Overview
Bateleur is located on the banks of the Mashokwe spruit about 40 km south west of Shingwedzi rest camp among the Mopane and Woodland savannah of the Kruger National Park. This bush camp is the oldest and the smallest of the five bush-veld camps found in KNP. It is also popular due to the two nearby water holes which provide excellent game viewing.
The camp is named after the Bateleur eagle, which is often seen circling in the sky overhead, and provides a unique atmosphere and superb game viewing. One of the most popular features is the game-viewing hide that overlooks a waterhole just outside the camp. The two dams found in the area are the Silwervis and Rooibosrand and are also in close vicinity of the camp. Only residents staying at Bateleur Bush Camp have access to the dams which ensures that there will never be a traffic jam even if the camp is full.
Why would you want to visit Bateleur Bush Camp?
Spending a few days in the Bateleur bush-veld camp provides a true African experience like few others and is definitely something to add to your safari vacation.
While most guests prefer to stay in one of the main rest camps, there are those who prefer the rustic, and often far quieter and undisturbed stay of one of the bush-veld camps. Most of these camps offer more luxurious self-catering accommodation. Unlike the case with satellite camps, guests in the bush-veld camps will not have to share an ablution or cooking facilities.
In total, there are five bush-veld camps found in KNP. They do not have a shop so guests need to make sure they bring enough meats and whatever perishables they need for their stay. These camps are also ideal for anyone looking to enjoy a private safari trip or a romantic break in the KNP.
Each of these bush-veld camps are situated within easy reach of the larger rest camps so that guests can make use of the larger camps’ amenities if needed.
As with the satellite camps Bateleur bush-veld camp, named after the Bateleur eagle, does not have much of a history. As Kruger Park provides a safe haven for the Bateleur eagle, so will the bush atmosphere of the camp uplift your spirits and restore your soul.
Bateleur bush-veld camp was created as a luxury, private bushveld retreat, offering guests a uniquely quiet atmosphere and plenty of game viewing opportunities. The game viewing hide as well as the two private viewing dams is some of the reasons why this camp is so popular. It is the idyllic destination for those wanting to get away from it all and guests will leave this camp feeling revitalized.
Bateleur is a private bush-veld camp, meaning only residents are allowed in the camp as well as on the access roads to Bateleur.
Going out on an open vehicle safari is the preferred way to see animals but the best way to spot animals in Bateleur is from the game viewing hide or simply stopping at one of the two dams, knowing that it will not be crowded by other guests visiting the park.
The camp also delivers great bird watching opportunities as it provides a walking route on the inside perimeters of the camp. You will get a general offering of fauna and flora and being close to animals that you might catch a glimpse of on the other side of the electrified fence.
Where is Bateleur located?
Bateleur bush-veld camp is situated in the northern part of the KNP, about 140 km from the Phalaborwa entrance gate. The GPS coordinates for the camp is S 23 14′ 3″ E 31 12′ 8″.
How to get to Bateleur
Travelling time from Johannesburg to the closest entrance gate at Phalaborwa by car is at least six to seven hours.
From the central parts of Gauteng take the N1 toll-road to Polokwane. About 40 km before you reach Polokwane turn right onto the R71 and head for Tzaneen. From Tzaneen, you head towards Phalaborwa and the entrance gate. Bateleur bush-veld camp is about 140 km away from the gate. You need approximately 4 hours to reach the bush camp, but to really experience the bush it is advisable that you give yourself more time. The closest main camp to Bateleur is Shingwedzi which is about 40 km away.
You can also travel by air and the closest airport to Bateleur is the Phalaborwa Kruger Park Gateway Airport, which is 4 kilometres outside the Phalaborwa entrance gate to KNP. The airport serves domestic flights from Johannesburg and is equipped with car hire facilities.
A map of KNP can be bought at the entrance gates or any of the camps in the park.
Be aware of the gate times for entering and departing from the park. It is as follows:
Entrance gates:
- January, February, November and December – gates open at 05:30 and close at 18:30
- March and October – gates open at 05:30 and close at 18:00.
- April, August, and September – gates open at 06:00 and close at 18:00.
- May, June, and July – gates open at 06:00 and close at 17:30.
Bateleur’s gates open and close at the same times as the entrance gates, except for January, November and December when the camp gates open as early as 04:30.
