Looking for the ultimate Kruger Park Safari adventure?

 Kruger Park safaris

Welcome to Vula Safaris

Vula Safaris, is based in Hazyview in the heart of the Mpumalanga and offers open vehicle safaris into the Kruger National Park. Our safaris are the ultimate Kruger experience and can range from a day in the Kruger Park to unlimited days.

Every safari into the Kruger National Park is guided by our professional guides who have the knowledge, passion and experience to give our guests the best possible experience.

Our safaris depart from Hazyview, Nelspruit, White River and Malelane.

The Inclusive and Informative guide

The unique and outstanding qualities of the Kruger National Park makes it one of the greatest tourist destinations in not just South Africa but the World. There are thousands of guests that visits and enjoys the park every year and make memories that last a lifetime.

The Kruger Park has a history that spans over more than a century. The Park’s founders came together and set aside a piece of land that will be used for the preservation and conservation of South Africa’s animals and heritage. Today, the Kruger National Park is South Africa’s biggest commitment to conservation.

To experience the Kruger National Park book with Vula Safaris and make us your number one Kruger Tour Operator.

A quick look at the Kruger Park

The Kruger National Park is one of the largest conservations and game reserves in Africa that covers a total area of 19,485 km2 (7,523 mi2) and crosses over into the Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces, taking up a large part of the North-Eastern part of South Africa. Their Administration Headquarters are located in Skukuza.

The Government of the South African Republic first started to protect the areas of the park in 1898 and the Park became the first National Park of South Africa in 1926. Since then, the Kruger Park has become a very popular holiday destination for people all over the world. Visitors can decide to enjoy private Kruger safaris or do their own self-drive excursions and make their own memories.  There is a wide variety of accommodations throughout the Park.

The greatest attraction that draws people to the Park is the wild and plant life that calls this part of South Africa home. There are hundreds of species of animal and plant life in the Kruger Park. Every single trip is something different and is another awesome adventure.

The Kruger Park hosts a variety of different environments for animals, catering to all.

There is a very large number of animals in the Kruger park including: Rhinoceros, Hippo, Antelope, Kudu, Klip Springer, Hyenas, Wild Dogs, Leopards, Cheetahs, Aardvarks, Giraffes, Zebras, Elephants, Bats, Otters, jackals and many many more.

The Big 5 falls in among 148 mammal species that can be found all throughout the park with about 114 different reptile species also calling the Kruger Park home. The Kruger Park also boasts with more than 34 different species of amphibians, 49 species of freshwater fish and an unbelievable 500 different species of birds. From all of these animal species -Mammal, Amphibian, Avian and Reptile- The most popular animal sightings have to be the Big 5, the group including the Lion, Elephant, Buffalo, Leopard and the Rhino. This famous group of animals is on every visitor’s Wishlist when coming to the Kruger Park. The Kruger National park is a wonderful and unpredictable place, you never know what you are going to see or experience.

The Kruger park doesn’t just contain animals. The Kruger Park contains an astounding 1000 different plant species and 330 different species of trees, making the Kruger Park a conservation with a outstanding amount species.

The Kruger National Park inspires millions of visitors to experience the Kruger Park every year. It is unbelievable how amazing it is experiencing animals living in their natural habitat.

Accommodation

The Kruger Park has a variety of options for every type person, from camping in a tent to staying in a guesthouse with friends or family to make you stay at the Kruger as comfortable as possible. The most popular forms of accommodation are bungalows and rondvels.

All of the accommodation in the park is rustic but fully furnished with all the bells and whistles you could need. Every unit has a fridge where you can store leftovers, food and other products. Working aircons a braai area and utensils. All the units are kept clean and neat by the vast and dedicated cleaning staff that start cleaning from 10:00 am. Guests that camp have a communal fridge.

Depending on the severity of the monkey and baboon problem, the fridges are either locked in diamond mesh chalets or found in the living quarters. This is because some baboons have learned to unhook the cages and raid the fridges. If your fridge is in one of these diamond mesh cages make sure you have a lock on it at all times. To prevent baboons raiding your chalet, make sure you don’t leave food out and don’t leave your windows open. When camping, try putting your food in a cooler box and storing it in the car as baboons can easily enter a tent.

If in the event that baboons do enter your accommodation and raid your fridge, stay calm, close the door and call the camp reception. They are used to baboon raids and will send a clean-up team to restore your unit.

Let’s explore the different types of accommodation.

The Park has a variety of different accommodations, including Satellite Camps, Overnight Hides, Rest Camps, Bush Lodges, Luxury Lodges and Camp Sites. Each Camp offers something the other camps doesn’t have making each stay unique and different. When choosing a camp take these into consideration:

  1. How much privacy will you have during your stay? Some camps like Satellite Camps have great privacy as they don’t allow day visitors.
  2. Do you prefer Rustic or Luxury Living? Some accommodations require you to share cooking and other facilities. Some people prefer living like this while others prefer living on their own without having to share facilities.
  3. If you are in the park to see specific animals, find out which animals can be found in in which areas and plan your stay accordingly.

