You will have a wonderful time
Punda Maria Rest Camp
Moderators: RosemaryH, lion queen, Crested Val
The camp is wonderful. At the communal braai area look out for Genet and Giant Rat that i have regulally seen there. Birding in the camp is awesome. Listen for the melodious beautiful call of the Yellow Spotted Nicator. In December I saw 3 different Sharp's Grysbok on Mohonie loop within an hour....
Enjoy.....
Enjoy.....
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wildtuinman
- Legendary Virtual Ranger
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The Mahonie loop is a must for the resident leopard. It is seen there almost daily. I saw it taking down something small last year. The grass was too long to identify the prey.
Pafuri is the place to be without must doubt. The flycatcher trail isjust behind the admin and restaurant buildings. It is a short walk and is very good for birding. There is a place to sit down right next to the fence. Sit there for 30mins or so and just be quiet and listen to the sounds of birds.
Also visit the the dam (What's the name again?) on your way to Pafuri just before u hit the H1-8. It is excellent for African Jacanas and lions also frequently visit. The Mahonie loop is also a good place to spot buffalo and trumpeter hornbill - listen out for their baby crying like call.
GP I know u want to manage the picnic spot at pafuri but sorry, rather just go and enjoy it as a tourist.
Look out for the pel's fishing owl there and ask the picnic spot attendent for where it was lat seen. Also remember to ask him for the crested guinefowl (also to be found in Punda self).
Also visit crooks corner and the Pafuri border police station.
Take a dirve on the Nyala road. Just enjoy the nyalas and the sounds of birds! It is unforgetable. There is also a toilet there in the foilage so you can have a couple of drinks.
ps: don't forget to take a pic of the baobab on baobab hill. I wish I was you guys. It is my favoutrite place in the Park!
Pafuri is the place to be without must doubt. The flycatcher trail isjust behind the admin and restaurant buildings. It is a short walk and is very good for birding. There is a place to sit down right next to the fence. Sit there for 30mins or so and just be quiet and listen to the sounds of birds.
Also visit the the dam (What's the name again?) on your way to Pafuri just before u hit the H1-8. It is excellent for African Jacanas and lions also frequently visit. The Mahonie loop is also a good place to spot buffalo and trumpeter hornbill - listen out for their baby crying like call.
GP I know u want to manage the picnic spot at pafuri but sorry, rather just go and enjoy it as a tourist.
Look out for the pel's fishing owl there and ask the picnic spot attendent for where it was lat seen. Also remember to ask him for the crested guinefowl (also to be found in Punda self).
Also visit crooks corner and the Pafuri border police station.
Take a dirve on the Nyala road. Just enjoy the nyalas and the sounds of birds! It is unforgetable. There is also a toilet there in the foilage so you can have a couple of drinks.
ps: don't forget to take a pic of the baobab on baobab hill.
I wish I was you guys. It is my favoutrite place in the Park!Latest lifers (691): Lesser Yellowlegs, Red-throated Pipit, Spur-winged Lapwing, Broad-billed Sandpiper, Racket-tailed Roller, Mottled Spinetail, Eurasian Curlew, Red Knot, Boulder Chat
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Laine
- Virtual Ranger
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- Joined: Mon Jan 24, 2005 4:12 pm
- Location: what does spinning mean? :-|
AAHHH... GP, Punda/Pafuri what a place!!!
The flycatcher trail is really something...esp now that u are a birder.... the atmosphere is amazing in there and becuz its not that busy a camp u are more then likely going to be the only people doing the trail...
You just have to have breakfast at Pafuri...that is an absolute must!!!
The Fever Tree Forest.... Crookes Corner...... Mahonie Loop..... all are a must!!
Certain areas mentioned above sometimes make u feel like u arnt even in the Kruger...its just so different from the rest of the park!!
ENJOY!!!
The flycatcher trail is really something...esp now that u are a birder.... the atmosphere is amazing in there and becuz its not that busy a camp u are more then likely going to be the only people doing the trail...