What to do while staying at Bateleur.
Since Bateleur is a bush-veld camp that does not have the normal activities offered in the main camps, guests can only opt for guided bush walks or game drives. All bookings and further details for these activities are available from reception.
Guided bush walks will ensure a truly bush adventure accompanied by trained field guides with backup rifles. Groups are usually not bigger than 8 people walking in the bush for a few hours on their South African safari.
Game drives can be booked for sunrise or sunset. Night drives enable you to take part in the nocturnal activities of Kruger’s secretive creatures, in the company of experienced guides and trackers.
Various open vehicle safari operators are available to book a trip with. They offer affordable yet exclusive safari trips for singles, couples, families with children or small private groups.
What to watch out for when staying at Bateleur
Staying at Bateleur is an exciting experience and guests will experience the flora and fauna that this area firsthand.
Bateleur offers a number of unique attractions such as a game-viewing hide that overlooks a waterhole just outside the camp. The two dams, Silvervis and Rooibosrand are within close range of the camp and are restricted to the residents of Bateleur. Silvervis, especially, boasts a large variety of birdlife, as well as other wildlife such as crocodiles, hippopotamus, nyala, and bushbuck. It also has a resident leopard that is often spotted at the dam.
The nearby Nshawu pans are also an excellent area to see game such as blue wildebeest, Burchell’s zebra, buffalo and the rarer tsessebe. Black-backed jackal and caracal are some of the smaller more unusual species to look out for.
Birdlife in the area includes African Spoonbill, Yellowbilled Stork, African Fish Eagle, Whitefaced Duck, Knobbilled Duck as well as the Greenshank.
The vegetation of the area boast Natal mahogany, brack thorn mustard tree, sausage tree, apple leaf, mixed bushwillow, silver cluster leaf, round leafed teak, buffalo thorn, sycamore fig, magic guarri, marula, jackalberry, leadwood, mopane, wilddate palm, weeping boer bean, reeds and mixed acacias.
Being close to water resources means you should probably see animals of all kinds.
What type of accommodation does Bateleur offer and what amenities/facilities are available at the camp?
Bateleur provides luxury guest cottages as the only lodging type for singles, couples, and families with children.
Availability changes from day to day and all inquiries about general availability are subject to change without notice. Last minute reservations in less than 31 days prior to arrival date, are payable within 24 hours after receiving a confirmed provisional reservation via e-mail.
Your booking is only guaranteed once you receive a provisional reservation confirmation and to secure your reservation full pre-payment is required a.s.a.p.
Most visitors to KNP prefer staying in a cottage, bungalow or guest house, especially in the northern parts of the park where it can get very hot and humid in the summer months. This type of accommodation is usually cooler than a tent and offers more comfort than the basic huts.
Bateleur bush-veld camp is the best equipped of the bush-veld camps in the KNP and is suited for those who are looking for a luxury bush-veld experience. Lodging is provided in the form of 3 guest cottages with six beds each and a further four cottages with four beds each. All the cottages are fully equipped. Most of the bedrooms have en-suite bathrooms and each bedroom has an air-conditioner or a ceiling fan. The kitchens are also fully equipped and include microwave ovens.
The units are supplied with linen, towels, and soap and serviced daily. There is a private braai facility and each unit has a television with SABC 1, 2, 3 and e-TV channels.
At Bateleur the following facilities are available:
- Information at Reception
- Public telephones
- Mini shop that stocks basic items such as firewood, ice and Telkom phone cards, but no perishable foodstuffs such as meat
- No ATM facility
- Conference facilities for 30 persons in lecture configuration
- Available equipment includes projection screen, white board, TV with DSTV, video recorder, overhead projector and slide projector
- Boma braai with DSTV – guests supplies their own food and drinks.
For any other basic items guest make use of the shop at Shingwedzi rest camp which is about 40 km away. It has a restaurant, cafeteria and a fully stocked shop with fresh produce and meat.
What do you need to know and bring for a safe and comfortable stay at the Bateleur?
Plan properly for your stay at Bateleur to make it a relaxed trip and stay. Bookings need to be done well in advance from your planned date of arrival. KNP is a popular game reserve and bookings is not readily available, especially in the holiday season and during the winter months.
Bateleur does not offer any bed and breakfast facilities and guests must bring their own food and drinks. Meals can be bought at the restaurant and the shop at Shingwedzi rest camp that provides most items that will be needed on a daily basis.
