Accommodation at The Outpost, Limpopo, South Africa

Safari Lodges and Accommodation in South Africa

Accommodation at The Outpost, Limpopo, South Africa

THE OUTPOST

Deluxe Lodge
World-famous Kruger National Park
12 stand-alone suites
Beautiful views of the Luvuvhu River

The Outpost’s vast concession is situated in a remote part of Kruger National Park in an area previously uninhabited by visitors to the Park.

THE OUTPOST - KRUGER NATIONAL PARK:
In the most remote part of Kruger National Park, in a wilderness area previously uninhabited by visitors to the Park lies the vast concession awarded to The Outpost as a result of a ground-breaking agreement between the Makuleke People and the South African National Parks Board. The Makuleke Region fell outside the borders of Kruger National Park until 1969 when, allegedly for security reasons, they were forcibly removed under the Apartheid laws of the day to allow for the Park to extend to the borders of Mozambique and Zimbabwe. After South Africa returned to democracy in the 1990's, the Makuleke instituted a land claim which culminated in an agreement conferring title of the region to the Makuleke people provided it remains part of the Park and is used only for limited ecotourism. The Outpost is the first lodge to be built in this vast region.

The Lodge was designed by acclaimed Italian-born architect, Enrico Daffonchio, using simple, clean lines and combining elements of steel and canvas. The unashamedly contemporary design emphasises its beautiful surrounds but blends and preserves the wilderness that is its home.

LOCATION:
Situated in the Makuleke Region in the northernmost part of Kruger National Park, The Outpost rests high on a hill overlooking the flood plains of the Limpopo and Luvuvhu rivers. This region, formerly known as the Pafuri region, is in the northernmost part of Kruger National Park and is bordered to the north by the Limpopo and Zimbabwe and to the East by Crooks Corner and Zimbabwe. Using simple, clean lines and aluminium, the unashamedly contemporary design of The Outpost emphasizes its beautiful surrounds but blends and preserves the wilderness that is its home.

Although meals will generally be served plated in the dining area, the lodge makes use of the surrounding area to host picnic lunches and bush dinners. The lounge and bar area offer a cool relaxing alternative to the daybeds and chairs on the terrace overlooking the swimming pool. Also if guests wish, meals can be served in the privacy of their rooms.

Activities inlcude game dries on open 4 X 4 vehicls during the day and night, guided walks, day excursions to places of interest (Lanner Gorge, Crook's Corner, etc.), bird watching and picnics, all expertly done by our experienced guides.

GREAT LIMPOPO PEACE PARK:
The Makuleke Region falls in the epicentre of the Great Limpopo Park which comprises Kruger National Park, the Gaza National Park in Mozambique and the Gonarezhou National Park in Zimbabwe.

This visionary park has become a reality and it is expected that as early as mid 2003 guests of The Outpost will be able to visit the Mozambican and Zimbabwean parts of the Peace Park without requiring visas and without having to exit the Peace Park.

ACCOMMODATION:
Guests are accommodated in 12 stand-alone en suite living space that are placed alongside a walkway on the side of a hill overlooking the Luvuvhu River.

The Spaces are of contemporary design with retractable canvas screens and frontage offering a 180-degree views of the Luvuvhu River Valley. The open feel of the rooms is extended into the full bathroom with concrete bath and open shower and a view extending as far as Mozambique.

The Outpost accommodates a maximum of 24 guests in 12 suites. The style is "Contemporary Africa" and the emphasis is on understated luxury in a wilderness setting.

THE LOUNGE:
The contemporary African style flows through to the lounge and bar area where guests are offered a cool relaxing alternative to the daybeds and chairs on the terrace overlooking the swimming pool.

THE LIBRARY:
Leading off the lounge is a small library which also hosts an internet terminal for guests use.

ACTIVITIES:

GAME VIEWING:
The region measures some 24000 hectares and is well known for its abundant wildlife including less common species not evident in the southern and central regions of the park. Apart from large herds of Elephant and Buffalo, guests will be able to see Nyala and Tsessebe antelope which are not easy to find in the more southern regions of the Park. The diverse terrain of the region includes Mopane woodlands, fever tree forests, acacia thickets as well as some of the largest and oldest Baobab specimens.

Guests will be offered a choice of a long or short game drive in the morning and again in the mid afternoon. Game drives will be conducted by qualified and experienced guides in open-air four wheel drive vehicles. The vehicles are not restricted to public roads in Kruger National Park and will mostly make use of tracks formerly restricted for the use of Park officials.

BUSH CUISINE:
Notwithstanding its remote location, The Outpost strives to provide excellent cuisine.

