Rhino Walking Safaris is a private concession in Kruger National Park. It runs game walking trails through the savannah and has luxury accommodation to relax in.
The 12,000 hectare (30,000 acre) concession is 10km (6.2 miles) north-east of Skukuza Rest Camp in the southern region of Kruger National Park. All of the Big 5 animals can be found in the concession.
Walking Trails
The game walking trails leave from Plains Camp inside the concession. Going on a game walk gives you the chance to see things up close in detail and hear the sounds of the bush. You’ll be surprised how noisy it is!
There are no more than 8 people on the walks. Two armed rangers will lead you into the bush and tell you about the animals, plants and the environment. Children must be 12 or older to go on the walks.
The walking trails leave very early in the morning before breakfast and go again in the afternoon. Getting up early in the morning can be a struggle, but it’s worth the effort because a lot of wildlife is out and about at this time of day. The walks normally last between 3 and 4 hours.
There’s an option to walk to and stay overnight at the Sleepouts. They’re wooden platforms 4 metres (13 ft) high where you sleep in tents. The Sleepouts overlook a waterhole and any kind of animal could stop by there for a drink!
When you walk to the Sleepouts, you need to carry your own bag with the things you’ll need to sleep in overnight and clothes for the next day, plus any snacks you might fancy.
You mightn’t be able to stay at the Sleepouts though if there’s been recent heavy rain.
Game Drives
There’s also an option to go on a game drive. These leave from the other accommodation within the concession, Rhino Post Safari Lodge. Game drives are in open 4×4 vehicles.
The evening game drives carry on into the dark which gives you an excellent chance to see nocturnal animals.
Getting There
You can get to the concession by road via Skukuza Rest Camp. You can also get a chartered flight to Skukuza. Federal Air runs chartered flights from O.R. Tambo Airport in Johannesburg to Skukuza. You can pre-arrange for Rhino Walking Safaris to pick you up when you land and take you to the camp.
Another option is to fly to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport, near Nelspruit, and arrange with the concession for a chauffeured transfer to take you to the camp.
If you want your own transport, you can hire a car from the airport and drive the distance yourself. It takes about 2 hours to drive the 100km (62 miles).
If Rhino Walking Safaris is your only destination within Kruger National Park, you must enter the park via Paul Kruger Gate. It’s 45 minutes drive from the gate to the concession.