Description: Skukuza
Restcamp is the largest camp and is also the operational and administrative
headquarters of the Kruger National Park. 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. 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 programmes are presented in the
environmental education centre and in the evenings film shows are
held in the amphitheatre.
Location: The
Skukuza Restcamp is situated in the southern part of the Kruger
National Park on the bank of the Sabie River.
Four
air-conditioned bedrooms, each with two single beds and bathroom
en suite (bath, toilet and basin). Bathroom of main bedroom
has a shower as well as a bath. There is a separate shower.
There
is a lounge/diningroom (with a ceiling fan), and kitchen
with gas stove (with oven), refrigerator/freezer, sink, cooking
utensils, crockery and cutlery.
Open
parking.
Barbecue
facilities.
Apply
four months in advance.
Nyathi
Guesthouse (Near the Selati Restaurant on the river front)
and Waterkant Guesthouse (8 persons) - Identical to
Nyathi
Facilities
(Accommodation for 8 persons)
Four
air-conditioned bedrooms, each with two single beds and bathroom
en suite (bath, shower, toilet and basin). One bedroom has
been adapted for handicapped persons.
The
recreation area has a diningroom and a kitchen with a refrigerator,
freezer, electric stove (with oven), cooking utensils, crockery
and cutlery.
The
lounge-cum-balcony overlooks the diningroom.
Open
veranda and barbecue facilities.
Open
parking.
Apply
thirteen months in advance.
Volkskas
Guesthouse (On the river front)
Facilities
(Accommodation for 8 persons)
Two
separate units with two air-conditioned bedrooms each that
open onto a veranda. Each bedroom has two single beds and
bathroom en suite (bath, shower, toilet and basin). Each
unit has its own lounge.
A
separate unit comprising a lounge (with fan), diningroom
and veranda with barbecue facilities, a bar and guest toilet.
The
kitchen is fully-equipped with a refrigerator, freezer, electric
stove, eye-level oven, cooking utensils, crockery and cutlery.
Double
garage.
Apply
four months in advance.
Waterkant
II Family Cottage
Facilities
(Accommodation for 4 persons)
Two
air-conditioned bedrooms with two single beds each. One bathroom
with bath, separate shower and separate toilet.
The
kitchen is on an open veranda and is equipped with a refrigerator,
two-plate stove (without oven), cooking utensils, crockery
and cutlery.
Barbecue
facilities.
Open
parking.
Apply
thirteen months in advance.
Other
Accommodation
Six-bed
cottages with two bedrooms (each with three single beds and
air-conditioning), two bathrooms (each with a bath, shower
and toilet), fully-equipped kitchen (stove with oven), lounge/diningroom
and veranda. One cottage has been adapted for handicapped persons.
Four-bed
cottages with two bedrooms (each with two single beds and air-conditioning),
one bathroom (with bath and toilet), a fully-equipped kitchen
(stove with oven) and enclosed veranda.
Struben
cottage: Six-bed cottage with two bedrooms, each with air-
conditioning, three single beds and with bathroom en suite
(bath, toilet and wash basin), fully-equipped kitchen (gas
stove with oven) and a veranda cum livingroom (open on one
side and enclosed on the other).
Lion
Hut: Two-bed hut with air-conditioning and bathroom (bath,
toilet and wash basin). Fully-equipped kitchen (electric stove
with oven) and enclosed veranda cum lounge/diningroom.
Two-bed
and three-bed huts with air-conditioning, shower, toilet, refrigerator,
two-plate stove (without oven) and sink. Cooking utensils,
crockery and cutlery are not provided.
Two-bed
and three-bed huts with air-conditioning, shower, toilet and
refrigerator. Some of the huts have a sink on the veranda and
a few three-bed huts have a hip-bath with a shower above the
bath. Cooking utensils, crockery and cutlery are not provided.
Two-bed
huts with facilities for handicapped persons. Some huts have
air-conditioning, a shower, toilet, refrigerator and a two-plate
stove (without oven); others have a bath, toilet, refrigerator
and air- conditioning. Cooking utensils, crockery and cutlery
are not provided.
Four-bed
and two-bed safari tents are furnished with beds, wardrobe,
fan, table and chairs, refrigerator and electric light. Tents
are situated on cement floors under a shade net covering and
have barbecue facilities. There are no cooking utensils, crockery
and cutlery.