About the Accommodation: Lodges

  • Luxury Lodges: Imbali, Jock, Lukimbi, Rhino Walking Safaris, Shishangeni, Singita Lebombo, The Outpost, Lion Sands and Pafuri Lodge.
  • Overnight Hides: Shipandani and Sabie.
  • Bush Lodges: Boulders, Roodewal and Pafuri.
  • Bush Camps: Bateleur, Biyamati, Shimuwini, Sirheni andTalamari.
  • Rest Camps: Berg en Dal, Letaba, Mopani, Olifants, Punda Maria, Crocodile Bridge, Lower Sabie, Shingwetzi and Skukuza.
  • Satellite Camps: Maroela, Malelane, Balule and Tamboti.

About the Accommodation: Description

With basic camping you can pitch your tent or park your caravan with most camps offering a power supply so you can power your gizmos. Some camps like Lower Sabie provide a tap for every unit.

The Huts are some of the units that share a communal kitchen as well as an ablution block.

For people who want to camp in style, there is the Safari Tent. Unlike regular camping, where you share a kitchen and bathroom, the Safari Tents have their own en-suite and kitchen and are pitched on the side of a riverbank.

The Bungalows are sturdy and very popular among visitors. All bungalows include an en-suite. The further upgrades and options include having a kitchenette and a stoep. You can decide how luxurious you want to live depending on your budget.

The Cottages are a smaller version of the Bungalows as it contains a single bedroom but a larger living area, bathroom and kitchen. Family cottages have the same setup but can have an extra room.

Guest Cottages can have multiple bedrooms, a decent kitchen and at minimum 2 bathrooms. It is considered an upgrade from family cottages.

The Guesthouses are at the very luxe end of the spectrum, with a large lounge area, multiple bedrooms, an excellent view and sometimes can have a bar.

If the Guesthouses are still not enough, there are the very luxurious Luxury Kruger Lodges. These are privately owned lodges that don’t allow day visitors and have their own private roads for people to travel. Unlike the camps, the lodges each have a unique character to them and are part of the SANParks’s Golden Kudus, which is luxury focussed.

A great advantage that people who live at a camp is they get updated sightings on animal sightings.

The main Kruger Park Camps

Berg en Dal

There is a spruit that trickles through the camp. This camp has beautiful gardens and paths that are perfect for a stroll or jog. There are also bushwalks for guests who want to experience the wild on foot.

Info about the Bush Walks

The Bushwalks start at around 05:00 in the mornings and a headlamp is sometimes required to navigate to the reception area during the darker winter mornings. You will be greeted by your two rangers at the reception who will give you a brief orientation before the walk. Rangers usually drive on roads restricted to the public, usually away from the camp where they scout animals along the way. The game vehicle stops when there are enough animals to view then the rangers take the tourists on foot and track the animals so the tourist can get great photo opportunities.

A rule for bush walks is to avoid wearing brightly coloured clothing and instead wear neutral colours, so instead of wearing your favourite pink jacket consider wearing a cream or beige coloured jacket. To disguise yourself from the animals you must use perfume before the bush walk.

The bush walks are usually in the morning or afternoon wand usually last a few hours. There is a bush picnic that allows for everyone to catch their breath. The armed guides will talk about the fauna and flora as you see them and will lead you along the path. Everyone must walk in a single line behind the guide. The reason for this is animals think the long line of animals is a much larger animal.

An interesting thing to know is that rangers will be happy to track leopard and other animals during a bush walk as long as they know its safe. A bush walk is a totally different from a tour in a car. Its is just you in the sound of nature. You experience the wild first hand instead of viewing it from a distance. You can hear things like a lion roar or a song of an interesting bird because there are no cars or vehicles polluting the sound of the park.

Some safety tips for going on an bushwalk: remember to stay in a single line, don’t be loud, if you need to get the attention of the guide, slap you leg or hip which makes a more natural sound as speaking can attract or chase away animals. The most important rule when going on a bush walk is Don’t run. The guides will make this very clear to everyone before the walk. Please remember to wear comfortable shoes and that children under 12 aren’t allowed on bush walks.

Berg en dal is a great place to pitch a tent, park your caravan or stay in a bungalow or guesthouse as all facilities are exceptionally outfitted and clean.

Why you should stay at Berg en Dal:

  • Berg en Dal has some rare animals in the are such as Rhinos, Elephants, Honey Badgers and Wild Dogs.
  • The Bungalows are a huge favourite among visitors and the quiet atmosphere of the camp paired with the clear fences allow you to relax, unwind and enjoy the park from the safety of the camp.
  • The gardens in Berg en Dal have been built, nurtured and cared for in order for them to look as close to nature as possible. The gardens have a variety of interesting plant life to add to the tranquillity of the camp.
  • The Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport is situated about 25km outside of Nelspruit (Mbombela) and is about an hour and a half’s drive from the Malelane Gate.
  • Area is known to have Bushman paintings.

