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Rooikat ,

Here is a pic from bungalows n°3 ( right ) and n°4 ( left )



View on the circle ...

I stayed in no. 30 twice last year. It's a nice unit. You have one neighbour closeby (no. 31) but the other units are not so close. There are some trees and a bird bath just outside the verandah.

It looks inwards but you can see a very little piece of the fence from your verandah if you don't park your vehicle in the way.

Housekeeping didn't bother me but I was out driving all day, so I can't tell if there was any noise from housekeeping during the day.

Just be careful not to lock yourself out. We managed to lock ourselves out in the evening (no staff around) and had to break into our bungalow with the help of braai tongs.

September is indeed a dry month, guess possibly the driest, depending when the rain arrives. Anyway, generally mostly the plains game (zebras, gnu's tec.) and elephants move south to my knowledge, the rest will stick to main permanent water sources.

I would say it the luck of the dry, but try to stick to rivers routes following permanent water sources. That said, it might help to speak to local guides (like Matthew) in Shingwedzi, they know their area well

Also, shingwedzi is along my FAVORITE loop in Kruger, the Mphongolo loop. I would say, try to include a night a Punda Maria, and the visit Pafuri picnic spot, and the wonderful s63 dustroad there.

The area is quite different than south. Unlike at Lower-Sabie or Skukuza, wildlife get's more difficult to spot. However, this area gives one a chance to search for the smallers/scarcer stuff (eg. roan/eland/njala/grysbok) and to enjoy the smaller things. PLEASE, do not set your expectations too high, yet you may still become very lucky!

Shingwedzi has some awesome newly renovated units (see my trip report on the area: The Beauty of Nature Revealed II. Letaba ranks as one of my favorite camps (probably THE favorite) so YES go NORTH

There's never a wrong choice

Here's some photo's of our shingwetzi accommodation. We stayed in number 31...

The back of our cottage A31


Number 31 on the left and 32 on the right

This camp site has a few trees but is not as many as letaba. they also dont book you into a specific site. So I'm afraid you have to take whats available but its best to get there early when the other folk are leaving and you might be lucky

John, there are no demarcated stands in the camping area at Shingwedzi, you just find an open spot somewhere. The most popular is along the fence.

My favourite is the old speed cop's site on the fence next to the swimming pool. Plenty of shade there, but the powerpoint was borken last time I was there. As you enter the pool gate this spot is on the right. It's handy to the pool, but this can be a drawback if there is a noisy group swimming.

We camped there in June/July 09 and we had a woderfull time,the campsites are nice and level but not much trees ecept at the fence,but you have to be early and have lady luck on your side.
Enjoy your stay

What they said.

I love camping at Shingwedzi. It is an awesome camp. Sites are all nice and level but not too many tress.

This sitemay help you!

SusieB - spent five nights at Shingwedzi in August this year. Was really great. Awesome river drives along Kanniedood plus plus plus. you are bound to enjoy the experience!!!

Just two of the great many ellies around in the riverbed in front of camp...




and a taste of the wonderful impala lilies to be found all around camp...

Hi Debs, I have not stayed at Shingwetzi, but I have visited and it was going onto my "to do" list for future trips.

I have also been reading enough trip reports to know that most people are enamoured by it. Tend to be sightings of the rarer antelope, such as Roan and Tssessebe. It is also big tusker country. I did see Lion very close to Shingwetzi.

The Luvuvhu river drive is within driving distance, together with the famed Pafuri picnic site.

When I visited Punda, we took the Mphongolo loop to Shingwetzi. I was most impressed.

Brett Barber in his book, "Best birding in Kruger" gives a list of birds in Shingwetzi, which include:
Red-headed Weaver
Bennet's Woodpekker
Red capped Robin Chat
African Mourning Dove
Collared Palm-Thrush
Village Ingigobird
Dusky Indogobird
Verreaux's Eagle Owl.

Debs, I just love Shingwedzi! It is quieter than the southern camps and has a more rustic atmosphere. It has a beautiful swimming pool right next to the fence and a very nice a la carte restaurant. The drives along the Kanniedood dam and S56 Mphongolo loop are stunning! We once saw 11 lionesses close to Lamont waterhole. I hope that you've got the BD5 bungalow. Kids just love the beds up in the loft. Just beware of the monkeys in camp. They can be quite a nuisance and one tried to attack my brother's 5 year old daughter when it thought she had something to eat in her hand! Enjoy every minute. I'm sure you'll come back for more!

Regards

One word to describe shingwedzi is SPECIAL

You will definatley have a great trip, the unique scenery, the peacefulness and just the shingwedzi feel will mak it worthwhile.

Enjoy

you have to go to redrocks and to tshanga lookout, when at shingwedzi !
keep your eye out for sharpes grysbok, they are as common as steenbok up in the north.
the red rocks route should deliver a leopard , if not ..then you drove past it without seeing it