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Hi raasblaar

We just returned from kruger and stayed in shimuwini for 2 nights. Not a bad choice, if you want to spend much time in camp. We stayed in number 6 (4 bed) but number 5 and 7 were next to us, and with both good views. If you want to see our pics just look here

Enjoy planning your trip next year. We will also be in kruger in August 2011, we might just see you there

I have just returned from Kruger and we went up North for the first time.
We spent two nights at Shimuwini and loved the camp.
The chalets are quite close to the fence and there was plenty of water in the river.
The bird hide is great - well worth a visit although in the evening one feels a stimulating frisson of anxiety at the proximity of the ground outside the fence to the wide opening at the side of the bird hide!
Just right for a leopard I thought, but Johan Mdluli the duty manager, assured me that this was very unlikely to happen.

The chalet we were in was spotless and maintained so whilst we were there, the beds were comfortable and the water was hot.
My only criticism is that water leaked from the cistern into the bowl and the H C markings on the taps were invisible so we wasted more water by running the taps to find out which was which (er - just because right is H in the basin, it does not follow that R will be H in the shower . . . .)

The freezer, in a dedicated room by the gate, contains numbered wire baskets and your food goes into the same number basket as your chalet.
The basket was just large enough for meals for two for a fortnight plus our extensive collection of freezer blocks.

Approaching Shimuwini there are two low-level bridges.
At the second we came across a honey badger, rooting around in the river sand, snuffling for grubs.
He was on our left - keep an eye open if you go that way!
There is a lovely 8km drive along the river with lots of loops to the water and a picturesque baobab tree. This road is far more interesting than the 7km alternative.

The staff with whom we came into contact, Busi Shabangu and Johan Mdluli were pleasant, helpful and friendly.
Johan, on hearing that we were moving to Mopani, showed us his wonderful cheetah photos, taken a few days before we arrived, and told us where we would be most likely to find them.
Thanks Johan we found the male juvenile at Bowerskop marking territory early in the morning and the following evening we found the mother and two juveniles in the same place.
She watched whilst they hunted down some impala (unsuccessfully!) then called them back - this is the first time I have heard a mother cheetah calling - what a wonderful sound!

Shimuwini is well worth staying in and it has a unique atmosphere.
One thing we noticed was how quiet and considerate everyone was there, something very welcome after the rather brash south. Enjoy!

I have a reservation for 3 nights in December. I have reserved a GC5 - any suggestions as to which unit I should request. I would prefer a unit that is slighlty more isolated (no close neighbours) .
Thanks

if i remember correctly no 10 is a GC5 cottage. there is a big gap between no 10 and no 11 but no 9 is close. i would go for no 10

Hi Jen,

Cottage 1 is highly isolated as it faces the bush. No one will walk pass your cottage as it's at the far east side of the camp. Its other advantage is that it's much closer to the Bird-Hide where you can go and enjoy the scenery of the reverview and animals going down to drink.

If you need a riverview cottage, you better go for cottage 14. It has a wide open view to the river and it's torwards the westen end of the camp.

I would like to say that Shimulwini is special ...in fact I am dreaming of booking out the whole camp for my 50 birthday weekend ...still some time away. I always say that Sirheni is special for its remoteness, and Shimulwini is special for its outstanding views and staff. We had one of our best walks ever in KNP with Johan.BTW he has a wicked sense of humour ! I avoided staying there over the years because of my perceived opinion about the lack of game in the area...but it is a great place.
some pic's for Shimulwini:
pic's taken from the camp:



Pic taken from birdhide:

pic from walk:


Shimulwini is outstanding and all credit to Johan and his team for their can do approach . I would also say it is a great camp for people who don't want to be in the car all the time.
Time for another visit I think

A lovely camp and its 16 odd km private road is a bliss!!

We had some super sightings along the private road.
Hyenas fishing at the first weir, closest to the tar road.
Many other animals joined in on the act here.
Black Stork, Water Monitor and an immature African Fish-Eagle.

