Satara Rest Camp is a popular place to visit in Kruger National Park. There are a lot of activities which are run from the camp and it’s central location make it a handy starting out point.
If the rest camp is your first stop in Kruger National Park and you want to get there by the most direct route, the closest park entrance gate is Orpen Gate, 48km (30 miles) away.
Places to Stay In
If you’re thinking of booking into the camp, the following types of accommodation are available to choose from:
- Camp sites
- Bungalows
- Cottages
- Guest houses
Activities
If you’re staying at the camp, there’s a variety of activities on offer, all of which are led by park rangers:
- Morning game walks
- Morning, sunset and night game drives
- Bush breakfasts and bush braais (BBQs)
There are also wildlife films shown most evenings during the week.
It’s also possible to arrange for a catered traditional dance, but this does need to be organised with the rest camp in advance.
In addition, the rest camp is the departure point for the 4×4 Mananga Adventure Trail. It’s a self-drive route on gravel roads and is 48km (30 miles) long, going through the nearby savannah.
The Sweni Wilderness Trail also leaves from the rest camp. This is a four-day hiking trail where a small group is led by rangers through the bush.
Lunching
Lots of people stop at the rest camp for lunch, eating at the cafe or making their own lunch at the lovely picnic area. Start your own BBQ or hire a skottel braai (portable gas cooking plate) to make a hot meal. If you need to buy any supplies for your BBQ, such as meat and firewood, the rest camp shop sells basic groceries.
If you wanted to stop for lunch near the camp, but not at it, there are four picnic spots in the vicinity:
- Muzandzeni – 24km (15 miles) to the south-west
- N’wanetsi – 25km (15.5 miles) to the west
- Timbavati – 17km (11 miles) to the north-west
- Tshokwane – about half way to Skukuza Rest Camp
Webcam
The rest camp is also home to one of the two Kruger National Park webcams. It broadcasts images of a water trough 24 hours a day to the internet and you can see which animals come there to drink.
Southernmost Baobab Tree
25km (15.5 miles) south of the rest camp is one of Kruger National Park’s big features – the southernmost naturally occurring baobab tree.
To get to the tree, drive on the main road south, then take the sign-posted turnoff. This secondary road is quite sandy, so the road may be too boggy for regular cars in very wet weather.
With so much to do, you should have a fun-filled safari staying at this rest camp!