Kruger National Park
South Africa
South Africa
Trip Report: Leaf Leopards & Stone Lions: Kamping in Kruger
Biyamiti Bushveld Camp
Once again, it was time to pack and change camps. Talamati was not our favourite camp. Our CG6 (#4) was large and had a great private outdoor patio but the sunken river wasn’t really visible so there was little to see – except for the nocturnal insect visitors. I guess we had been spoiled by Shimuwini. It was also very tired inside and certainly in need of some loving. The famed waterhole was popular – wildebeest, baboons, geese, ducks, antelope and waterbuck – but with vegetation it was half obscured from the hide.
We had a long drive ahead of us, with Biyamiti our next destination. So it was dirt for a while. The painful S36 (and yes it really was) and east on S25 past Hamilton’s and out to the H1. We had driven in this road last summer in the height of the drought and at the very least; the road was in much better shape. What a huge difference, with the barren bush now replaced with lush grass and healthy shrubs everywhere.
We ran into another yellow ribbon (SanPark Forum member) along the way – so a shout out to Mike & Trish: Nice to meet you!
Game was still sparse however, with only some impala and giraffes hanging out.
We had a long drive ahead of us, with Biyamiti our next destination. So it was dirt for a while. The painful S36 (and yes it really was) and east on S25 past Hamilton’s and out to the H1. We had driven in this road last summer in the height of the drought and at the very least; the road was in much better shape. What a huge difference, with the barren bush now replaced with lush grass and healthy shrubs everywhere.
We ran into another yellow ribbon (SanPark Forum member) along the way – so a shout out to Mike & Trish: Nice to meet you!
Game was still sparse however, with only some impala and giraffes hanging out.
Not much was in evidence south to Tshokwana but just after we turned south on H10, we were entertained by a pair of giraffes doing the mating dance. They moved in unison and smacked each other with their necks and heads as oblivious drivers zoomed by this bizarre ritual. We had seen this on an Attenborough special but never thought that we would witness it (and we saw it twice!). The pictures weren’t great because of distance and vegetation but we did get a video . . .
And we finally arrived at Biyamiti. Now THIS is a camp! We knew right away that we would love it.
Biyamiti fit. Y’know . . . just like a well-worn pair of gloves. We got out of the Beast and walked into the scrub-hedged yard and down towards the magnet of the river that backed our #5 NCO2+2V. It was mostly dry but a pond with ducks was opposite us on the far shore with a rocky abutment thrusting upward beyond. A bench near the fence path completed the picture. Yeah, this would do nicely.
The next morning, we were treated to a herd of buffalo doing a quick splash through of the waterhole.
The next morning, we were treated to a herd of buffalo doing a quick splash through of the waterhole.
Back at camp for a rest, the show kept running. A couple of bushbuck were wandering around inside the fence. Here is one of them nibbling.