
Tours to do
Your guide will offer you a range of activities from a guided walk to night game drives.
Get around
Your ranger will drive you in an open game-viewing vehicle.
Length of stay
Plan on at least 3 nights.
What to pack
Light clothing for the day, a warm jacket, beanie and scarf for the evening. Pafuri Wilderness Camp provides toiletries, insect repellant and a laundry service.
Where to stay
The Pafuri Wilderness Camp.
What to eat
The Pafuri Wilderness Camp's home-cooked meals are delicious!