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Elephants are magnificent creatures – not only because of their size and massive tusks, but also because they live in tight-knit family groups and display a range of intelligent qualities. One of these is that they have amazing memories and remember the places where members of their families have died. Often the families will gather at the place where a matriarch, family member or a baby elephant died, mourning their passing by spending time at the remains for many years after they experienced the loss.
In 1959 an elephant died of anthrax and was buried on the bank of
the Mphongolo River. The word for grave, in the local Shangaan language,
is Sirheni and this beautiful bush camp was named as such in honour
of this majestic elephant’s grave. This small and rustic camp
in the far north of the Kruger National Park, provides accommodation
to a limited number of guests, offering a sense of exclusivity and
luxury. The facilities are also limited, including electricity supply.
Rates are per night and exclude 1% community fund which will be added when booking.
| Accommodation Type | Base Guests | Base Rate | Additional Adults |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cottage (CO4 / CO4D) | 2 | R 1,953 | R 603 |
| Guest Cottage (GC6 / GC6D) | 4 | R 3,293 | R 603 |
| Accommodation Type | Base Guests | Base Rate | Additional Adults |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cottage (CO4 / CO4D) | 2 | R 1,540 | R 603 |
| Guest Cottage (GC6 / GC6D) | 4 | R 2,634 | R 603 |
The self-catering cottages are spread out along the bank of the Mphongolo River and guests are accommodated in Family and Guest Cottages. The leafy canopy of Jackalberry, Leadwood and Tamboti trees provide the ideal place for relaxing in the shade while watching the wildlife roaming the riverbank and the abundance of birds in the trees. Two hides, connected by a trail along the perimeter fence offer additional game viewing opportunities.
Accommodation is offered in ten 2-bedroom guest cottages or five 1-bedroom units. Bedding and towels are supplied and the kitchens are equipped for self-catering. Barbecue facilities are available at each unit. Solar electricity is provided, which means guests must make use of the 240V plug points at reception for the recharging of equipment.
The 1-bedroom cottages accommodate between 2 and 4 persons. There is a double bed or 2 single beds in the bedroom and a double sleeper couch in the lounge area can accommodate an additional 2 persons. The private bathroom has a toilet and a bath or a shower. The kitchen is equipped for basic food preparation. Barbecue facilities are available at each cottage. Take note that there are no electrical connection points provided as the camp runs on solar and gas energy.
The 2-bedroom cottages are furnished with a double bed or 2 single beds in the main bedroom and 2 more single beds in the second bedroom. A double sleeper couch in the lounge can accommodate 2 more persons, bringing the maximum number of guests accommodated to 6. There are 2 private bathrooms with a toilet and shower or a bath. The kitchen is equipped for basic food preparation and fans are provided. Barbecue facilities are available at each cottage. Please take note that there are no electrical connection points as the camp runs on solar and gas energy.
The facilities at Sirheni Camp are limited, adding to the rustic and private bushveld experience offered to guests staying overnight. No day visitors are allowed and even though there is not a restaurant on the premises, communal barbecue facilities are provided at the boma on the perimeter, overlooking the river.
The camp is situated within easy reach of the larger rest camps where guests can make use of the amenities not supplied at Sirheni. Solar electricity is provided, which means no plug points are available in the accommodation units.
A variety of facilities are provided at all the Main Rest Camps while amenities at the satellite camps are more basic and limited.
Petrol and diesel are available at all major camps. Fuel stations accept legitimate petrol/fuel/garage cards, any VISA/MasterCard cards or cash as a form of payment.
Restaurants are available at all the Main Rest Camps. Boma Braais and Bush Braais are offered by some of the restaurants. This is a traditional South African barbecue offering three meats and a selection of salads and freshly baked breads.
Retail facilities offering curios and basic provisions are available in all the park’s main rest camps. The larger camps have a better selection of stock. The bushveld and satellite camps have no restaurant or shop facilities.
Two beautiful hide-outs provide excellent opportunities for game viewing and birdwatching. Communal barbecue facilities are available at the boma, which is close to the perimeter of the camp, offering beautiful views over the Mphongolo River. Guided bush walks and game drives can be arranged and educational safaris including rhino, elephant and lion tracking is offered.