 

Facilities of main Park camps:

  • Laundromat
  • Cell reception
  • Good picnic spots
  • Fuel station
  • A Park shop
  • Public telephone
  • Communal Kitchens
  • Ablution blocks
  • Swimming pool
  • Satellite TV
  • Basic First Aid
  • Emergency Road Services
  • Wheelchair ramps

Crocodile Bridge

Crocodile Bridge is one of the smaller camps in the Kruger park. Though the camp doesn’t boast a restaurant like many other camps it does have a quaint little camp shop. One of the major pros of this camp is the fact that it is built on the edge of the crocodile river. This means you have an increased chance of seeing lions in the area as well as Rhinos. Crocodile River is a quiet a relaxed camp where you can relax and look at the animals across the river.

As mentioned, Crocodile Bridge has a higher chance of having Rhinos and Lions and also has a higher reported density of Big 5 animals. Since the camp is close to the Crocodile gate you can get so see an interesting combination of animals in an area.

The Crocodile Bridge is one of the best run camps in the park and is the perfect place to start your adventure to the Park. It is possible to see the farms from Komatipoort about 12 km away, which borders on Mozambique. This also makes Crocodile Bridge a very popular picnic destination when you are on your way to Mozambique.

Facilities of main Park camps:

  • Laundromat
  • Cell reception
  • Good picnic spots
  • Fuel station
  • A Park shop
  • Public telephone
  • Communal Kitchens
  • Ablution blocks
  • Swimming pool
  • Satellite TV
  • Basic First Aid
  • Emergency Road Services
  • Wheelchair ramps

There are also bungalows, camping facilities, bush walks, night drives, day drives, picnic spots and take away restaurants.

When taking part in night drives, especially during the winter months, make sure you take a jacket as well as a flashlight so you won’t be shivering while enjoying the wonders of the Kruger National Park. Park drives start at dusk and you are usually accompanied by two, armed game rangers. The safari vehicle is equipped with two spotlights, one on each side, that the tourists can use to spot animals at night. The use f spotlights are usually left for those who know how to spot animals, but you can take a few pointers from the guides. The idea behind the spotlight is the light reflects from the animal’s eyes as a bright yellowish glow, allowing you to see the animal’s eyes and thus spot the animal.

When you do spot an animal’s eyes in the dark, it is best to ask to stop the vehicle as the eyes could be an indication of carnivores. Yellow and reddish glows indicate a carnivore while antelope and other herbivores have a greenish glow. This makes it an easy distinction between the animals.

Night drives usually last a few hours and the ranger might still pick up people from Satellite Camps along the way before the drive can truly begin. If in the event you come a bit under dressed for the weather conditions, blankets will be provided. A safety warning when on a night drive is to avoid the branches from trees as you drive past trees. The ranger isn’t always aware of the little things, so please be careful.

Our Kruger Park safaris

Morning Game Drive 

Afternoon Game Drive

Full Day Game Drive

Panorama Route Tour

Kruger Park Safaris

Explore the African Bush

Kruger Park Safaris

Spend time with our qualified guides in the Kruger Park, learning about the African bush and go in search of the Big 5 and prolific birdlife.

Guided Day Tours

Discover the Scenic Mpumalanga Province

Guided Day Tours

Visit the Blyde River Canyon, Moholoholo Animal Rehabilitation Centre, Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre and many other sights around Mpumalanga.

The Inclusive and Informative guide

The unique and outstanding qualities of the Kruger National Park makes it one of the greatest tourist destinations in not just South Africa but the World. There are thousands of guests that visits and enjoys the park every year and make memories that last a lifetime.

The Kruger Park has a history that spans over more than a century. The Park’s founders came together and set aside a piece of land that will be used for the preservation and conservation of South Africa’s animals and heritage. Today, the Kruger National Park is South Africa’s biggest commitment to conservation.

To experience the Kruger National Park book with Vula Safaris and make us your number one Kruger Tour Operator.

A quick look at the Kruger Park

The Kruger National Park is one of the largest conservations and game reserves in Africa that covers a total area of 19,485 km2 (7,523 mi2) and crosses over into the Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces, taking up a large part of the North-Eastern part of South Africa. Their Administration Headquarters are located in Skukuza.

The Government of the South African Republic first started to protect the areas of the park in 1898 and the Park became the first National Park of South Africa in 1926. Since then, the Kruger Park has become a very popular holiday destination for people all over the world. Visitors can decide to enjoy private Kruger safaris or do their own self-drive excursions and make their own memories.  There is a wide variety of accommodations throughout the Park.

