Pafuri Gate Game Viewing Routes
Kruger National Park

The vegetation in the Pafuri region of Kruger Park includes a diverse mix of South African lowveld and African woodlands. Here you will find various trees including bushwillow species, silver cluster leaves and white syringa.Pafuri is easily accessible from Johannesburg (about 6 and a half hours), but Punda Maria gate is the usual option for visitors coming from the south wanting to experience the Pafuri area.Pafuri Gate takes you along the H1-9 directly into the northern sandveld between Limpopo and Luvuvhu Rivers. This is one of the most ecologically diverse areas of the Park and is known as the 'northern biome'.The vegetation includes a diverse mixture of South African lowveld and tropical African woodlands. Here you will find various trees, including bushwillow species, silver cluster leaves and white syringe.There is not much animals to be seen on the route from Pafuri to Luvuvhu River but there are rare plants and animals here that can be found nowhere else in South Africa.In the winter, however, hundreds of Elephant and Buffalo invade this area. while driving over the Luvuvhu River bridge, take time to stop and admire the river and surrounding forest area.Keep an eye out for the Sharpe's grysbok and the suni antelope which may be hidden in the thickets on the river banks.You will also be able to see rare birds like the Bohms Spinetails, the African finfoot and the white crowned plover.

Facts on Pafuri

Pafuri has a variety of habitats, from sandstone cliffs to lush riverine forests, mixed sandvelds, woodland and tropical floodplains
Pafuri is a top birding spot because nowhere else in South Africa can such a range of tropical birds be seen
The Luvuvhu River woodland is home to Nyala and Kudu, Baboon, Impala and Duiker
There is a high Leopard population along the Luvuvhu
The Luvuvhu has hundreds of Crocodile and Hippo
The Makuleke area is the winter home of Elephant from Kruger, Zimbabwe and Mozambique

While driving around the Luvuvhu area, be on the lookout for the flood markers that show the high water point reached by the floods of February 2000.

Pafuri Picnic Site

There is just one look out point in the whole northern section of Pafuri, the Pafuri picnic site (S63), which should be your first stop when entering Pafuri.To get to this picnic spot, you will have to turn right along the Luvuvhu River Drive (S63) after crossing the river. This is a charming little spot surrounded by luscious Anna trees and thick bushes.There are braai (barbecue) and toilet facilities and a place where you can buy firewood and cool drinks. Spend some time on this site, relishing in the many wildlife and vegetation that surrounds you.Watch the birds go about their daily business, observe the Crocodile waiting for a kill, or simply just relax in the beautiful surroundings.One of the things to keep an eye out for is the high water mark indicating the level of which the water reached during the 2000 floods. This is marked on the wall of the toilet facility, about 8 metres from the usual water level.Also discover the history and archaeology of the area by visiting the nearby Thulamela Iron Age site. Pafuri is abundant in birds with ranger Frank Mabasa having recorded about 257 species at this site in just one year.The area is often visited by bee eaters, kingfishers and woodpeckers and you will be able to hear the call of the majestic fish eagle gliding across the water.More uncommon birds found in the area include Pel's fishing owl, the thickbilled cuckoo, the rackettailed roller, Arnot's bush chat, the bush shrike, narine trogon and the trumpeter hornbill.