List of Activities offered at or in close proximity to Sirheni:
The guided 4×4 trails allow visitors to get off the beaten track and explore territories of the park that are rarely seen. It is essential to travel with a 4×4 vehicle to minimise environmental damage and some of the trails have dongas or riverbeds that would make normal vehicles unfit for these trails, especially during the wet season. These trails serve as the gateway to a real wilderness experience in the park.
Most of the rest camps in Kruger offer guests the opportunity to take part in daily early morning and afternoon guided walks. Professional, experienced and armed field guides take groups of up to eight persons out of the camp’s boundaries to explore the surrounding wilderness areas on foot.
Ensuring the safety of the guests, these guides share their knowledge of the fauna and flora and explain natural wonders, enriching their knowledge of the African bush and wildlife. The walks are informative and relaxed and don’t take longer than a few hours, focussing on the things not easily seen from a vehicle. Being out on foot, an area is covered more intensely and guests are able to experience nature using all their senses. Large game in the area offers the possibility of encounters and the exhilarating experience of approaching them on foot.
Several guided backpacking trails are conducted in the large wilderness areas, giving guests access to experience the park without constraints of a prescribed route. Stretching over a few days and nights, the trails have no facilities and guests must carry their own equipment, food and water with them.
The combination of the Parque Nacional do Limpopo, Kruger National Park and Zimbabwe’s Gonarezhou National Park forms the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, covering a total of 3.7 million hectares. This is one of the largest wilderness conservation areas in the world and provides the perfect opportunity for an adventure without boundaries which can be explored on a wilderness experience.
This exciting adventure destination is accessed from South Africa through border posts in Kruger located at Giriyondo, north of Letaba, or Pafuri in the north-east at Crook’s Corner. Access from Moçambique is via the Massingir dam in the south or Mapai in the east.
More than 500 different bird species have a home in Kruger National Park, some of them not to be found anywhere else in South Africa. Numerous water points make for excellent birdwatching, while there are eleven bird/game-viewing hides in some of the camps and picnic sites in the park. Several more are earmarked for construction when sufficient funds become available.
Most species breed in summer when rains sustain most vegetation and food, but the larger birds of prey conversely breed during the dry winter, when their prey is most exposed. Out of the 507 species of birds found at Kruger:
Some of the larger birds require large territories or are sensitive to habitat degradation. Six of these birds, which are basically restricted to Kruger and other extensive conservation areas, have been assigned to a fanciful grouping called the "Big Six Birds".
Bird hides are wooden shelters that overlook a natural dam or river. A fenced walkway with a door leads visitors from the parking area to the hide.
The structure is almost entirely enclosed, allowing a viewing gap with seats running along the opening from where the scene outside can be enjoyed. Identification posters and information on birds found in the area are displayed on the walls.
Some of these hides are in camps, and some are situated in an area where wildlife roams free. Keep this in mind when exiting a vehicle to enter the bird hide.
This list excludes in-camp hides that are in selected camps such as at Bateleur, Punda Maria, Sirheni, Talamati, Tamboti and private hides at Letaba for residents of Fish Eagle Guest House and at Shingwedzi for Rentmeester Guest House.
Two of the birding hides are equipped with mattresses, bed linen and basic cutlery and crockery and toilet facilities are available for those sleeping over.
Reservations must be made in advance and each group may only sleep over one night at a time. Take note that there is no electricity at the hides and the facilities are rustic and very basic. Visitors must bring their own food, wood and drinking water along.
Kruger’s game drives are for guests who want to get closer to the wild side of nature and experience the Park’s animals up close. Game Drives are offered at most of the rest camps, and information is available, and reservations can be made at reception at the camp. Guests are transported in open vehicles, and an experienced guide interprets the natural bush and offers insight into the ways of the Kruger Park. The duration of the Game Drives is approximately 3 hours.
Morning drives leave half an hour before official gate opening times, which vary according to the time of year, meaning you will be the only guests driving around at that time. On the morning drive, you will be able to enjoy the tranquillity of the Kruger National Park and watch the sunrise over unspoilt bush.
These drives leave the camp before dusk and return after sunset. Look out for grazers in the cool afternoon and predators starting their nightly hunts. Sunset is a time when night animals emerge, and a drive during this period is the perfect opportunity to witness the beauty of the bush as it changes from day to night. Learn about fauna and flora from our expert guides and return to camp with a spot-lit night drive.