Campsites – tent
or caravan sites, with power point, communal ablutions and cooking
facilities, maximum of 6 persons per site.
Facilities / Services:
An AA emergency
service for vehicles.
A doctor.
Electricity
(in accommodation and at certain camp sites).
An information
centre.
Bush drives.
Film shows on
conservation and wildlife on certain evenings.
A reference
library.
A Volkskas Bank.
A first-aid
centre.
Petrol and diesel.
A police station.
A post office.
A restaurant.
Self-service
and take-aways at cafeteria.
A shop.
Laundromat and
irons.
A nursery for
indigenous plants.
Communal kitchens
with sinks and cooking facilities but no cooking utensils, crockery
or cutlery.
Barbecue facilities.
Car wash
3 new swimming
pools have been built in recent months. Two of these are in camp
and for overnight residents only. The third is in a separate new
day visitors area, located downstream from the main camp.
- 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 humid. Winters are warm
and mild, although visitors going on night-drives will require
warm clothing.
- 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.
- Emergencies
More Information will be published as soon as it becomes available
What
to do and see nearby:
In camp:
- Stevenson Hamilton Memorial Library
- Dogs Graveyard
- Selati Restaurant - the old railway carriage has been converted
into a sports bar.
Out of
camp:
- Kruger Tablets
- Lake Panic Bird Hide
- Nursery
- Stevenson Hamilton Memorial
- Granokop
Routes:
Places
of special interest / History: The camp was originally known as Sabie Bridge or simply Reserve,
the name was changed in 1936. Skukuza is named after the Tsonga
name for James Stevenson-Hamilton, first warden of the park. Literally
translated it means “he who
sweeps clean”, a reference to his removal of all the local people
to make way for the establishment of the park.
The Stevenson-Hamilton Memorial Museum houses many interesting artifacts – including
the renowned knife that ranger Harry Wolhuter used to single-handedly
slay a lion and save his own life.
Wildlife:
Mammals:
All of the Big 5 can readily be seen in the vicinity of Skukuza. Wild
Dog are another thing to look for. In the camp itself there is a
population of warthog. Vervet Monkey also inhabit the camp and can
wreck havoc if visitors leave unguarded possessions. At night genet,
thick-tailed bush baby and fruit bat are resident in camp. The latter
hang under the eaves of the shop. The river front of the camp is
a great place to look for hippopotamus and buffalo, especially in
early morning. See Kruger/Fauna/Mammals for full park mammal checklists
Birding:
Although Skukuza is a large and busy camp, the camp hosts an excellent
avi-fauna. Scanning the Sabie River from in front of the restaurant
can produce Finfoot and Halfcollared Kingfisher. In summer this venue
is a hub of activity with a massive nesting colony of Lesser Masked
and Spottedbacked Weavers. Green Pigeons are abundant in the Riverine
fig trees. In taking a walk along the river’s bank there is
a strong chance of encountering Redfaced Cisticola and Spectacled
Weaver and, in early the morning, Little Sparrowhawk. The river walk
and a stroll around the rest of the camp could yield Collared Sunbird,
Redbacked and Bronze Mannikin, Purplecrested Lourie and three bush
shrikes (Orangebreasted, Greyheaded and Gorgeous) may well be heard
or even seen. Heuglin’s Robin is another species constantly
heard but more difficult to see. Up to seven species of flycatcher
may also be found (Paradise, Black, Dusky, Spotted, Fantailed, Bluegrey
and Pallid). Watching the sky above the river at dusk may reveal
Bat-hawk or European Hobby. When night falls a spot-light lights
up a fig tree outside the restaurant. Woodland Kingfishers use this ‘extended
daylight’ to hunt insects attracted to the glow. The nearby
bird hide at Lake Panic is a good spot to go to observe kingfishers,
herons and Wiretailed Swallows at close quarters. Blackwinged Stilts
are often in attendance. (For more birding information go to General
Park Activities/Birding).
Vegetation: While the camp itself is riverine, with wonderful large trees
such as sycamore fig, jackalberry and Natal mahogany, the surrounding
ecozone comprises of thorn thicket on granite/gneiss soils. Knob
thorn and sickle bush are prominent.