Skukuza Rest Camp, Kruger National Park, SANParks

Skukuza Rest Camp, Kruger National Park, SANParks

Description

“Welcoming you with a lion’s roar”

Skukuza is the Kruger National Park's largest rest camp and administrative headquarters. It is situated on the southern banks of the Sabie River. The camp is well foliaged and there are some lofty trees along the river’s edge.  Activities and facilities are diverse, as are the animals and plants found both within the camp and in the surrounding areas.

Accommodation

Safari Tents

• 12 x 2-bed and 8 x 4-bed permanent furnished canvas tents on stilts, including a fridge, standing fan inside tent and small veranda. Communal ablutions and communal kitchens available.

Bungalows

• 178 x round–walled, single-room African style units with thatched roofs, 2 or 3 beds per unit, equipped with en-suite ablutions (most with showers, but some with baths). Some units have air-conditioning, some have fans. Kitchenettes vary: some have hotplates and sinks; some have only sinks, while some have neither. Cutlery and crockery can be provided and hired from reception. Please confirm when booking.

Luxury Bungalows

• 20 x 1 bedroom units, with en-suite bathroom. The units each have a double bed, quality decor, air-conditioning and television offering limited DSTV channels. You have a choice of luxury units with a riverside view and kitchen, or semi-lux units without a river view and with communal kitchen. Bungalows along the river frontage have a more modern design with glass sliding doors.

• This unit forms part of the Waterkant Guest House complex and is known as Waterkant 2. It offers a well equipped kitchen, 4 bedrooms, (2 single beds in each room), a living room, one bathroom and a river view.

Guest Cottages

• 15 x 4 or 6-bed units with well equipped kitchens, multiple bedrooms and usually more than one bathroom. Some have 2 double beds so visitors should confirm bed numbers and interior contents when booking.

Guest Houses

• These are large luxury units in prime positions, all with river view. There are well-equipped kitchens (with microwave ovens), multiple bedrooms and bathrooms. Limited channel DSTV televisions are provided.

Moni: Sleeps 8, with 4 bedrooms (2 single beds in each room)
Nyathi: Sleeps 8, with 4 bedrooms (2 single beds in each room)
Waterkant 1: Sleeps 8 with 4 bedrooms (2 single beds in each room)
ABSA: Sleeps 12, with 6 bedrooms (2 single beds in each room)

Vital Information

Warnings

Please ensure that your stay is happy and safe by taking note of a few simple warnings. You will be sharing your stay with many exciting and unusual creatures but without knowledge some of them could be dangerous:

• Bats, Spiders, Snakes, Scorpions, Malaria Zone

If you must walk around at night please DO NOT DO SO WITHOUT A TORCH.

Remember: by feeding any wildlife, you are signing their death warrant as they become aggressive!

Climate

Kruger is in a summer rainfall area. Such precipitation is usually convectional and can result in heavy downpours. The summer months (October to April) are hot and often balmy. Winters are warm and mild, although visitors going on night-drives will require warm clothing.

Car Hire

AVIS Rental in available at Skukuza Camp and their office is within the reception area.
Contact number: +27 (0)13 735 5651 or 082 458 9344

Day Visitors

Skukuza has a designated day visitor area where day visitors and visitors from other camps can barbecue (braai) and picnic. Currently this area is adjacent to the cafeteria overlooking the Sabie River. Plans are underway to move this area down stream to a new area. A new swimming pool was built for day visitors and is located downstream from the main camp.

Attractions

• Stevenson Hamilton Memorial Library
• Metsi Metsi Wilderness Trail (pre-booked overnight activity)
• Kids Educational Programme (Seasonal)
• Lake Panic Bird Hide (located approximately 7km outside the camp)
• Through prior arrangement with the camp, catered traditional dances can be arranged.
• Wildlife films every evening (except Sundays)

Kruger Game Drives

Sunset drives

This activity leaves before the sun sets and gets back once the sky is dark. Experienced guides drive the groups. Inquire at the reservations offices or at the camp you are staying in, about going on this drive.

Night Drives

Take part in the nocturnal activities of Kruger's secretive creatures. Experienced guides drive the groups. Inquire at the reservations offices or at the camp you are staying in, about going on this drive. The sunset drive departs at 17:00 and lasts at least 3 hours.

Morning drives

Leave at around 04.30 in summer and 05.30 in winter. Clients are to confirm with Reception the previous night when they book in to their accommodation. As per day walks, accommodation must be booked for the previous night at the camp, as walks/drives leave before the gates open officially. The drive’s duration is 3-4 hours.

Kruger: Guided Walks

Daily early morning and afternoon guided walks are available from most camps. Up to eight guests are taken to interesting places in the surrounding wilderness areas adjacent to most of the camps. The walk itself is relaxed and experienced and armed guides use their knowledge of the bush to explain natural wonders.

