Kruger National Park Punda Maria Caravan

Kruger National Park Punda Maria Caravan

Description

Punda Maria Camp lies in an area of fascinating history and unsurpassed bird watching. It also recognized as the best region inside the Park for Kruger National Park safari accommodation in which to spot the often shy Nyala Antelope.

Punda Maria boasts 7 luxury safari tents and a swimming pool. Punda Maria Gate has received a new building, reception area and ablution blocks; providing trouble free Kruger National Park lodging.

Further down the hill are two terraces of pretty, white washed bungalows, divided into 18 two-bedded units and 4 three-bedded units. Each unit is air-conditioned and comes with a toilet, washbasin, built-in cupboards and a fridge. The three-bedded units have the added advantages of showers and fully equipped kitchens. A family bungalow is also available.

The bungalow tiers slope down towards a shared ablution, kitchen and barbecue facilities. There are 50 camp or caravan sites available. Holiday visitors to Punda Maria Camp do not so much come for the game as for the camp's rich historical heritage, since the vegetation supports fewer big game species than elsewhere in the Kruger Park.

Nevertheless, large herds of Elephant and Buffalo roam the Mopane-covered plains, Rare Tsebbebe and Sable are frequently sighted from this Kruger National Park lodging. By road, Punda Maria Camp is just over 5 hours from Johannesburg.

History of Punda Maria Camp:

The name of the rest camp was given in 1919 by the first ranger to be posted to the area, Captain JJ Coetser. He mistakenly named his post Punda Maria in the belief that this was the Swahili name for Zebra, the first big game he saw on arrival. The correct Swahili name is actually 'punda milia' (meaning Striped Donkey).

When the error was pointed out to him, he chose to retain the name, in honour of his wife, Maria, who bore him 12 children. Many years later, Park officials corrected the name, and for a while the rest camp was known as Punda Milia, but in 1981 it was changed back to the original 'Punda Maria'.

When Captain Coetser was posted to Punda Maria Camp, his main aim was to curb ivory poaching. In the early 1900's, this region was the haunt of smugglers, poachers and hunters who based themselves in an assortment of derelict shacks at Crooks Corner, where the borders of South Africa, Mozambique (formerly Portuguese East Africa) and Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia) met at the confluence of the Limpopo and the Luvuvhu rivers.

Fugitives from the law could just slip across one of the borders and take refuge in a foreign territory when the authorities came searching for them.

The hunters at Crooks Corner realized that they could supplement their income from ivory by recruiting labour for the Witwatersrand mines, and an illegal trade in labour began.

The government eventually put a stop to this and Wenela was given sole authority to recruit labour. The Wenela recruiting station now stands as a sombre reminder on the S63 loop near Pafuri.

 Climate:

Kruger Park in South Africa 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.

Vegetation:

The camp is situated in sandveld in Kruger Park, South Africa. The sandy soil means the area is well drained and several natural springs occur. The plant communities are very complex. No single tree species dominates, but several species are restricted to this ecozone.

Trees found in this region include: Apple Leaf, Tamboti, Baobab, Leadwood, Shrub Mopane, Mixed Bushwillow, Baobab Sickle bush, Weeping Wattle, Pod Mahogany, Magic Guarri and Mopane. Grazing is sparse to moderate sweet grass in the Kruger Park, South Africa.

Accommodation

Attractions

• Track Rhino, Elephant and Lion on foot
• Night drives are available
• Go for a game drive or bush walk
• Make use of traditional braai (barbecue) facilities
• Large Cats are frequently spotted

 A trip to Pafuri will produce plenty of Nyala and Impala, and possibly some Bushbuck on your suggested itinerary in Kruger National Park. Vervet monkey and baboon will be seen in abundance and plenty of Hippo and Nile Crocodile in the riverbed itself. Early arrivers on safari in Kruger National Park, heading down Nyala Drive, may well be lucky enough to see bush pig.

Please Note:

If you must walk at night please do not do so without a torch.

Game:

Game can prove sparse but Kudu, Nyala, Buffalo and Sharpe's Grysbok thrive in this habitat. Wild Dog, Elephant and Lion are also frequently recorded. The Mahonie Loop is also the best venue to see the diminutive Suni Antelope.

Birding:

In the camp, particularly on the Paradise Flycatcher Trail, yellowbellied and terrestrial bulbul and bearded robin should be looked for while on safari in Kruger National Park. Birding throughout the camp is excellent. Birds of prey are common overhead. Black eagle is sometimes seen, while in winter the whitenecked raven is a regular visitor.

The Mahonie Loop, (the 25 kilometres circular drive around the camp) is undoubtedly one of the most rewarding birding drives. You should give yourself plenty of time to cover the distance and travel with windows down and stop frequently, particularly for calls.

On a good day one could record several of the following 'specials': Whitebreasted cuckooshrike, crowned hornbill, chestnutbellied (greyhooded) kingfisher, crested guineafowl, gorgeous bush shrike, cape parrot, African and European golden oriole (both summer), yellowspotted nicator, stierling's barred warbler and Dickinson's kestrel.

Narina trogon has also been recorded on the loop, but is shy and elusive. On the drive from Punda Maria to Pafuri via the Klopperfontein Dam, rackettailed roller and mashona hyliota have been recorded. This is also one of the best areas to search for yellowbilled oxpecker sightings, when you are on safari in Kruger National Park.

This species was absent in the Kruger National Park for many years, but returned in the 1980s and their numbers are still increasing. Buffalo are the preferred hosts.

5 Things to Seek:

Attractions:

Accolades

:Tourism Council of SA Star Grading

TGCSA Star Grading

Facilities

The summer months (September to April) are hot, (summer temperatures can climb above 40 C / 104 F). Sporadic summer thunder showers will cool the air and settle the dust, and will be disipate as fast as they appeared, promising not to spoil your stay. Winters, (May to August) are warm and mild, (17-22 C / 60-70 F), although visitors going on night-drives will need warm clothing.

Facilities:

Directions