The style of food reflects its African surroundings. Care is taken to source the best produce whether available locally or whether it is flown in fresh from Johannesburg.

VISIT THULAMELA:
The region's rich historical and cultural heritage can be explored by guided visits to Crooks Corner and the Thulamela archeological site overlooking the Luvuvhu River.

Articles dating from 1460 to 1640 have been found tying them to the last phase of the Zimbabwe culture.

In the late 19th century, the historic Ivory Route passed along the Luvuvhu River to Crooks corner at the confluence of the Limpopo and Luvuvhu rivers and the border of Mozambique, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

VISIT MAKULEKE VILLAGE:
The Outpost is in a way a partnership between the lodge and the Makuleke people. The event of the lodge is inextricably linked to the history of the Makuleke people, their forced removal from the region under the Apartheid laws of the old South African government and the subsequent return of title to the Makuleke people. The history of the Makuleke people is best explored by a visit to the Makuleke Village in the capable hands of a Makuleke guide.

HIKING AND BIRDING:
Guests who would like to experience the bush on foot may do so after breakfast or as an alternative to a game drive in the early mornings and late afternoons. Walks will be conducted in parts of the region not accessible to vehicles including the spectacular Lanner Gorge. The Makuleke Region is renown for its birding and guests may be able to see Scarlett chested sunbirds, Broadbilled rollers, Redheaded weavers, Wattle- eyed flycatchers and owls such as the Pels Fishing Owl, the Scops, Whitefaced, Pearl-Spotted and Giant Eagle Owl.

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KRUGER NATIONAL PARK:
The world-renowned Kruger National Park offers a wildlife experience that ranks with the best in Africa. Established in 1898 to protect the wildlife of the South African Lowveld, this national park of nearly 2 million hectares, SANParks - Kruger National Park is unrivalled in the diversity of its life forms and a world leader in advanced environmental management techniques and policies.

Truly the flagship of the South African national parks, Kruger is home to an impressive number of species: 336 trees, 49 fish, 34 amphibians, 114 reptiles, 507 birds and 147 mammals. Man's interaction with the Lowveld environment over many centuries - from bushman rock paintings to majestic archaeological sites like Masorini and Thulamela - is very evident in the Kruger National Park. These treasures represent the cultures, persons and events that played a role in the history of the Kruger National Park and are conserved along with the park's natural assets.

The Kruger National Park is the primary destination in South Africa for many international tourists. Each year more than half a million visitors are registered.

The National Park was opened in 1898 at the instigation of then-president Paul Kruger. After hunters had considerably decimated the originally rich game stock, all the land between the Sabie and the Crocodile Rivers was put under the protection of Nature Conservation to ensure the survival of the remaining animals. Only as recently as 1961 was the extended Kruger Park fenced in.

The park stretches from the Crocodile River in the south up to the Limpopo River, which is the international border in the north. Altogether it is 350 km long, 65 km wide and comprises an area of about 20,000 sq km.

A web of roads of 1863 kilometres leads through the National Park, 697 kms of them being tarred. For the visitor there are numerous differently equipped restcamps, most of them scenically positioned. Within the park boundaries, travel is only allowed between sunrise and sunset. After dark one has to stay in one of the fenced restcamps.

The best time for observing the animals is the dry winter season. Then the grass is low and bushes and trees don't have leaves, so that one can have an unobstructed view. Because it virtually doesn't rain in winter, the animals come to the waterholes to drink in the mornings and evenings and can easily be viewed from the car.

Overview of The Kruger National Park

Where nearly 2 million hectares of unrivalled diversity of life forms fuses with historical and archaeological sights – this is real Africa. The world-renowned Kruger National Park offers a wildlife experience that ranks with the best in Africa. Established in 1898 to protect the wildlife of the South African Lowveld, this national park of nearly 2 million hectares, SANParks - Kruger National Park is unrivalled in the diversity of its life forms and a world leader in advanced environmental management techniques and policies.

Vegetation and Climate

The Kruger National Park is generally flat to gently undulating, with average height of 260 metres (853 feet) above sea level, with its most mountainous areas being along the eastern boundary, formed by the Lebombo Mountains. Sixteen distinct landscapes provide a multitude of habitats for the Kruger Park's inhabitants. Located in the Southern Hemisphere, the Kruger Park has its share of rain and hot weather. During the summer months (September-April), the Park experiences sporadic rainfall in the form of quick thunder showers. April through August represent the winter months in Southern Africa which in turn means very little rain. As far as rainfall is concerned, the southern region receives the largest amount of rainfall while the central plains receive the least. The temperatures average from 30 C (86 F) in January (summer) to 23 C (73 F) in July (winter). Please be aware that the maximum temperature can reach 47 C (117 F) (January) and 35 C (95 F) (July).For your information, the average nightly temperature can range from 7-18 C (45-64 F) (January) and most certainly freezing in July. It is highly advisable to wear 'breathable' clothes to avoid heat exhaustion or stroke during the day, drink plenty of water and ensure that appropriate clothing is available in the often cold nights.

