No further reason is required for a visit to Trees Too than to make us you base for a visit to the southern end of the renowned Kruger National Park.
No further reason is required for a visit to Trees Too than to make us you base for a visit to the southern end of the renowned Kruger National Park.
Long established and incomparably accessible you can drive yourself easily through this fantastic African wilderness. Imagine setting off at dawn’s early light armed with your picnic breakfast. You could be just ten minutes away from your first lion of the day. Different areas of this enormous park have different characteristics, but assuredly the area around the Crocodile Bridge Gate is renowned for its variety and abundance of game. Even so, kick the ‘Big Five’ mentality and enjoy whatever you see. You will always see something in the Kruger if you take the time to look and your day will be richer for it.
If you plan a self drive in the Kruger at key public and school holiday times, but are not staying in the Park, you are strongly advised to pre book day passes with Sanparks to be sure to get in. Download this form, complete it stating clearly "day passes for X people for X dates" and forward to reservations@sanparks.org.za . Sanparks make a small charge for this, but at least you are sure to get in!
Whilst part of the beauty of the Kruger Park is its simple accessibility to anyone in a self-driven vehicle, there are many aspects of this fascinating wilderness that can only be explored in the company of an experienced guide. Bush walks (usually early in the morning) allow a more intimate involvement with the landscape and a chance to focus on those smaller aspects of Nature that would go unseen from a car. Sunset Drives start just as the Park is closing and powerful searchlights give participants a taste of the nocturnal life of the bush. Morning, Afternoon or Full-Day Drives can be arranged with a variety of providers, giving the passengers the benefit of an expert guide and means that nobody in your party has to drive all day – you’re all on holiday after all!
Approximate Prices Confirmed on Application
Morning Bush Walk R430.00
Sunset Drive R340.00
Morning Drive R340.00
Half Day Drive R750.00
Full-Day Drive R850.00
Prices may be altered by the supplier and all activities are subject to availability.
For the intrepid traveller, what better way to marvel at the unspoilt landscape of the Lowveld than from the air? We work with two providers of micro-light flights who offer a range of flight options along the course of the Crocodile River (the southern boundary of the Kruger National Park) or over a local, private game reserve. As with all wildlife watching experiences, nobody can guarantee what you may or may not see: but the view will be spectacular and the experience unforgettable. Flight durations vary between 7 ½ and 60 minutes and are of course subject to availability.
Approximate Prices to be Confirmed on Application
15 minutes R550pp
30 minutes R900pp
60 minutes R1500pp
All subject to change by supplier.
As well as being the World’s largest land mammal, the African Savannah Elephant (Loxodonta Africana) is one of the most charismatic animals in the World. Encounters with a gently or comically interacting family herd or old bull with his attendant ‘askaris’ can be a highlight of any day spent in the African bush. Just watching these enormous, gentle and highly complex creatures can be fascinating and even moving. We work with a local safari camp that allows you to get much closer than just watching from your car. Their four carefully trained elephants can be ridden and interacted with in their stables. An unforgettable highlight of your visit to South Africa.
Approximate Prices to be Confirmed on Application
30 minute interaction – R410
60 minute elephant back safari – R480
2 hour elephant back safari - R810
All subject to availability..
The Kruger Park is a birder’s paradise with over 500 species recorded across
its various eco-systems. So far our garden at Trees Too has only provided
sightings of 60 or so species – but we keep watching…
For the truly ardent birder we have associations with expert guides who can be chartered to lead parties or individuals through the park.
Even
the best guide book, like Newman or Roberts, is no substitute for local
expertise and well over 100 species can be spotted in a single day out. We need
plenty of notice to organise such trips which are subject to availability with price quoted on application.
Mozambique is the rediscovered jewel of a country that links southern and eastern Africa. Formerly the holiday destination of choice for thousands of southern Africans, the end of nearly 20 years of liberation and civil conflict has given this friendly, beautiful country a decade in which to rebuild some of that former glory. With enough notice, and subject to availability, we can arrange either:-
A Tour of Maputo
A day trip to the capital city Maputo, just 90km away, reveals fascinating history and contrasts. The liveliness of the traditional fish and craft markets, architecture by Eiffel (yes the tower guy), Portuguese elegance and African vibe, poverty and economic rebirth are all there to see. Top that off with sumptuous seafood meal overlooking the Indian Ocean. Prices from around R1000 per person plus required visa. Lunch cost not included.
A Day on Macanetta Beach
A guided tour to the little Mozambican town of Marracuene, 35km north, of Maputo where you take a boat across the Incomati river mouth and travel 20 minutes to Macanetta beach. On the river you will pass islands containing rich, tropical birdlife such as lesser flamingos and local fishing dhows heading to the ocean or seeking fresh water crabs. Several hours on the clean white beach allow you to enjoy the warm, azure water of the Indian Ocean and enjoy a traditional meal at the small restaurant where prawn cakes and a cold local beer are specialities of the casa. Prices from around R1200 per person plus required visa. Lunch cost not included.
