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We were staying at Bateleur Bush Camp (07/08/2008)when a bush burn jumped the dry river bed and set fire to the grass beneath the bird hide.
Moments later the hide caught fire and before long was a raging inferno - all we could do was prevent it from spreading further into the camp.
By the time the firefighters arrived it was all over and the hide was burnt to the ground.
Very sad but nevertheless a lovely camp to visit.

I have phoned Bateleur and spoke to Stephen. According to him they are rebuilding the hide and will finish within the next week or two. They have also made some changes to the 'conference' area. Thanks to all at Bateleur and the Parks Board for all the renovations and re-building of the hide!

This is one camp I have yet to experience....What is it like in summer?

Also, it seems that it must be a very long drive if one wants to go there direct from Jo'burg or vice versa....??

Bateleur is at the top of my "to do" list, for some reason I have never quite had the right timing for a vist there but I know I woud love it.

Bushmad we were in Batleur at the end of January 2008 for the birding weekend. It was hot but not unbearable (but then again I like the heat) and the units do have aircon.

It is a long drive from Johannesburg and entering at Punda Maria is maybe best.

This is a great camp

Just to clear this up to avoid disappointment.
Not all bungalows have a bird bath.
Certainly the unit we had, No 5, and the one next door, No 4, didn't.
And I'm not sure they are cleaned everyday as the one in No 2 was distinctly murky.
If you really want a bird bath then better to phone Lazarus beforehand and ask to be allocated to a bungalow that has one.

Bateleur is an AMAZING camp, especially for birders!
If possible, ask for unit 7, it has the best view.
I was there to celebrate the first day of 2009!
Will discuss the camp extensively in my trip report (this week still) and post a few pics.
The service was beyond expectation!
It has a new birdhide, with an awesome setting.
Do yourself a favour, and book at least 2 nights here

Phalaborwa Bird Club provides Bateleur Bird hide with new poster displays.

After a bushfire destroyed the Bird hide at Bateleur Bushcamp in August of last year, SAN-Parks and the camp Manager Lazarus Lekhuleni, have been very committed to rebuild it as soon as possible.
They managed to build a beautiful new hide, but unfortunately, in the fire, the poster displays and information boards with photographs and narratives of birds were also lost.

These original displays were made and put up in January 2001 by the Phalaborwa Bird Club, who have maintained them ever since.
The Club, which also provided the Bird Hides of Shimuwini and Sirheni with displays and information for birders and other interested people, thought it to be their duty (and pleasure) to give the Bateleur Hide new displays.
The Phalaborwa Bird Club ‘s objective in this is to try and educate people about birds, their identification and their way of life.

With donations from The Palabora Foundation and private persons, they were able to buy material to make new boards, bring them to Bateleur, install them and provide them with new posters, photographs and narratives for all interested people to read and look at.
New photographs were donated by members of the Bird Club and photographs donated originally by well known Wild Life photographers Nigel Dennis and Albert Froneman were used again.

The construction team spend the weekend in Bateleur Bush Camp, making sure everything was properly installed and stocked with all kinds of interesting information.
The staff at the camp were all very appreciative and looked after us well.
Thanks to Mr. Ben van Eeden en Mr. Lazarus Lekhuleni of SAN-Parks for supporting us.

It is hoped that the guests staying in Bateleur will appreciate this wonderful initiative and will enjoy it for years to come.

Herewith some pictures of the new hide with and without posters (and construction team )
The new (still empty) hide

2 of the new poster displays and information boards with photographs and narratives of birds

The hide @ a different angle

Some members of the Phalaborwa Bird Club construction team

On behalf of the Phalaborwa Bird Club,
Cees

Well done Phalaborwa Bird Club

And thanks for the update Cees

Congratulations Phalaborwa Bird Club - it looks fantastic.

I must say when I heard about the fire at Bateleur I was dismayed, we'd booked for the New Year and I never thought they'd have it back in time.

Lazarus worked a small miracle to get the new one built in such a short time, especially when you think how remote Bateluer is. An amzing effort all round.

Does anybody know if they added a swimming pool to this camp?

No, I don't think they are planning to build one there. When I was there two years ago, I asked and they said it causes noise and is too much work for a small bushveld camp, and I have to agree.

I hope you enjoy it there

Stayed at Bateleur in early June.
Great camp. Quiet.
There were only three of the seven chalets occupied.
There is no shop, no cell phones.
No pool,at this stage but Lazarus says he is being asked by guests to put one in.

IMHO it would be an asset,especially in summer.
After all there are only seven chalets.

The accommodation is spacious, clean and our chalet overlooked a river bed with a few pools of water.
The chalet came fully equipped.
The only suggestion is take a torch/spotlight.
The braai is a little distance from the chalet and you need a light to ensure your meat is done to your liking.
Also the spotlight comes in handy at the hide and around the camp at night.
Lots of birdlife and we had a Genet visit us nightly.

I really like the fact that by staying at Bateleur you can get to the Shingwedzi loops and Red Rocks before the crowds from Shingwedzi.

I must agree that I prefer Sirheni to Bateleur after staying at both this trip.
Enjoy.
Enrico.

Red Rocks with the Shingwedzi river in flood. It sounded like the Victoria Falls!

Thanks Kingfisha & enrico.
I'll also have a closer look at Sirheni.

That flood looks quite spectacular. Thanks for sharing the pix.

The bird bath and lantern sound lovely. We had a little bird bath at Biyamiti, it also served as squirrel & vervet drinking hole.



Thanks! I'm off to check out your trip report.