The Wildlife Frontier Is Coming Down

Following all the hype about the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Park, CAMERON EWART-SMITH investigates the first real tourist opportunities on offer in the newly proclaimed Parque National do Umpopo (PNL) in Mozambique

You don’t have a spade,” pointed out Loftus Viljoen, owner of INgonyama Camper Rentals, rubbing his chin anxiously. “And what about a snatch strap?” he continued hopefully. I shook my head in reply.

“Hell, man, don’t you even have a Toyota to pull these Landys out?” he chuckled to himself. I patted my new Land Rover 110 double cab reassuringly. Then the camping equipment we were hiring arrived.

Saved from the “which-4×4-is-best?” argument, we busied ourselves loading the 12-volt fridge-freezers into the vehicles along with a collection of chairs, colour-coded jerrycans and, much to my amazement, a portable shower complete with its own canvas cubicle.

Finally with the clobber safely stowed, we waved Loftus goodbye and threaded through the Pretoria traffic before joining the N4 east heading towards the Kruger National Park. There we were to spend our first night before crossing over the border into Mozambique