Trained field guides with backup rifles take groups of up to 8 people out into the bush for a few hours. Track rhino, elephant and lion on foot and learn and observe fascinating facts about the African bush. Guests should wear comfortable walking shoes or boots, clothing applicable to the prevailing weather conditions and bring their own cameras and/or binoculars. No children under 13 allowed. Accommodation must be booked for the previous night at the camp. Form more information, contact the camp reception.

Kruger: Bush Braais and Bush Breakfasts

This unforgettable experience is not to be missed. A game drive leads you to an open area filled with burning lanterns and fires where, whilst listening to the sounds of the bushveld and the distant animals calling, the food is grilled on open fires. A variety of game meat and sausage is on offer, together with delicious vegetables and a variety of salads. Freshly prepared deserts and coffee or tea complete a wonderful evening. A cash bar facility is also available.

To get you started on the type of bush braai you would like - there is the Standard Bush Braai and the Ad-hoc Bush Braai:

• Standard Bush Braai
  • Departs in the afternoon with a game drive to the bush braai site (for a maximum of an hour).
  • Will arrive at the site where the meal will be in the process of preparation (planned not to exeed about 90 minutes with a maximum of 2 hours).
  • Guests will be briefed on safety, toilet routine and how to conduct themselves.
  • During the whole event at the site, the guide would be host and in control of guests while leading discussions and answering questions.
  • Return game drive will coincide with some night game viewing (about 30 minutes).
• Ad-hoc Bush Braai
  • This is a bush braai that is provided on request.
  • Additional resources need to be obtained, e.g. guides, vehicles and rifles.
  • Booking is for one group who then negotiate terms (price and programme).
  • The costing and pricing of Ad Hoc Bush Braais would need to be well planned and should be done in consultation with the manager, activities. Crucial elements would include transport costs for possibly hiring additional vehicles or bringing them from other locations and hiring of additional staff.

Skukuza Golf Course

The golf course was built in 1972 as a recreational facility for the Skukuza personnel, and is now available to visitors to the Kruger National Park for the first time.

The Skukuza Golf Course is a magnificent 9-hole (18-tee) course situated in the world-renowned Kruger National Park on the outskirts of Skukuza restcamp. The rich wildlife sanctuary surrounding the golf course is home to the Big Five, a huge variety of birds and countless animals, which all conspire to provide the visitor with a harmonious close-to-nature golfing experience.

The course is a Par 72, and is 5950m (6450 yards) for men and 5059m (5480 yards) for women. Since the course is not fenced-in, uninvited spectators are a common sight, hippo, impala, warthog and baboons to mention but a few. The course offers the pleasure of challenge and adventure. For example #2, Par 3, have water on the left and to the back of the green. The signature hole #9, Par 3 of about 150m is played across Lake Panic. The Skukuza Golf Course has no bunkers, although 'aerial bunkers' abound because of the many trees found on the course.

Tee-off times are available for visitors in the mornings between 07:00 and 11:00 from Sunday to Friday. Please book in advance to avoid disappointment.

Saturdays are Club Days for our members or a Sponsor's Day and it's a Two Field-Morning and Afternoon. It's a Shotgun Start and the morning field is 06.30 for 07.00, the afternoon field is 12.00 for 12.30 in summer and half an hour earlier in winter. No late entries are accepted.

• An indemnity form must be completed prior to playing.
• Standard golf dress code applies.
• Caddies are normally available on weekends but we do not make bookings for caddies.
• Motorised Golf Carts and Pull Carts are available for hire.
• Light refreshments and full bar facility daily.

Here is a first for South Africa and the world - a unique opportunity for golfing enthusiasts within one of the world's greatest conservation establishments. The Skukuza Golf Course is designed for all levels of golfers. Please bring along your golf clubs next time you visit the Kruger National Park and enjoy one of the most unique 9-hole golf courses in the world.

Facilities

Facilities

• Information at Reception
• Public Telephone
• Post Office
• Bank
• Car Hire
• 2 x Restaurants
• Deli with Internet Café
• Shop
• Laundromat
• Filling Station
• Communal Kitchens
• Communal Ablutions
• Cutlery and Plates Hampers (from Reception)
• Garage with Workshop
• Basic First Aid Assistance
• Auditorium and Conference Facilities
• Day Visitor Picnic Area (located 4 km outside the camp) with own swimming pool
• 2 swimming pools in camp (for overnight residents only)
• Car Wash
• TVs (limited DSTV) available in Luxury Units only
• Cellphone reception
• Skukuza Indigenous Nursery (located approximately 5km outside camp):

Directions