::. Welcome to OUTPOST SAFARIS .::

HIKING ADVENTURES
A love for the rugged, out-doors is what all hikers and campers have in common, and nowhere in the world is it as rugged as in Africa. Outpost Safaris can offer a number of guided hikes in South Africa and Tanzania, ranging from three to seven days and more. The trails offered are:

	Drakensburg Mountains, KwaZulu-Natal – South Africa
	Big 5 hikes inside Kruger National Park – South Africa
	Wilderness trail in Hluhluwe/Umfolozi Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal – S.A.
	Maputuland wetlands trails, Northern KwaZulu-Natal
	Mt. Kilimanjaro – Tanzania

THE DRAKENSBURG
The spectacular Drakensberg mountain range in South Africa has got to be one of the best hiking destinations in the world. The escarpment is very dramatic with sheer, vertical walls, indigenous yellowood forest and a number of beautiful waterfalls cascading from the summit plateau.
The Drakensberg is a hiker’s paradise with well-marked trails hugging the contour of the slopes or zigzagging up steep passes to the top of the escarpment.

The trails vary in difficulty and you must specify exactly what sort of adventure you are looking for. Accommodation on these adventures ranges from rugged huts (sleeps max. 8 people) on the contour trail to caves and tents on the top floor. Of interest in the reserve, bushman paintings in the Giants Castle area, the Amphitheatre and waterfalls at Royal Natal, numerous caves all along the the top of the escarpment and the various mountain game roaming the hills.

In winter, ice climbers can enjoy scaling numerous frozen waterfalls, but be warned, weather in the Berg can change in the space of half an hour, and hikers and climbers alike must be prudent

KRUGER NATIONAL PARK
There are 7 different trails within the Kruger National Park. The duration of all the trails are 3 nights/2 days, which to some sounds too little, but a group can do 2 or 3 of the trails to fully appreciate the wilderness of the Kruger. The numbers are restricted to 8 people per party for obvious reasons, and an armed game ranger leads all expeditions for your safety, after all you are walking in Lion country. These trails are open all year, but booking should be done 6 months in advance as the demand for these trips is huge.

NB: This is Malaria area, please consult your pharmacist for necessary precautions.

HLUHLUWE/UMFOLOZI WILDERNESS TRAIL
This 5day/4night trail offered by the Natal Parks Board, runs from March to November. An armed Parks Board ranger guides hikers (max. 8 people) into the heart of this Big 5 Game Reserve. The first and last night are spent at Mndindini tented camp on the banks of the White Mfolozi River, and the other 2 nights at the trails camp in the wilderness zone.

All meals are provided for with the exception of alcoholic beverages and snacks.

NB: As this Malaria area, please take precautions.

WETLANDS TRAILS - MAPUTULAND
Maputuland includes the area from the St Lucia estuary northwards to the Mozambique border. It is a wilderness of lakes, rivers, pristine beaches with offshore coral reefs, indigenous bush and coastal forest and is a few hours drive from Durban. It includes the five fresh water Kosi lakes, lake Sibaya, and Lake St Lucia with the Mkuze and Pongola river systems. Much of the area is incorporated in the Greater St Lucia Wetland System, which has been declared a world heritage site.

NB: Malaria precautions must be taken.

MT. KILIMANJARO - TANZANIA
Climbing to the roof of Africa is the most complete expedition a hiker can undertake, as one experiences tropical temperatures in rain forest surroundings, and arctic sub-zero temperature winds coming off glaciers, in the space of 6 days. Mt. Kilimanjaro is situated a mere 3 degrees south of the equator, and at the base the vegetation is lush and the climate sub-tropical. As you proceed, the landscape gradually gets more arid, until you reach the summit at 5985m ASL, where 30m high glaciers hang off the top. Temperatures at the base average 30 Celsius, and at the summit –10 Celsius. Accommodation on the Marangu route is in wooden huts (only a mattress is provided). Accommodation on the Machame route is in tents.

Simply send an email through to this link with the title as the destination for which you require further information, and we will send you a Mt. Kilimanjaro climb itinerary.

I t i n e r a r y S e l e c t i o n
As there are so many trails, it is difficult to put them all on the page – so what we suggest is to contact us with a request of the type of expedition you are looking for, including the scale of difficulty, and we will send you 2 suggested itineraries to peruse. Being a hiker myself with a love for camping in the outdoors, this is what I would suggest. Please note that all food is included in the trip, with the exception of snacks and alcoholic beverages. Tents and utensils are included in the rates, hiking gear, such as packs can be hired from our mountain guide.

S u g g e s t e d I t i n e r a r y

Day 1

Arrive at Durban international airport, Road transfer to Drakensberg, O/night at one of the parks board lodges.

Day 2

Set off on hike – explore the caves, waterfalls and yellowood forest – O/night in the mountain reserve. (Accommodation in hikers huts, tents or caves – depending on the trail chosen).

Day 3

Set off for summit, O/night on summit – accommodation in caves or tents.

Day 4

Hike along the top of the escarpment and down one of the many steep passes, O/night at the base of the escarpment – accommodation in hikers hut.

Day 5

Set off for lodge, after an early lunch – depart for Umhlanga Rocks, O/night at the Umhlanga Sands Hotel.

Day 6

Day at your leisure in this coastal resort village, things to do in Umhlanga
Beach activities in warm Indian Ocean

Dolphin viewing – 20US$
Surf lessons – 20 US$
Microlite flight over coastline – 50 US$
Or else, enjoy sunderdowners in the warm evenings

Day 7

Depart for Hluhluwe/Umfolozi Game Reserve, arrive at Mdindini tented camp in the evening after game driving through reserve. O/night at camp.

Day 8

Hike in Big 5 country with armed game ranger – O/night in wilderness.

Day 9

Hike in Big 5 country with armed game ranger – O/night in wilderness.

Day 10

Hike continues, heading back to Mdindini tented camp for last night in the Reserve.

Day 11-12

After an early breakfast, you head off for Sodwana Bay Lodge – in the Sodwana Bay area.
Activities on offer are:

Scuba diving & snorkeling
Deep sea fishing
Day hikes in the Sodwana Bay National Park – the Park consists of dense sand forest and estuaries, with fantastic birding.

Day 13

Set off for Umhlanga Rocks, afternoon at leisure - O/night in the Umhlanga Sands Hotel.

Day 14

Road transfer to Durban international airport in time for your flight home.