Kruger National Park: Crocodile Bridge
Hippo pool is one of only a few places in the Kruger where you can go for a walk with a guide.
The shaded stands next to the fence are very popular.
There are some camps in Kruger where you see a lot more animals than at others. Crocodile Bridge is one of those places.
Let’s camp!
Stands: The campsite has 15 stands, six by the fence, and three of these under big trees. The stands further from the fence are mostly under large trees. Tip! Taps and power points are well distributed on the campsite, but remember to bring a blue caravan plug – the power points don’t have three-point plugs.
What are the stands like? There’s no grass, but it’s level. Pack a big hammer, because the soil is hard!
Bathrooms: The communal bathrooms are clean, tidy and well maintained. The water pressure is good and the water is hot. The men’s side has one bath (but few showers) and the women’s side has two baths and two showers. Both sides have toilet facilities for handicapped visitors.
Kitchen and laundry: The communal kitchen has basins, an urn and stove plates. A small laundry with a coin-operated washing machine and dryer is hidden next to the ablution facilities. You can buy Omo at the shop.
Uninvited guests: Don’t leave your tent or caravan open when you go out, because the vervet monkeys and baboons will plunder your ammo boxes. If insects start gathering around your lights at night, a bushbaby could drop in for a visit.
Cost: R130 for the first two people, and R42 per adult and R21 per child thereafter. Maximum six people per stand.
I don’t do camping...
Rondavels. Each of the 20 identical rondavels has a stoep, fridge and washing-up facilities. All the rondavels are along the fence, but unfortunately your view of the Crocodile River is blocked
by dense vegetation.
Cost: R635 for two. There are three single beds per rondavel, and you pay R124 extra per adult and R62 per child.
Safari tents. If you stay in one of the eight safari tents, you have access to shared ablution and kitchen facilities. Each tent has its own fridge.
Cost: R295 per night.
Bookings
SANParks central bookings: 012 428 9111
Crocodile Bridge: 013 735 6106/7 or 082 802 1201
Website: www.sanparks.org
(Note: Prices are accurate for June 2009)
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Which road should I take?
Lions like to lie on a tar road early in the morning, when the tar is warmer than the ground.
If you don't see white rhino on the S25, you are either short-sighted or you have truly terrible luck.
In the morning - Option 1
Plod along the border.
The S25 Crocodile bridge road is an excellent route to take there and back early in the morning
(73 km if you drive the entire Mpondo Dam circular route; about 4 hours). Drive at least as far as the no-entrance sign at the Biyamiti turn-off (22 km; about 1 hour). You can expect to see white rhino, and there’s always a chance of spotting lions or a leopard.
Kringgat dam. A morning visit to the Mpondo Dam (S102) is always worthwhile, especially if you’re looking for elephant or waterbuck (73 km, about 4 hours – go easy on the morning coffee).
Option 2
Seek giraffe.
The S28-Nhlowa road (50 km; about 3 hours), which cuts north over the open plains, is another lovely early-morning route. The first part offers you the best chance of seeing giraffe, and further north you might see cheetah.
Watch one-tonners. If you want to see hippo, spend some time at the Ntandanyathi hide (about 21 km to the S137 turnoff; budget at least 90 minutes for this productive road). Drive back via the Duke waterhole on the S137 and the S130 Gomondwane drive, and keep your eyes open for the spotted hyenas that often use these roads (29 km to the camp; another 90-odd minutes).
Out all day
Down to Lower Sabie!
For an all-day drive, take the H4-2 tar road directly to the Lower Sabie rest camp (68 km there and back; budget 2 hours there and 2 hours back, because you’ll stop to view lots of game). Your chances of seeing some or all of the Big Five are good, and if you’re very lucky, you might see a
pack of African wild dogs.
Have brunch. Enjoy brunch at the cafeteria at Lower Sabie –hippos will provide the background
music while you sit on the large wooden deck overlooking the river. Then take a slow drive back along the H4-2. Look for elephants near the Gomondwane waterhole.
Late afternoon
Take it easy.
Drive out slowly on the H4-2 tar road and turn left on the H5 randspruit road (15 km; 30 minutes). Keep left until you end up on the S25, and drive slowly back to camp along the river. This circular drive is in lion and leopard country. It’s short enough so you don’t have to rush back to make it to the camp gate, and you’re driving away from the sun on the horizon (27 km from the H5 turn-off to back in the camp; 90 minutes’ drive).
Go with an expert
Guided morning game drive.
The best time to look for predators is in the hour before sunrise and the hour after sunset. It is no old wives' tale that it’s advisable to be first out of the gate in the morning. If a pride of lions
is lying on the tar road, you’ll be first on the scene. The Crocodile Bridge morning drive departs half an hour before the camp gates open.
How long? 3 to 4 hours
Cost: R140
Guided evening game drive
The sundown game drive departs an hour before the camp gate closes. After sunset you look for game with a spotlight, and you have an excellent chance of seeing predators. We saw lion, rhino,
elephant, buffalo and a spotted hyena – all on one night drive!
How long? About 3 hours
Cost: R130
Plan B
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An evening game drive is a must in this predatorrich area.
Each of the 20 identical rondavels has a stoep, fridge and washing-up facilities.
There are some camps in Kruger where you see a lot more animals than at others. Crocodile Bridge is one of those places. You’ll encounter much more than just a little herd of impala and a
few disinterested blue wildebeest here – you’ll see lion, elephant, buffalo and even African wild dog. Your chances of spotting cheetah and white rhino are also good. Just outside the camp the road forks in three directions.
Each of these roads runs through unique habitat, allowing you to see a variety of animals and birds on three or four game drives. The camp itself, located in the south-east of the Kruger National Park on the banks of the Crocodile River, is a bit on the small side. It’s also one of the park’s busiest entrance gates, about 10 km from Komatipoort, and the traffic does somewhat disturb the tranquillity. However, the camp and the entrance gate are soon to be separated, which should make this problem something of the past.
The camp has a small shop that sells the essentials (from Colgate to Mrs Ball’s), and you can order a toasted sandwich (R15) or a hamburger (R20). It also has a laundry and a petrol station, but not a fullservice restaurant or swimming pool.
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