Shingwedzi
Guide to accommodation in the greater Kruger Park area
Shingwedzi Main Camp
Location in Kruger Park
Kruger National Park
Shingwedzi Main Camp
Shingwedzi lies in the northern part of the 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.
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 park. There are some open plains north of Babalala picnic site where cheetah are regularly recorded and this is a good place to search for the rare large antelope species of roan, sable, tsessebe, eland and Liechtenstein’s hartebeest.
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, Black and Steelblue Widowfinch and Scops Owl (at night). Cutthroat Finch has been recorded in camp near the swimming pool. 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. 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 (Openbilled, Yellowbilled, Saddlebilled and Woolynecked) are prominent. The hide is a good spot to see Black Crake and African Jacana at close quarters. Whitewinged 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 Greenbacked Heron. Yellowbilled Oxpecker is being recorded more regularly in the Shingwedzi area since their recolonisation of the Park. Check buffalo in particular for this species. Arnot’s Chat, Broadbilled Roller, Mosque Swallow and Dusky Lark (summer) are other species that should be searched for in the Shingwedzi area.
The camp itself is in riverine vegetation with large trees along the riveredge. Immediately adjacent 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.
Accommodation at Shingwedzi
Guest House
- Rentmeester: 8-bed (2 x double beds, 2 x single beds and a double sleeper couch).
Fully equipped, en-suite bathrooms with riverside view.
Cottage
4-bed unit, with 2 bathrooms, kitchen and dining room/lounge and 1 double bed.
Bungalows
2-bed rooms have with no kitchen and 2 of these units have double beds.
5-bed rooms with 2 beds in the loft.
Bungalows equipped with ablutions (most with showers, but some with baths), some units with air-conditioning, some have both hotplates and sinks, some only have sinks. You have a choice of kitchenette or communal kitchen.
Huts
24 x 3-bed rooms with communal ablutions and kitchen.
Campsites
Tent or caravan sites, with power point, communal ablutions and cooking facilities, maximum of 6 persons per site.
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.
Facilities
- Information at Reception
- Public Telephones
- Post Box
- ATM in shop
- Basic First Aid Assistance
- Inyati Restaurant
- Cafeteria
- Shop
- Cutlery and Crockery Hamper
- Emergency Road Service
- Petrol Station
- Laundromat
- DSTV only Available in Guest Houses
- Communal Kitchens
- Conference facilities
- Picnic Facilities
- Swimming Pool
Activities
- Kanniedood Bird Hide
- Morning and sunset Drives
- Night Drive
- Morning and day walks
- Ntishivana Bird Hide
- Wildlife Film Shows
These activities will ensure an exciting bush experience. All bookings as well as further details for these activities are available from reception.
Extra Information
- Plan your trip – do not try and cover too great a distance. Kruger is a massive tract of land and frequently visitors try to cover too much ground. Slow travel and regular stopping produces much more action than covering a lot of ground.
- Early mornings and evening time are usually the most productive game viewing periods.
- Remember to bring a camera, binoculars, bird and wildlife reference books, a hat and sunscreen lotion. Also remember to take along medicines such as anti-histamine and lotion for insect stings and bites.
- Do not leave any food unattended, as thieving monkeys and baboons are a constant threat.
- The speed limit is 50 km/h on tar and 40 km/h on gravel.
- Visitors are not permitted to leave their vehicle other than at designated get out points and rest camps.
- Pets are not permitted in a national park.
- Firearms must be declared at the entrance gate and sealed. The seal will be broken upon departure.
- Open vehicles must obtain the necessary permit.
- Feeding of the animals is strictly prohibited for yours and the animal’s safety and well-being.
- Kruger is a malaria zone. See Malaria Map / Info for further details.
Climate
Kruger Park lies in a summer rainfall area with possible downpours occurring later in the day. The summer months (October to April) are hot. Winter’s are warm and mild, with very cool evenings.
Gate Hours
| Gate Times | Nov-Jan | Feb | Mar & Oct | Apr | May-July | Aug-Sept |
| Park Gates Open | 05:30 | 05:30 | 05:30 | 06:00 | 06:00 | 06:00 |
| Camp Gates Open | 04:30 | 05:30 | 05:30 | 06:00 | 06:00 | 06:00 |
| Park& Camp Gates Close | 18:30 | 18:30 | 18:00 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 18:00 |
