It is also common knowledge that many of the big tuskers, known as the Magnificent Seven, roamed the plains around Shingwedzi in the 1970s and 80s. One named Shingwedzi died close to the camp in 1981. His tusks, that weight 47 and 58 kg respectively, can be seen in the Elephant Museum at Letaba.
Kruger Park Travel
Shingwedzi Rest Camp
Overview
It is not clear where the camp got its name, and it is commonly accepted that the origin comes from the Tsonga tribe, who used to live in the area and named the rivers. Shingwedzi, together with the other camps in the northern part of KNP, is associated with elephant which remain one of the most commonly seen animals in this region. Huge breeding herds are often spotted close to the camp.
Staying in any of the camps of the KNP is a top experience where you can be guaranteed to see the Big 5. It is one of the more affordable safari vacations that you can book in South Africa.
The camp offers a variety of accommodation to choose from, and it also has a designated day visitor area where day visitors and visitors from other camps can braai (barbecue) and picnic.
Why would you want to visit Shingwedzi?
Spending a few days in the Shingwedzi camp provides a true African experience like few others and is definitely something to add to your safari vacation.
Shingwedzi rest camp in KNP is known as elephant and buffalo country and large herds are found in this area. If you take the 21 km sycamore-lined route that passes the old Kanniedood Dam, you will spot elephant, bushbuck, crocodile, hippopotamus, and even leopard. The area around the Shingwedzi River is strewn with mopane trees, and many animals are reliant on this tree for their survival.
This area is real bushveld, and many grazers are found close to the camp, including wildebeest, zebras, giraffes, impala, and warthog. Where you find grazers, you will find predators such as lions, cheetahs, leopards, and hyenas.
The camp offers 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 be close to animals that you might catch a glimpse of on the other side of the electrified fence.
Going out on an open-vehicle safari is the preferred way to see animals. Still, those who prefer could simply enjoy the relaxed atmosphere in front of the restaurant that overlooks the Shingwedzi River and watch animals come and go.
Where is Shingwedzi located?
Shingwedzi is situated in the northern part of the KNP. The closest entrance gate is at Punda Maria, 71 km away. The GPS coordinates for the camp are S 23 6′ 58″ E 31 25′ 57″.
How to get to Shingwedzi
Travelling time from Johannesburg to the closest entrance gate at Punda Maria by car is at least five to six hours.
Take the N1 to Polokwane and head on to Louis Trichardt, where you link up with the R524, which you follow for about 140 km to reach the Punda Maria entrance gate. Shingwedzi rest camp is 71 km away from the gate, and you should reach the camp within about 3 hours.
The closest airport is unfortunately at the Phalaborwa Kruger Park Gateway Airport, which is about 140 km away if you travel through the park. It 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.
Shingwedzi’s gates open and close at the same time 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 Shingwedzi?
There are many activities on offer at the camp that will ensure an exciting bush experience. All bookings and further details for these activities are available from reception.
At Shingwedzi, you can really get in touch with nature by tracking wildlife and birds on foot with a game walk. You could also book a game safari in search of leopard or lion at sunrise, sunset, or on a night drive.
Activities on offer at Shingwedzi are:
- Guided Bush Walks
- Game Drives with trained field guides
- Kanniedood Bird Hide, about 7 km east of the camp
- Ntishivana Bird Hide, about 30 km east of the camp
- Northern Plains 4 x 4 Adventure Trail, weather permitting
- Wildlife films on the big screen from Monday to Saturday
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 groups.
What to watch out for when staying at Shingwedzi
Staying at Shingwedzi is an exciting experience, and guests will experience the flora and fauna that this area offers.
Game can be scant in the stretches of Mopani Shrubveld in the region, but the sandy plains in the immediate surrounding area of the Shingwedzi River tend to be very productive. Look out for impala, kudu, duiker, bushbuck, nyala, Sharpe’s grysbok, buffalo, and waterbuck.
The more scenic game drives are along the Shingwedzi River in a south-easterly direction towards the Kanniedood Dam. You should spot waterbuck, nyala, kudu, and elephant, as well as numerous bird species.
There are open plains north of Babalala Picnic Site where cheetahs are regularly recorded. This is also a good area to search for the rare larger antelope species like roan, sable, tsessebe, eland, and Lichtenstein’s hartebeest.
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. Being close to water means you should probably see animals of all kinds.
Shingwedzi has abundant bird-life and, aside from the usual birds seen in the park, you would also see Bennett’s woodpecker, Natal robin, European hobby, grey penduline tit, black and steelblue widowfinch, and listen for the scops owl and giant eagle owl at night. If you are very lucky, you might just spot a bathawk catching bats at dusk.
Near the Kanniedood Dam, look out for openbilled, yellowbilled, saddlebilled, and woolly-necked storks. The bird hide is a good spot to see black crake and African jacana. The whitewinged tern has also been recorded at the dam.
The camp is surrounded by riverine vegetation with large trees along the river edge. Alluvial planes are adjacent to the river, which has less dense vegetation and sparser grass. You will find the Transvaal mustard trees, weeping boer-bean, sausage tree, Natal mahogany, and brack thorn. Moving away from the river, the vegetation changes to Mopane shrub and apple leaf.
What type of accommodation does Shingwedzi offer, and what amenities/facilities are available at the camp?
Shingwedzi provides a variety of accommodation types for singles, couples, and families with children.
