| re four basic types of restcamp in the Kruger Park: | | | | southwestern park. Each of these trails is highly |
| main camps, private camps, bushveld camps and | | | | recommended: the bushman and Wolhuter trails for |
| camping only camps. All except Olifants, Orpen and | | | | teir scenery and interesting plant life, and Napi for its |
| Mopani offer thatched huts and campsites, in | | | | game. Afsaal picnic sport is almost halfway between |
| approximately equal proportions. Main camps have | | | | Skukuza and Malelane. It provides hot water for |
| restaurants which are open for breakfast, lunch and | | | | beverages, ablution blocks and a small shop. The |
| supper (exceptions are Orpen and Crocodile Bridge, | | | | Albasini ruins, 40 kilometers due west of Skukuza, |
| which are small camps located at gates). Shop at | | | | mark the homestead of one of the first white |
| which basic groceries (including beer and wine), books | | | | inhabitants of the Lowveld. There is a small display of |
| and curios can be purchased, petrol stations and | | | | items discovered when the ruins were excavated |
| Laundromats. Most have facilities for day visitors, | | | | some years ago. Shirmantanga hill is a wonderful |
| though Lower Sabie is an exception. Some have | | | | viewpoint 12 kilometers south of Sikukuza, off the |
| public telephones, swimming pools, in-camp nature are | | | | Malelane road; there is a plaque commemorating |
| Bergen - Dal, Crocodile Bridge, Letabba Mopani, | | | | Colonel Stevenson - Hamilton, whose ashes were |
| Olifants, Lower Sabie, Pretoriuskop, Punda Maria, | | | | scattered here. Another lookout is at Granokop, |
| Satara, Shingwedzi and Skukuza. Some have luxury | | | | about five kilometers mortheast on the Skukuza - |
| houses available to private visitors when not in use | | | | pretoriuskop Road. |
| by their (mainly corporate) sponsors. | | | | TOURISM FACILITIES IN THE WESTERN - CENTRAL |
| Bushveld camps are a more recent development | | | | KRUGER PARK |
| aimed at diversifying the range of options available to | | | | Excluding Skukuza, which is on the border of this |
| visitors. The idea is to offer a more exclusive | | | | region and a good base from which to explore it, |
| atmosphere, while remaining affordable. Bushveld | | | | ther is only one small restcamp, two bushveld camps |
| camps are considerably smaller than main camps, | | | | and one campsite. Orpen Camp is small and pleasant |
| ranging from 32 to 50 beds. The roads leading to | | | | (44 beds). It is located at Orpen Gate Maroela |
| them are for the exclusive use of residents of the | | | | Campsite is close by and was specially designed for |
| camp, which helps to preserve the atmosphere of | | | | caravans close by and touts; it can accommodate up |
| peace and quiet. Accommodation is essential the | | | | to 120 people. The Talamati Bushveld Camp is small, |
| same as that in the main camps, but there are no | | | | rustic, and has a minimum of facilities - a good place |
| restaurants and shops. The cost is a little higher than | | | | to experience the peace and quiet of the bushveld. It |
| for the main camps, but the reservation procedure is | | | | has ten six-bedded and five four bedded cottages. |
| the same. There are five bushveld camps in the | | | | The bushveld camp at Jakkalsbessie has been |
| Kruger Park: Bateleur, Biyamiti, Shimuweni, Sirheni and | | | | converted into a luxury lodge, which is privately run. |
| Talamati. | | | | Place of interest |
| Private camps must be reserved in their entity by a | | | | On the Orpen-to-Satara road there are two pull-offs |
| single party. They accommodate 12 to 19 people in | | | | where visitors can look on the Timbavati River - a |
| huts, cottages and houses. The price is based on the | | | | good perspective from which to watch elephants of |
| camp as a whole. The principle advantage is that the | | | | buffalo. Visitors may get out of their vehicles at the |
| camps are small, quiet and completely occupied by | | | | lookout closer to satara. They may also do so at |
| your group. There are no visitor facilities other than | | | | Timbavuti, a picnic site 32 kilometers further north on |
| the accommodation itself. there are three private | | | | the Timbavati River. There is another picnic site at |
| camps: Boulders, Malelane and Roodewal. Campsites | | | | Nhlanguleni, situated approximately half way between |
| are for the exclusive use of visitors with their own | | | | Skukuza and Orpen Gate, on road S36. A third picnic |
| tents or caravans. They offer lavelled sites, which | | | | spot is located at Muzandzeni, halfway between |
