Punda Maria Main Camp
Punda Maria lies in the northernmost part of the Kruger National Park, 10 km from the Punda Maria Gate. The camp is situated in the Sandveld region that is often described as the botanical garden of the Kruger National Park.
Numerous plant species occur which are unique to the area. Game species most likely to be sighted include impala, zebra, buffalo, elephant, eland and sable. The area is also a bird-watchers paradise.
Game can prove sparse, but kudu, nyala, buffalo and sharpe’s grysbok thrive in this habitat. Wild Dogs are regularly recorded too. Elephant and lion are also frequently recorded. The Moahonie Loop is also the best venue in the park to see the diminutive suni antelope. A trip to Pafuri will produce plenty of nyala and impala, and possibly some bushbuck. Vervet monkey and baboon will be seen in abundance and plenty of hippo and Nile crocodile in the riverbed itself. Early arrivers heading down Nyala Drive may well be lucky enough to see some bushpig.
In the camp (particularly on the Paradise Flycatcher Trail) Yellowbellied and Terrestrial Bulbul, Bearded Robin should be looked for. Birding throughout the camp is excellent. Birds of prey are common overhead. Black Eagle is sometimes seen, while in winter the Whitenecked Raven is a regular visitor. The Mahonie Loop, (the 25km circular drive around the camp) is undoubtedly one of the most rewarding birding drives in the Park. One should give oneself plenty of time to cover the distance, and travel with windows down and stop frequently, particularly for calls. On a good day one could record several of the following ‘specials’: Whitebreasted Cuckooshrike, Crowned Hornbill, Chestnutbellied (Greyhooded) Kingfisher, Crested Guineafowl, Gorgeous Bush Shrike Cape Parrot, African and European Golden Oriole (both summer), Yellowspotted Nicator, Stierling’s Barred Warbler and Dickinson’s Kestrel. Narina Trogon has also been recorded on the loop, but is shy and elusive. On the drive from Punda Maria to Pafuri via the Klopperfontein Dam, Rackettailed Roller and Mashona Hyliota have been recorded. This is also one of the best areas to search for Yellowbilled Oxpecker. This species was absent in the park for many years, but returned in the 1980s and their numbers are still increasing. Buffalo are the preferred hosts.
The drives along the banks of the Levuvhu River via the Nyalaland Drive (S64) or the picnic site/Crook’s Corner loop (S63), take visitors through some of the most potentially productive birding territory in South Africa. One can simply spend several hours in the Pafuri Picnic Site itself, with Trumpeter Hornbill, Purplecrested Lourie, Wattleeyed Flycatcher, Tropical Boubou, Longtailed Starling, Narina Trogon, Gorgeous, Greyheaded and Orangebreasted Bushshrike and several different species of robin, sunbird and firefinch all potentially swelling one’s list. Other rarities for the Park recorded at the picnic site include Cinnamon Dove, Brown Robin and Wood Owl.
Another rewarding place to spend time is the tar road’s bridge over the Levuvhu River. Horus Swift is regularly seen here alongside the commoner Little and Whiterumped Swifts. Whitecrowned Plover and Finfoot are also regularly recorded from the bridge’s vantage point. The reeds and undergrowth may hold Redfaced and Blackbacked Cisticola. It is also a good place to watch for Birds of Prey including the magnificent Crowned Eagle. For the lucky ones the chance of locating a roosting Pel’s Fishing Owl makes scanning all large riverine trees worthwhile.
Above the baobabs along the Nyala Drive is an excellent place to search for both Böhm’s and Mottled Spinetails, while the drive is also good for recording Crested Guineafowl and Longtailed Starling. A journey to Crook’s Corner should produce Whitefronted Bee-eater and Broadbilled Roller (summer) while Lemonbreasted Canary is frequently recorded in the Hyphaene palms not far from the lookout point. Scalythroated Honeyguide has also been recorded near this spot.
The camp is in sandveld. The sandy soil means the area is well drained and several natural springs occur. The plant communities are very complex. No single tree species dominates, but several species are restricted to this ecozone. Visitors should search for white syringa, mixed bushwillow, silver cluster-leaf, baobab, pod mahogany, sickle bush and weeping wattle. Grazing is sparse to moderate sweet grass.
Accommodation at Punda Maria
Family Bungalow
4-bed units, with air-conditioning in main bedroom, bathroom (with shower), kitchenette, 2 single beds in dining room/lounge and own barbeque area.
Bungalows
2 bed rooms. Equipped with ablutions (all with showers), air-conditioning, communal kitchens and communal barbeque area.
3 bed rooms. Equipped with ablutions (with showers) and air-conditioning. All have sinks and hotplates with kitchenette and communal barbeque area.
Safari Tents
2-bed permanent furnished canvas tents on stilts, fully equipped, with shower, fridge and cooking and barbeque facilities.
Campsites
Tent or caravan sites, with or without power point, communal ablutions and cooking facilities, maximum of 6 persons per site.
Day visitors
Punda Maria has a designated day visitor area where day visitors and visitors from other camps can barbeque (barbeque) and picnic. There are also picnic facilities at Pafuri and Babalala.
Facilities
- Information at Reception
- Public Telephones
- Post Box
- Mini ATM in the Shop - money at this ATM is determined by cash availability in shop cashier's drawer
- Basic First Aid Assistance
- Mangwa Restaurant
The Mangwa (Zebra in Shangaan) Restaurant and Shop is the oldest complex in the Kruger National Park dating from the 1930's. The small restaurant has 7 tables inside catering for 34 people and 4 tables outside for 16 people from 07h00 in the morning till late. The fully licensed Quick Service menu will satisfy the hungry and the not so hungry with varieties ranging from a light to a full breakfast, available throughout the day. An Ala-Carte menu is available for the evenings with juicy Spare Ribs, Chicken Schnitzel, game meats and more to choose from. The adjacent shop will cater for the basic needs from Curios to meat, cleaning material, unscheduled medicine, liquor and more, 7 days a week.
- Cafeteria
- Shop
- Cutlery and Plates Hamper
- Emergency Road Service
- Petrol Station
- Laundromat
- Communal Kitchens
- Picnic Facilities
- Swiming Pool
Activities
- Morning, Sunset and Night Drives
- Morning and Day Walks
- Guided Bush Walks and Drives (in the company of trained field guides)
- Picnic Sites in Kruger National Park
- Camp Walks (Paradise Flycatcher Trail)
- Nyalaland Wilderness Trail
- Northern Plains Adventure Trail
- Thulamela Archeological Trail
- Depart from Punda at 7:00, arrival back at Punda 12:00 - the trip is approximately 5 hours. This activity does not include any refreshments or meals, only traveling and a guide. The price is R150,00 per adult and R75,00 per child. The site is in the Pafuri area, about 50 km from Punda Maria. Bookings to be made at Punda Maria Reception Office.
These activities will ensure an exciting bush experience. All bookings as well as further details for these activities are available from reception.
Extra Information
- 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 |
