Drive From Punda Maria to Pafuri Gate KNP South Africa
Drive to Pafuri Gate Northernmost Park Entrance
To see the previous drive or route section of the drive please click this Pafuri link
Many images on this Kruger Park GPS (global positioning system) and map-based site will be in thumbnail view so click these to see the enlarged image.
The Elephant, Baobab, Fever Tree and Nyala Route Continued
As the Luvuvhu River is approached the country changes dramatically from Mopane shrubveld to magnificent and mysterious woodlands. You can see the vast change by having a quick glance at the map here and comparing it with the previous one.
Waypoints 025 to 032
The concentration of waypoints at the Luvuvhu river and road
crossing over the river that can be seen on the map immediately suggests
that this is a more interesting area and it certainly is. We'll come
back to points 33 onwards shortly but first let's complete the drive to
Pafuri Gate entrance ... the most northerly park entrance. |
In February 2000 the Luvuvhu flooded in a spectacular way. The
Luvuvhu
river normally floods the plains around this area but not to the extent
that occurred on 25th February 2000. Take note of the 3 waypoints 038,
027 and 041 on the map when you click to enlarge it. Each of these
points is marked by a flood level marker. At 038 and 027 the markers are
on the roadside. Point 041 is some 12 feet up on a tree trunk (at the
Pafuri Picnic Spot). The scale is shown on the map so you can see in
this area alone the flood waters stretched to make the Luvuvhu river
some 2 kms wide. |
I estimate at the peak the river was some 25 to 30 metres
deep. The Luvuvhu is a perennial river and one of only a handful
in the Kruger National Park. The flooding was exacerbated by the
damming effect that the Limpopo river has on the Luvuvhu ... the
confluence of these 2 rivers is quite close to the bridge and
Pafuri picnic spot. The Luvuvhu river as I saw it in May 2006
... peaceful, gently flowing and mysterious as all Kruger Park
rivers are. |
Waypoint 025 (hidden behind 038) is the first of 2 bridges that cross the
Luvuvhu. In May 2006 the river bed beneath the first bridge was totally dry
while the second bridge crossed the real river with water in it. It was here on
the river bank that I saw my first Nyala of the trip and I was to go on and see
several more. The Nyala is a relatively
rare animal and it's important to come
North to stand a good chance of seeing these large majestic and powerful
antelope with spectacular horns. This picture shows a male
Nyala which is much
larger and far more striking than the female. Waypoint 026 ... marks the entrance road (private) to the Makaleka and
Pafuri Camp. |
Waypoint 027 ... the start of the long and ordinary drive to Pafuri Gate.
Along this road I saw warthogs and some beautiful
Fever Trees and many
Baobabs
and was struck by the tree-like nature of the Mopane in the area. You can drive
very close to the Fever Trees here and get a really good view of the pale green
yellowish beautiful bark. The tree is so called because of its multiple presence
in typical malaria regions. |
Waypoint 028 is the entrance to the "Outpost" concessionary private lodge.
It was created as a result of an agreement between the Makuleke People and the
South African National Parks. The Outpost is the first concessionary lodge to be
built in this region which will border the Trans Frontier Park. |
The Pafuri Gate entrance at waypoint 029 is almost certainly the least used
Park entrance. The staff informed me that they get between 6 and 12 vehicles
entering the park daily. They also told me that there are 8
Rhino in the area. |
Waypoint 030 and 031 are examples of tree scenery. I have chosen to show the
Baobab at waypoint 31 ... a wonderful roadside example with unusual reddish
colouration. The tree is a favourite nesting place by the looks of it. Continued
at the exciting Nyala
drive ... one of the very best drives in the whole Kruger Park. |