Accommodation 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 before the arrival date are payable within 24 hours after receiving a confirmed provisional reservation via e-mail.
Your accommodation is only guaranteed once you receive a provisional reservation confirmation, and to secure your reservation, full pre-payment is required a.s.a.p.
The following accommodation types are available:
Campsites
Camping is the most affordable and the most rustic style of accommodation that Kruger offers. Shingwedzi has 50 tent or caravan sites for a maximum of 6 people. It comes with power point and rotating braai grids. Guests use the communal ablutions and cooking facilities, which have 24-hour boiling water, electric hotplates, and washing-up facilities.
Huts
The camp offers 12 huts that sleep 3 people. Guests use the communal ablution and cooking facilities. There are no cooking utensils, crockery, or cutlery, but a scullery and electric hotplate stoves are available at the communal kitchen. A small fridge can be found on the veranda.
Bungalows
Fourteen air-conditioned units sleep 2 people with a bathroom that is equipped with either a shower or bath, toilet, and basin. Guests use the communal kitchen. Fully equipped utensil boxes can be hired at reception upon check-in.
The next 22 air-conditioned bungalows sleep 2 people with an en-suite bathroom and an open-air kitchen with a cooker top, combined fridge/freezer. They are fully equipped with cutlery, crockery, and utensils.
28 air-conditioned units sleep 3 people in one room with single beds. These units have a bathroom with a toilet, a shower, and a wash basin, as well as a fully equipped kitchen like the units mentioned above.
In addition, the camp has 2 double-bed air-conditioned units on offer. These have en-suite bathrooms with a shower, toilet, and wash basin. Both have an open-air kitchen with a cooker top, microwave, and a combined fridge/freezer, and are fully equipped with cutlery, crockery, and utensils.
Cottage
Shingwedzi has only 1 air-conditioned cottage on offer that sleeps 4 people in 1 room with a double bed and 1 with 2 single beds. It has two bathrooms and an open-air kitchen with a cooker plate, microwave oven, fridge/freezer combination, sink, cooking utensils, crockery, and cutlery. There is a dining room/lounge and an outside braai facility.
Guest House
The Rentmeester Guest House is a large luxury unit in a prime position with a riverside view. It sleeps 8 people in 3 bedrooms, 2 bedrooms with double beds, 1 bedroom with 2 single beds, and a double sleeper couch in the lounge. It has 3 bathrooms and a well–equipped kitchen that includes a microwave oven. It has a lounge/dining area as well as outside braai facilities. Limited-channel DSTV television is provided.
Facilities
The following facilities are available:
- Information at Reception
- Public Telephone
- Post Box
- Restaurant
- Cafeteria
- Shop
- Mini ATM facility available in the restaurant
- Laundromat
- Filling Station
- Communal Kitchens
- Communal Ablutions
- Swimming Pool
- Cutlery and Plates Hampers (from Reception)
- Basic First Aid Assistance
- Day Visitors Picnic Area
- DSTV is only available in the Guest House
- Cell phone reception
When to visit Shingwedzi
The best time of the year to make your trip to Shingwedzi 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. Fortunately, Shingwedzi does come with a swimming pool where overnight visitors can cool down. 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 includes a night-drive, be sure to pack warm clothing that includes 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 are 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.
What do you need to know and bring for a safe and comfortable stay at the Shingwedzi?
Plan properly for your stay at Shingwedzi to make it a relaxed trip and stay. Bookings need to be done well in advance of your planned date of arrival. KNP is a popular game reserve, and accommodation is not readily available, especially in the holiday season and during the winter months.
Shingwedzi 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 provides most items that will be needed daily.
Most parts of the KNP are situated well within a malaria area. This is much more than just an unpleasant illness, but it 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, and 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 are 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 food themselves, which can cause them to starve. Some also become aggressive.❌
Frequently Asked Questions
Shingwedzi Rest Camp is located in the northern part of Kruger National Park, near the Shingwedzi River, in Limpopo Province, South Africa.
The camp offers bungalows, safari tents, and camping sites, all equipped with basic amenities and some with private bathrooms.
Yes, Shingwedzi is ideal for self-drive safaris, with easy access to popular northern Kruger roads and game-viewing routes.
Visitors often spot elephants, lions, leopards, buffalo, rhinos, hyenas, and various antelope species. Birdwatching is also excellent.
Yes, there is a small restaurant and a shop for essentials, souvenirs, and some camping supplies.
Yes, guided game drives, walking safaris, and night drives can be arranged through the camp.
Yes, the camp is family-friendly, offering safe accommodations and kid-friendly activities. However, children must be supervised around wildlife.
The dry winter months (May to September) are best for wildlife viewing, as animals gather near water sources.
Yes, short guided walking trails are available, allowing visitors to explore the bush safely while learning about wildlife and plants.
Yes, fires are allowed in designated braai (barbecue) areas at camping sites, but fire regulations must be strictly followed.
No, the camp is primarily accessed by private vehicle or organized safari tours. Roads inside the park are tarred or gravel.
Yes, the Shingwedzi River runs nearby, and several waterholes attract wildlife, offering excellent photographic opportunities.
Most bungalows have electricity, but Wi-Fi is limited or unavailable; the camp is designed for a nature-focused experience.
Yes, the area has a rich cultural history, including nearby sites that showcase local tribes and historical interactions with the land.
Yes, Shingwedzi is excellent for birdwatching, with over 300 bird species recorded in the area, including raptors, waterbirds, and rare bushveld species.
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