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Shingwedzi

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“Strong enough to meet your needs”

Shingwedzi lies in the northern part of the Kruger National Park in the heart of mopane country. A scenic game drive along the Shingwedzi River in a south-easterly direction towards the Kanniedood Dam is one of the most rewarding drives in the Park. Waterbuck, nyala, kudu and elephant are often seen here and the bird life is prolific. Staying overnight at Shingwedzi is an experience that will last a lifetime. It is a rustic camp that still carries the essence of the bush and is untouched by modern technology. Experience magical evenings where the accommodation is arranged in two separate circles and the glow emanating from braai (barbecue) stands cast a tranquil spell.

5 Things to seek

  1. Giant Eagle Owl
  2. Elephant
  3. African Rock Python
  4. Spotted Hyena
  5. Green Pigeon

Shingwedzi Contact Information

Tel: +27 (0)13 735 6806/7
Fax: +27 (0)13 735 6832

Mobile: 082 889 4376

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Accommodation

Campsites

• 50 x tent or caravan sites, with power point and rotating braai (barbeque) grids. Communal ablutions and cooking facilities (24-hour boiling water, electric hotplates and washing up facilities). Maximum of 6 persons per site.

Huts

• 12 x 3-bed rustic units with communal ablution facilities. There are no cooking utensils, crockery or cutlery, but a communal kitchen with scullery and electric hotplate stoves is available. A small fridge can be found on the little veranda. There is no air-conditioning.

Bungalows

• 18 x 2-bed units with communal kitchen. Bungalows are equipped with ablutions (most with showers, but some with baths), toilet and wash basin. All bungalows have air-conditioning. A limited number of fully equipped utensil boxes (cutlery, crockery, glasses and frying pan) are available for hire. Contact reception upon check-in.
• 18 x 2-bed modern units (one room with 2 single beds). Bungalows each have an open air kitchen with cooker top, combined fridge/freezer and fully equipped with cutlery, crockery and utensils. All units have air conditioning.
• 28 x 5-bed units (1 room with 3 single beds and 2 single beds in loft) with kitchens. Bungalows are equipped with toilet, a shower and wash basin. All bungalows are equipped with air-conditioning.
• 2 x 2-bed unit (one with a double bed). Equipped with en-suite bathroom containing shower, toilet and wash basin. Bungalows each have an open-air kitchen with cooker top, combined fridge/freezer and are fully equipped with cutlery, crockery and utensils.

Cottage

• 1 x 4-bed unit, (1 room with double bed and 1 with 2 single beds), fully equipped with 2 bathrooms, (1 en-suite) kitchen and air-conditioning. The open air kitchen has a cooker plate, dining room/lounge and outside braai facility, fridge/freezer combination, sink, cooking utensils, crockery and cutlery. The cottage is not equipped with a microwave oven.

Guest House

• This is a large luxury unit in prime position with a riverside view. It is well–equipped with kitchen (with microwave oven), 3 bedrooms and bathrooms. Limited channel DSTV television is provided. There are also communal braai (barbecue) facilities.

Rentmeester: Sleeps 8, with 3 bedrooms, (2 bedrooms with double bed, 1 bedroom with 2 single beds and a double sleeper couch in the lounge).

Accommodation at Shingwedzi Rest Camp caters to a variety of guest requirements and is well suited for those guests that are looking for a self-catering bushveld experience. Why rush? Stay longer!

To view the accommodation prices, refer to Tariffs

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Activities

  • Guided Bush Walks
  • Game Drives (in the company of trained field guides)
  • Bush Breakfast and Bush Braai (Barbecue). Includes game drive to venue. Confirm availability when booking.
  • Kanniedood Bird Hide (located about 7 km east of the camp)
  • Ntishivana Bird Hide (located about 30 km east of the camp)
  • Northern Plains 4 x 4 Adventure Trail (weather sensitive activity)
  • Wildlife films on the big screen (every evening except Sundays)

These activities will ensure an exciting bush experience. All bookings, as well as further details for these activities are available from reception.

Facilities

  • Information at Reception
  • Public Telephone
  • Post Box
  • Restaurant
  • Cafeteria
  • Shop
  • Laundromat
  • Filling Station (cash and garage cards only)
  • Communal Kitchens
  • Communal Ablutions
  • Swimming Pool
  • Cutlery and Plates Hampers (from Reception)
  • Basic First Aid Assistance
  • Day Visitors Picnic Area
  • DSTV (limited channels) only available in Guest House
  • Cell phone reception

 

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How to get there

Travel routes and times from central Gauteng

Punda Maria Gate

Take the N1 to Polokwane (Pietersburg). At Makhado (Louis Trichard) link up with the R524 and follow this route for ±140 km. That will take you to the gate. Allow between 5 to 6 hours for the trip to the gate. Shingwedzi Rest Camp is 71 km away from the gate. Allow about 3 hours for the drive to the camp, however if you want to enjoy the game viewing possibilities give yourself time!

