go! YOUR JOURNEY STARTS HERE

Early Morning (65 km; about 3 hours)
Exit via the main entrance in the early morning and turn left at the T-junction. Follow the H1-6 tar road for about 13 km and look for spotted hyenas, which sometimes lie next to the road near the João waterhole (±15 km, 30 minutes). Turn right onto the S52 Red Rocks detour and make sure you stop at the Red Rocks lookout just after turning onto the gravel road. You’re allowed to get out of your car here. The view of the red rocks is best early in the morning when the rising sun is behind you. Drive the full length of the S52 and also stop at the Tshanga lookout near the Bateleur private camp. You’re allowed to get out and clamber over the rocks, but watch for snakes and mind your step on the loose stones. There are tables for a picnic lunch and a long drop. You can expect to see elephant, buffalo, zebra and giraffe on the S52. There are crocodiles in the Shingwedzi River, and leopards are sometimes seen around here (±45 km, 2½ hours).  Head back to camp on the
H1-6 (5 km, 10 minutes). 

Out all day (119 km; 9 hours)
Get up early and follow the H1-7 tar road north to the southern turn-off of the S56 Mphongolo Loop (9 km, 20  minutes).
If you follow the S56 all the way, look for buffalo in the river bed. You might also see elephant and the shy Sharpe grysbok.
In the early morning, spotted hyena and leopard might also put in an appearance, although they’ll be well camouflaged in the dense riverine bush.
This is arguably the most scenic river road in all of Kruger – drive slowly and enjoy the beautiful surroundings (31 km, 3  hours).
Turn left onto the H1-7 tar road and drive north to where the S58 turns off to the left. If you’re lucky you may see cheetahs on the open plains (18 km, 1 hour).
Drive to the Dzundzwini lookout and back to the H1-7 tar road (8 km, 30 minutes). Follow the H1-7 all the way back to Shingwedzi. Look for roan antelope, tsessebe and eland near the Babalala picnic site (this is an excellent lunch stop) and the Boyela waterhole (±53 km, 4  hours). 

Late afternoon (±40 km, 3 to 4 hours)
When the Shingwedzi River is in flood, exit via the camp’s back gate and turn left onto the S135. Stop next to the drift and watch the waterfowl and crocodiles trying to fish. It’s quite a spectacle.
Keep your eyes open for giant herons, great egrets, green-backed herons and hamerkops. Sometimes elephants also come here to drink.
If the river is dry, drive out the same gate, but carry on straight along the S50 and explore the first 20 km of the road and turn around again.
It is a good idea to linger for some time at the bird hide at the Kanniedood Dam.
 

Use your senses on a morning walk
The best way to appreciate the veld is to go for a morning walk with field guides Matt Burnett and Bishop Shilowa near the Mashagadzi waterhole, south of Shingwedzi.
Use all your senses. Smell the fresh elephant dung near a muddy pool; listen for the grunt of a Verreaux’s eagle-owl and the racket that rollers make; feel how smooth an elephant can rub a tree trunk; see an empty tortoise shell, a golden orb-web spider and a myriad of spoor; and taste berries that Matt guarantees are not poisonous.
Don’t expect to see many animals. But you will experience the diversity of the veld. 

Who can do the morning walk? Anyone who can manage a walk to the corner café.
How long? About 3 hours.
Cost: R270 per person

Go on a night game drive
Of all the game drives offered at Shingwedzi, I prefer the night drive. You often see spotted hyenas and occasionally a civet or leopard. On our drive we spend a while with a family of spotted hyenas and see the tiny Sharpe grysbok near the camp. The guide also stops on the bridge over the Shingwedzi River so we can admire the stars, and points out a few constellations. 

How long? About 2 hours.
Cost: R120 per person