Rates explained
How pricing works
Rates are per person sharing, for the whole 3-night trail, from R2,640. Four things move that price: whether you self-cater, the season, your start day, and how far ahead you book. Nothing else is added at checkout.
What moves the price
Does catering change the price?
Yes, and it is the largest single factor.
Self-catered starts at R2,640 per person sharing and catered at R11,520. On a self-catered trail you bring and cook your own food, with lodge staff on hand for kitchen prep, the barbeque and cleaning. On a catered trail every meal is prepared for you.
What counts as high season?
1 Apr to 31 Oct, 15 Dec to 15 Jan. Every other date is low season, at the lower rate.
The season depends only on your start date. Catering, group size and everything else about the trail work exactly the same either way.
Why does my start day change the price?
Only on self-catered trails, and only for Thursday and Friday starts.
A self-catered trail beginning on a Thursday or Friday is R4,500 per person sharing in high season against R3,300 for any other start day. Catered trails are one rate whatever day you start.
Is there a discount for booking late?
Yes. Departures between 8 and 21 days away are 22% less.
It applies to both catered and self-catered trails, and it is applied automatically: you will see it named on the date you pick and again on your total before you pay. Nothing needs to be asked for or entered.
A worked example
4 walkers, self-catered, starting on a Monday in low season. Every line is the same calculation the booking form runs, so this is what you would actually be charged.
- Self-catered, low season, Monday start
- R2,640 per person sharing
- 4 walkers
- R10,560
- Paid today (50% deposit)
- R5,280
- Balance, due 45 days before arrival
- R5,280
Departures 45 or more days away are secured with a 50% deposit, with the balance due 45 days before arrival. Inside that, the full amount is due at booking.
Do I pay for my whole group, or just myself?
Just the people you are booking for. The rate is per person sharing, for the whole trail, so a party of 2 pays for 2 even on a date where others join later. A departure carries up to 8 walkers in total.
The first booking on a shared date needs at least 4 people self-catered or 2 catered, and fixes the catering for everyone who joins that date afterwards. Once a date is running, any party of 2 or more can join it while places last. Wednesday and Thursday departures are exclusive, for exactly 8 places, so nobody joins you.
Catered dates open for booking up to 18 months ahead and self-catered up to 8 months.
What is included in the rate?
Included
- A guided walk, with each safari lodge reserved for your group overnight
- Two experienced trail guides throughout
- Daily transport of your baggage and provisions between lodges
- Lodge staff for cleaning, kitchen prep and the barbeque
- Free bedding, ice, wood and WiFi at every lodge
- All reserve conservation levies
Not included
- Food and beverages on self-catered bookings (choose the catered option to include meals)
- Travel to and from Temminck's Lodge
- Personal travel insurance