SANParks.org Forums

Hi,
Has anyone stayed at the new Riverside Bungalows at Skukuza, we are staying there for 3 nights in August, and want to get a feeling on what they are like.

hi ukgolfguy,

we stayed this february 2 nights in one luxury riverside bungalow. they are really lovely, equipped with an open air kitchen n also yr braii facility is equipped with a lamp inside the braii!!! also the verandah with the riverview is superb!!! not that much people in the area where these bungalows are located. one evening when braiing also one herd of elephants cud be seen in the river, eating the high grass n they were there quite a while n we also heard lions!!!

wish u a pleasant stay - u are making us jealous.....

It is difficult to take pics of it as it is like a maze. It is huge!! Beautifull I have to add too.

Here is the swimming pool.

Hi,
we have stayed there last year for 2 days and it was really very nice. We trav el normally by camper but the last 2 days we stay in a bungalow like this. This year again. Good place, nice open kitchen and a very quiet. Last year we had a hyena in the middle of the night right before our bungalow!
HAve a great time
Ruud

Hi elpaco,

Well, Skukuza it is!

There is something similar at Satara, in the camp. If you look around the garden of the camp, behind the reception area and more to the middle of the camp, there are lots of bushes and trees, if you walk through there is a pond with running water and water lillies, even a little island. There are lots of birds there, in winter, the Black Hooded Orioles seem to spend time around there and their song is beautiful.

Hi Everyone

I am so glad you all speak so fondly of my hometown. And its also interesting that you find Satara to be busier than Skukuza. Fascinating ...

Our official stats say that Skukuza has a slightly higher occupation than Satara but the difference is that Satara is seasonal and Skukuza is right through the year. This is probably because - and this is my theory! - Skukuza is a generic term for the KNP whereas Satara has its loyal visitors, particularly during school holidays.

Just a little interesting story about the train restaurant - called Selati Grillhouse by the way - it was the original railway station at what was then known as Sabi Bridge. The railway line - which went from Hoedspruit to Komatipoort - was called the Selati Line and you can still see the old stone foundation of this railway line from parts of the H5 and the S114.

The other interesting titbit of history is that the original driver of the locomotive still visits his former "office" and tenderly gives it a polish. I have my "sources" looking out for him and will interview him for an article next time I hear he is in town (if he agrees, that is ...).

The truck was until a little while back used as a "Sundowner Experience" that crossed the river bridge and back with a group of people every afternoon. I hear what Simon says about it being a possible safety risk and will see whether we can store it somewhere else.

Has anybody seen the group of white-tailed mongooses near the Papenfus Clock Tower? They are often there - my wife and I often treat ourselves to a dinner at Selati, just like city dwellers go out to pizza, we go to Selati - and I suspect they live in the bush between the road (to Selati that goes through the camping sites) and the petrol station.

That reminds me (again). The Papenfus Clock Tower - the stone clock tower at the main crossroads in Skukuza - was at one stage the entrance to the camp! I am not going to say anything more about Papenfus - there is a plaque at its base and the book "Neem Uit Die Verlede" (available at the Skukuza Library) will give you the full history.

I know they are aimed at the R890-odd per night market, but can anyone give us feedback on the Luxury Riverside Units? These units were upgraded to that standard - in order to provide guests with a more comprehensive choice in accommodation - after the original units were washed away during the floods.

I look forward to your responses ...

Kind regards
KNP Spokesman

Yes, me too.
Some pics drom 1994

KNPS:

The luxury riverside bungalows do what it says on the tin! Compared with other accommodations in the camps, they are really luxurious, and extremely stylish too.

The worst bit is that they have tv: what is the point?
Also tin doors on the kitchen - bit noisy when opening and closing.

The best bits....double bed (the single beds you see everywhere in the camp accommodations might make for flexibility, but they do not make for a good nights sleep if you want to share a bed with your loved one - especially those with the hard wooden frame around the sides of the mattress!)
The slate tiling is beautiful. The only better bathroom I've encountered in a SANPark was the totally gorgeous semi-outdoor bathroom at Leokwe camp in Mapungubwe.
The view. Can't get any better.

The braai arrangement (chimney and light INSIDE the braai) looked interesting but we just wanted a steak at the Selati Grill for the experience.

Furniture was also a cut above the norm.

These accommodations will never be everyone's cup of tea as some consider that they're not in the bush unless they're camping and the cost is pretty exhorbitant considering the bungalows only sleep 2, but they are well thought out and executed.

We'll use them again, deffo!!

Hi brett,
While staying at Satara you can really go ANY route... and i mean any! They are all presently teaming with game!
Me as well as some friends were there few weeks ago and we really saw everything! Even rare stuff like sable, cheetahs, serval, african wildcat, lion kill, leopard kill, etc etc.
Birdlife also great.
Great main roads will be the ones to Orpen (nsemani dam etc), to Olifants (past all the Ngotos drinking wholes), and down to Skukuza - Tshokwane.
The tarr road to Nwanetsi is also great!
ALL the gravel roads are really stunning... from the s100 to Sweni, to Mavumbye (SP?) and Gudzani, roads around Balule and up to Bangu, Timbavati lower and upper routes... i can go on for ages!
As i said ALL of them are really great!
ENJOY

I've never been bothered much by noise at Skukusa, perhaps just been lucky in the bungalows I've been allotted. Of course it's not the same as being by the fence in the camping areas, but I've had smaller night sounds, likely frogs and insects, and seen what may have been mongoose scurrying accross the grass, and had a chorus of birdsong with my early morning coffee and rusks.

One year I had a riverside bungalow and last trip I was at the end of a row, which is a quiet spot to be. You do hear your neighbors whilst they are braaiing, but I've been far more disturbed by noisy neighbors at other camps - and that fortunately INfrequently.

We were in Skukuza on the 13th of December last year (think it was SA school holidays) and believe me or not, there was no one around our bungalow, we were right in the middle of the camp.
It's the only camp were we heard lions and hyenas at night.
So please people, continue avoiding Skukuza, you are right : way too busy

I would recommend Skukuza for people with young children. There is just enough activity to keep them happy, but enough quiet to keep the rest sane.
I have always been surprised at just how quiet it is at night. Over all I have had mainly good memories of the camp.
It also has a tangible air of excitement. Its amazing how each camp has its own special atmosphere.

Full sized views at
http://www.pbase.com/richardharris/skukuza

Don't know about the Elsie Clark guest cottage, but if there's at least 4 of you (base rate), it's worth booking the Absa Guest House. It stands on its own at the far left of the camp facing the river and is ENORMOUS, with its own private garden and river frontage.

The accommodation is arranged in an "L" shape as a bedroom block, and a separate lounge/kitchen/dining room block.
It's very private and quiet, so it feels like you're in your own exclusive camp.

I always enjoy Skukuza. There is an air of excitement and expectation. I have also been fortunate with the accomodation and have had no experience of noisy neighbours.
The museum is also a wonderful place to browse and relax in the heat of the day. Last time I was there the midday temperature was 38 degrees.
I did a lot of browsing
Then there are the bats which always give a little more flavour to the place.
I was also very fortunate in being allowed to see the buffalo breeding program and Rhino waiting to be relocated last time I was there.