You really can’t go wrong with any of the well-kept SANPARKS Restcamps in Kruger National Park. They all have lots of options from tent sites to large family sized cabins. I recommend reading the briefing on each camp to see what sort of wildlife is found in the area and choose based on that. My choice of Satara Restcamp was based on several trip reports of people saying they have seen Brown-headed Parrots in the camp.
LOCATION
Satara is pretty much right in the middle of Kruger National Park. The best access gate is Orpen Gate and you should try to make it through the gate by 3pm so you can enjoy a leisurely game drive enroute to the camp.
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AROUND THE CAMP
Our cabin circled in pink. The yellow circled areas I found especially good for birding. The green dot is where I saw the Brown-headed Parrot flying overhead. The yellow smudge down by the reception is where the Scops Owl lives.
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We had a fairly small cabin but it had everything we needed and I was really happy to be in the rear of the camp which is quieter and better for birding. No wifi, you should count on being off the grid while you are on safari!
The main restaurant is operated by a popular South African chain called Mugg and Bean’s. This was by far our favourite restaurant in the park, they had amazing variety that I never expected to find in a restcamp and the prices were very reasonable. I would compare them to a Chili’s in the USA only in a much nicer setting! There is a pizza takeaway just next to the Mugg and Bean’s.
Rules & Regulations are posted in several areas around the restcamp.
The gift shop is next to reception and the restaurant area and is very well-stocked. If you don’t have a birding guide book you can pick one up here. Of course my husband collects baseball caps with local motifs so he was in heaven!
The reception area is where you meet your guide for the night game drive and are shown to the vehicle. They also keep a list of interesting animal sightings so be sure to check it out before you drive off in the daytime.
We didn’t have time to use the pool but they do have one!
Next post will be about the birds found in this restcamp!