| In our imaginations the wild places of Africa are | | | | sand", and the sandy riverbed is an excellent location |
| timeless and unchanging. That is the reason why | | | | for game viewing, particularly elephant, which thrive in |
| Africans and non-Africans seek them out, to restore | | | | the area. Letaba is a green oasis in the surrounding |
| calm and proportion to their lives. In reality of course, | | | | mopane veld, and remains a firm favorite with |
| this isn't true because Africa's landscapes change just | | | | visitors. Lower Sabie Lower Sabie graces the banks |
| like any other as they respond to shifts in their | | | | of the Sabie River, one of the few perennial rivers to |
| environment and human activity. For the past million | | | | flow through the Kruger National Park. Visitors cannot |
| years or so, humans and their ancestors have been | | | | but feel soothed by the view towards the river and |
| the main agents of change in Africa's savannah. | | | | the Lebombo Mountains beyond. In this rest camp, |
| Kruger National Park is not an Island, but an integral | | | | the bounty and plenitude of nature are very evident, |
| part of a continent, alive with people, their needs and | | | | eloquently symbolized by the most conspicuous of its |
| dreams and hopes for the future. As part of Africa's | | | | numerous trees, the mighty sycamore fig, which |
| greatest safari parks, Kruger National Park is part of | | | | provides generously for the livelihood of many birds |
| the great Limpopo Transfrontier Park. Elephants can | | | | and insects. Not only do these giants produce fruit at |
| easily be seen in this park and their are 145 mammal | | | | least twice a year, but different trees produce fruit |
| species to look out for including lions, cheetah, | | | | at different times, extending the gifts of life over |
| giraffe, hippos, rhino, and buffalo. Kruger National Park | | | | many months. Olifants The camp is situated a top a |
| Accommodation styles range from standard | | | | hill which towers several hundred feet over the |
| bungalow, to luxury safari lodge, to basic camp site, | | | | Olifants river. Views from the lookout platforms allow |
| with prices to suit just about every budget. Whether | | | | one to see the river below, just as a soaring eagle |
| you are looking for a family vacation, Africa travel or | | | | would survey it, as it hunts from the skies. |
| a budget African safari, there's bound to be | | | | Pretoriuskop When the world was still young, some 3 |
| something for you. Here are some Restcamps at | | | | 500 million years ago, molten rock forced its way |
| Kruger National Park. Berg-en-Dal (with satellite | | | | through the earth's crust and solidified to form the |
| Malelane) Berg-en-Dal is situated on the bank of the | | | | spectacular granite outcrops where Pretoriuskop Rest |
| Matjulu Spruit with a view of softly undulating hills to | | | | Camp is now nestled. The impressive granite dome |
| the east. On the northern and southern sides dry | | | | known as "Shabeni Hill" is not far from the camp, |
| riverbeds and a dam border the camp. There are | | | | which is found in the south-western corner of the |
| large trees along the streams and dry riverbeds. | | | | Kruger National Park. It is immediately apparent to |
| Special care has been taken to preserve the natural | | | | any visitor that Pretoriuskop is unique as brilliant red |
| vegetation in the camp. Berg-en-Dal is also the only | | | | trees adorn the camp, pre-dating the decision to |
| camp set in a rugged mountain environment and is | | | | make exclusive use of indigenous plants in laying out |
| built on the site of a prehistoric settlements. Crocodile | | | | rest camp gardens. Nostalgia prompted an exception |
| Bridge This small and delightful camp is situated in the | | | | to the rule for Pretoriuskop, the Kruger National |
| south-eastern corner of the Kruger National Park, on | | | | Park's oldest rest camp, and exotic flowering plants |
| the northern bank of the Crocodile River, from which | | | | were allowed to stay, enhancing the strong sense of |
| it derives its name. After an early morning game | | | | the past that is so pervasive. Punda Maria Punda |
| drive, one can retire from the Lowveld heat to a | | | | Maria lies in the northern most part of the Kruger |
| lunch of prawns before coming back for late | | | | National Park, 8 km from Punda Maria Gate. The |
| afternoon game viewing. The game viewing area is | | | | camp is situated in the Sandveld region that is often |
| known as the 'Southern Circle' and is renowned for | | | | described as the botanical garden of the Kruger |
| its concentration of different prides of lion with | | | | National Park. There are numerous plant species |
| different hunting techniques and behavior. It has an | | | | which occur that are unique to the area. Game |
| abundance of prides, herds, troops, packs and | | | | species most likely to be sighted include impala, zebra, |
| swarms. It is home to a larger percentage of the | | | | buffalo, elephant, eland and sable and the area is a |
| Kruger National Park's total rhino population. Letaba | | | | bird paradise. |
| The idyllic Letaba Rest Camp is situated on a | | | | Jerry Wanga is editor of Naady. You can find more |
| sweeping bend of the Letaba River, midway | | | | information about Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya |
| between the southern and northern boundaries of | | | | safaris, as well as hotels and lodge bookings, on the |
| the Kruger National Park. The name means "river of | | | | website. |