A while ago, we booked to join my brother, his family, and a few friends on one of South Africa’s ultimate 4×4 adventures — the Lebombo Eco Trail through the Kruger National Park. The plan was simple: five vehicles, one convoy, and a shared adventure among people who already knew each other.
We set off from Durban, breaking the journey with a weekend stop near Piet Retief — a perfect halfway pause — before heading on to Crocodile Bridge Camp for two nights to meet up with the crew and prepare for the trail.
Heavy rain swept through on arrival, briefly testing our resolve, but by the time we rolled out, the skies had cleared and the bush carried that unmistakable, earthy scent that follows proper African rain.
Our first game drive from Crocodile Bridge set the tone: four of the Big Five in a single afternoon, including a lion kill, followed by a leopard sighting the next day. Kruger wasn’t holding back — this was going to be something special.
Life on the Trail
The Lebombo Eco Trail runs roughly 500 km along Kruger’s eastern boundary, tracing the Lebombo hills from Crocodile Bridge in the south to Pafuri in the far north.
It’s a guided expedition, limited to five vehicles led by a SANParks ranger, with a maximum of four people per vehicle — making it one of the most intimate and exclusive ways to experience the park.
Each night we camped in remote, unfenced bush camps, completely off the grid. Hyenas whooped, lions roared, and nightjars trilled in the dark. Days were long and dusty, winding through constantly shifting landscapes — from dense thornveld and riverine forest in the south to open mopane woodland and baobab-dotted plains in the north.
And perhaps the best part? You get to drive on the rangers’ own service roads — the ones marked with those tempting “No Entry” signs. For five days, you’re behind the scenes, exploring a side of Kruger that most visitors will never see.
For perspective: Kruger spans nearly 2 million hectares, and when combined with Mozambique’s adjoining Limpopo National Park, the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Park stretches across more than 3 million hectares of connected wilderness.
The Troopy Advantage
For a journey like this, the Troopy came into its own. With its pop-up roof tent, it’s built for exactly this kind of expedition — simple, sturdy, and self-contained.
We were always first to finish setting up camp and first to be packed up in the morning. No fussing with poles or pegs — just pop the roof, roll out the bedding, and you’re ready.
That efficiency meant more time for the golden hours: a quiet cup of coffee before sunrise, sundowners in camp, or simply watching the landscape soften and shift with the light.
The Troopy might not be the fastest on the road, but out here, it’s pure freedom on four wheels.
It’s the kind of journey that reminds me exactly why we built the Lekker Passport™ — to celebrate the people, places, and moments that make exploring South Africa so rewarding.
Trail Tips — What to Know Before You Go
Booking: The Lebombo Eco Trail must be booked directly through SANParks. Only five vehicles are permitted per departure, so reservations fill up fast. Search “Lebombo Eco Trail” on their site.
Season: Trails run April to October — the dry winter months — when roads are firmer and wildlife sightings are at their best.
Vehicle Requirements: Only 4×4 vehicles with low range are allowed. Trailers are not permitted. Each vehicle must be fully self-sufficient with its own water, fuel, and camping gear.
Accommodation: Expect unfenced bush camps with no facilities other than long-drop toilets. It’s as wild as it gets.
Permits & Fees: Trail fees are paid to SANParks and exclude daily conservation fees or Wild Card costs. Confirm all rates when booking.
After the Trail — A Taste of the Lowveld
If you’re heading home through the Lowveld, don’t rush. This region is full of makers and brewers who pour just as much passion into their craft as the rangers do into protecting the wild.
- Hops Hollow Brewery – perched along Long Tom Pass near Sabie, this is one of South Africa’s highest breweries and a must-stop for a cold pint with a view.
- Sabie Brewing Co. – in the heart of town, their River Blonde Ale and Loggers Lager are perfect companions after a dusty trail.
- Genesis Brewing Company – in nearby Nelspruit, where local ingredients meet creative brewing.
And for those who enjoy a good spirit:
- Gin & Co. in White River offers small-batch gins infused with Lowveld botanicals.
- MHOBA Rum in Malelane crafts truly South African, pure sugarcane rum — a world-class expression of the region’s warmth and flavour.
These stops remind you that adventure doesn’t end when the engine cools — sometimes, it continues with a toast to the journey.