Skukuza Rest Camp

Skukuza is the largest rest camp in the Kruger National Park and the park's administrative heart, set on the southern bank of the Sabie River in the game-rich south. Its riverine setting, shaded by sycamore figs, jackalberries and Natal mahogany, draws a steady parade of wildlife, and all of the Big Five are regularly seen in the surrounding bushveld. The Sabie riverfront is a fine place to watch hippo and buffalo in the early morning, while warthog, vervet monkey and bushbaby are residents of the camp itself.

As the park's main hub, Skukuza is unusually well equipped for a bush camp. There is a restaurant and deli overlooking the river, a well-stocked shop, two swimming pools, a golf course, the Stevenson-Hamilton Memorial Library and the nearby Lake Panic bird hide. A range of accommodation suits most travellers, from rondavels and family cottages to larger riverside units.

Skukuza is reached by road through the Paul Kruger Gate, about 12km away, or the Phabeni Gate, roughly a five to six hour drive from Gauteng. For a quicker arrival, Skukuza Airport receives daily scheduled flights from Johannesburg and Cape Town.