The Timbavati Primitive Trail is a multi-day guided hike spanning the gorgeous Lowveld Savannah in the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, part of the Greater Kruger National Park.
Led by professional Wilderness Trails Guides, you will spend a minimum of three self-sufficient nights (four days) in the wild. By carrying all your equipment on your back, you’ll enter a world accessible to a privileged few.
There are no demarcated campsites or routes for these Trails. You set your own pace and explore according to your interests and capabilities, sleeping at a pristine site under the stars each night (no tents) and packing up in the morning to leave no trace.
The only restricting factors are the availability of water and the midday sun. During the summer months when water is plentiful, you’ll collect from pools in non-perennial rivers, elephant diggings and depressions or pans in the veld. Once the dry winter months arrive, the guides will do water drops prior to the start of the Trail. You’ll walk in the mornings and afternoons when it is cooler and rest in the shade of a tree during midday when it's hot.
April through to October is the ideal time to take on the route. The Lowveld winter is mild and never drops below zero degrees. The Trail is restricted to private group bookings of up to 8 participants.
Need to Know:
Location:
Timbavati Private Nature Reserve near Hoedspruit, Mpumalanga
Difficulty:
Moderate
Permit Needed:
Yes
Distance:
Varies per day
Elevation Gain:
Varies per day
Bookings:
https://www.lowveldtrails.co.za/primitive-trails/timbavati-primitive-trail/
Timbavati Kit List:
Apparel:
“I’ve been using the First Ascent Men’s Down For It Jacket. Easy to compress, super light.
Something you need, especially during the colder months of the year.”
Equipment:
“I have two First Ascent sleeping bags. The Amplify 900 Synthetic Sleeping Bag and the Ice Breaker Down Sleeping Bag (for the depths of winter)”
You can find more general info here: https://www.lowveldtrails.co.za/primitive-trails/