The greatest attraction that draws people to the Park is the wild and plant life that calls this part of South Africa home. There are hundreds of species of animal and plant life in the Kruger Park. Every single trip is something different and is another awesome adventure.

The Kruger Park hosts a variety of different environments for animals, catering to all.

There is a very large number of animals in the Kruger park including: Rhinoceros, Hippo, Antelope, Kudu, Klip Springer, Hyenas, Wild Dogs, Leopards, Cheetahs, Aardvarks, Giraffes, Zebras, Elephants, Bats, Otters, jackals and many many more.

The Big 5 falls in among 148 mammal species that can be found all throughout the park with about 114 different reptile species also calling the Kruger Park home. The Kruger Park also boasts with more than 34 different species of amphibians, 49 species of freshwater fish and an unbelievable 500 different species of birds. From all of these animal species -Mammal, Amphibian, Avian and Reptile- The most popular animal sightings have to be the Big 5, the group including the Lion, Elephant, Buffalo, Leopard and the Rhino. This famous group of animals is on every visitor’s Wishlist when coming to the Kruger Park. The Kruger National park is a wonderful and unpredictable place, you never know what you are going to see or experience.

The Kruger park doesn’t just contain animals. The Kruger Park contains an astounding 1000 different plant species and 330 different species of trees, making the Kruger Park a conservation with a outstanding amount species.

The Kruger National Park inspires millions of visitors to experience the Kruger Park every year. It is unbelievable how amazing it is experiencing animals living in their natural habitat.

Accommodation

The Kruger Park has a variety of options for every type person, from camping in a tent to staying in a guesthouse with friends or family to make you stay at the Kruger as comfortable as possible. The most popular forms of accommodation are bungalows and rondavels.

All of the accommodation in the park is rustic but fully furnished with all the bells and whistles you could need. Every unit has a fridge where you can store leftovers, food and other products. Working aircons a braai area and utensils. All the units are kept clean and neat by the vast and dedicated cleaning staff that start cleaning from 10:00 am. Guests that camp have a communal fridge.

Depending on the severity of the monkey and baboon problem, the fridges are either locked in diamond mesh chalets or found in the living quarters. This is because some baboons have learned to unhook the cages and raid the fridges. If your fridge is in one of these diamond mesh cages make sure you have a lock on it at all times. To prevent baboons raiding your chalet, make sure you don’t leave food out and don’t leave your windows open. When camping, try putting your food in a cooler box and storing it in the car as baboons can easily enter a tent.

If in the event that baboons do enter your accommodation and raid your fridge, stay calm, close the door and call the camp reception. They are used to baboon raids and will send a clean-up team to restore your unit.

Let’s explore the different types of accommodation.

The Park has a variety of different accommodations, including Satellite Camps, Overnight Hides, Rest Camps, Bush Lodges, Luxury Lodges and Camp Sites. Each Camp offers something the other camps doesn’t have making each stay unique and different. When choosing a camp take these into consideration:

  1. How much privacy will you have during your stay? Some camps like Satellite Camps have great privacy as they don’t allow day visitors.
  2. Do you prefer Rustic or Luxury Living? Some accommodations require you to share cooking and other facilities. Some people prefer living like this while others prefer living on their own without having to share facilities.
  3. If you are in the park to see specific animals, find out which animals can be found in in which areas and plan your stay accordingly.

About the Accommodation: Lodges

  • Luxury Lodges: Imbali, Jock, Lukimbi, Rhino Walking Safaris, Shishangeni, Singita Lebombo, The Outpost, Lion Sands and Pafuri Lodge.
  • Overnight Hides: Shipandani and Sabie.
  • Bush Lodges: Boulders, Roodewal and Pafuri.
  • Bush Camps: Bateleur, Biyamati, Shimuwini, Sirheni andTalamari.
  • Rest Camps: Berg en Dal, Letaba, Mopani, Olifants, Punda Maria, Crocodile Bridge, Lower Sabie, Shingwetzi and Skukuza.
  • Satellite Camps: Maroela, Malelane, Balule and Tamboti.

About the Accommodation: Description

 

With basic camping you can pitch your tent or park your caravan with most camps offering a power supply so you can power your gizmos. Some camps like Lower Sabie provide a tap for every unit.

The Huts are some of the units that share a communal kitchen as well as an ablution block.

For people who want to camp in style, there is the Safari Tent. Unlike regular camping, where you share a kitchen and bathroom, the Safari Tents have their own en-suite and kitchen and are pitched on the side of a riverbank.

The Bungalows are sturdy and very popular among visitors. All bungalows include an en-suite. The further upgrades and options include having a kitchenette and a stoep. You can decide how luxurious you want to live depending on your budget.

