Have you ever witnessed the magical display of gentle giants swimming and playing and sparring and bonding in water? They don’t just enjoy dust baths; their favourite kind is when they’re fully immersed underwater and trust us, there is nothing more entertaining than watching a herd frolicking in the water. It is a remarkable sight to see.
There are few places left on Earth where one can revel in solitude, connect deeply to nature, and intentionally immerse oneself in a primitive way of living. Rustic luxury describes the EcoTraining Camp at Pridelands at its best.
The Makuleke Concession is one of the most diverse and scenically attractive areas in the Kruger National Park. The area is renowned for its botanically rich landscapes, scattered with towering ancient baobab trees and has abundant wildlife and bird species.
Expect to experience adventure-packed days of living in and learning about nature and wildlife. Amazingly, opportunities like this are available to immerse yourself in the natural world!
Makuleke camp in the Kruger National Park is a special place. Amidst the pristine landscape of the northern Kruger National Park, the EcoTraining camp is tucked away from the crowds and hustle of the southern section and filled with awe-inspiring beauty among the ancient baobab trees, the lala palm trees, and the yellow fever tree forest.
It’s a splendid sunshine day in Pridelands, where wildlife wanders freely through and around the camp with no fences between the conservancy and the iconic game reserve. It’s a magical space to learn bush lore and reconnect with the essence of the natural world. It’s also a busy camp, with plenty going on all day.
Being off the grid, Makuleke Camp runs on solar power and gas, with backup generator power for days like today. It’s heavily overcast and drizzling today, so the generator is buzzing reassuringly in the background. The camp is in a beautifully remote northern Kruger National Park, unfenced and off the cellphone reception grid. It’s a world of its own.
As a kid, I remember camping out in the garden with my brother, no parents allowed, and I have happy memories of a father, daughter camping trip, and ever since, I’ve loved camping. I have been lucky to go camping in many pristine natural places, from the remote Alaskan wilderness to the African bush.
Barely 5 minutes from the charming safari town of Hoedspruit lies an unassuming gate into a little-known wonderland of treasures. Pridelands Conservancy officially dropped its fences to become part of the Greater Kruger in 2017, and since then, the area has flourished. An influx of wildlife has migrated to the property, from predators looking for new territories to hungry elephants keen to sample the pristine vegetation.
In my year and a half at EcoTraining, I have had the privilege to move around our different camps and experience the unique relationship between humans and the animals that frequently visit the camps. The experience that captivated me, is the troop of baboons in Makuleke. They spend their days interacting with one another in and around camp and then roosting in the big Nyala Berry trees at night.
Study wildlife conservation and accredited field guide courses at any of our pioneering African training camps, around Africa.
Located on the banks of the Mara river,
the camp is nestled between communities
and wildlife conservancies.
Explore the untamed wilderness of Kruger
National Park’s Makuleke Concession
with EcoTraining.
Located at the confluence of the Limpopo
and Shashe Rivers, in the eastern
corner of Botswana.
A natural wonderland with free-roaming
elephants located in the Limpopo
Province of South Africa.
A sanctuary for wildlife, providing visitors
an opportunity to witness Africa’s
animals in their natural habitat.
A unique safari destination that offers
visitors an immersive and unforgettable
experience.
Want to become a field or nature guide? Explore our immersive courses and training programmes for professional safari guides and guardians of nature, taught and led by experts in the industry.
EcoTraining offers career and accredited courses, wildlife enthusiast courses, gap year programmes and customised group travel courses.
Join our nature-loving community.