There are several camps in the Kruger National Park which have become home to animals either staying in the camp or living just outside the boundary fences. Returning to the camp after your Kruger Park safari is not exactly an end to your animal sightings.
When you happen to see an animal meandering around in the camp, even if it’s just a buck or warthog, you should always bear in mind that these are still wild animals and should not be fed or approached.
In Letaba Camp, there are resident bushbuck that have become quite tame due to the fact that people feed them. Cute as that appears, bear in mind that in 2011 a child of 8 was feeding one of these bushbuck and was attacked by the bushbuck and severely injured. So admire the animals, but don’t feed them or approach them.
Picnic spots are the local haunts of the Vervet monkeys because of the food either eaten there or scraps of food thrown in the dustbins. Beware of the monkeys as they can become quite cheeky and try to grab food off the table. At Tshokane and Afsaal a hyena has also been seen lurking around in the hopes of finding a morsel to eat. Several people have reported seeing a leopard at Afsaal and there are often leopard paw prints in the Tshokane Picnic area.
In 2013 a male leopard was found in the restaurant area at Lower Sabie and had to be relocated. In the same year, there was also a female leopard spotted at Lower Sabie near the swimming pool area, but she decided camp life was not for her and left. Hyena have also been seen at Lower Sabie Camp.
Close to the entrance or even running inside Crocodile Bridge Camp there is a warthog family. Another animal that has become a resident at Crocodile Bridge is bushbuck. Many of these animals go inside the camps to avoid predators. Because of the warthogs digging holes under the fences, in 2016 a hyena got into Crocodile Bridge Camp and actually injured a young boy sleeping in a tent.
Nocturnal animals reside inside Satara Camp. An African Wildcat is frequently seen at night while people are enjoying a braai. It has also been seen early in the morning as people are heading out on an early morning game drive. Another animal found at Satara is a Honey Badger. When braaing at night, if you are close to the fences, it is not unusual to see a Hyena patrolling the fences. Some years ago lions stalked and caught their prey close to the boundary fence, giving guests an unforgettable, once in a lifetime show.
Tamboti has the best animal activity inside the camp. They have resident Honey badger that arrives every night to rummage through the garbage. The camp fridge has had to be placed inside a cage because baboons kept stealing the groceries out the has. Any food stuff that is left lying around will definitely not be there when you get back, as the Baboons will simply help themselves. Leopard are spotted close to the fences but the cutest animal at Tamboti has got to be a small Spotted Genet that is not people shy and will come quite close when you are enjoying your meal in the hope of getting table scraps.