The Cottages are a smaller version of the Bungalows as it contains a single bedroom but a larger living area, bathroom and kitchen. Family cottages have the same setup but can have an extra room.

Guest Cottages can have multiple bedrooms, a decent kitchen and at minimum 2 bathrooms. It is considered an upgrade from family cottages.

The Guesthouses are at the very luxe end of the spectrum, with a large lounge area, multiple bedrooms, an excellent view and sometimes can have a bar.

If the Guesthouses are still not enough, there are the very luxurious Luxury Kruger Lodges. These are privately owned lodges that don’t allow day visitors and have their own private roads for people to travel. Unlike the camps, the lodges each have a unique character to them and are part of the SANParks’s Golden Kudus, which is luxury focussed.

A great advantage that people who live at a camp is they get updated sightings on animal sightings.

The main Kruger Park Camps

Berg en Dal

There is a spruit that trickles through the camp. This camp has beautiful gardens and paths that are perfect for a stroll or jog. There are also bushwalks for guests who want to experience the wild on foot.

Info about the Bush Walks

The Bushwalks start at around 05:00 in the mornings and a headlamp is sometimes required to navigate to the reception area during the darker winter mornings. You will be greeted by your two rangers at the reception who will give you a brief orientation before the walk. Rangers usually drive on roads restricted to the public, usually away from the camp where they scout animals along the way. The game vehicle stops when there are enough animals to view then the rangers take the tourists on foot and track the animals so the tourist can get great photo opportunities.

A rule for bush walks is to avoid wearing brightly coloured clothing and instead wear neutral colours, so instead of wearing your favourite pink jacket consider wearing a cream or beige coloured jacket. To disguise yourself from the animals you must use perfume before the bush walk.

The bush walks are usually in the morning or afternoon wand usually last a few hours. There is a bush picnic that allows for everyone to catch their breath. The armed guides will talk about the fauna and flora as you see them and will lead you along the path. Everyone must walk in a single line behind the guide. The reason for this is animals think the long line of animals is a much larger animal.

An interesting thing to know is that rangers will be happy to track leopard and other animals during a bush walk as long as they know its safe. A bush walk is a totally different from a tour in a car. Its is just you in the sound of nature. You experience the wild first hand instead of viewing it from a distance. You can hear things like a lion roar or a song of an interesting bird because there are no cars or vehicles polluting the sound of the park.

Some safety tips for going on an bushwalk: remember to stay in a single line, don’t be loud, if you need to get the attention of the guide, slap you leg or hip which makes a more natural sound as speaking can attract or chase away animals. The most important rule when going on a bush walk is Don’t run. The guides will make this very clear to everyone before the walk. Please remember to wear comfortable shoes and that children under 12 aren’t allowed on bush walks.

Berg en dal is a great place to pitch a tent, park your caravan or stay in a bungalow or guesthouse as all facilities are exceptionally outfitted and clean.

Why you should stay at Berg en Dal:

  • Berg en Dal has some rare animals in the are such as Rhinos, Elephants, Honey Badgers and Wild Dogs.
  • The Bungalows are a huge favourite among visitors and the quiet atmosphere of the camp paired with the clear fences allow you to relax, unwind and enjoy the park from the safety of the camp.
  • The gardens in Berg en Dal have been built, nurtured and cared for in order for them to look as close to nature as possible. The gardens have a variety of interesting plant life to add to the tranquillity of the camp.
  • The Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport is situated about 25km outside of Nelspruit (Mbombela) and is about an hour and a half’s drive from the Malelane Gate.
  • Area is known to have Bushman paintings.

Facilities of main Park camps:

  • Laundromat
  • Cell reception
  • Good picnic spots
  • Fuel station
  • A Park shop
  • Public telephone
  • Communal Kitchens
  • Ablution blocks
  • Swimming pool
  • Satellite TV
  • Basic First Aid
  • Emergency Road Services
  • Wheelchair ramps

Crocodile Bridge

Crocodile Bridge is one of the smaller camps in the Kruger park. Though the camp doesn’t boast a restaurant like many other camps it does have a quaint little camp shop. One of the major pros of this camp is the fact that it is built on the edge of the crocodile river. This means you have an increased chance of seeing lions in the area as well as Rhinos. Crocodile River is a quiet a relaxed camp where you can relax and look at the animals across the river.

As mentioned, Crocodile Bridge has a higher chance of having Rhinos and Lions and also has a higher reported density of Big 5 animals. Since the camp is close to the Crocodile gate you can get so see an interesting combination of animals in an area.

The Crocodile Bridge is one of the best run camps in the park and is the perfect place to start your adventure to the Park. It is possible to see the farms from Komatipoort about 12 km away, which borders on Mozambique. This also makes Crocodile Bridge a very popular picnic destination when you are on your way to Mozambique.