You just have to have breakfast at Pafuri...that is an absolute must!!!
The Fever Tree Forest.... Crookes Corner...... Mahonie Loop..... all are a must!!
Certain areas mentioned above sometimes make u feel like u arnt even in the Kruger...its just so different from the rest of the park!!
ENJOY!!!
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Bushbaby
- Junior Virtual Ranger
- Posts: 65
- Joined: Wed Dec 15, 2004 10:22 pm
- Location: Shoulder to the wheel, nose to the grindstone...
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GP you lucky fish, don't forget the Dzundzwini Loop and lookout - my favourite road. The dam WTM was talking about is the Klopperfontein dam. We saw suni on our trip in March. Look out for the different types of parrots you can hear them calling on the Mahonie loop.
Have fun
Have fun
Not all who wander are lost.
J.R.R. Tolkien
J.R.R. Tolkien
saraf wrote:I swear I saw a Lichtensteins' Hartebeest although my SO has his doubts.
Very possible. I got to see my first Hartebeest on the Mahonie loop at Punda Maria last year.
"The measure of life is not its duration but its donation." - Peter Marshall
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Guinea Pig
- Distinguished Virtual Ranger
- Posts: 1847
- Joined: Sat Jan 29, 2005 12:52 pm
- Location: Parys (Free State)
Re: Punda Maria
Hi Spook!
First open this map. Right click on the Punda Area and enlarge as many times as is necessary.
In the top right hand corner in the area marked N - there are routes marked 2 and 5 - that's Nyala Drive. You usually find these antelope there, that's where the name comes from.
In the top right hand corner in the area marked M - the road gollowing the Limpopo river at the top makes a curve downwards - Crook's corner is on the extreme top right of the corner. It's the meeting place for 3 countries - you are in South Africa, looking towards Zimbabwe on the opposite bank of the Limpopo River and Mozambique on your right.
The same road - S99 Official, Mahonie = Afrikaans word for Mahogany wood.
Zoom out again and find Punda Maria camp. Zoom in again until close enough. We're talking about the road running in a circle around the camp.
Same road as Nyala Drive mentioned first.
Have a fantastic trip!
First open this map. Right click on the Punda Area and enlarge as many times as is necessary.
spook wrote:Nyala Drive
In the top right hand corner in the area marked N - there are routes marked 2 and 5 - that's Nyala Drive. You usually find these antelope there, that's where the name comes from.
spook wrote:Crookes Cornor
In the top right hand corner in the area marked M - the road gollowing the Limpopo river at the top makes a curve downwards - Crook's corner is on the extreme top right of the corner. It's the meeting place for 3 countries - you are in South Africa, looking towards Zimbabwe on the opposite bank of the Limpopo River and Mozambique on your right.
spook wrote:S99
Mohonie Loop
The same road - S99 Official, Mahonie = Afrikaans word for Mahogany wood.
Zoom out again and find Punda Maria camp. Zoom in again until close enough. We're talking about the road running in a circle around the camp.
spook wrote:Njala Loop
Same road as Nyala Drive mentioned first.
Have a fantastic trip!
Last edited by Guinea Pig on Tue Jun 14, 2005 4:43 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Mahonie loop (S99) is the 18km gravel road that loops around Punda Maria camp.
Here we found elephant, kudu, Nyala, Bushbuck, buffalo, Impala and Hartebeest.
Nyala Road (S64) :
Instead of turning right onto the gravel road to Pafuri picnic spot turn left.
In my opinion the most beautiful road in the Park.
This road leads to the Thulamela Archeologically site.
Good place to spot Crested Guinea fowl.
Crooks Corner:
If you carry on past Pafuri picnic spot the road will eventually end up at Crook's Corner.
You will be looking at the Limpopo River that at that spot forms the border between South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
I have however still to see running water in the river there.
At most we have seen a few crocodile filled pools.
We never have much luck with animals on the Pafuri section but the birdlife makes up for it.
Here we found elephant, kudu, Nyala, Bushbuck, buffalo, Impala and Hartebeest.
