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