Spend three days canoeing the Rio Olifantes River in Southern Mozambique, camping wild along the river banks. A cast for a tiger, a sighting of ahippo pod, or the call of the fish eagle will enchant you on your 50km journey downstream, ending close to the confluence of the Limpopo River.
The clean waters of the Rio Olifantes flow at a swift 4-6 km/ hour, so you need not be super-fit or experienced to participate in this canoe safari. There will be plenty time each day for swimming, birding and game viewing along the way. A picnic lunch is usually had under the cool shade of a fever tree, or we'll pull up on a sandbar where you can cool down with a refreshing swim. Our professional guides will keep you safe and informed as they share interesting knowledge about the dynamic ecosystems through which you'll paddle.
Before you know it, we'll drift around a bend and on the river banks will be the mobile tented camp – ready and waiting your arrival! The locations for these camps are carefully chosen to offer a true wilderness experience. The camp assistants will go out of their way to make your night in the bush as 'comfortable' as possible, but the spirit of the experience remains an intimate and adventurous wilderness encounter.
This 4 day-3 night canoe safari is the perfect getaway for family and friend groups – looking for a true wilderness experience, but not without some 'creature comforts'.
TRAIL - AT A GLANCE
| Trip Duration | 4 Days / 3 Nights – 3 Paddle Days |
| Daily Distances | 50km of paddling over 3 days of canoeing. Day 1: 10km Day 2: 20km Day 3: 20km |
| Trail Grading | No children under 11 years of age |
| Physical Fitness | Grade 1-2: no previous canoe experience required but moderate fitness required for length of day and time in the sun (can be hot & humid so participants should be physically prepared for this). |
| Technicality | Grade 1 - some riffle water but no rapids |
| Trail Terrain | The Rio Olifantes Canoeing Trail is situated in the Parque Nacional do Limpopo, which is a 1.1 million hectare wilderness area that has now been joined with the Kruger National Park to form the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park. The canoe trail will take you along the Rio Olifantes from its confluence with the Shingwedzi River through to where it joins the mighty Limpopo - a 50km stretch of clean, warm and non-technical water – perfect for a canoe safari. |
| Accommodation | 3 Nights Wild Camping... a true wilderness experience! Whilst you paddle, the back-up team will pack up camp and drive downstream finding a suitable clearing on the riverbanks to set up the next camp. Tents, sleeping mattresses and all camp equipment are provided but you need to bring your own sleeping bag, personal clothing and toiletries. A Bush shower and short-drop toilet will be set-up, whilst a roaring campfire, slow-cooked potjie, and starry night complete the camping experience. |
| Logistic Support | This is a fully-catered, guided & vehicle supported tour. All canoe and camping equipment is provided (other than sleeping bags). | Tour Highlights | Abundant birdlife, animal sightings, knowledgeable interactive guiding, canoeing with minimal paddle effort, tiger fishing, traditional campfire cuisine, no cell-phones and the tranquillity of true WILDERNESS. |
| Other Activities | Fishing (tigers and other fish), interpretive game walks, excellent birding, 4x4 adventure trail. |
| Fauna & Flora | With the civil war well in the past the wildlife in the Mozambican sector of the park is slowly recovering to its past abundance and diversity. The terrain along the Rio Olifantes River is that of lush riverine habitat with an abundance of birdlife (Fish Eagle, Gymnogenes, Martial Eagle and you may be lucky to catch sight the rare Pel’s Fishing Owl). There are large areas of sandveld and giant Figs and Fever Trees line the riverbanks. Large mouthed locals include hippo’s, crocodiles and elephants.... seen from a safe distance. While many use the park to connect Kruger with the tropical beaches of Mozambique, the Limpopo National Park is becoming an attraction in its own right. |
| Climate | Southern Mozambique has a warm tropical climate with sunshine almost every day of the year. During the hotter summer months (Nov – Mar), you can expect avg temps of around 30 deg C, and in the high twenties in the cooler months from May to September. The rainy season is from December to April, but rain usually occurs in the form of short brief downpours, after which the sun comes out again. When paddling, rain isn't much of an issue. |
| Seasonality & Best Time Year | Due to cooler daily temps and less rainfall, the best time to do this tour is between May and November. |
| Group Size | Minimum of4 persons - maximum of 10 persons |
| Price / PP | Based on a minimum of 4 persons: R4900/pp : from 1 Mar 2011 – end Feb 2012 |
| Price Includes |
• National Parks' entry fees • Bedding (sleeping bag, pillow etc) • Beverages • Gratuities. • Transfer to meeting point |
Getting the canoes ready for the first day's drift down to camp 
Nothing beats a potjie in the bush! 
A wilderness canoe safari makes a unique corporate or family 
A beautiful spider decided to spin its web across our tents.
Our guide showed his skills not only on the river, but at the camp-
Last cast of the day... hoping to land a big one for dinner! 
The large fig and fever trees lining the river banks provide
Before or after the day's paddling you can take a guided walk 
