Kruger Combo: Pridelands Adventure and Leopards Lair Lodge

It’s now possible to undertake an EcoTraining course at Pridelands Conservancy and sleep overnight at Leopards Lair Lodge on the edge of the legendary Kruger National Park in South Africa.

A former hunting park transformed into a wildlife conservancy, Pridelands presents a magnificent example of intact woodland. In 2017, the fences between the conservancy and the national park were eliminated, making 2,000-hectare Pridelands part of the Greater Kruger National Park (GKNP), one of Africa’s largest protected areas.

Since the fences were dropped, a variety of wildlife — from the Big Five to wild dogs and hyenas — have been spotted at Pridelands.

Leopards Lair Lodge is located on a 900-hectare Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate. Nestled among green trees along the intermittent Mohlabetsi River, the lodge features five guest rooms with ensuite bathrooms, outdoor showers, ceiling fans and air conditioning.

The common area revolves around a large open-plan space with kitchen, scullery, pantry, dining room and lounge equipped with air conditioning. The lodge is equipped with Wi-Fi and all rooms have power outlets. Activities within the wildlife estate include hiking, birding and mountain biking.

One of the courses offered by EcoTraining that combines Pridelands and Leopards Lair is an EcoQuest ideal for families or multi-generational groups.

Spanning five days and four nights, the course provides participants with an introduction to African wildlife and the natural environment in an enjoyable and exciting way.

The course revolves around ethical behavior in natural environments as well as conservation initiatives that everyone can contribute to in their day-to-day life. The objective is for participants to understand the underlying elements that support an ecosystem and how both small and large organisms and species interact with one another and their environment.

Among the many skills taught during the course are basic orientation and navigation in the Africa bush, animal tracks and tracking, bird identification and behavior, common trees and shrubs, and astronomy.