Where to Watch Game in the Kruger National Park

The following is an excerpt from Nigel Dennis's book Getaway Guide to Where to Watch Game in the Kruger National Park, published in paperback by Sunbird Publishing, Cape Town. Nigel Dennis has spent over 800 days in the Kruger Park over the past 14 years, and has travelled each and every road in the Park at least once, many 100 times and more. “Where to Watch Game in the Kruger National Park” provides a wealth of information on the best routes and waterholes throughout the Park, plus useful general hints and tips on game viewing and photography. Undoubtedly the most comprehensively researched Kruger guide available - don't visit Kruger without a copy! Price R69.95 (approx US$10 or GB Pounds 6.40).

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Crocodile Bridge
The Crocodile Bridge area is probably one of the most underrated in the entire Park. I have had consistently good sightings here. However it was only when I started to assess the routes in the region for this guide that I realised that almost every road warranted either a good or excellent rating! As well as having a good density of general game, there is an excellent chance of seeing all of the Big Five.

The Camp itself is a delightful spot, green and well shaded. Being a fairly small camp Crocodile Bridge does not have a restaurant, but the shop at camp reception is well stocked. The camp also serves as an entrance gate, so there can be a considerable amount of through traffic during school holidays.

Only a couple of kilometres north of Crocodile Bridge on the H4-2, the Gesanftombi Dam attracts large numbers of game. By mid-morning there are usually herds of zebra, wildebeest and impala milling around, along with plenty of giraffe. Many rate the H4-2 tar road through to Lower Sabie as one of the most productive in the entire Park. Elephant, white rhino and lion are frequently seen and wild dog are reported regularly. The H4-2 is a busy route for through traffic travelling north, so it is a good idea to travel this road early and pick one of the gravel roads for the return trip. The S28 is a good route back to camp with a fair chance of seeing cheetah and white rhino plus plenty of general game.

The S25 Crocodile River Road is another prime route. Leopard are likely to be seen early and late in the day, and lion are very plentiful along the entire route. A few kilometres from camp on the S25 a short track branches to the left leading to Hippo Pool. Here an armed Field Ranger is on duty daily to escort visitors on the short walk to view the hippos. If you are travelling the S25 mid afternoon a short detour to Gaisenga Waterhole on the S26 is a good bet for elephant. This waterhole attracts plenty of game and is in fact a pool on the Mpondo Spruit which is generally dry throughout much of its course.

Although the immediate area around Crocodile Bridge often teems with game, the camp makes a good base for longer trips to other excellent areas. The route through and beyond Lower Sabie is very productive, as is the Mpondo Dam area on the S102.

Biyamiti Bush Camp is situated about 25 kilometres west of Crocodile Bridge. In recent years Biyamiti has become very popular with visitors, and rightly so as the area offers outstanding game viewing. The 22 kilometre S139 is accessible only to visitors staying at Biyamiti. This is one of the most productive roads in the Park for leopard and there is a very good chance of seeing the rest of the Big Five as well. Even in the wet summer months, when viewing is patchy in many areas, the S139 remains consistently productive. Word seems to have got around regarding the excellent game viewing at Biyamiti and it is advisable to book several months in advance to be sure of getting accommodation here.

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Text and images © Nigel J Dennis