The only way to see nocturnal animals is by joining a night drive, which departs at either 19:30 or 20:00, depending on the time of year. These outings last for around two hours. Experienced and knowledgeable guides enlighten guests on these creatures of the night and their secretive activities. It is also a wonderful opportunity to view the star-filled Southern sky away from city lights.
Depending on availability, guests may book a game drive vehicle and driver for the entire day. Trained officials take visitors to sections of the park that are usually inaccessible to tourists.
A Bush Braai is an unforgettable experience not to be missed. A game drive leads you to an open area where burning lanterns and fires provide guests with the opportunity to listen to the sounds of the bushveld and the distant animals calling while the food is grilled on open fires. A variety of game meat and sausages is on offer, accompanied by delicious vegetables and a variety of salads. Freshly prepared desserts and coffee or tea complete the delightful meal. A cash bar facility is available.
Two types of bush braais (barbecues) are offered:
Staying in a rustic, primitive camp and experiencing the African bush on foot is an experience unparalleled by any other, bringing guests closer to the ultimate wilderness and wildlife destinations on the African continent.
Driving around in an open game drive vehicle and staying in a luxury lodge is not necessarily an authentic experience. Wildness, remoteness, tranquillity, peace and to top it all: no other people, is offered to the more adventurous tourist!
Because the Kruger National Park is located in the Lowveld region of South Africa, it is very hot during the summer months and even during most of the winter. To enable visitors to cool off in the heat, swimming pools are available at most of the rest camps. These pools are only available for camp residents, but additional swimming pools for day visitors are offered at the Skukuza and Letaba.
Well over 255 recorded archaeological sites - ranging from early Stone Age, roughly 1 million years ago, to various Iron Age settlements and recent historical buildings - hold cultural and spiritual importance, while others reveal an exciting and romantic history of the area.
The 19th century trading post of the famous Portuguese trader, Joao Albasini is found at the new Phabeni Gate, 10 km from Hazyview.
A late Iron Age site and trading place for the BaPhalaborwa, Venda and Portuguese - situated 12 km from the Phalaborwa gate on the road to Letaba Rest Camp.
A stone walled site dating back to 450 – 500 years ago – believed to be a trade site and part of Zimbabwean culture which included the Mapungubwe historical site.
With an estimated 1 500 lions, 17 000 elephants, 48 000 buffalo, 1 000 leopards and just over 2 000 rhinos inhabiting the Kruger National Park, sighting the “Big Five” is very possible when doing game drives.
Even though it should not be a prerequisite on a safari and sightings of specific animals absolutely happen on the luck of the draw, these animals are a huge attraction to visitors.
Kruger is one of the premier game-watching destinations in the world. Approximately 147 mammal species occur in the park. It is possible to see all the classical African big game, including elephant, black and white rhino, hippopotamus, giraffe, zebra, buffalo, warthog and many antelope species. Large carnivores include lion, leopard, cheetah, wild dog and spotted hyena. There are also many smaller mammals which are equally enticing.
Something else that became an attraction to wildlife viewing, is a group of insects known as the “Small Five”. This group includes the Elephant Shrew, Ant Lion, Rhinoceros Beetle, Buffalo Weaver and Leopard Tortoise.
Kruger National Park also supports packs of the endangered African wild dog, of which there are thought to be only about 400 left in the whole of South Africa.
More than 500 different bird species have a home in Kruger National Park, some of them not to be found anywhere else in South Africa. Numerous water points make for excellent birdwatching, while there are eleven bird/game-viewing hides in some of the camps and picnic sites in the park.
The Kruger Park is inhabited by 114 species of reptiles, including black mambas, African rock pythons, and 3,000 Nile crocodiles 34 species of amphibians are found in the park, as well as 49 fish species. A Zambezi shark, Carcharhinus leucas, also known as the bull shark, was caught at the confluence of the Limpopo and Luvuvhu Rivers in July 1950. Zambezi sharks tolerate fresh water and can travel far up rivers like the Limpopo.
219 species of butterfly and skipper are native to the park. The fastest and most robust of these belong to the genus Charaxes, of which 12 species have been recorded. Genera Papilio and Acraea are also well-represented, with about 10 and 15 species respectively. The total number of Lepidoptera species in the park is unknown but could be in the order of 7,000, many of which range widely in African savanna.