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Camp Layout

View Bigger Size | Map Legend

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Tariffs

Tariffs from 1 November 2008 to 31 August 2009
Unit type
No. of units
Rate
Base
Max. beds
Add. Adult
Add. Child

50

R130

1–2

6 people per site

R42

R21

12

R270

1-2

3 single beds

R84

R42

14

R505

1-2

2 single beds

n/a

n/a

24

R540

1-2

3 single beds with 2 mattresses in loft

R124

R62

4

R540

1-2

3 single beds with 2 mattresses in loft

R124

R62

2

R540

1-2

1 double bed

n/a

n/a

22

R555

1-2

2 single beds

n/a

n/a

1

R745

1-4

1 double bed and 2 single beds

n/a

n/a

1

R2 020

1-4

1 kingsize bed, 4 single beds, 1 double sleeper couch

R370

R185

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Vital Information

Warnings

Please ensure that your stay is happy and safe by taking note of a few simple warnings. You will be sharing your stay with many exciting and unusual creatures but without knowledge some of them could be dangerous:

If you must walk around at night please DO NOT DO SO WITHOUT A TORCH.

Remember: by feeding any wildlife, you are signing their death warrant as they become aggressive!

Climate

Kruger is in a summer rainfall area. Such precipitation is usually convectional and can result in heavy downpours. The summer months (October to April) are hot and often balmy. Winters are warm and mild, although visitors going on night-drives will require warm clothing.

Day visitors

Shingwedzi has a designated day visitor area where day visitors and visitors from other camps can braai (barbecue) and picnic. This area is immediately to one’s left as one enters the camp gate. The area overlooks the Shingwedzi River and is connected to the main reception/restaurant block by a wooden bridge. There is also a picnic site at Babalala about 30 km north of Shingwedzi.

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Flora and Fauna

Mammals

Game can be sparse in the stretches of Mopani Shrubveld in the region, but the alluvial plains in the immediate vicinity of the Shingwedzi River tend to be very productive. Impala, kudu, duiker, bushbuck, nyala and Sharpe’s grysbok are browsers to be searched for, while buffalo and waterbuck are the most common grazing species. Elephant, baboon and vervet monkey are all prominent as are tree squirrels, especially in the camp itself. Predators include lion, leopard and spotted hyena and there are a couple of packs of wild dog that roam these northern reaches of the Kruger National Park.

There are open plains north of Babalala Picnic Site where cheetah are regularly recorded. This is a good place to search for the rare large antelope species: roan, sable, tsessebe, eland and Lichtenstein’s hartebeest.

Vegetation

The camp itself is in riverine vegetation with large trees along the riveredge. Immediately adjacent to the river, are alluvial planes created by centuries of flooding. There is thus less dense vegetation and sparser grass. Transvaal mustard trees and weeping boer-bean are prominent, and sausage tree, Natal mahogany, and brack thorn should also be seen. As one moves away from the river the vegetation changes to Mopane shrub punctuated by apple-leaf.

For more birding information and park bird checklist, go to Information for Birders

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Birding in Shingwedzi

Shingwedzi has abundant bird-life and, aside from the ubiquitous squabble of hornbills, starlings, weavers and Mourning Doves, the camp is a good place to see Bennett’s Woodpecker, Natal Robin, European Hobby (hawking prey at dusk in summer), Grey Penduline Tit, Dusky and Village Indigobird (Black and Steelblue Widowfinch) and AfricanScops-Owl (at night). Verreaux’s (Giant) Eagle Owl is also regularly seen in the large riverine trees on the road approaching the camp. One should keep a careful lookout for Bathawk. Although not easy to see, they are around and the lucky birder could see them catching bats and swifts at dusk. In summer Eurasian Hobby do the same thing. The highwater bridge is a good potential vantage point, while they can also be seen along Kanniedood Dam.  

There was great excitement in 1995 when Collared Palm Thrush was recorded in the camp. It has subsequently been recorded every year and quite possibly breeds.

Downstream from the rest camp Kanniedood Dam hosts many interesting species. Storks (Open-billed, Yellow-billed, Saddle-billed and Wooly-necked) are prominent. The hide is a good spot to see Black Crake and African Jacana at close quarters. White-winged Tern has also been recorded on the dam. In summer a bit of luck may offer birders the chance to compare the rare Dwarf Bittern with the common Green-backed Heron.

Yellow-billed Oxpecker is being recorded more regularly in the Shingwedzi area since their recolonisation of the Park. Check buffalo in particular for this species. Broad-billed Roller, Mosque Swallow and Dusky Lark (summer) are other species that should be searched for in the Shingwedzi area.

(Compiled by Chris Patton , with input from Nic Squires, Ian Whyte , Hein Grobler , Andrew Deacon , Errol Pietersen, and several other birder both staff and public)

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People with disabilities

Please see additional information on Wheelchair Accessibility

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