Arnoud Quanjer Wildlife Photography

This is the largest restcamp and also the operational and administrative headquarters of the park. The restcamp is situated in the southern part of the park on the bank of the Sabie River. Historical sites in the camp are the dogs' cemetery, bell tower, old pontoon bridge, train bridge, Selati Rail Museum and Campbell Hut Museum. The Stevenson-Hamilton Memorial Library is open to the public. During school holidays programs are presented in the environmental education center. Game is abundant in the area and drives along any of the surrounding roads are certain to produce sightings of a wide variety of animals and birds. Accommodation consists of six-bed cottages (one cottage has been adapted for handicapped persons), four-bed cottages, two/three-bed huts and four-bed and two-bed tents.

Skukuza is by far the worst run camp in the Kruger National Park. If you really like to be in a camp crowded with tourists and screaming kids then this is the place to go! It's the only camp in the park that has guards outside the store that want to check if you've really paid for everything that you take out of the store, and that annoys the hell out of me. I've stayed there once, and although there's nothing wrong with the accommodation I hope I'll never stay there again. The staff treats you like sh#t and don't expect to get any service from them. The good thing about Satara is that there is an incredible amount of wildlife near the camp. I've seen leopard, rhino, hippo, wild dogs, elephants, etc. all near this camp. I've even been charged by an angry bull elephant on a night drive. That was REALLY exciting, and certainly not something I would like to see happening to me again. If you see and elephant running at you just like in the IMAX movie 'Elephant Kingdom' then you realize that they can run faster than you'd like 'm to and they're a lot bigger than you'd want them to be! Anyway, sh#tty camp, but the wildlife is pretty great.

Things to seek in the Skukuza area

• Fruit Bat
• Thick–tailed Bush Baby
• Leopard
• Spotted Hyena
• Purple–crested Lourie

Skukuza contact information

Tel: +27 (0)13 735 4152
Fax: +27 (0)13 735 4054
Mobile: +27 (0)82 802 1204