The tiny land-locked kingdom of Swaziland nestles between the South African
provinces of Mpumalanga and Kwa-Zulu Natal and the Republic of Mozambique. What
Swaziland lacks in size it more than makes up for in the friendliness of its
people, beauty of its often mountainous landscapes and range of available
activities. Crossing into Swaziland is easy at either the Mananga or Jeppe’s
Reef border posts and few visitors to South Africa will require any form of
visa. A beautiful day out from Trees Too could involve calling at the renowned Matsamo Cultural village to experience traditional Swazi culture and witness a
fabulous display of singing and traditional dancing – but beware you may be
called upon to be part of the show…
From there a drive through the spectacular wooded hills and mountains of northern Swaziland taking in highlights such as Phophonyane Falls, the gold-mining town of Piggs Peak, the justly famous Ngwenya glass factory and the capital city of Mbabane.
We will happily advise on routes through Swaziland or help with accommodation advice.
The Wild Frontier of South Africa is truly a Mecca for enthusiastic golfers. Komatipoort itself boasts the beautiful Kambaku Golf Course which overlooks the Kruger National Park and promises interesting encounters on the fairways. Kambaku, just so you know, is a Shangaan word meaning ‘a particularly notable, mature bull elephant.’
Kambaku is considered to be one of the best nine hole golf courses in the whole of South Africa and the club is always happy to show it off to visiting players. Prices for a round of golf are very reasonable by international standards. A limited range of clubs can be hired.
Quad BikingFor the adventurous and adrenaline junkies, a local provider offers fantastic quad biking trails amid wooded hills about 40 minutes drive away. Prices from R220.00
The Komati River is justly famous for its tiger-fish. We can arrange half or full days out on the river, from bank or punt, with an experienced guide. All fishing tackle is provided by the supplier and a truly memorable day out is guaranteed - whether the ‘big one’ bites or not. Prices from R350.00
The wealth of things to see and do and the vast distances of South Africa
mean that most travellers will spend a lot of time in their cars. An antidote to
that can be the hiking trails in the wooded hills of the Letubi Valley just 40
minutes drive away.
For those of an equestrian disposition Komatipoort offers one to three hour
riding trails accompanied by and experienced rider.
Half hour family ride R200
One hour Horse back Safari R400
Two hour Horse back Safari R600
Half day Horse Back Safari incl. Breakfast R400
Jane Goodall is a legend in the study and conservation of man’s closest genetic relatives. Whilst chimps are not native to South Africa, the infrastructure of the country made it an ideal choice for the location of this rescue centre. Located just one hour from Trees Too near the town of Nelspruit, tours can be joined at 10.00, 12.00 or 14.00 with the chimps being fed at 10.00 and 14.00. The tour involves a fascinating educational on the plight of the wild chimpanzee, the personal histories of the resident animals and projects of the Jane Goodall Institute. Entrance fees can be confirmed on application.
Just west of Nelspruit and a little over one hour’s drive from Trees Too is the largely unknown treasure of Kaapsehoop. Perched on a hilltop of the Highveld escarpment some 1486m above sea level, the village was a former gold-mining settlement. Historically interesting buildings nestle in this small community that also includes attractive bars, restaurants and some interesting shops. A small herd of rather passive, but nevertheless wild, horses lives on this hilltop. A short walk across fascinating rock fields leads to a breathtaking views across the De Kaap valley 800m below. This largely uncelebrated vista is as grand as anything to be encountered on the much more famous ‘Panorama Route’. Hiking trails can also be joined from Kaapsehoop – some of them very long
Probably no local monument so symbolises South Africa’s troubled past and relationships with its neighbours as the Samora Machel Memorial. Machel was leader of Mozambique between 1975, when the colonial Portuguese left, and 1986 when the fatal air-crash, here commemorated, took place. Born of farming stock in Gaza province in 1933, Samora Machel’s eventual conversion to Marxism was born of perfectly legitimate indignation that white farmers were paid more for the same crops than black farmers and other myriad inequalities of colonial rule. Upon independence he cast out close to 200,000 Portuguese – a decision he later regretted as this was instrumental in rapid economic collapse. A civil war for the next 15 years between Machel’s FRELIMO party and their RENAMO rivals who were covertly supported by Apartheid South Africa and the West, did little to help Mozambique’s economic performance. Throughout this period Mozambique remained a staunch ally of the ANC, providing safe bases for many of their exiles and training facilities for Umkhonto we Sizwe the ANC’s military wing.
On 19th October 1986 Samora Machel and 43 others were on a flight returning from an international meeting in Lusaka, Zambia. The plane crashed into the Lebombo hills, just inside South Africa, but at a corner where that country, Mozambique and Swaziland meet. Of those on board 33 perished. Hardly the pin-up boy of the Apartheid government, many believe that Machal’s death was murderously inspired sabotage by their forces. Dismissive retorts to these accusations essentially accused the pilot of drunkenness. Machal’s widow Graça was convinced of South African involvement in her husband’s death – so it was a fitting symbol of reconciliation between the two nations when she married Nelson Mandela in July 1998. She thus, uniquely, came to serve as first lady to two countries.
Just one hour’s drive from Trees Too, the memorial at the Mbuzini crash site was unveiled on 9th January 1999 by Nelson Mandela and Mozambique’s president Joaquim Chissano. Designed by José Forjaz the memorial consists of a steel tube for each person who died in the crash. These are set upright in concrete and perforated in the manner of church organ pipes. Left as raw metal to rust, symbolising weeping, the hilltop winds blowing through these pipes provides an eerie lament for those that died - and so much else now past. As Mandela said in his unveiling speech ‘May this memorial serve as a beacon of the new morality that must emerge strong if we are to bring lasting improvements in the lives of our peoples.’