Africa Wild

PJL, what about Pretoriuskop or Berg en Dal then? I have never camped at Pretoriuskop but the camp area looks ok. Berg En Dal I camped there years ago and it was ok if just a little big and so can get busy I suppose, I camped there out of holidays.

Never been to Pretoriuskop but last I heard was that the camp was a bit more run-down than others

Berg en Dal is a nice camp but when we visited that area we didn't have particularly good sightings. Maybe it was just bad luck on the days that we were there?

I think I Saw new ablution blocks on side by camping about 2 years ago, the hut was a little run down but that is an age thing I think and you are camping, bathrooms were fine. I found the camp old, but not really run down. Restaurant tho you are stuck with a Wimpy. RP can possibly fill in more on camp, think he stays there quite often.

Berg en Dal, I have regularly seen Leopard on the tar road and Lion. My sightings there have been on average above what I see at Letaba (my favourite camping camp) and you can camp on fence. Got a pool and decent restaurant.

Thanks Robert
I think we're very keen to explore more around the south-eastern side as last time we only managed a single night at Lower Sabie. If space opens up there then I would move the booking but otherwise we'll probably stick to Croc Bridge

I only checked this out now

I have also changed my plans PJL as I couldn’t get in for July; hence we are also going in April, which was the plan B.

From a sighting perspective April isn’t the best as the vegetation is at its thickest; however I’m not sure if the vegetation will totally recover by then due to the current extreme drought. The H4-1 for example doesn’t operate much at all and I have confirmed this with guides who only use it for Sunset drives after May, but there’s always those odd days where it cooks, so

If I look at my previous 4 April trips it’s one of the best times for dogs (had 7 different sightings in 8 days, plus mating the one trip), however the Skukuza/Lower Sabie pack is dead and the Croc Bridge pack only seems to have 2 members left if many months of LS app stats are used. Leopard can be a mission to spot also and the darn bats seem excited in April, so if you are a neurotic sleeper, take cotton wool for the ears. There’s definitely the odd chance of rain, especially early in April, but other than that it’s hundreds.

Camping may be quieter at Croc Bridge, but then you will be jammed with all the day visitors in the morning and it’s worse in the late afternoon trying to get back into camp (I’m not sure if the April holidays are quieter, but we stayed there once for 3 days in the July holidays and will never do it again because of the day visitors) I would personally go for Skukuza, even though the camping isn’t the best there and the ground is hard. (Take a small hand operated drill and a bit slightly narrower than your peg and you are sorted).

We found the Satara area more productive in April then most southern camps, which is maybe because of the natural “open” environment, so one can spot better. The long grass is hectic in the Pretoriuskop area in April, however Berg en Dal is an option, but it has its moments because the general game is less plentiful so kids can get bored.

What have you booked

RobertT wrote:I think I Saw new ablution blocks on side by camping about 2 years ago, the hut was a little run down but that is an age thing I think and you are camping, bathrooms were fine. I found the camp old, but not really run down. Restaurant tho you are stuck with a Wimpy. RP can possibly fill in more on camp, think he stays there quite often.

Facilities are fine at Pretoriuskop, pretty normal! Campsite is not too big and out of the way,with lots of fence spots, but little game and still lots of grass, as the drought has missed that area due to late rains!

The myriad of ring-roads are much quieter people-wise too, quite a different experience! Plus 3 or 4 big dams in the area that are also fine. but don't expect major sightings, except rare antelope like sable, Liechtenstein's and tsessebe.

Wimpy makes steaks and stuff too, food is food?

Bushcraft wrote:I have also changed my plans PJL as I couldn’t get in for July; hence we are also going in April, which was the plan B.

Excellent... might get to see you guys again at some point

Bushcraft wrote:Camping may be quieter at Croc Bridge, but then you will be jammed with all the day visitors in the morning and it’s worse in the late afternoon trying to get back into camp (I’m not sure if the April holidays are quieter, but we stayed there once for 3 days in the July holidays and will never do it again because of the day visitors) I would personally go for Skukuza, even though the camping isn’t the best there and the ground is hard. (Take a small hand operated drill and a bit slightly narrower than your peg and you are sorted).

Certainly one of the draws for staying at a camp inside the park is getting ahead of the day visitors, so perhaps Skukuza might be a better option.
I do like the number of options in terms of drives from Skukuza
A few people have mentioned how hard the ground can be, but that's nothing new to us - Addo is like camping on solid rock

Bushcraft wrote:We found the Satara area more productive in April then most southern camps, which is maybe because of the natural “open” environment, so one can spot better. The long grass is hectic in the Pretoriuskop area in April, however Berg en Dal is an option, but it has its moments because the general game is less plentiful so kids can get bored.

What have you booked

Ja, we found Berg a bit on the quiet side, but really liked Satara... currently booked 8 nights Satara and 6 nights Croc Bridge (but that might change back to Skuks... ahhhh decisions decisions )

I would rather go north and choose a quieter camp. Game spotting for me is a bonus. I prefer less people, less vehicles and less game. I'm there to rest and take in the bush.

The south is like a circus

well said Alf

And I'm the opposite...I go to see animals and just ignore the people.