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Stupid question and I know the answer will 99% be no, but is there any change that they hire-out gasbraais at Balule? We packed for 18 days and we cant seem to find a spot to fit ours.

We like our coffee in the morning.

Wildheart, last time I was there, I did not see any hire out gas braai stuff, but they did have a pot of boiling water available at the communal kitchen.

No but they do have a kettle on the gas stove from very early in the morning
Have a great trip!

Hey guys and gals!

Haha... Balule will be perfect in a high load shedding month !

Haven't been on the Forums for a while now but just wanted to add a little something to this thread about Balule!

I stayed at Balule for three nights in December last year (2007) and it was simply the best camp that i have stayed at in the park, of course I have my favourites but Balule is just very special! It was my first time and certainly not my last!

All three nights were fantastic but our second night produced one of the most amazing moments of my entire life... We were sitting having a braai and heard low growling coming from the riverine bush on the Northern side of the camp, having heard the sound before I knew immediately that it was a leopard clearing his throat!

We all got very excited and scooted over to the far end of the camping ground where a small crowd was gathering... no one could see anything but we all stood and watched the bush with spotlights in hand. Suddenly from behind a thorn tree walked ,not one but two adult leopards, a male and a female! ... Just to make it even more special they began to mate in the open about 20 metres from the fence ... Once in a lifetime stuff and something i will never forget!!

I had heard about the resident male leopard at Balule but to see him and his Mrs was incredible.

EnjoY!

It seems that a lot of very exciting things happen in Balule.

When we were there on 30/04/08, we were having our dinner and we sat looking at the resident hyenas patrolling the fence as usual.

At one stage I switched on the mag light to look at the hyena, when I spotted small eyes, very low in the grass. At first I thought it was a mouse, but low and behold, the mouse became very long and slithered across to our front yard.

It was a very long, very thick rinkhals and he was adamant that he wanted to come into the camp, right where we sat. A travelling ranger from Bundu Safari's stomped next to the fence on the ground and the snake slithered off into the bushes, apparently only until all the excitement died down. He then came in through the fence at another spot, slithered underneath another camper's tent and went up a tree!

Luckily I did not see that. It was amazing, but scary at the same time. There was only a thin fence between us and that snake!

Balule is and will be my favourite camp for many more years to come. The best was when it started raining on our last night before we moved to Letaba. The smell of the rain on the bushes and dust, oh man - words fail me.

hi guys this is gonna sound really blonde, i just wanna make sure but is there no electricity boxes what so ever in the camping area as well??

He there all the g's and welcome to the forum.

Please observe the health warning.

This place is addictive.

To answer your question about electricity boxes.

None, nothing, nada, niks. (I think you get the idea) you shower by lantern light so take a gas lamp to the ablutions with you.

The only lights you see at Balule is Olifants on the hill a good few KM away.

Balule gives new definintion to "Rustic" but is just sooooooo cooooooool.

Titus is very friendly and an absolute star. (He is the "keeper" of Balule.)

Balule does indeed have cellphone reception.

I will be camping at balule for the first time in June. I was wondering.Even with only 18 camping sites can the camp still feel over crowded?? Or is the layout so that you really feel the isolation? Also is their any plug points at the ablution blocks?

Hi Jeanne.

Balule is a fantastic place. It is small and even when full, I never felt like everyone was "on top of me". It was not crowded at all.

There are no (as in zero) electrical points. There is no electricity at all.

Balule is a real gem precisely because of the lack of electricity. If I ever hear that they contemplate putting in electricity, I will petition like crazy to get the idea turned over.

Small bit if advice. You need a torch and gas lights. The parafin lighting they have in the ablutions does not give enough light and I used my small gas light to shower. The torch you want to use to get to and from the ablution, just to make sure you don't bump into uninvited guests on your way to the ablution in the darkness.

In the corner near the ablutions, there is a "permanent camp" set up for foreign travellers. (Used by tour operators). They tended to be a little more noisy than everyine else and there sight gave off huge amounts of light to the surrounding camp sights. They did however, go sleep early and the noise level was just slight above the usual hubbub of conversation from all the other sites.

Other than that I only have one major complaint about Balule.

I DID NOT SPEND ENOUGH TIME THERE.

Thanks for the advice How cold does it get at night? We are going in mid June? What kind of animals can I expect to encounter inside the camp.Just curious.

Hi Jeanne,

Im used to go camping in KNP during July, do not underestimate the nights. Altough most foreigners smile when reading this, the thing is, when stay in SA / Kruger you get used to the nice day temprature, but then the nights are chilly...not freezing but not hot either. Depends on which camp (close to water or not), but say generally between 2-7 degrees Celcius.

The cold doesnt matter when using huts, but when you go camping, take warm sleepingbags etc. I once made that mistake...and will never again

Yes, I agree with GS, people underestimate how cold it gets at night when camping in Kruger in winter. Night temperatures can drop to below 5 degrees and sometimes even close to zero. If you are not prepared for that, you are going to be very very cold. Take along warm sleeping bags, those rated to -2 to -5 degrees C work well, preferrably the monk's cowl type with a hood, to keep the head warm. Take along a warm jacket, pants, a beanie and gloves or the nights and early mornings, dress in layers so that you can peel them off as it gets warmer. You'll end up in shorts and a T-shirt by day, and add the layers as night arrives.

Jeanne.

GS and Senyetse are quite correct. Night time temps can be cool.

I was in KNP (Camping) in July last year,and managed to be warm enough with a track suit at night. Early morning is also pretty cool, but the day time temp is great. Shorts and T-shirt weather.

In the camp, you are notlikely to encounter much in the way of animals as the fence keeps most of them out. We had a 6 foot rinkhals trying to get in through the fence in April this year at Balule and we were fortunate enough to see a spring hare inside the camp. Basically, only small game might get in, the most dangerous being snakes, scorpions and sipders. Better to be safe than sorry though, always be alert.

Monkeys and baboons can get in anywhere. Golden rule is not to have food in tents or places where they can get to it easily.

It seems that there are renovations going on in Balule - the ablution blocks. Got this from another thread - "Balule leopard".

Is there anybody with first hand information about this? We are booked there from the 16th for 6 nights but I would definitely want to change my reservation if there is any construction work going on.