Activities at Pafuri

Activities in the Makuleke / Pafuri area are extremely varied and interesting. Game drives in open 4x4 vehicles, night drives, walks, hides (including some that will cater for sleep-outs) are all part of the range of activities that are on offer. One of the most important aspects of this area is its palaeo-anthropological history, with its plethora of evidence of early human ancestors stretching back some 2 million years ago, through the Stone Age and into the Iron Age about 400 years ago when the Thulamela dynasty ruled in this area. This dynasty built incredible structures that are not dissimilar to that found in the Great Zimbabwe. Throughout the concession, there is evidence of its human inhabitants, in the form of rock paintings and artefacts - under many a baobab are Stone Age hand tools, such as hand axes, to be found.

The concept of "family safari" has just taken a quantum leap at Pafuri Camp in the northern Kruger National Park, South Africa, 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 we stop under huge shady trees and all catch a power nap during the heat of the day.

All these activities have ensured that Pafuri fits into Wilderness Safaris' range of "family-friendly" camps, where such a safari combines both family quality time with a whole new way of enjoying and learning about our beautiful wild places.