Klaserie Sands Safari Trails.

In the cacophony of chaos we call the 21st century, many travellers are searching for a holiday experience that offers more than an escape from the every day. There is a yearning for stillness and reconnection that many traditional vacation outlets are unable to deliver.

Klaserie Sands Safari Trails is the sister camp of internationally renowned Klaserie Sands River Camp. Perfectly blending serenity, luxury and adventure, this exclusive camp offers guests a deep and rich immersion in untouched nature within the wildlife-rich Greater Kruger National Park.

The Camp

For adventurous souls seeking an authentic safari experience, Klaserie Sands Safari Trails is a world-class walking safari destination. Built into the banks of a dry riverbed, the tastefully-appointed tented camp is located in one of the last frontiers of untouched Kruger wilderness. Reawakened by the Klaserie Sands family, this breathtaking expanse of land shares an unfenced boundary with the Kruger National Park, with game moving freely throughout the area.
Exclusively available to the camp’s guests and staff, the area is strewn with undiscovered animal paths and abundant birdlife, offering guests the most intimate of safari and tracking experiences. The diverse terrain offers panoramic vistas of the nearby Olifants river and distant Drakensberg mountain range.
At Klaserie Sands Safari Trails, we aim to instil true reconnection in our guest experience – connection with people, nature and self. As such, the camp is located in an area with no electricity or Wifi signal and very limited cell phone signal. 24/7 radio access means that we are reachable in the case of an emergency but we highly encourage our guests to switch off and use the opportunity to experience true connectivity.

Tented accommodation

Nestled amongst the trees, the tented accommodation is beautifully appointed with soft linens, clothing and luggage racks and en-suite bathroom. Each of the 4 tents features a private timber deck overlooking the riverbed, the perfect spot for an afternoon nap or wildlife spotting. Gauze tent flaps offer protection from mosquitoes while allowing the cool breeze and sounds of the bush to gently lull one to sleep.
Each tent features a ceiling fan, USB charging port, solar lanterns, an en-suite bathroom with both an indoor and outdoor shower and complimentary toiletries. Daily housekeeping and turn-down services are included, ensuring our guests' absolute comfort.

Camp facilities and activities

Klaserie Sands Safari Trails offers its guests an idyllic setting in which to relax, refresh and reconnect. A beautiful communal lounge area overlooks the riverbed, offering guests a sumptuous spot from which to take in the area's prolific bird life. Forming a natural hide, guests are often treated to views of passing animals, large and small. Guests are free to select magazines, books, boardgames and even a glass of something refreshing from the well-laden drinks trolley.

The beautiful plunge pool provides an icy respite from the heat of the day and guests can while the afternoon hours away on the comfortable nearby loungers.

A boma area features a crackling campfire; which welcomes guests back after their evening safari and provides the heat over which a delicious dinner is cooked. The camp is equipped with a private chef and two expert game rangers who host guests for the duration of their stay. A delicious continental and hot breakfast is served in the camp's intimate dining room; open on all sides to the morning's fresh breeze. 

Guests of Klaserie Sands Safari Trails have the opportunity to conduct two walking safaris daily with industry leading field trackers and game rangers. Daily safari drives are also extended to guests, with the itinerary being tailored to in-house guests’ preferences. Bird-watching, star-gazing, wildlife tracking, bush bars and starlit outdoor dining experiences are just some of the incredible activities offered to our guests during their stay at Klaserie Sands Safari Trails.

Offbeat Riding Safaris

You have not experienced the Maasai Mara of you haven't experienced it from the back of a horse. Reconnect with the ancient synergy as you cross the entire Mara ecosystem on horseback, criss-crossing one of the most exciting ecosystems on the planet.  

Atop the Syria escarpment. 

Offbeat Riding Safaris have been operating since 1990 and have a stellar reputation for providing unrivaled mobile horseback safaris amongst big game. Riding up close to elephant, lion and buffalo, or galloping with wildebeest and zebra are life changing experiences. If you are a rider, there is simply no better way to see Kenya than from the back of a well schooled and fit horse. We ride across the Masai Mara, Amboseli, and Laikipia, choosing the best routes. With a traditional mobile tented safari camp that moves with us, supported by a lorry and Land Rovers, this is the epitome of what a true 'safari' is all about. Wildlife is plentiful in all the areas that we ride and your guide is highly knowledgeable and conversant with the habits and likely reactions of the wildlife.
Crossing the Mara river on horseback is, to put it simply, an out of this world surreal experience.

