SANParks.org Forums

Hallo RondaGreen.
Yes they do provide bedding and a picknick backet with cutlery in side for the night. And the hide do have a door and wooden panels to close up for the night. You have a braai area (boma) with a table and chairs. You get your keys at your nerest camp where you book in for the night.
Enjouy your stay.

Just took the liberty and phoned on your behalf and was told that bedding and cutlery is still available as previously was the case each of the 3 occasions I have overnighted there . These are on loan to you once a deposit of R200 has been paid - did not enquire if the deposit is required per booking or per person .
An electric lantern and a 20 litre jerry can for water is available for use .

You will hear all the usual night orchestra of frogs, maybe hear a night jar and you will hear the hippos, very very noisy at times.
Depends what else is in the area.. A fish eagle A hyena, maybe the roar of a lion.. Ellies coming for a swim.. Oh its going to be so exciting ... do enjoy!

I agree that Shipandane is the better of the 2 .

Use Tabard insect repellant - it helps . But end May should not be too much of a problem .
You are only allowed to "take up residence " after 5 o'clock or so .
Not much activity there but the resident hippos come out at night to graze , etc .
Enjoy !

You check in at Mopani Camp for the Shipandani Hide and Phalaborwa gate for the Sable Hide where you will be given the keys and all the bedding etc for the night.

I think these 2 hides are really the only ones big enough and having the facilities to enable over nighting in.

Interesting????

There are now signs at both sleep over hides stating that no alcohol is allowed on these premises.

Will they now take the signs down at night as it becomes somebodies accommodation and you are allowed to consume alcohol in the privacy of your accommodation. What now, another problem area???

I am trying to check the availability for Sable Dam Hide and get a server error for the availability pages.
Mods can you look into it or is this function not usually accessible for the hides?

Hi threedogs


One cannot book the hide over the internet.

I see you live 'down under' - PM me the dates you wish to know if the hide is available, and I will call and find out for you.

Good Morning,

The Shipandani & Sable hides both have restrictions in terms of the number of nights that guests are allowed to book consecutively.
Unfortunately allowing these units to be booked from the website would cause it to be booked for any number of nights which can not be allowed and until the web booking system is able to manage this for us, the hides can only be booked using any of our alternative booking methods. http://www.sanparks.org/tourism/reservations/

Seasons Greetings

Mattresses are kept in the cupboard at the hide.
Bedding and cutlery box is available at Mopani Reception on payment of a deposit.
Each bedding bag consists of a duvet, pillow, duvet cover, sheet, mattress protector and pillowcase.

We stayed at the hide about a week ago.
Bedding is available from Mopani - a staff member will deliver it to the hide late in the afternoon.
Pack it up and leave there and they will collect again next day.
R300 deposit is for the key to the hide apparently.
Note that the padlock to the braai area is very difficult to unlock and takes quite a bit of 'fiddling' to get it to open!
There is no hand basin at the toilet so bring some wet wipes for hands.