SANParks.org Forums

Hi everyone

I would very much appreciate some advice. Family from the UK will be visiting Kruger in June and, in addition to bookings at Crocodile Bridge and Olifants, they have the choice of staying either at Talamati or Satara for 2 nights. Apart from the advantages of staying in a smaller/bush camp, which would you say is preferable in terms of game viewing, drives etc? We have stayed at Satara several times and I know Talamati is in the same general area, but as we haven't actually stayed there, I would prefer to pass on some advice from those in the know. They will only be in Kruger for 5 days in total.

Many thanks in advance for your help.

Are they firsttimers?
In that case I would definitely advise Talamati. The only problem they may have is that there is no shop or restaurant at Talamati. So it's going to be a braai or preparing food in the kitchen.
As for gameviewing, I find that the area around Orpen is extremely good, with high chances of cheetah and dogs. I'll happily drive the H7 between Orpen and Satara all day.

If they are in Talamati they can also go down towards Thoskwane, that road is probably the road with the highest chance of seeing Sable in the whole of Kruger.

And I'd advise Satara. While I love Talamati camp itself, espeically the waterhole, I find the roads around there not as productive or as varied as the roads around Satara. And the last time we drove the S36, it was in a terrible state.

Due to the geology around the Satara area there is a larger concentration of grazers and associated game on the open grass plains and Talamati camp is a lot smaller and quieter than Satara , thus in my opinion it is the better call as good game viewing is within a relatively short distance thereof .

I would also strongly advise satara!!

As said before a larger concentration of grazers! And a high concentration of lion prides around satara. In my last trip I saw lions on the H6, s90, H7, s36, s39 and H1-4. all roads around satara. and each sighting was different lions.

So I would say Satara

What i love about the Satara area is the S90 toward Olifants
Been there with first timers and the area around Satara ,compaired to Orpen, was their favourite.

Both are great choices. Talamati in winter, will have a lot of game coming to the waterhole in front of the camp. You can sit and watch game after the gate has closed from the hide in the camp.

However I agree with ndloti that Satara has tons of game ( catfood ) and the predators that eat them.
I would take first time guests to Satara to show them lots of varied animals.
Saw tons of animals at Satara this last Easter weekend.

Tough one this

For a good game count Satara definitely, but for more rare species, I would go for Talamati. Night rides often produce civet & serval, and there are sable in the area.

In terms of rare animals ...

on a night drive on 1 Apri from Sataral we saw
African Wild Cat
Small Spotted Genet
Serval
Side Striped Jackel

At Satara reception the guides write on a white board what they saw after their drives. African Wild Cat and Genet was seen all five days I was at Satara.

In defence of talamati it can brag sable in the area and more than one wild dog pack.

Thank you all so much for your answers - much appreciated. I think I will send them in summary form to my family and let them make the decision, since it's obviously not an easy one.

In response to the question as to whether they are first-timers, as far as I'm concerned they are pretty close, since they last visited Kruger about 30 years ago. And unfortunately I won't be with them - except in spirit of course!

Annaluisa,

One important factor to keep in mind is that while Satara is a pretty big camp and very well serviced, including a shop, reception and so on. Talamati is a very small camp, a tiny reception area but has enormous bungalows with a lovely braai area and verandah. The whole camp is composed on 12 units so very quiet and certainly very peaceful.

Many thanks for your input - Talamati sounds a lot like Sirheni, which we love. I suppose ultimately it will depend whether they would prefer the experience of a small, quiet camp vs being in an area with a lot of activity - animal and human!

sounds like heads or tails decision Annaluisa....

Annaluisa, oh dear, what a wonderful choice.

They both share similar road systems, but Talamati takes a bit longer to get to the major roads..

If you want good, comfortable accomodation, with few neighbours.. and privacy, go Talamati.

If you want a level of comfort, people.. a really special camp.. and good road systems.. go Satara.