Punda Maria Camp (Kruger NP)

 camp, animals, birdwatching area, nature conservation park / area

 Upload a photo

-National Park
This quaint rest camp, at the foot of the pretty Gumbandebvu Hill, is the northernmost SANParks camp in Kruger. As such, it provides a convenient base from which to explore the bird-rich Luvuvhu Valley, botanically diverse sandveld and magnificent archaeological ruins of the ancient citadel of Thulamela. Punda Maria is a play on the Swahili for zebra, "punda milia" (meaning Striped Donkey).

The camp is shady and peaceful, with a distinct character of its own. Some of its original white-washed, thatched buildings with rough-hewn leadwood verandah posts, built in the early 1920's, are still in use today.

Accomodation:
Chalets: 2-Bed bungalows, with en-suite bathrooms, utilise communal kitchen facilities, although they are equipped with fridges. 3-Bed bungalows, with both bathrooms and kitchens are also available. The 2 family cottages sleep 4 people each and have a small kitchenette and bathroom
Safari Tents: There are 7 permanent, 4-person, safari tents. These have en-suite bathrooms and fully equipped kitchenettes.
Camping and Caravanning:
There's a large camp site with communal kitchens and ablution facilities.

Elephant shrews often dash about the camp at night, while numerous owls frequent the trees. The region is ideal to see the rare Sharpe's grysbok. Zebra, buffalo, kudu and nyala are common, while eland, sable antelope and wild dogs (especially during early-morning game drives) are seen regularly.

The Big Five are present, but rhino are not very common this far north. Lion sightings are infrequent while leopard is seen regularly, especially on the loop roads around the camp. Elephant and large herds of buffalo are very common.

A number of special birds can be seen in the region – including crested guineafowl and Pel's fishing owl. The best birding is during the summer months, when many migrants, such as carmine bee-eater, icterine, marsh, ollivetree and river warbler, broad-billed roller and cuckoos return. Raptors are more numerous at this time of year too. Steppe, lesser-spotted and Wahlberg's eagles, steppe buzzard, yellow-billed kite, and Eurasian hobby may be seen. In winter, a pair of African hawk eagles breeds on the hill behind the camp. In the evenings large numbers of vultures and marabou storks roost outside the camp gates.

www.sanparks.org/parks/kruger/camps/punda/