Pafuri Camp lies in the wildest and most remote part of the Kruger National Park, South Africa, which is recognised as being one of the most diverse and scenically attractive areas of the entire Park. The camp is situated on a private 26,500 hectare concession known as either the Pafuri Triangle or the Makuleke Concession - as it is the ancestral home of the Makuleke people. The region is well known for its fever tree forests, beautiful gorges and Crook's Corner - where the Limpopo and Luvuvhu rivers as well as 3 countries (Zimbabwe, South Africa and Mozambique) meet.
One of the most important aspects of this area is its palaeo-anthropological history, stretching back from some 2 million years ago. Throughout the concession there is evidence of its historic human inhabitants in the form of rock paintings, and artefacts such as Stone Age hand tools.
Activities at Pafuri Camp take advantage of the wide variety of exciting and interesting features for which the Makuleke/Pafuri region is so famous. Game drives in open 4x4 vehicles, night drives, walks, and hides are all part of the range of activities that are on offer.
Accommodation at Pafuri Camp consists of 19 spacious and light tented rooms, each with en-suite bathroom facilities and a private deck. Seven of these tents are family rooms for up to 4 people.
All tents boast views of the Luvuvhu River and guests often take the time to enjoy a leisurely stint on their respective decks, watching the elephant, nyala, waterbuck or bushbuck (to name but a few!) coming down to drink.
Rates Include
All meals; selected local beverages (soft drinks, water, house wines, local beer, and selected wines and spirits); the Community/Conservation levies; a laundry service; and 2 game activities per day are included.
Children Policy
Children of all ages are welcome. Rates available on request. Children under 5 years of age are not allowed on game drives unless a private vehicle is booked.
The concept of 'family safari' has just taken a quantum leap at Pafuri Camp in the northern Kruger National Park, thanks to a variety of exciting activities that have been created to teach children about the bush and have an enormous amount of fun at the same time.
There's so much to learn and enjoy in the natural surroundings of Pafuri Camp. When not joining parents on drives, or while their elders relax at camp, children enjoy their own activities with professional guides, learning basic survival skills, such as where to find water or what plants are good to eat. They are encouraged to collect and identify anything that is of interest to them – leaves, grasses, even dung! Back at camp, they can quiz each other (and any unwary adult in the vicinity) on the identity of each object and put them up on the Special Interests Chart in the lounge area.
There are also 'themed' excursions – for example, they'll take a drive out into the veld to meet various trees and plants, or experience the Fever Tree Forest where, just by sitting quietly, they learn to take in their surroundings and get to know their own space. Then there's the option of a day picnic, where they will stop under huge shady trees and all catch a power nap during the heat of the day.
Food is always fun, and cooking in the bush is a completely different culinary experience! Children are taught to make a fire, find a stick and use it to wrap their home-made “stokbrood”::dough around, and then put it on the fire… delicious! Or put a marshmallow on the end of those sticks to roast at the evening fire. Then there's the Baobab Picnic, where they can climb thenearby baobab tree (with staff on hand to make sure of everyone's safety). At the top they'll have a picnic – a box filled with all kinds of treats and goodies – while looking out over the scenery. Food always tastes better at the top of a baobab …
Directions For Drivers
From Johannesburg: The shortest route is via the Punda Maria Gate, which is about 540 km from Johannesburg. Once in Kruger, it is about 60 km to the camp.
Take the N1 North to Polokwane. At Polokwane, take the R81 north-east via Mooketsi and Giyani to the T-junction with the R524. Turn right on the R524 and proceed to the Punda Maria Gate.
In the Kruger National Park, take the H13-1 to the T-junction with the H1-8 (if you have a map of Kruger, you could also take a short-cut via the S60). Turn left on the H1-8 and proceed north to the bridge over the Luvuvhu River. Look out for signage to PAFURI CAMP.
For a slightly longer but scenic route from Johannesburg, take the N1 to Louis Trichard (Makhado). Continue on the N1 over the Soutpansberg and turn right onto the R525 towards Tshipise. Continue past Tshipise on the R525 to Pafuri Gate. Enter the Kruger Park and continue on the H1-9 about 22 km to the bridge over the Luvuvhu River. Look out for signage to PAFURI CAMP.
PLEASE NOTE: As the gates to the Kruger National Park close at designated times each days, guests must aim to reach the Luvuvhu Bridge by 14:00, we recommend entering Punda Maria Gate by no later than 12:30 or Pafuri Gate by no later than 13:30.
General Information For Guests
All the tented rooms have private viewing decks, en-suite bathrooms (with indoor and outdoor showers), mosquito netting, a room safe, a fan, and tea/coffee making facilities.
The family tents consist of two bedrooms, one with a double bed and one with two twin beds.
The main lodge area has a dining room (communal dining), bar, and a pool.
There is complimentary internet access.
A laundry service is available.
Each game vehicle seats a maximum of 6 guests only.
As well as morning and afternoon game drives, community tours to the local Makuleke village can be arranged.
Child minding can be arranged (additional cost).
The camp is solar powered.
The camp would prefer that guests refrain from using hair dryers.
In room massages can be arranged (additional cost).
Visa and Mastercard credit cards are accepted.
Bush walks can be arranged (to be requested in advance with your guide - 24 hours notice required).
Popular Alternatives to Pafuri Camp
These are the top properties booked by people who considered staying at Pafuri Camp, but for one reason or another booked a different property. It may have been that Pafuri Camp was not available on the nights they wanted to stay, or they decided that somewhere else was better suited to their budget or itinerary.
If you're not sure which place might be best for your own trip then either give us a call or get in touch via the website, and we'd be delighted to run through the options with you.
We loved Pafuri and would highly recommend it. A much slower pace of life, especially on the game drives, but the views were fantastic. Huge elephant herds there and coffee or sundowners looking over the Limpopo to both Zimbabwe and the Luvuvhu to Mozambique. Truly in the north West corner of S Africa. Marvellous bird life as well. We came home with thousands of pictures.