Talamati Camp is a bushveld camp in the central region of Kruger National Park close to Orpen Gate. The camp overlooks the dry riverbed of the Nwaswitsontso River.
Dry riverbeds can make for thoroughfares for animals, so if you’re staying at the rest camp, make sure you spend some time looking at the scene there.
Being a bushveld camp means that there’s no general store or a restaurant or cafe. If you’re staying there, you need to be prepared to self-cater.
If you need to top up on groceries before you get there, Orpen Rest Camp, just next to Orpen Gate, has a general store with a selection of groceries.
Otherwise, if the bushveld camp is your first stop in Kruger National Park and you need to get some groceries, plan ahead and buy some in one of the supermarkets in the towns just outside the park. You’ll have a better choice of things to get at these regular supermarkets compared to the game reserve’s general stores.
Furthermore, the bushveld camp doesn’t have a swimming pool, so no plunging in to cool off on those very hot and humid summer days.
Also, the camp’s only open to residents, so you can only go into it if you’re staying the night there. If you do stay there, it’ll be in a cottage, as this is the only type of accommodation available there.
As a bushveld camp resident, you’ll by able to enjoy the bird hide, which is a covered observation point that you can watch wildlife from. And remember, it’s also only open to people staying the night at the camp.
The hide is near an in-camp patch of wetland and overlooks a waterhole and dam. You may just see some animals come down there for a drink!
If you’re looking for an evening activity to do while you’re staying at the camp, try a sunset or night game drive. Book at the camp’s reception if you’d like to try one of these.
Alternatively, if you’re travelling with a big group, you could consider using the boma braai (central BBQ area under an open-sided thatched hut). However, cottage accommodation usually has a very nice setup of its own for barbecuing and you could easily be content to stick with using that.