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We used to use the blow-up mattresses and blew them up from a pump that fitted the cigarette lighter in the combi. After burning the lighter out a few times and still having the mattresses deflate we changed to stretchers.
We did go for the best we could find, don't think I'm allowed to name the brand ,
We have tried them with the mattresses off pool loungers and also with nothing and we prefer them without mattresses.
We now put a sleeping bag on the stretcher and throw a duvet over us and we sleep like babies
I've only camped at Punda out of school hols. and there has never been more than 3 tents on the whole site.

I also prefer air mattress.

I find that with a strecher the cold come from under the bed and you do not sleep as well as on a mattress.

The best will be a strecher with a mattress. There is one on the market but far to expensive for me.

With the air mattress you must just look how you pack it and the there is nothing on the ground to puncture it.

When at Punda there is a section on the far western side that almost looks like it is a private area or something, but it is part of the camp site.
It is very quiet.
You are a fair distance from the hide and the pool but have good privacy and you are on the fence.
Shingwedzi along the fence is great, the pool area is a bit loud so try further down the fence.
PS. I bowl, have a blow up mattress and only pump it up once every 4 days.

1. The ground is hard! Next time take sturdy (like super sturdy superman type) spikes and a really big hammer (take extra spikes to replace the ones that bend.)

2. An inflatable mattress or similar and a puncture repair kit are essential, alternatively lots of Amarula to help you sleep on the hard hard ground. (luckily I had the mattress and the Amarula)

3. Go to bed early, catch the animals in the early morning and sleep in the afternoon heat.

4. Tents are great, but a caravan would be extra nice if you wanted to move from place to place.

5. The shops at Kruger have just about anything you need a tad pricey on the groceries but that what you pay for convenience.

6. If you miss the city - pop in at Skukuza for the Deli and Internet Cafe, very suave.

7. A blue plug adaptor is probably worth the expense because it means you can plug your regular extension cord into one of those blue caravan things.

8. Ice by the packet is really cheap R4.20 or so buy about three or four packs a day for the cooler box. (keep one bag sealed for the Amarula .

9. The monkeys are seriously cheeky, they tried to steal stuff from my car even while I was in it and even though there was nothing for them to steal.

10. Take the car with the highest windows for the best view, it was a pleasure being able to look over other cars from my slightly bigger one.

11. Amarula with ice is a brilliant way to end the day at Kruger.

12. Binoculars are also brilliant.

13. A digital camera with lots of zoom in order to prove that you really did see a leopard.

14. Drive slowly and keep your eyes wide open, those animals sure can hide themselves, even an elephant can hide under a leaf.

15. A mammal and a bird book are also must haves.

16. Don't forget to put sunscreen on your arms when driving!

17. When we went at the beginning of September there were hardly any mosquitoes and the game viewing was brilliant. (Saw 4 leopards, and the big five twice in two days.)

18. Most importantly take sturdy spikes and I mean it à a big hammer (sledge hammer type) someone obviously thought it would be really funny to put cement under all the camping spots.

19. Next time I go I will do less driving around and more sitting in one place even Impala are interesting animals. (the official lunch meat of the Kruger Park) and there are loads of amazing birds and bugs and things to see too.

20. Driving the N4 on a Friday night is like racing formula one but the other cars are towing (BIG) trailers, avoid at all costs.

(I will return again as soon as I possibly can - it was wonderful!)

We have been camping in Kruger for the past 33 years and leave our tent at the camp site and come back late at night.
You can leave your tent at your chosen camp site and go out the whole day. Just zip up your tent and leave.
We have never lost or had a "robbery" at our tent
Just leave your food stuff in a trailer or if you do not have a trailer in your boot, because the monkeys and baboons are a problem at certain camps

Camped next to a family of 4 with a trailer like that.
Has a rooftop tent, a tent next to that reaching to the ground where the teenagers slept and a kitchen on the other side of the trailer.
Would love to have one of those.

Saw in a magazine quite recently you get a 2 man caravan nowadays.
Apparently very popular in Europe.
Inside has only one double bed, rest is outside like the trailer.
You tow it with even the smallest of cars.

If you wish to camp on the fence at Punda and will need electricity - take a long lead of at least 50m!!!!

Hi clautje7

12 days in a small tent isn't my idea of comfortable, if you could get a slightly bigger tent it would be better. We are only two people and I am buying a 6 man tent so we don't have to fall over our bags everytime we get up, we can sit inside (not on the bed) when it rains etc etc.... I think you should get my drift.

No there is no cement for the tents on campsites, but you don't need to book a hut.

Yes you can park your car as close to your tent as you like.

Unless you sit in the ablution blocks, restaurant, shop, comunal kitchen or verandah outside the restaurant when it rains there is nowhere to sit inside

Still, go for it and have a blast. I was in the Kruger area over December 2001 and it didn't rain once... But that doesn't mean it won't rain this year.

Have fun!!

One can buy really inexpensive tents at a shop called Game that will be really comfortable. With a little covered area attached that you could sit under if it rained. They are lightweight and easy to erect and pack up small.

Camping in a small tent is fine. Just take a table and chairs.


Don't book a hut. Showers seldom last more than an hour. Things tend to dry out pretty quickly after a shower.



I have only seen cement strips at Letaba and you aren't going there.



Many other camps have pools



Skukuza has a museum you can go to. Most have a bar that you can use. Either Berg-en-Dal or Skukuza, or both, has a movie house (wildlife movies). There are shops and restaurants to hide out in.



Yes

The other alternative if you are worried about camping is to
book "huts" , not "bungalows"
These are units that do not have inside bathrooms , and you use communal bathrooms the same as if you where camping , these cost somewhere in between full bungalows , and camp sites .
They have a fridge and aircon , chairs and table.
Pretoriuskop , lower sabie and shingwedzi all have these types
of huts , and all 3 camps have pools .

The other option is to book a "safari tent" , which is a tent
that is permanently errected on a concrete block floor or
platform , with proper beds , fridge ,fan , chairs and table.
Skukuza has these tents , or else camps with no pools but
safari tents are tamboti, crocodile bridge,letaba .
These are also about the same price as the "huts"

Hi and welcome naomi c!

Have you read through this thread - Punda?

I loved the camping in Punda last month. Granted the sites are not all perfectly level, there are few taps and if you wish to camp close to the fence you must take a long elec lead (50m+). There are shady sites there, no grass. Camp far away from the pool if you are looking for peace and quiet
Watch out for the low eves of the ablution block!

There was a constant trickle of game to the waterhole opposite the fence when we were there.

I will go back to Punda many times!

No Snoobab LS does not have fence line sites.

I love camping there. The sites are demarkated and some are fairly private with some bush between them. There are a fair amount that are shady. They are all level.

Some pics for you:

Just take your Punda cord with.

Hi Snoobab
The plug points at Lower Sabie are right next to the camp sites. Depending on how you position your caravan, tent, or mobile home etc, you will be no more than about 5-8 meters away from your power point.