Orpen, Maroela and Tamboti Rest Camp, Kruger National Park

Don’t overlook the newly expanded Orpen Complex, which includes a day centre and swimming pool. There is plenty of game in the attractive thornveld that surrounds Orpen and its satellite camps, Maroela Caravan Camp and Tamboti Tented Camp, providing plenty of game-viewing opportunities. The camp is named in honour of the Orpen family, in particular Eileen Orpen, who donated a large portion of pristine bushveld to the park (see the plaque at the Rabelais Dam nearby).

Accommodation

Chalets
Orpen’s two- and three-bed huts have bathrooms and communal kitchen facilities. There are also six-bed, fully equipped guest cottages available.

Safari tents
At Tamboti Tented Camp, 3 km from Orpen, the two- and fourbed units have fridge/freezers and braai places. All utilise communal ablutions and kitchen facilities.

Camping and caravanning
At Maroela, just 2 km from Orpen, all the sites are sandy and none are allocated. Shady spots are limited so get in early to claim your spot. Both Tamboti and Maroela are along the Timbarati River.

Wildlife

The camp Occasionally, jackal, porcupine and honey badger wander through the camp, which makes an exciting change from the regulation baboons and vervet monkeys. In the early evening, lesser galagos (bushbabies) can be seen leaping about as they head out into the night.

The surroundings The area is good for cheetah, which hunt on the open plains to the east of camp. Sable are common and a large pack of wild dog is frequently seen on drives from the camp. General game, including zebra, wildebeest and impala, is good on the gabbro-soil flats.

The Big Five Rhino can be difficult to find but try the Rabelais Loop around the Rabelais Dam. Herds of elephant are everywhere and lion are regularly seen on the open grassy plains aroundthe Maroela turn-off, some 3 km from the gate. Buffalo are regulars, while leopard often occur in the immediate vicinity of the camp.

Birds White-backed vulture are often seen in the area, and large numbers may indicate a kill. In summer, look out for nesting paradise flycatcher in camp. Black-winged lapwing are common at the water hole near the camp gate.

Don’t miss!

The open plains around the turn-off to Maroela and Tamboti provide one of the best chances of seeing a cheetah kill in the park. Orpen dam has a webcam (www.sanpark.org/webcams).

Activities

Book your morning and sunset drives and guided morning and afternoon bush walks at reception. Wildlife documentaries are shown in the open-air auditorium, weather permitting.

Best drives

You don’t have to drive far from Orpen to see great sightings – lion, cheetah, sable and a host of other wildlife are often reported from the open grassy areas around the turn-off to Maroela, a couple of kilometres from camp. However, if you want to head further, there are a number of good routes for you to follow (see also ‘Best drives’ in Satara on page 80).

Talamati Loop
Head east on the H7 (Satara Road), taking the S106 (Rabelais Road) turn past Rabelais’ Hut. Immediately after the hut, turn right onto the S140 towards the Talamati Bushveld Camp. This heads south, passing through mixed grasslands dotted with bushwillow and knobthorn acacias before eventually turning east to follow the course of the Nwaswitsontso River. The first half of this route may be a little dull but after you get to the riverine vegetation along the Nwaswitsontso, things generally get more interesting. Here good lion sightings are common and leopard are regularly spotted along the river. Kudu, waterbuck, giraffe and elephant as well as a variety of other game are nearly always seen.

Continue past Talamati, dropping by Fairfield and Mondzweni water holes, both of which have a fantastic reputation for game-viewing. At the intersection of the S145 (Talamati Road) with the S36 (Nhlanguleni Road), head north and stop at the Shimangwaneni Dam, where large herds of elephant often drink. You can break your drive further north at the Muzandzeni Picnic Site (which has toilets, gas cookers, cold drinks, picnic areas and even washing facilities) before continuing up to the H7 and left, back to Orpen. Satara Road Following the H7 east to Satara is an extremely rewarding route, passing through open grassy areas frequented by herds of wildebeest and zebra. Giraffe, elephant and warthog are also frequently seen here. Take the right-hand turn-off to the S106, past Rabelais’ Hut and stop off at the Rabelais Dam, which always produces good sightings, as large groups of elephant, giraffe, zebra and waterbuck often gather to drink. Shortly after the S106 rejoins the H7, take the turn-off to Bobbejaan Krans (baboon cliff). This site offers visitors panoramic views over the Talamati River, where crocodiles have been seen taking impala. About 7 km further north, past the intersection with the S36 (south) and the S39 (north), take the short S12 loop to the left, past the Girivana Water Hole. This little loop is often very busy, with buffalo, elephant, lion and leopard often recorded in the area. After this, you can return to Orpen or continue on to Satara for brunch.

This is an extract from the Kruger Park Guide by Cameron Ewart-Smith and Sunbird Publishers. This is an extract from the Kruger Guide. Want you own copy of the pocket guide? Buy the Getaway Guide to Kruger National Park here.