Overview
Since Skukuza is located right next to the Sabie River it provides beautiful views of the river and the wildlife that comes down to the river to drink water. The bush is lush on the riverbanks and in the camp, which makes it a popular spot for the bird lover.
Skukuza’s originally name was Sabie Bridge or just Reserve. It changed to Skukuza in 1936. The name Skukuza was given to James Stevenson-Hamilton who was the first warden in the area by the Tsongas who lived here. It means he who sweeps clean and was in reference to him relocating the Tsonga people so that Kruger National Park could be established.
Due to Stevenson-Hamilton’s efforts the KNP was proclaimed in 1926 and spanned from the Sabie Game Reserve (which was then Skukuza), 270 km northwards to Shingwedzi Game Reserve.
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 Skukuza?
Skukuza is the busiest camp in the park so much so that animals have become accustomed to the many vehicles. Sightings closer to the road or even in the road is a lot better than anywhere else in the park. Chances are good you would spot the Big 5, lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, and buffalo around Skukuza.
Wild dogs and the spotted hyena are also predators often seen together with most of the common grazers, like impala, zebra, wildebeest, kudu, klipspringer, warthog, and many more.
Bird enthusiasts would also enjoy this particular area since The Lake Panic Bird Hide is located about 5 km from Skukuza and is a great place to spot birds at. The hide overlooks the lake and many water birds can be seen throughout the day. A resident leopard is also often spotted at the lake. KNP is host to over 500 species of birds.
With lots of water available around Skukuza the wildlife is in abundance and on their heels are many predators. A number of lion prides are often seen here. To book a morning, sunset, or night drive will be most satisfactory as you are guaranteed to have good sightings.
Going out on an open vehicle safari is the preferred way to see animals but the best way to spot animals in Skukuza is right from inside the camp. Following the board walk around the camp fence or sitting on the veranda overlooking the river is also a relaxed way of spotting wildlife. 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 Skukuza located?
Skukuza is situated in the southern part of the KNP, about 12 km from the Paul Kruger entrance gate or 39 km from the Phabeni entrance gate. The GPS coordinates for the camp is S 24 59′ 43″ E 31 35′ 34″.
How to get to Skukuza
Travelling time from Johannesburg to the closest entrance gate at Skukuza at Hazyview will take at least five to six hours.
To enter at the Paul Kruger gate, take the N4 to Nelspruit and follow it to White River and from there onto Hazyview. From Hazyview get onto the R536 that will take you to the gate. Allow about 30 minutes from the gate to get to the camp.
The same route is followed to reach the Phabeni gate as it also lies on the R536 about 10 km from Hazyview. Skukuza rest camp is 39 km from the gate, and you should allow about 2 hours to reach the camp from the gate.
You can also reach Skukuza by air and there are daily scheduled flights to the recently reopened Skukuza Airport operating from Johannesburg and from Cape Town. KMIA in Nelspruit also receives daily flights from Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town, and there is also a flight from Cape Town to Hoedspruit.
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.
Skukuza’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 Skukuza
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.
Besides looking for game around the Skukuza ret camp there are a number of other activities that you could also do in the area. A few worth mentioning is:
- The Stevenson Hamilton Memorial is a get-out point with a path to a
memorial plaque. The path passes over and between boulders. Remember that you are out in the bush when you get out of your car and be sure to keep a watchful eye on the surrounding veld for animal movement.
- Nkuhlu is a picnic site between Skukuza and Lower-Sabie. It is wheelchair friendly
and a ramp has been specially constructed to allow wheelchair users the opportunity to descend from the parking lot down to the pathway adjacent the river’s edge. It is a beautiful spot next to the Sabie River where you can relax and enjoy a picnic breakfast or lunch. Kaap a watchful eyes on the monkeys and baboons that will use every opportunity to snatch your food.
- Kruger Tablets is another spot where you can alight from your vehicle and walk
a short distance to where a memorial plaque has been embedded in rock.
Other activities offered at Skukuza is:
- AM Spa Kruger for relaxing spa treatments
- Guided Bush Walks
- Game Drives with trained field guides)
- Bush Breakfast and Bush Braai (Barbecue)
- 9-hole Golf Course
- Stevenson Hamilton Memorial Library
- Metsi Wilderness Trail which is a pre-booked overnight activity
- In season there are a Kids Educational Program
- Lake Panic Bird Hide
- Catered traditional dances can be arranged
- Wildlife films every evening from Mondays to Saturdays
- Dogs Graveyard
- Selati Restaurant which is an old railway carriage converted into a sports bar
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 Skukuza
Staying at Skukuza is an exciting experience and guests will experience the flora and fauna that this area offers.
The most rewarding game drive is probably the route to Lower Sabie, which follows the bank of the Sabie River, where bushbuck, leopard and nyala might be spotted. Stop for a while at the many lookout points and watch hippopotamus laze in the river and crocodiles sun themselves on the sandbanks. Chances are good to see a herd of elephant crossing over. There is usually heavy traffic on this road, but you will have many sightings.
KNP is one of the top wildlife destinations in the world and one of many in southern Africa where you will spot the Big 5. It is a quest for many people when on a safari to spot these magnificent animals. Besides the Big 5, Kruger have plenty other animals and birds to see in the African bush.