Facilities of main Park camps:

  • Laundromat
  • Cell reception
  • Good picnic spots
  • Fuel station
  • A Park shop
  • Public telephone
  • Communal Kitchens
  • Ablution blocks
  • Swimming pool
  • Satellite TV
  • Basic First Aid
  • Emergency Road Services
  • Wheelchair ramps

There are also bungalows, camping facilities, bush walks, night drives, day drives, picnic spots and take away restaurants.

When taking part in night drives, especially during the winter months, make sure you take a jacket as well as a flashlight so you won’t be shivering while enjoying the wonders of the Kruger National Park. Park drives start at dusk and you are usually accompanied by two, armed game rangers. The safari vehicle is equipped with two spotlights, one on each side, that the tourists can use to spot animals at night. The use f spotlights are usually left for those who know how to spot animals, but you can take a few pointers from the guides. The idea behind the spotlight is the light reflects from the animal’s eyes as a bright yellowish glow, allowing you to see the animal’s eyes and thus spot the animal.

When you do spot an animal’s eyes in the dark, it is best to ask to stop the vehicle as the eyes could be an indication of carnivores. Yellow and reddish glows indicate a carnivore while antelope and other herbivores have a greenish glow. This makes it an easy distinction between the animals.

Night drives usually last a few hours and the ranger might still pick up people from Satellite Camps along the way before the drive can truly begin. If in the event you come a bit under dressed for the weather conditions, blankets will be provided. A safety warning when on a night drive is to avoid the branches from trees as you drive past trees. The ranger isn’t always aware of the little things, so please be careful.

Letaba

With amazing views of the Letaba River and the sights of the roosting bats makes Letaba a real contender for favourite camp for many visitors coming to and going from the park. The Restaurant also acts as a beautiful viewing area where you can see elephants drinking from the river while also relaxing and having a snack. Letaba is also home of the famous elephant museum where you can read up about the Magnificent 7, a group of animals that used to roam in the area around Letaba. They were known for having the biggest tusks of any elephant in the Kruger to date.

Letaba means River of sand but the camp ironically has 3 large dams nearby. Letaba is camp that bird watchers will find a treat as there are many bird species to be found here. Elephants will also be a regular sight around the are of Letaba.

Facilities of the Letaba Rest Camp

Like all facilities of the main camps, Letaba has a laundromat, cell service, a fuel station, a park shop, good picnic spots, conference rooms, a post box, sometimes an auditorium, communal Kitchens, a swimming pool, overnight facilities for visitors. Satellite TV in Guest houses, first aid and road services are also available in some of the camps. To find out what your camp facilities are, contact the camp reception.

Mopani

If you are looking for something different in the form of accommodation, you should try Mopani Camp. This camp is found on the banks of the Pioneer Dam and has amazing views of the wildlife that come to the area to get a drink. The Pioneer Dam is fed by the Tsende River. This provides a great water supply to the surrounding terrain making the area lush, increasing the population of animals.

Visitors who come to the camp all tell of the amazing bird seeing opportunities that Mopani provides. Depending on which chalets you stay in, you can hear the hippos in the dam.

Like all facilities of the main camps, Letaba has a laundromat, cell service, a fuel station, a park shop, good picnic spots, conference rooms, a post box, sometimes an auditorium, communal Kitchens, a swimming pool, overnight facilities for visitors. Satellite TV in Guest houses, first aid and road services are also available in some of the camps. To find out what your camp facilities are, contact the camp reception.

The name of the Camp is received from the Mopani fields that are found in the area around the Camp. There are Mopani trees within the camp that have sprouted before the camp has been opened in 1992. To keep to the natural feel of the camp and surrounding area, very little landscaping has been done.

The Mopani Camp is the starting point of the fantastic Lonely Bull backpacking trail which crosses the low water Letaba bridge and the Mingerhout Dam. This trek will take you about four days to finish in which you walk between the animals in the amazing landscape. You can book for this amazing trail when you are between 4 and 8 trekkers. This trek is a self-service tour where you have to bring your own food and camping and you have o bring everything back that you take on the trip.

Olifants Rest Camp

If you are someone that loves breath-taking views of sweeping mountainscapes, Olifants Rest is the perfect camp for you. Olifants is one of the main camps in the Kruger. This camp is one of the fully equipped camps in the park and also has a little Mugg & Bean perched on the Viewing promenade. It is a must visit camp. The chalets with river views are always fully booked as they provide amazing views of the river and animals that converge there. Even though you may be high up on viewing platforms, you can still clearly see the animals and make use of ample photo opportunities to take some memorable pictures. You can also partake in guided walks where you can view animals a bit more closely. Interestingly enough when you stand on the viewing platform in Olifants Rest, you are actually standing in the Limpopo province and everything on the opposite side of the river is in Mpumalanga Province.

If you are in a mood to get into the bush, consider taking a 4 day bushwalk that covers about 40km where you camp every night as there are no chalets or huts to sleep in.

