Kruger National Park Hotel Tips by Bwana_Brown

Satara Camp: An Electrified Prison! Satara Restcamp Review

Our first night's accommodation in Kruger was at Satara Camp, about 100 km (60 miles) east of the park gate closest to Sabie. Despite this relatively short distance on a great paved road, it took us two and a half hours to arrive at our destination! This was because of the abundance of African game that assaulted us from all sides only moments after entering the park! We simply had to stop to observe and, in some cases, follow or stop completely as game either walked down the road or crossed it! As with all the Game Park camps, Satara is very well set-up with lodgings, restaurant, shops for essentials and a laundromat. Because darkness falls early in Africa, you must be in camp by 6 PM because that is when the gates are closed and the electrified fence is activated to protect you in your cocoon for the night! After all, you are intruding in a wild game area, and the night is theirs!

Unique Qualities: Our rondavel (African for a circular grass-thatched hut) came complete with two single beds, en-suite bathroom/shower, air-conditioning and ceiling fan as well as an outside kitchen area consisting of a sink, refrigerator, stove and table/chairs. We paid 220 Rand (US $60) for these great lodgings!

Address: Kruger National Park

Comparison: less expensive than average

Directions: Close to the southern end of the Park.

Price: US$20-40

Theme: Other

Mopani Camp: Game Park Swimming Pool

After our late night out with South Africa's 'Big 5', we found the going a little tough the next day - especially as it was the hottest one yet! Following our morning game viewing excursion, by the time the noon hour sun was in full flow, we had to retreat to Mopani to cool off in their great swimming pool!

Unique Qualities: This is a very well landscaped pool and, although the water was a little warm, it still felt very refreshing after driving around the dusty roads in our non-airconditioned car! Also, it was very peaceful. There was only one other family there, a mother with her two children. In conversation with her, we found out that she too had previously lived on the Zambian Copperbelt where we had, with her husband working at the copper mines in Chingola!

Comparison: about average

Directions: Mopani Camp

Price: US$20-40

Theme: Other

Mopani Camp: Watering Hole View

We had a great time at Mopani. This was a newer camp, located in a more northerly and drier region of the Park. On our first night there, as we were sitting in the bar area enjoying a drink as the sun set, we met up with a great bunch of South African guys - it turned into one of our most memorable moments (see Nightlife!).

Unique Qualities: Mopani had a couple of features that we enjoyed. Firstly, the main restaurant/bar area was located above a watering hole with a great boardwalk/balcony area that could be enjoyed for viewing the game attacted to the water. It also had an amazing swimming pool - this came in very handy as this Camp was noticeably hotter than Satara had been. As with Satara, the rondavel was absolutely first class - we even enjoyed the iguanas and lizards running around outside the next morning while we ate breakfast! We paid a total of 480 Rand or US$62 per night for our stay at Mopani.

Comparison: about average

Directions: The northern part of the park, not far from the mining town of Phalaborwa.

Price: US$20-40

Theme: Other