Other lovely sightings on the private road included:

Buffalo, Giraffe, loads of Steenbok, nice breeding herd of Elephants, a group of 5 Ground Hornbills, Mosque Swallow, loads of Fiery-necked Nightjar, Square-tailed Nightjar and Bronze-winged Coursers, Verreaux's Eagle-Owl and Spotted Eagle-Owl.
The river is alive with animals and birds.
We got 7 Collared Pratincoles at the river in front of the camp and an immature White-backed Night-Heron also posed for some photos for some members of the BBW right in front of the bird hide.

Lions roared across the river on Saturday morning and evening.

We came across 4 Lions on a Buffalo kill on the Phalaborwa - Letaba road, near Erfplaas waterhole.
We must've missed the kill by about 10 mins.
All 5 vulture species were seen at this sighting.
Unfortunately at this exact same spot a Honeybadger was run over and killed the day before.
So most of the Vultures were already at this site and in business when the Buffalo turned its toes skywards. Of interest sake, the one female was perhaps the biggest Lioness I have seen in the Park.
An unbelievable animal!

The Letaba bridge area just before the Shimuwini off ramp produced at least a dozen Dusky Larks.
Not an easy bird to find in the Park.
We also had Monotonous Larks here and close to the lion kill site as well.

Loved the camp and its ambiance.
Loved the pool as the heat and humidity was almost intolerable!
And a lovely Southern Foam Nest Frog made its appearance at the lapa near the pool as well.

The bird life is incredible in the camp:

Lesser Masked-Weaver
Village Weaver
Lesser Masked Weaver
Black Cuckoo-Shrike
African Green Pigeon
African Cuckoo
Eurasian Hobby hunting over the river at dusk
Red-faced Cisticola
Klaas' Cuckoo
Diederick Cuckoo
White-fronted Bee-eater
Little Swift
Common Swift
Collared Pratincole
Green-backed Heron
White-backed Night-Heron
Water Thick-knee
Fiery-necked Nightjar
Kurrichane Thrush
Willow Warbler
Orange-breasted Bush-Shrike
Grey-headed Bush-Shrike
Woolly-necked Stork
Egyptian Goose
African Grey Hornbill
Pied Kingfisher
Reed Cormorant
Pied Wagtail
Common Waxbill
Blue Waxbill
Spotted Flycatcher
Red-headed Weaver
White-bellied Sunbird
Giant Kingfisher
Malachite Kingfisher

Lots of Hippos in the river and we also managed to spot a number of Crocs. One individual being a monster of at least a meter high as he climbed out onto a sand bank!

Lovely camp, will definitely visit there again.

Sounds like an extremely successful visit!

Thanks for sharing Wildtuinman. Looks like we found a new ambassador for Shimuwini camp It is one of my favorite camps

I think the thing that really did it for me was the lack of traffic in that area. On Friday we left the camp at 4:30 (No queues to wait in to leave the gate), drove around till 14:00 and we encountered 6 cars all day long. Pure bliss. That is how the Kruger should be.

I just love the Letaba bridge on the H14. I could perhaps sit there for hours. As a matter of fact the whole H14 is an excellent road. I haven't driven it since 2005 and I did not really get the chance to appreciate it properly the last time I drove along it.

And then off course all those special sightings, especially nocturnal birds on the private road. Ah man.... Wish I was back there now this very second!

Sounds fantastic WTM, you had some great sightings there.

Really tempted to go and try it out

So am I, DD


You might find more traffic in that area now, WTM !
Thanks, I just added Shimuwini to my wish list

A long-standing business colleague and fellow KNP enthusiast has always told me that Shimuwini is his favourite. This year we are going there for 3 nights which is great! Unfortunately I have to wait until September..... Just re-read most of this thread, and now I really can't wait.

Has anyone been in Shimuwini recently? I will stay there in November for the first time and I'm getting very excited by now

Can't wait to get back to Shim. We'll be staying there for four lovely nights this time. Last time we stayed at bungalow no 2, which is close to the lovely bird hide and the magnificent Jackalberry tree.