Like all facilities of the main camps, Letaba has a laundromat, cell service, a fuel station, a park shop, good picnic spots, conference rooms, a post box, sometimes an auditorium, communal Kitchens, a swimming pool, overnight facilities for visitors. Satellite TV in Guest houses, first aid and road services are also available in some of the camps. To find out what your camp facilities are, contact the camp reception.

Beware the baboons in the area as they are very clever and will try and invade your living space. Close your windows and lock your doors when you aren’t in the area or if you are in the building.

Orpen

The Orpen Camp is a smaller camp than the other ones and is located at the Orpen Gate. Though this camp may be small, it is a big contender when it comes to the number of animals you can see in the surrounding area or from the comfort of your own bungalow. The reason for this is the fact that there is a watering hole right along the camp fence and all the bungalows in the camp faces the dam, making animal viewing fun and possible for everyone. At night, the dam is lightened up, making it possible to see night time animals you usually cannot see during the day. You get a front row seat to see animals and other herbivores drinking water at the dam as well as some predators.

Honey badgers are quite common and very crafty. You might find one when waking up one morning trying to pull a heist in your cupboards. Night Drives at the camp can give you the opportunity to see Leopard and Hyena as well as light tailed mongoose. The chances of seeing a leopard during the day is increased during the day because of the large number of herbivores at the dam.

The shop at Orpen is smaller than the other camps in the Kruger and closes earlier than the others, so make sure to get everything you need. There is a swimming pool you can use to cool down after or during a hot day. The is unfortunately no restaurant at the camp but there is however a fully stocked kitchen in every chalet so you can make your own delicious meals.

If you want to get away from the crowds and the hustle of the other main camps, Orpen is a perfect camp to do that. It doesn’t give you less of a bushveld feel than the other bigger camps.

The camp is named after the Orpen Family who gave about 25 000 hectares of land as well as many boreholes in the early stages of the park’s existence. There is a white hut in the camp that has been turned into a museum dedicated to JH Orpen and his wife Eileen. The place where the hut stands is exactly where the gate to the Park used to be.

Pretoriuskop

Pretorius kop is the oldest camp in the Park and is named after Willem Pretorius who was buried there. This camp has everything the other main camps has; a relaxing pool, great restaurants, great accommodation and nice tall trees for relaxing shade. Basically, everything a visitor would expect.

One of the attractions of the camp is the shop that has visitors staying over at one of the many camping areas that are very well maintained. A very popular activity at Pretoriuskop is the safaris, morning game drives and guided walks where most visitors have seen the Big 5, at least once, long before most other visitors have had breakfast.

People will love the atmosphere that Pretoriuskop provides. There is the smell of afternoon braais that fill the air with beautiful sunsets that is a great way to end a day at the Kruger.

Pretoriuskop is also home of Jock of the Bushveld. The book that Percy Fitzpatrick wrote made the Staffordshire Bullterrier Mix famous because of the adventures the two had and the wildlife they encountered. Jock was Percy’s right hand and was with him all the time. You can see the place where Jock was born in the eastern side of Pretoriuskop.

Punda Maria

Punda Maria is one of the few camps in the Kruger that lies far to the north, away from the other camps.

Punda Maria is one of the camps that are perfect for people who want to experience an older Kruger Park look and feel. Twitchers Love Punda Maria as it is known for its amazing Bird Watching opportunities. Unlike other camps in the park, Punda Maria is famous for its old school style, inviting and relaxing pool and very accommodating and luxe Safari Tents. There are great family units in this camp are perfect for larger crowds, like family gatherings. The 3-bed bungalows have a fully equipped kitchenette and a built-in shower whereas the 2-bed bungalows don’t have either. Don’t let that put you down as there are also quality communal kitchens and ablution blocks.

The bungalows at Punda Maria are steady in their roots but the insides are upgraded with more modern amenities so that people can live a bit better. There is also the amazing Pafuri Picnic Spot you can visit to have a nice lunch and you can also take a drive to Crooks Corner. Unfortunately, the vegetation in the area doesn’t support a lot of large animals such as elephants and rhinos, but you do have a chance to see them around the area.

Like all facilities of the main camps, Letaba has a laundromat, cell service, a fuel station, a park shop, good picnic spots, conference rooms, a post box, sometimes an auditorium, communal Kitchens, a swimming pool, overnight facilities for visitors. Satellite TV in Guest houses, first aid and road services are also available in some of the camps. To find out what your camp facilities are, contact the camp reception.

Satara

Satara is the camp to go if you want to see the Big Cats on a Kruger Safari.

Looking for Big Cats? Satara is an amazing camp where you can spot a lot of Big Cats when on a safari or driving in your own. With an amazing park shop and also a Mugg & Bean, you won’t be found without the essentials in this park. Camping at this camp is also very good as the facilities are great and the camping spots are also located along the fence so campers have a great view of the wildlife. As a special treat, you can also hear lions roaring at night.

