African Wildlife & Environment Issue 81

DESTINATIONS

Kruger National Park SATARA CAMP

In the late 1800s, before the Kruger was proclaimed a national park, the burgers of the newly proclaimed Transvaal Republic carved up the region for human settlement. One of the surveyors sent to divide the regionwas anunnamed Indianwhomarkedpresent-day Satara on his map with the Hindi word 'satra' meaning seventeen.

Article & photographs: JohnWesson

A regular sight especially in the early morning after a cool night where warm roads make a great place to sleep

Satara is the second largest camp (after Skukuza), situated towards the centre of the Kruger National Park, in the middle of flat grassy savannah country, unlike the other camps in the park, which are built either on hills or next to a river. Therefore, it is not easily spotted by those enjoying a Kruger Park safari until they are almost at the gates. The camp itself with its thatched African style rondavels has a rustic charm, with a romantic 'Colonial Africa' type of atmosphere with red- roofed public buildings and neatly raked paths, making it one of the more popular destinations in

the park. Known for its spectacular sunsets, the camp itself is adorned with rich vegetation and beautiful large trees. The surrounding fertile African savannah country in this region is covered with sweet grazing, with the open bush. The Knob Thorn and the Marula are the dominant tree species on basalt soils with magnificent ancient Leadwoods also dotting the terrain. A few kilometres west there is an intrusion of ecca shales soil which hosts sweet grass, often overgrazed.This intrusion also hosts Delagoa Thorn thickets. To the east, the N’wanetsi region lies in Lebombo Mountain

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