Nyala Road (S64) :
Instead of turning right onto the gravel road to Pafuri picnic spot turn left.
In my opinion the most beautiful road in the Park.
This road leads to the Thulamela Archeologically site.
Good place to spot Crested Guinea fowl.
Crooks Corner:
If you carry on past Pafuri picnic spot the road will eventually end up at Crook's Corner.
You will be looking at the Limpopo River that at that spot forms the border between South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
I have however still to see running water in the river there.
At most we have seen a few crocodile filled pools.
We never have much luck with animals on the Pafuri section but the birdlife makes up for it.
"The measure of life is not its duration but its donation." - Peter Marshall
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bert
- Distinguished Virtual Ranger
- Posts: 14314
- Joined: Thu Jan 13, 2005 9:02 pm
- Location: mind in SA, body in The Netherlands
Just back from a 3 nights stay and Punda Maria 
Mahonieloop is a must.
One of my fav in the park
Lots of Nyala and kudu and the odd ellie and dagga boy
Klopperfontein dam is a must
Saw a lot of common duiker
I have been in the new tents.
Very nice and clever placed.
You wont notice that y have neighbours.
A real shower with glass panels
This is now one of my fav camps. Equels LS and Olifants
While being there for a few days you feel like family and start
to know everybody.
The food is very good and the chef cook a delightfull guy.
The guide, Leonard, goes out of his way to try to find
(in our case the regulair seen Leopard, which we did not find)
what the customers want to see. Knows his stuff.
After the nightdrive y can still eat at the restaurant if y gave
notice to do so.
And outside there are a few tables and if y want you can have a candlelight dinner.
And each night/early morning y hear the roar of lion(s).
Birding is very good.
(Only problem is that y can buy little food. Basic stuff. I would
advice to buy it at a bigger camp or outside Kruger.)
I want to go back
Mahonieloop is a must.
One of my fav in the park
Lots of Nyala and kudu and the odd ellie and dagga boy
Klopperfontein dam is a must
Saw a lot of common duiker
I have been in the new tents.
Very nice and clever placed.
You wont notice that y have neighbours.
A real shower with glass panels
This is now one of my fav camps. Equels LS and Olifants
While being there for a few days you feel like family and start
to know everybody.
The food is very good and the chef cook a delightfull guy.
The guide, Leonard, goes out of his way to try to find
(in our case the regulair seen Leopard, which we did not find)
what the customers want to see. Knows his stuff.
After the nightdrive y can still eat at the restaurant if y gave
notice to do so.
And outside there are a few tables and if y want you can have a candlelight dinner.
And each night/early morning y hear the roar of lion(s).
Birding is very good.
(Only problem is that y can buy little food. Basic stuff. I would
advice to buy it at a bigger camp or outside Kruger.)
I want to go back
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Guinea Pig
- Distinguished Virtual Ranger
- Posts: 1847
- Joined: Sat Jan 29, 2005 12:52 pm
- Location: Parys (Free State)
Was surprised at how busy it was! 
Fully booked. We found a site in the middle of the camp.
Lots of game in the area - for that, see the Recent Sightings thread.
Excellent birding inside the camp.
HUGE PLUSPOINT: The new birdhide in the camp. Whoever thought of that needs sommer 10 kudus! We saw some brilliant stuff there. Pics to follow.
The kids found the swimmingpool a bit cold - but used it anyway.
Nyala drive must be one of the most scenic routes in the entire park. Extremely dry though. Crook's Corner is a desert. Pic to follow.
I'm not crazy about Punda as a camp - it's too busy for such a small camp, but the area is absolutely brilliant.
Fully booked. We found a site in the middle of the camp.
Lots of game in the area - for that, see the Recent Sightings thread.
Excellent birding inside the camp.
HUGE PLUSPOINT: The new birdhide in the camp.
Whoever thought of that needs sommer 10 kudus! We saw some brilliant stuff there. Pics to follow.
The kids found the swimmingpool a bit cold - but used it anyway.