Vegetation Zones

The varying climatic conditions impact on the type of vegetation in the ecosystem that can survive and flourish in each vegetation zone. This of course affects the distribution and population densities of the various animals - each type favouring some or other ecosystem environment.

History of the Kruger National Park

The first explorer to set foot in the region was the Dutchman François de Cuiper who led a Dutch East India Company expedition to explore. However, the expedition was attacked and driven by local tribes-people near Gomondwane. Only around 1838 Voortrekker expeditions led by Lous Trichardt and Hans van Rensburg were able to successfully establish forward outposts. Hundreds of Europeans and farmers came to the Lowveld lured by rumours of gold and the great quantity of valuable commodities such as ivory and skins.

This caused the number of game to dramatically decrease due to hunting and trading of animal skins and horns. President Paul Kruger was told about the rapid destruction of wildlife in the area by hunters, after which he succeeded to persuade the Transvaal parliament to establish a protected area for the wildlife in the Lowveld region. The "Sabie Game Reserve”, bordered by the Crocodile River in the south, the Sabie River in the north, the Lebombo Mountains in the east and the Drakensberg Mountains in the west, which is now the southern part of the Kruger National Park, was established in 1898.

These reserves would eventually expand into today's Kruger National Park. The Anglo-Boer War stopped any further development of the reserve, but the British, after winning the war, proceeded with the plan to develop the Sabie Game Reserve and gave the task to major James Stevenson-Hamilton in 1902 to protect the animals against hunters, ivory poachers and cattle farmers. The Park was opened to the public in 1927 for visitors to view animals and plant life in an area where they are protected. After the Anglo-Boer War, James Stevenson-Hamilton was appointed as the first park warden. He spent the next 40 years protecting what the war had destroyed. His actions are no doubt an ever-living contribution to the Kruger National Park's current existence. In addition to his animal conservation, James Stevenson Hamilton was also responsible for acquiring another 10 000 hex acres for the reserve.

After World War I, the Kruger National Park was protected by the government of South Africa and remains under the watchful eye of the government even today. The very first ranger in the reserve was Paul Bester who made his residence in a rustic rondavel (hut) which is now the site of the headquarters camp, Skukuza. Documents concerning the History of the Kruger National Park can be viewed at the Skukuza Library. Half a million years ago, the first San stone age hunters roamed the plains in search of game. The modern day bush men have left fascinating rock paintings all over the Republic of South Africa, and Kruger National Park contains over one hundred sites of these paintings. The Kruger National Park is a living memorial to President Paul Kruger and those who have upheld his vision of a protected wilderness reserve which will forever remind us of that which we are so dangerously close to loosing.

A Short Natural and Cultural History·

There are almost 254 known cultural heritage sites in the Kruger National Park, including nearly 130 recorded rock art sites.

There is ample evidence that prehistoric man – Homo erectus roamed the area between 500 000 and 100 000 years ago.

Cultural artefacts of Stone Age man have been found for the period 100 000 to 30 000 years ago.

More than 300 archaeological sites of Stone Age man have been found.

Evidence of Bushman Folk (San) and Iron Age people from about 1500 years ago is also in great evidence.

There are also many historical tales of the presence of Nguni people and European explorers and settlers in the Kruger area.

There are significant archaeological ruins at Thulamela and Masorini.

There are numerous examples of San Art scattered throughout the park.

The park was first proclaimed in 1898 as the Sabie Game Reserve by the then president of the Transvaal Republic, Paul Kruger. He first proposed the need to protect the animals of the Lowveld in 1884, but his revolutionary vision took another 12 years to be realised when the area between the Sabie and Crocodile Rivers was set aside for restricted hunting.

The Scottish born James Stevenson-Hamilton (born in 1867) was appointed the park’s first warden on 1 July 1902.

On 31 May 1926 the National Parks Act was proclaimed and with it the merging of the Sabie and Shingwedzi Game Reserves into the Kruger National Park. The first motorists entered the park in 1927 for a fee of one pound.

Many accounts of the park’s early days can be found in the Stevenson-Hamilton Memorial Library.