Mobile camp on top of the Syria escarpment. 

Viewing giraffe from horseback.

Large male lion from horseback.

Elephant viewing from horseback in the Mara North conservancy. 

Horsing around on the Mara plains. 

Flycamp at night.

Lion viewing. 

Stunning views. 

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Guest Gallery - Paul Vorster

Another great gallery of images captured on our Creative wildlife photography workshop hosted in the GreateR Kruger during November 2019. 

Leopard cub in tree. 

From Paul himself: All too often life in the city gets too much and you need to escape to the tranquillity that you can only find in the bush. One such escape is to the Thornybush Private Game Reserve. It has rolling Lowveld savannah,  adjacent to the Kruger National Park, and home to the Big Five. Tough the bush is quite dense in places, there are nevertheless plenty good open sightings to be had. All arrangements and logistics were superbly handled by Africa Unlocked and with Albie as the photographic guide, there is no shortage of good vehicle positioning and plenty of good stories shared – on the vehicle and around the campfire. Looking for a good get away mid-term, give Albie a call.

Coalition at dusk

Too much action

Spotted Hyenas at play. 

Guest Gallery - Barbara Jensen

Have a look at this stunning collection of images that our guest Barbara Jensen put together from our Creative Wildlife Photography workshop which was hosted during November 2019. She also shares a few of her eloquent thoughts on her deep love of Africa. Contact us if you wish to join the next photo workshop. 

I wish I knew who coined the phrase “In Africa my beginning, in Africa my end …” but it always jumps to mind when I spend time in the African bush. I love photography but I love being in the bush more. There are time where I just sit back and enjoy the scene without even picking up the camera. We are very fortunate to spend more time in the African bush (or savannah) than most people and not a time goes by that I do not realise and deeply appreciate how blessed we are – what most people see on television, we live. Spending time on an Africa Unlocked safari is extra special not only because of the superb logistical arrangements but you also get to spend some time with one of my favourite “bush man” – Albie Venter.

El Karama, Laikipia Kenya.

We have known El Karama Lodge in Laikipia, Kenya for many years now. Murrey and Sophie Grant the owners are immersed in wildlife and nature and their honest love and fascination of the area and Africa as a whole becomes evident moments after meeting them. Laikipia is fast becoming a must-do destination, especially for families and those who seek out something different. The area has been a firm favourite for many years. Its a place where one can get to know the people who made this wildlife haven their home well away from the crowds and now shares it with a select few.  

Flycamp Bell-tent against starlit sky. 

El-Karama is an intimate, owner-operated, award-winning lodge specialising in family safaris and small groups looking for adventure in the wild!   Located in the heart of Kenya's most unique and pristine wildlife area: Laikipia, this lodge is found inside a 14,000 acre private conservancy with access to over 200,000 acres of Northern Kenya wilderness. The wildlife experience here is world–class, offering abundant sightings of the Big 4 and day visits to see iconic Rhino. 

Wildlife is superb. 

The habitat supports 430 verified bird species and Northern Kenyan species such as Grevy's Zebra, Gerenuk and Vulturine Guinea Fowl. With outstanding views of natural beauty; guests can wake up to the peaks of Mount Kenya and fall asleep to the sounds of the mighty Ewaso Nyiro river.  It's all about freedom and privacy here: whether you like to walk, fly camp under the stars, game drive, track on foot with guides, fish, visit the working farm and organic garden or learn more about wildlife conservation and education in action with the rangers, the El Karama Lodge team will make it all possible.  

Children on safari. 

The lodge also sports Kenya's first Bush School for children, which is focussed on educating and 'rewilding' children during their safari with us. We are a truly family-friendly lodge and your precious little ones will be kept very busy learning about the bush with our wonderful guides and resident naturalists.

A truly authentic safari experience hosted by some of Kenya's finest…

Sundowners against Mount Kenya.

Breakfast at waterfall. 

Berry detail.

Mess interior.

Walking safari at sunrise.

Walking safari.

Flycamp Bell-tent in landscape.

Guest Portfolio - Jan Rijnink