The park offers over 147 mammal species and besides the Big 5 you should look out for hippopotamus, giraffe, zebra, blue wildebeest, warthog, vervet monkeys, baboons, and many antelope species. Other predators include cheetah, wild dogs, and spotted hyena. There are also many smaller mammals equally enticing species.
At night, genet, thick-tailed bush baby and fruit bats can be seen in camp.
The veld around Skukuza is predominantly thornveld with many tree species. The coastal forest is home to bushbuck, bush pig, brown hyena, and the rare tree dassie. There is amble water in the area which means you will see all kinds of animals and birds.
What type of accommodation does Skukuza offer and what amenities/facilities are available at the camp?
Skukuza 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 prior to 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 is available:
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Campsites
Camping is the most affordable and the most rustic style of accommodation that Kruger offers. The camp has 80 tent or caravan sites, with power point for a maximum of 6 people. Communal ablutions and cooking facilities with 24-hour boiling water, electric hotplates and washing up facilities is available.
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Safari Tents
The camp offer 12, 2-bed and 8, 4-bed permanent furnished canvas tents that is equipped with a fridge, fan, and small veranda with a braai facility. Communal ablutions and communal kitchens are used.
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Bungalows
These units are the cheapest accommodation if you do not want to camp. The camp offers 178 round–walled, single-room units with thatched roofs. Each comes either with 2 or 3 beds with en-suite bathrooms including a shower or bath, wash basin, and toilet. Some units come with air-conditioning and others with fans. Some have small kitchenettes. Some have cutlery and crockery and for others you can hire it from reception.
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Luxury Bungalows
The camp offers 20, 1-bedroom air-conditioned units with a double bed and en-suite bathroom. You can choose between a unit with a riverside view and kitchen or one without a river view using the communal kitchen. The bungalows have a limited DSTV channel television.
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Family Cottage
There is only one family cottage that sleeps 8 in 4 bedrooms on single beds. It has one bathroom a fully equipped kitchen, living room and braai area.
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Guest Cottages
Fifteen air-conditioned cottages with 4 or 6-beds and 1 or 2 bathrooms is on offer. All have fully equipped kitchens, and some have double beds.
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Guest Houses
These large luxury units all come with a river view. They have fully equipped kitchens that includes a microwave oven), multiple bedrooms and bathrooms with limited channel DSTV televisions.
Moni and Nyathi: Sleeps 8, in 4 bedrooms with 2 single beds in each
Waterkant 1: Sleeps 8 in 4 bedrooms with 2 single beds in each
ABSA: Sleeps 12, in 6 bedrooms with 2 single beds in each
Facilities
The following facilities are available:
- Information at Reception
- Public Telephone
- Post Office
- Bank
- Car Hire
- Restaurant
- Deli
- Shop
- FNB Bank facility
- Laundromat
- Filling Station
- Communal Kitchens
- Communal Ablutions
- Cutlery and Plates Hampers from Reception
- Garage with Workshop
- Basic First Aid Assistance
- Auditorium and Conference Facilities
- 2 swimming pools in camp
- Car Wash
- Limited DSTV in luxury units
- Cell phone reception
- Skukuza Indigenous Nursery
Skukuza’s day visitor picnic area is located 4 km outside the camp with its own swimming pool.
The camp is wheelchair friendly providing access to the reception area, restaurant and cafeteria as well as moving along the fence perimeter. Some of the accommodation are also wheelchair friendly and enquiries can be made when booking.
What do you need to know and bring for a safe and comfortable stay at the Skukuza Rest Camp?
Plan properly for your stay at Skukuza 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 accommodation is not readily available, especially in the holiday season and during the winter months.
Skukuza 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 deli and the shop provides most items that will be needed on a daily basis.
Most parts of the KNP is situated well within a malaria area. 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. If you walk around at night, please do not do so without a torch.
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 Skukuza
The best time of the year to make your trip to Skukuza 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, Skukuza does come with swimming pool where overnight visitors can cool down in.
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.
During the winter months, wildlife tends 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 Skukuza located?
The Skukuza camp is located about 12 km from the Paul Kruger entrance gate in the southern part of the KNP.
What to expect and look out for when staying at the Skukuza camp.
There are various organized activities like morning, sunset or night game drives and guided walks offered from Skukuza camp as well as bush breakfasts and braais.
Wildlife films are shown from Mondays to Saturdays and you can walk the perimeter trail of the camp spotting birds and wildlife.
From the restaurant outside veranda facility looking over the river you may see animals of all kinds.
What facilities are provided at Skukuza and what do you need to bring along?
All accommodation are equipped with linen and towels, with the exception of guests using the camping facilities. Campers need to bring everything with them that they need for their trip.
Cooking utensils or crockery are provided. All you need to bring is your own food, insect repellent, camera, binoculars, and torch.
The camp has a shop on the premises that provide basic everyday items and food. If you prefer you can buy your meals at the restaurant. There is cell phone signal at the camp, a petrol station, swimming pool and laundry facilities.
Can you directly book accommodation at Skukuza online?
Yes, direct bookings can be done on the SANParks website.
When is the best time to visit Skukuza?
The best times of the year to stay at Skukuza 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.
