Our Adventures

Untravelled Trails, the name says it all as you journey with us along new paths deep into the Wilderness. Our shorter Bush Walks are designed to introduce first time guests to the Wilderness or to allow returning guests with limited time, an opportunity to reconnect with Nature face-to face. After all, “a walk in nature walks the soul back home”

*Bush Walks are conducted in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park from St Lucia, and Hluhluwe Game Reserve from Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge. These are limited to a maximum of 8 guests on morning or afternoon walks and only children above the age of 12 years may participate and need to be accompanied by a responsible adult if younger than 16 years.
The Walk duration is around three hours.

For the more adventurous of Spirit or those looking for a deeper Wilderness experience, the
Primitive Trails runs over three-nights in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park.

Primitive Trails

Arriving at iSimangaliso’s Bhangazi gate in St Lucia by 12:00 on the day of departure, trailists are met by Untravelled Trails staff who will check them in at the reception. From there trailists will drive their own vehicles, accompanied by the guides, to the Trail head where there is undercover parking. Equipment and food will be distributed, and the guides will advise on how best to pack their backpacks. After a light lunch and a briefing, trailists will set off into the Wilderness area, where they will spend two or three nights, accompanied by an armed Lead Trails Guide and a Backup Trails Guide. In the wilderness, concepts such as time and distance are left behind at the start of the trail along with the stresses of the outside world. As such guests are asked to leave their cell phones(or at least sim cards) behind. Safety and security measures are in place should an emergency occur.
“When the green hills are covered with talking wires and the wolves no longer sing, what good will the money you paid for our land be then.”
CHIEF SEATTLE OF THE SUQUAMISH
The trail ends back at the Trail head at around 10:00 on the last day when guests will return all borrowed equipment and depart back to St. Lucia where the guides will bid them farewell at the Bhangazi gate.

St Lucia Bush Walks

Experience the vast iSimangaliso Game Reserve on foot and allow Africa’s natural wonders to reveal themselves with the skills of our knowledgeable guides. Allow our guides to share their passion for the remote places away from tourist routes and encounter animals in their natural environment on this unforgettable 3-hour adventure. You will discover a world of unmatched diversity from the smallest of creatures to larger animals among the tapestry of ecosystems and plants that make up this unique World Heritage Site. Guides are armed for any potentially dangerous animal encounters.

Rhino Ridge Bush Walks

Exclusively for guests of Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge, these walks take place in the Seme hills in the west of Hluhluwe Game Reserve. Water holes on the grassy open areas ensure wonderful encounters with plains game and white rhino while a wallowing buffalo is not uncommon. As one moves along ancient rhino paths the vegetation changes to forest valleys, finally reaching one of the many rivers that cross the area. The Bush Walk is the highlight of the lodge visit for those guests who want an authentic and close experience with nature where the emphasis is on appreciating the whole spectrum the environment has to offer.

The unmistakeable sweet scent of tamboti wood smoke drifted around us as the firelight bounced off the iMfolozi river boulders at the edge of our primitive trail camp.


Our voices were low, conversing in Zulu and I watched his animated face, glowing orange in the half light, expressing deep conviction as he answered my, “so, do you have a dream?” question.

OUR LOGO ‘Where Spirit meets Wilderness’ echoes from the depths of history where all humankind evolved from Africa’s Wilderness. The Buffalo Thorn logo is steeped in Zulu culture where a branch from the ziziphus mucronata tree is used to bring the spirit of a deceased family member back home. It is our hope that our Buffalo Thorn will enable your Spirit to return to the Wilderness and there discover deeper truths in the pristine environments we are privileged to share.

Testimonials

A TASTE OF THE OKAVANGO IN KZN!
“A truly remarkable primitive trail experience in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park with Untravelled Trails. Excellent guiding and food, with special animal encounters- like seeing a leopard on foot! Incredible fauna and flora diversity! Walking through ancient forests on well-worn elephant paths, tasting water from crystal clear wetlands whilst looking out for Crocs & hippos, and the complex chorus of numerous frog species at night from the wetlands, is an experience I will never forget. If you are looking for a soul cleansing experience, that feeling of sleeping under the stars and the chance for your roots to reconnect with nature, the Untravelled Primitive Trail in iSimangaliso Wetland Park is for you”.
KEV COLLETT (OCTOBER 2023)
“As a group of old friends, we annually go on an adventure. We fortunately chose the iSimangaliso Trail as our adventure for 2023 and I am so grateful that we did! It was an incredible adventure that was so well facilitated by the team at Untravelled Trails that it created endearing memories that would last a lifetime. I would happily recommend it to anyone wanting to spend some quality time with friends, a spouse or family. It was a privilege to experience all that the trail had to offer in the guiding care of Shaun, Nunu, Tom and team”.
BRYCE DEKKER (OCTOBER 2023)
Safety and emergency measures
Wilderness trails guides are armed, trained (certified) and firearm competent to deal with encounters with dangerous game that constitute a life-threatening situation. More importantly, guides are trained not to take unnecessary risks and minimum disturbance and respect for wild animals are central to the Untravelled Trails ethos.
Up to date first aid training (certified) and a first aid kit will enable guides to perform basic first aid functions. Guides have full access to a 24-hour emergency Centre staffed by medical personnel who will direct all actions in the event of an emergency. This includes being linked to a medical helicopter and ground ambulance services based nearby at Richard’s Bay in the event of a medical emergency requiring a guest to be evacuated.