Most parts of the KNP is situated well within a malaria area. This is much more than just an unpleasant illness but can be fatal if left untreated. Since it is being spread by mosquitoes, the best way to avoid getting sick is to prevent the mosquitos to bite you.
You can avoid mosquito bites if you take the necessary steps, such as wearing long sleeves and trousers in the evening, using a reputable kind of insect repellent.
The best way to totally avoid a malaria scare is to get the necessary preventative medication prescribed by your doctor before journeying into the African bush.
Although it is basically impossible for larger, more dangerous animals to enter the camp, it is best to always be alert. Nocturnal animals like the civet, porcupines, and others are frequent visitors.
Ensure your stay is happy and safe by taking note of a few simple warnings. You will be sharing your stay with many unusual and dangerous creatures, such as bats, spiders, snakes, scorpions, to mention but a few, and without knowledge some of them could be dangerous.
If you must walk around at night, please do not do so without a torch. Although there is streetlights, it is not very bright and only along the footpaths.
Under no circumstances are you allowed to feed the animals. By feeding any wildlife, you are signing their death warrant as they become lazy and do not seek for food themselves which can cause them to starve. Some also become aggressive.
When to visit Bateleur
The best time of the year to make your trip to Bateleur in the KNP is either early spring or late autumn. Kruger is a summer rainfall area and such precipitation is usually convectional and can result in heavy downpours.
The hot summer months from October to April can make any safari tour unpleasant. Unfortunately, Bateleur does come with swimming pool.
The winters are warm and mild during the day and can sometimes be quite cold at night. If you are planning a trip to KNP in the winter that include a night-drive be sure to pack warm clothing that include a warm jacket, beanie, scarf and gloves.
Even animals sometimes shy away from the heat. During the summer months they tend to look for shade during the hottest time of the day and is not always easy to spot, especially since the bush is very dense.
During the winter months, wildlife tend to stay in the vicinity of water sources and can often be seen at the watering holes, rivers and dams. The bush is also less dense, and animals are spotted more easily than during the summer months.
FAQs
Where is Bateleur located?
The Bateleur camp is located about 140 km from the Phalaborwa entrance gate in the northern part of the KNP.
What to expect and look out for when staying at the Bateleur camp?
There are organized activities like morning, sunset or night game drives and guided walks offered from Bateleur. Guests can sit at the game-viewing hide just outside of the camp or at the two private dams that are exclusively for use of guest at the camp. You can also walk the perimeter trail of the camp spotting birds and wildlife.
At the hide and the dams you may see animals of all kinds, from elephant, buffalo, hippo, crocodile, leopard, caracal, black-backed jackal and hyena, to antelope and smaller mammals like the rare tsessebe.
What facilities are provided at Bateleur and what do you need to bring along?
All cottages is equipped with linen, towels, and soap. They also have fully equipped kitchens and braai facilities. All you need to bring is your own food, insect repellent, camera, binoculars, and torch.
The camp has a mini shop on the premises that provide basic everyday items but not perishable foodstuff like meats. If you prefer you can buy meals or grocery items at the restaurant and shop at Shingwedzi. There is cell phone signal at the camp, but no petrol station, swimming pool, laundry facilities, or an ATM.
When is the best time to visit Bateleur?
The best times of the year to stay at Bateleur is during early spring or late autumn, when temperatures are mostly pleasant, and water is scarce in the veld, so more animals may come for a drink in the dam.
Is there a swimming pool in the Bateleur Camp?
No, there is no swimming pool in the Camp.
Is there a restaurant in the Bateleur Bushveld Camp?
No, there is no restaurant in the Bateleur Camp.
Is there a shop in the Bateleur Bushveld Camp?
No, there is no shop in the Bateleur Camp.
What to do around the Bateleur Bushveld Camp?
Bateleur Camp offers many attractions such as a game-viewing hide that overlooks a waterhole just outside the camp. Night drives enable you to take part in the nightlife of Kruger Park’s nocturnal creatures, in the company of experienced transportation guides and trackers.
What is the closest gate to the Bateleur Bushveld Camp?
The Phalaborwa gate is the closest entrance gate to the camp.
Is there WiFi Connection at the Bateleur Camp?
No, there is no WiFi Connection at the camp.
