Letaba Main Camp
Letaba is located on a sweeping bend on the river of the same name. The camp affords a wonderful oasis from the surrounding Mopane bush with lush riverine trees providing welcome shade. Game viewing from the sanctity of the camp itself is excellent and the innovative camp staff offer a variety of adventure activities for visitors to indulge in. The Elephant Hall is a natural history monument par excellence and the camp is a firm favourite with visitors to the park. Bushbuck amble carefree across the lawns and amongst the bungalows like a scene out of Disney’s Bambi, while mighty elephant parade the sandy riverbed. At night the stars overlook a symphony of sounds. Owls, nightjars, frogs, fruit bats, crickets and cicadas all vie to be heard, until the lion roars, when all are silent.
Most of the park’s larger mammals can be seen in the Letaba vicinity, although it is not good rhino country. However elephant abound, particularly in the Letaba riverbed itself. Waterbuck and buffalo are also plentiful. Visitors need not even leave the camp to view these animals and lucky visitors have been fortunate enough to witness lion and cheetah kills on the sandy riverbed in front of the restaurant complex. The camp itself hosts a healthy population of bushbuck that have become very tame and wander freely amongst the bungalows. Other camp residents include tree squirrels, fruit bats and vervet monkey which must always be considered before leaving food unattended.
Letaba Camp has a rich bird population and is particularly good for viewing owls. Pearlspotted, Barred and Scops have been simultaneously recorded in a single tree, while Giant Eagle Owl is regularly recorded along the river itself. Scan all large Riverine trees carefully. Greencapped Eremomela should be looked for in the camp and like most camps in the central and northern parts of the park Mourning Dove is particularly prominent as are Natal Francolin, Arrow-marked Babbler, Brown-hooded Kingfisher, Kurrichane Thrush, Orange-breasted Bush Shrike and Red-headed Weaver. Birding along the river edge is always productive. The Matambeni Bird Hide on the northern bank of Engelhard Dam is an excellent place to watch water birds. On the south bank of the dam a number of Redwinged Pratincoles appear annually to breed. They have also been seen on the sand banks in the river in front of the camp.The Masorini Ruins close to the Phalaborwa Gate is a good venue to view Yellowthroated Sparrow, Mocking Chat and Redheaded Weaver .
Letaba is a riverine camp and well foliated. There is a wonderful selection of trees and shrubs including sycamore fig, impala lily, common coral tree, lala palm and leadwood. The vegetation around the camp is mopane shrubland.
Accommodation at Letaba
Luxury Guest Houses
- Melville: sleeps 9
- Fish Eagle: sleeps 8 and has a bird hide
Both have riverside views and are fully equipped, with en-suite bathrooms, kitchen, lounge, dining room and television.
Guest Cottages
6 beds (three twin-bedded rooms, one with bathroom en-suite), two bathrooms, kitchen, lounge/dining area, large veranda and outside barbeque.
Bungalows
2 or 3-bed round rooms. Equipped with ablutions (most with showers, but some with baths) and some units with air-conditioning. Some units have both hotplates and sinks, some only have sinks. You have a choice of kitchenette or communal kitchen and more over; with or without perimeter or riverside view.
Safari Tents
2 or 4-bed permanent canvas tents with communal ablutions and cooking facilities and own fridge.
Campsites
Tent or caravan sites, with power point, communal ablutions and cooking facilities, maximum of 6 persons per site.
Day visitors
Letaba has a designated picnic area set aside for day visitors between the Elephant Hall and E-circle. A small service fee must be paid at reception to gain access to this facility. Hand the till slip to the attendant on duty.
Facilities
- Information at Reception
- Public Telephones
- Post Box
- ATM
- Basic First Aid Assistance
- Restaurant
- Cafeteria
- Curio Shop
- Cutlery and Plates Hamper
- Petrol Station
- Laundromat
- Communal Kitchens
- Picnic Facilities
- Public swimming pool in day visitors area
Activities
- Game viewing
- Guided Bush Walks and Drives (in the company of trained field guides)
- Letaba Elephant Hall
- Matambeni Bird Hide
- Olifants Wilderness Trail
- Picnic Sites in Kruger National Park
- Seasonal kids programme
- Seasonal swim safaris
- TV Lounge
- Wildlife documentary video screenings
Tips and Hints
- Plan your trip – do not try and cover too great a distance. Kruger is a massive tract of land and frequently visitors try to cover too much ground. Slow travel and regular stopping produces much more action than covering a lot of ground.
- Early mornings and evening time are usually the most productive game viewing periods.
- Remember to bring a camera, binoculars, bird and wildlife reference books, a hat and sunscreen lotion. Also remember to take along medicines such as anti-histamine and lotion for insect stings and bites.
- Do not leave any food unattended, as thieving monkeys and baboons are a constant threat.
- The speed limit is 50 km/h on tar and 40 km/h on gravel.
- Visitors are not permitted to leave their vehicle other than at designated get out points and rest camps.
- Pets are not permitted in a national park.
- Firearms must be declared at the entrance gate and sealed. The seal will be broken upon departure.
- Open vehicles must obtain the necessary permit.
- Feeding of the animals is strictly prohibited for yours and the animal’s safety and well-being.
- Kruger is a malaria zone. See Malaria Map / Info for further details.
Climate
Kruger Park lies in a summer rainfall area with possible downpours occuring later in the day. The summer months (October to April) are hot. Winter’s are warm and mild, with very cool evenings.
Gate Hours
| Gate Times | Nov-Jan | Feb | Mar & Oct | Apr | May-July | Aug-Sept |
| Park Gates Open | 05:30 | 05:30 | 05:30 | 06:00 | 06:00 | 06:00 |
| Camp Gates Open | 04:30 | 05:30 | 05:30 | 06:00 | 06:00 | 06:00 |
| Park& Camp Gates Close | 18:30 | 18:30 | 18:00 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 18:00 |
