SANParks.org Forums

Still working on plans for a trip in NOVEMBER.
Would you go for 2 nights in Shimuwini or 2 nights in Sirheni?
I have read the posts for the 2 camps and can not decide which to choose. How do they compare?

hi for sure shireni bunglows much nicer big dam in front of u seeing lions and a leopard kill from my stoep , bird life spectacular
Hope u enjoy it!!!

I have not stayed at Shimuwini so can't compare the two but Sirheni is fantastic.
We spent 3 nights in Feb of 2008 @ Sirheni and it was really special. We saw allot of game in the area including Leopard & Lion each morning when leaving camp. The birdlife is fantastic. The camp is so beautiful & quiet it is a tough decision wether to go out for a drive or just stay in camp & enjoy the scenery.

I will also recommend Sirheni for the reasons given by others and also because you have a good chance of seeing the rare antelopes like Roan, Lichtensteins Hartebeest and Tssesebe in this area.

Sirheni for sure, great place with a great atmosphere and great game!
I've seen leopard, buffalo and elephant herds from my stoep!

Sirheni is a wonderful place!
Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A stoep is the front veranda or porch!?!?

Both Shimuwini and Sirheni are awesome camps, but I would say one HAS to experience Sirheni at least once in your life It's amamzing!!!

Hi,

I can't think of which camp is nicer Sirheni, Shimuweni or Mopani? I want to go to one of them in December.

Does anyone have any ideas or photos?

I'm missing Kruger like mad

Thanks,

Samantha

Cant beat Mopani!

Going there in December too!

Mant,

It all depends if you would like to have a shop and restaurant in the camp. Shimuweni and Sirheni are small bush camps without a shop and restaurant.

I've stayed at Shimuweni before and found it to be a lovely camp with great view over the river and there is also a small pool to cool down.

Mopani is a very large camp and not all the bungalows have view over the dam. The pool is very nice and then there is the plus that the shop on site is well stocked with fresh bread.

Sirheni looks great but I've not visited the camp yet.

My choice will be to stay for a few days in each, because game viewing can be good from all the camps, otherwise go for the two bush camps only if you enjoy the smaller camps.

See roaneric's Thread on accommadation to see some

viewtopic.php?p=1469266#p1469266

Hi Mant,

I agree with Son godin. We do like sirheni very much. Great sightings we had and one of the best drives in the park, Mophongolo!! Shimuwini is also great but we got a bit bored by mopani trees. And very nasty behaving ellies, but that was just bad luck I presume.
As for the restaurant and shop. We got our bread in Shingwedzi after taking lunch on the deck. Great service and very quiet.

What ever you decide, have a great trip.

Peter

Hi Mant

Ooh that is a touch call.
All 3 are very nice.
But if I have to choose, I would go for Shimuwini.
The peace and quite of that camp is just great.
I can sit on the veranda the whole day, watching the fish eagles fly past over the river.
I have a little video on my TR here taken from the birdhide.
And as Son Godin said, I have some pictures on this thread.

Good luck deciding

My girlfriend and I are planning our first trip to Kruger (SA for that matter) in December.
This is a dream for both of us.
We have about 4 days to explore the park.
We've done a bit of research and understand having your own car is pretty much a necessity.

Any recommendations of camps to book during that time?
Olifants seems to be highly recommended and Lower Sabie is very popular (I take it, the biggest).
We want to be somewhere close to the wild, where we can take guided walks/drives.

Thanks very much.

Hello jamendel, welcome to the forum!

Yes, a car is pretty much essential or you will be stuck in camp all day, very frustrating.

Lower Sabie and Satara are bang in the middle of prime predator territory and are popular and fairly big. However Skukuza is the biggest camp in the park.
But size is relative, none are city sized, just grouping of huts really, with a shop and restaurant thrown in.

Olifants is built in a spectacular position on cliffs over the river of the same name.
I would suggest for the first time you don't go any further north.
Leave that for your next visit.

Try to spend a couple of nights in 2 camps to give yourself a bit of variety but you don't want to be packing and moving too much.

Accommodation availability.
Have a look here for what's left.

Enjoy your trip.

Hi Jameldel,
No doubt you will fall in love with both SA and particularly Kruger National Park.

As far as camps, everyone who responds will give their love for various camps for a variety of reasons. Since you only have 4 days in the park you will want to stay in the southern parts of the park so that you are not spending that much time traversing from camp to camp and more time enjoying what the park has to offer.

Skukuza is actually the biggest camp; lots of people but a beautiful camp with many things to see in the camp itself as well as a great bird hide not far (Lake Panic).
Lower Sabie is really super nice.
The fixed tents on the perimeter of this camp are the BEST!
If you can grab a reservation at one of these you won't be sorry.
Olifants is also very nice with an amazing view and lots of great drives around the camp.
If you are staying in the park for 4 nights then stay 2 nights at one camp and 2 at another.
Since your time frame is tight you may want to stay south; perhaps Satara and Lower Sabie.

You will be able to take sunset drives or night drives at either of these camps.
And any of the camps as well as the drives to and from will take you "close to the wild" for sure.

My only advise beyond that is to make sure your next stay is longer..., and there will be a next!
Dana