Nyala drive must be one of the most scenic routes in the entire park. Extremely dry though. Crook's Corner is a desert. Pic to follow.
I'm not crazy about Punda as a camp - it's too busy for such a small camp, but the area is absolutely brilliant.
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richardharris
- Junior Virtual Ranger
- Posts: 456
- Joined: Sun Sep 04, 2005 3:04 pm
- Location: Nottinghamshire UK
I think Punda is one of the nicest camps in the Park - though I do try to avoid SA holidays at all costs!
Fabulous scenery, excellent drives (up to Parfuri, Mahonie loop) and excellent morning walks. If there is a choice ask to walk from the Mahonie loop up to the Luvuvhu river - the scenery there is stunning.
Excellent restaurant with some of the nicest staff in the Park.
full size images on www.pbase.com/richardharris
Fabulous scenery, excellent drives (up to Parfuri, Mahonie loop) and excellent morning walks. If there is a choice ask to walk from the Mahonie loop up to the Luvuvhu river - the scenery there is stunning.
Excellent restaurant with some of the nicest staff in the Park.
full size images on www.pbase.com/richardharris
Early October 2005:
Punda Maria camp was really quiet.
About 6 camp sites were occupied.
If you are planning on camping at Punda take a 50m+ elec lead if you wish to camp at a spot of your choice and need electricity !
The camping area is not perfectly level.
A very short person designed the ablution area - the eves of the thatch area caused a few bumps on my 6ft+ SO's head if he forgot to duck when walking under them.
(I of course at 5ft2in fitted under fine )
Tall people also need to duck under the eves of the bird hide.
The bird hide is wonderful - as is camping along the fence.
Punda Maria camp was really quiet.
About 6 camp sites were occupied.
If you are planning on camping at Punda take a 50m+ elec lead if you wish to camp at a spot of your choice and need electricity !
The camping area is not perfectly level.
A very short person designed the ablution area - the eves of the thatch area caused a few bumps on my 6ft+ SO's head if he forgot to duck when walking under them.
(I of course at 5ft2in fitted under fine
) Tall people also need to duck under the eves of the bird hide.
The bird hide is wonderful - as is camping along the fence.
- Dalene
Some of the camping area beyond the pool is visible in this pic.
If you are looking for peace and quiet don't camp too close to the pool.
Even during our stay it was in use all the time and youngsters tend to be very noisy when enjoying a swim!
The water was really refreshing and we made good use of it to cool off during the heat of the day.
(Thanks to a fellow forumite for the hint to pack a swimming cozzie!)
If you are looking for peace and quiet don't camp too close to the pool.
Even during our stay it was in use all the time and youngsters tend to be very noisy when enjoying a swim!
The water was really refreshing and we made good use of it to cool off during the heat of the day.
(Thanks to a fellow forumite for the hint to pack a swimming cozzie!)
- Dalene
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Krokodile
- Junior Virtual Ranger
- Posts: 207
- Joined: Tue Dec 21, 2004 12:13 am
- Location: Wondering if I'll ever get back to SA!
We stayed in Safari Tent 5 - quite a walk up a boardwalk to get to the tent, and number 6 was even further up the hill. The view was, unfortunately of tents 1-3 although now the rains have come, I am sure they feel a little more secluded.
I reluctantly got into the pool at Punda, expecting it to be freezing cold, like some unheated suburban Highveld pool. It wasn't, and it was an absolute joy to sit in there with the Purple Crested Turaco's flitting overhead. The camp was fairly busy, but there was nobody else around the pool area, which made it even better.
Nothing to be seen at the bird hide, due to lack of water. How effective can it be when people can camp right next to it though?
I reluctantly got into the pool at Punda, expecting it to be freezing cold, like some unheated suburban Highveld pool. It wasn't, and it was an absolute joy to sit in there with the Purple Crested Turaco's flitting overhead. The camp was fairly busy, but there was nobody else around the pool area, which made it even better.
Nothing to be seen at the bird hide, due to lack of water. How effective can it be when people can camp right next to it though?