A wonderful trip with family - Paul's Dad first trip to SA with us - so very special. Our first trip to Buffalo Brooke - blown away!

Associated first and foremost with Elephant, the world's largest land mammal. Breeding herds of 50 to 60 animals are common in this region. During the 1970s and 1980s some of the Kruger National Park's biggest tuskers roamed the region. These elephants were named the Magnificent Seven, and one, Shingwedzi who died near the rest camp in 1981, carried tusks which weighed in at 47 and 58 Kg respectively. His tusks, as well as those of his fellow giants, can be viewed at Letaba Rest Camp. It still remains uncertain from where the name Shingwedzi is derived, but it is believed that the early Tsonga named the rivers of this area after prominent local people. Shingwedzi is said to be a combination of Shing-xa-goli, the name of a prominent person and 'njwetse', which describes the sound of iron being rubbed together.

The name of the rest camp was given in 1919 by the first ranger to be posted to the area, Captain JJ Coetser. He mistakenly named his post Punda Maria in the belief that this was the Swahili name for Zebra, the first big game he saw on arrival. The correct Swahili name is actually 'punda milia' (meaning Striped Donkey). When the error was pointed out to him, he chose to retain the name, in honour of his wife, Maria, who bore him 12 children. Many years later, Park officials corrected the name, and for a while, the rest camp was known as Punda Milia, but in 1981 it was changed back to the original 'Punda Maria'. When Captain Coetser was posted to Punda Maria Camp, his main aim was to curb ivory poaching. In the early 1900s, this region was the haunt of smugglers, poachers and hunters who based themselves in an assortment of derelict shacks at Crooks Corner, where the borders of South Africa, Mozambique (formerly Portuguese East Africa) and Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia) met at the confluence of the Limpopo and the Luvuvhu rivers. Fugitives from the law could just slip across one of the borders and take refuge in foreign territory when the authorities came searching for them. The hunters at Crooks Corner realized that they could supplement their income from ivory by recruiting labour for the Witwatersrand mines, and illegal trade in labour began. The government eventually put a stop to this and Wenela was given sole authority to recruit labour. The Wenela recruiting station now stands as a sombre reminder on the S63 loop near Pafuri.

Guests that visit Olifants will be exposed to an unforgettable window of Africa. The camp is situated a top a hill which towers several hundred feet over the Olifants river. Views from the lookout platforms allow one to see the river below, just as a soaring eagle would survey it, as it hunts from the skies.

Babalala picnic site holds a special place in our hearts because we have had some of our favourite ever cat sightings nearby this gorgeous spot. Cheetahs to the south and lions (twice) to the north. But the picnic spot itself isn’t too shabby either! Located north of Shingwedzi and very close to Sirheni, it’s popular enough that there’s likely to be 1-2 other groups sharing it with you (depending on the time) but big enough that you have your own space. A gorgeous mahogany tree forms the centre and there is a waterhole nearby but it depends on the length of the grass as to how well you can see it. We’ve seen the elusive Reedbuck here too. Toilets are well kept but don’t spend too long here lest you miss out on some truly amazing sightings on the H1-7 or S56! BYO.

Pafuri picnic site is the most northern picnic site in Kruger National Park. But it’s well worth the drive, because it is absolutely beautiful and in a stunning area of the park. If you are only visiting Kruger once you may not make it up here as the South tends to be the most popular area, but if you’re a semi-regular to Kruger and you haven’t ventured up this far it’s high time you do. Looking out over a river, this picnic spot is quiet, well-run and absolutely beautiful. And not far away you can visit Crook’s Corner, where South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe meet. Enjoy the baobabs, fever trees, elephants, hippos and crocs up in this neck of the woods. This is a total BYO picnic site but as with all, you can hire a gas cooker to cook your breakfast or lunch (as with all picnic sites).

On the banks of the Pioneer Dam in the Kruger National Park, lies it's best kept secret. Named after the mopane veld that surrounds the camp, Mopani Rest Camp nestles amongst the Mopani tree covered koppies. A signature feature is the huge gnarled old baobab tree in the heart of the camp. The vegetation inside the camp is left as found in the wild, adding to the unique atmosphere of the camp.