| may be occupied by up to six persons each. Some of | | | | Nhlanguleni and Orpen Gate. |
| the sites are grassed but many are bare earth; most | | | | TOURIST FACILITIES ON THE CENTRAL PLAINS |
| have at least some shade. There are communal | | | | The central plain region, as befits the richest game- |
| bathrooms, kitchens and washing - up areas, which | | | | viewing area of the Kruger National Park, is well |
| are sufficient in number and immaculately maintained. | | | | supplied with tourist accommodation: there are three |
| Most main camps offer campsites as well as standard | | | | very popular restcamps, two private camps and two |
| accommodation. In addition, Maroela campsite has | | | | wilderness trails camps and numerous places to picnic |
| only three six - bedded huts. The Kruger Park now | | | | or stretch your legs. Crocodile Bridge is a small camp |
| has a few exclusive luxury lodges run by private | | | | (58 beds and campsites for 72 people). The camp is |
| companies. Some, like Nwanetsi, occupy locations | | | | adjacent to the Crocodile Bridge Gate. It offers easy |
| that were previously private camps. The Kruger Park | | | | access to, and is a good base from which to explore, |
| also offers wilderness trails: Boesman, Metsimetsi, | | | | the rich diversity of the southern landscapes of the |
| Napi, Nyala land, Olifants, Sweni and Wollhuter. | | | | Park. There is no restaurant, since this a relatively |
| Participant are accommodated in trails camps | | | | small camp. |
| Southwestern Kruger Park Accommodation - Main | | | | Lower Sabie Camp is situated 34 kilometers further |
| camps and Private camps | | | | north and is deservedly popular cam. It combines an |
| Skukuza is the headquarters of the Kruger Park | | | | excellent variety of options for guests, including |
| administration and is the largest camp, with a bank, | | | | birdwatching and tree identification, as well as game- |
| library, telephones, doctors and police station. There | | | | viewing along the Sabie River with the abundance of |
| are beds for 634 visitors and camping facilities for a | | | | animals on the baslt plains. Lower Sabie Camp |
| further 480. pretoriuskop, eight kilometers from | | | | provides roofed accommodation for 229 visitors and |
| Numbi Gate, is a good camp for a summer visit | | | | campsites for a further 168. Satara Camp is the third |
| because it is relatively cool and has a large, shallow | | | | largest camp in the Park, with beds for 436 and |
| swimming pool ideal for children. Accommodation | | | | campsite for 360. it is situated towards the north of |
| consists of 344 beds and campsites for 240 people. | | | | the region and is said to be the best sport for |
| Berg-en-Dal is one of the few camps with | | | | predators. Balule Campsite, on the Olifants River in |
| conference facilities and it also has an attractive | | | | the north of the region, has three six - bedded |
| swimming pool. This is another good summer choice, | | | | cottages and campsites for 90 people. Three |
| and nine kilometers from Malelane Gate. There are | | | | three-day, guided wilderness trails on foot are |
| 370 beds and campsites for 420 visitors. | | | | operated out of Metsimetsi, in the Lebombo hills east |
| Malelane is a private camp which has 19 beds. As a | | | | of Tshokwane; Olifants on the banks of the river |
| private camp it must be booked en bloc. It is one | | | | with the same name; and Sweni in the heart of the |
| kilometer from Malelane Gate. The Jock of the | | | | basalt plains, southern west of Nwanetsi. |
| Bushveld private camp has been converted into a | | | | Nwametsi is now the site of an upmarket privately |
| private run lodge. Biyamiti is a bushveld camp with | | | | run lodge. Tshokwame Tearoom both offer picnic |
| minimal facilities, built in rustic style. The 22 - kilometer | | | | facilities as well as hot beverages and snacks. The |
| road leading to the camp winds down the delightful | | | | lookout of Orpen Dam is a delightful spot to while |
| Biyamiti River and is for the exclusive use of the 70 | | | | away some hours in the shade, overlooking a gorge |
| residents, all of whom are accommodated in huts and | | | | through the Lebombos. Visitors may also leave their |
| cottages. | | | | vehicles at Nkumbe a few kilometers further south, |
| The Bushman, Wolhuter and Napi walking trails all | | | | at Mlondozi Dam near Lower Sabie and at Hippo pool, |
| operate in the hilly, roadless wilderness of the | | | | six kilometers west of Crocodile Bridge. |