Satara is the Kruger Park’s 3rd largest camp and also has a considerable list of available facilities. There is a variety of different accommodations ranging from huts and guest houses to camping sites and caravans. The camp shop is very large and caters to almost everybody. Visiting Satara in winter gives you an increased chance of seeing big cats in the bush.

Like all facilities of the main camps, Letaba has a laundromat, cell service, a fuel station, a park shop, good picnic spots, conference rooms, a post box, sometimes an auditorium, communal Kitchens, a swimming pool, overnight facilities for visitors. Satellite TV in Guest houses, first aid and road services are also available in some of the camps. To find out what your camp facilities are, contact the camp reception. Satara is known for its great game viewing spots and opportunities.

Shinwedzi

A small camp with a nice-sized swimming pool, perfect for cooling off and there is a river that flows through it during the summer. This camp sits in the stomping grounds of a lot of breeding elephant herds and is the famed area where the Magnificent Seven used to tread.

Here are some interesting facts about Shinwedzi:

  • The accommodation for Shinwedzi is located between the Mopani Trees and vary from cottages and bungalows to huts and campsites.
  • You can do game drives and bush walks to get up close to the animals.
  • Along the waterway, people can get a chance to see waterbuck and Hippos. There are also large fig trees that make for a perfect perch spot for leopards.
  • The camp gets is name from the Tsonga name of a river that runs nearby.
  • Shinwedzi is also the name of one of the Magnificent 7 Elephants that died near the camp.
  • An interesting thing about Shinwetzi, is if you drive in one of the loops around the camp, you can have a chance to see a possible next Tusker that could be a new legend of the Shinwedzi.
  • Don’t miss out on the bird watching opportunities of the camp as well as the unforgettable night drives as the camps isn’t as busy because it is so far north.
  • Like all facilities of the main camps, Letaba has a laundromat, cell service, a fuel station, a park shop, good picnic spots, conference rooms, a post box, sometimes an auditorium, communal Kitchens, a swimming pool, overnight facilities for visitors. Satellite TV in Guest houses, first aid and road services are also available in some of the camps. To find out what your camp facilities are, contact the camp reception. Satara is known for its great game viewing spots and opportunities.

Skukuza

Arguably the most popular camp in the park.

Known as the largest camp in the Park, if there could be a main city of the Camp, Skukuza would be it. Skukuza is the main administrative camp of the park and is the main park where all camps come to gather for meetings. This camp has much more facilities than the other camps, including a library, Auditorium and Conference facilities, two swimming pools, a golf course, garden nursery and even a car hire service.

Viewing the big 5 is best experienced at Skukuza. The name comes from the first Park warden, James Stevenson-Hamilton who was given the name Skukuza, which is a Tsonga name. The Knife that was used by Harry Wolhuter to kill the lion as well as the lion’s skin is on display at the Stevenson-Hamilton Memorial.

There are great views as well as wheelchair accessible Prominade along he Sabie River. This makes a great spot to sit and eat ice cream or order a nice steak from Cattle Baron Restaurant. There is a range of accommodation options, like the other camps, and include facilities like huts, camp spots, guesthouses, chalet and a few more.

What the seasons have to say.

The quality of your stay in the Kruger is wildly dependent on the time you visit. With summers being insanely hot and winters being mildly warm. Planning with the seasons and weather can make or break your stay at the Kruger.

The most of the rain the Kruger receives is throughout the summer, from September to March, with the type of rain varying from light drizzles to raging thunderstorms that can last days. The north of the park receives about 300mm of rain while the southern part receives about 750mm annually. With temperatures reaching an average of 40 degrees Celsius, summers are scorchers in the Park the diversity of animals you will see as well as the activities you can do are also affected, thus making morning and afternoon drives the best option for seeing wildlife.

The Kruger is generally Sub Tropical in climate meaning the winters are mild. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pack a jersey of some sort just in case. Aside from the slight cold, many people agree that it is best to visit the Kruger Park during the winter as you can spend more time out and about looking for animals and not have to worry about the draining heat.

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Vula Safaris offers a range of safaris, transfers, guided day tours and tailor-made holidays. Vula Safaris is based in Nelspruit and offers open vehicle safaris into the Kruger National Park. We offer full day , morning or afternoon safaris. We also create tailor made safaris where you have the option of overnighting in the Kruger National Park or close by. Our day tours tours/game drives depart from Nelspruit, Malelane , White River and Hazyview.

Vula Safaris also offer transfers from OR Tambo , Nelspruit , Skukuza and Hoedspruit Airport to hotels and lodges in and around the area. Come and experience your Kruger Park Safari with our qualified guides/rangers.

Children of all ages are welcome !

Book your next  Kruger Park safari with us today!