
Kruger National Park
Kruger National Park
Kruger National Park
Kruger National Park
This includes all the Accommodation in the Kruger National Park – Main Rest Camps, Satellite Camps, Bushveld Camps, Overnight Hides, Bush Lodges, Tsendze Camp Site and Concessionary Luxury Lodges!
Greater Kruger Private Reserves
Berg-en-Dal Location
BERG-EN-DAL GPS
GPS Co-ordinates (hdd.dddddd°)
S25.428146° E031.444244°
BERG-EN-DAL DISTANCES
Johannesburg : 436 kms
Nearest Gate : Malelane Gate – 12 kms
Nearest Town : Malelane – 21 kms
Nearest Camp : Malelane Satellite Camp – 10 kms
Berg-en-Dal Rest Camp
Berg-en-Dal Location
BERG-EN-DAL GPS
GPS Co-ordinates (hdd.dddddd°)
S25.428146° E031.444244°
BERG-EN-DAL DISTANCES
Johannesburg : 436 kms
Nearest Gate : Malelane Gate – 12 kms
Nearest Town : Malelane – 21 kms
Nearest Camp : Malelane Satellite Camp – 10 kms
Berg-en-Dal Rest Camp
Berg-en-Dal Location
BERG-EN-DAL GPS
GPS Co-ordinates (hdd.dddddd°)
S25.428146° E031.444244°
BERG-EN-DAL DISTANCES
Johannesburg : 436 kms
Nearest Gate : Malelane Gate – 12 kms
Nearest Town : Malelane – 21 kms
Nearest Camp : Malelane Satellite Camp – 10 kms
Berg-en-Dal Rest Camp
Berg-en-Dal Location
BERG-EN-DAL GPS
GPS Co-ordinates (hdd.dddddd°)
S25.428146° E031.444244°
BERG-EN-DAL DISTANCES
Johannesburg : 436 kms
Nearest Gate : Malelane Gate – 12 kms
Nearest Town : Malelane – 21 kms
Nearest Camp : Malelane Satellite Camp – 10 kms
Berg-en-Dal Rest Camp
Berg-en-Dal Rest Camp (translates into ‘Mountain and Valley’ which is descriptive of the surrounding landscape) is Kruger’s third largest camp with 69 x 3 bed Bungalows, 23 x 6 bed Family Cottages, 2 Guest Houses and 72 camp sites.
Despite its size, it never feels busy!
The camp is situated on the bank of the Matjulu ‘River’ – no more than a stream that is partially fed by a trickle from the Matjulu Waterhole 4,4 kms upstream, before flowing into the Matjulu Dam below the Camp Reception and the restaurant.
The dam results in some great animal sightings, especially in the dry season – without having to leave camp!
Berg-en-Dal, like the large rest camps in Kruger, has a restaurant with both sit down and take-away; a Park Shop with groceries, alcohol and curios; a coin-operated laundromat; a swimming pool and a Total Petrol Station.
Monkeys and baboons have become a pest in Berg-en-Dal, so keep all your food under lock and key!
Due to the scourge of poaching, I’ve made no mention of Rhino – black or white, throughout this website!


Berg-en-Dal Ecozone – Malelane Mountain Bushveld (on Granite/Gneiss)
Berg-en-Dal Rest Camp is in the Malelane Mountain Bushveld Ecozone
This south-western corner of Kruger has some of the highest peaks and steepest slopes, as well as the highest rainfall, in the Park.
The runoff from the mountains leaches nutrients, resulting in nutrient poor soils, which tend to be rocky and shallow.
This results is a veld type known as sourveld, where the thatching grass, which becomes tall and fibrous as it matures, loses its appeal to the herbivores.
This results in fewer grazers, which in turn results in fewer predators!
Common grasses on the slopes are Spear grass (Heteropogon contortus) – palatable when young, avoided when older; Herringbone grass (Pogonarthria squarrosa) – an indicator of poor soils, unpalatable and seldom eaten.
The valleys however, tend to have numerous drainage lines with deep, sandy clay soils washed down from the higher slopes.
Nutrient rich grasses, such as Guinea grass (Megathyrsus maximus – previously Panicum maximum) and Common finger grass (Digitaria eriantha), that provide good grazing, are found in the drainage lines.
The Barbeton Daisy (Gerbera jamesonii), a common cut flower throughout the world, is indigenous to these sandy soils.
Common trees are the Jackalberry (Diospyros mespiliformus), various Bushwillow (Combretum sp.), Magic Guarri (Euclea divinorum) and Tamboti (Spirostachys africana).
Familiar antelope sightings are Kudu and Impala and less common, are Waterbuck and Reedbuck
Wild dog and Hyena use the rocky outcrops for their dens, and Lion and Leopard are sometimes seen.


Berg-en-Dal History – A ‘New’ Camp in 1984!
Berg-en-Dal Rest Camp opened in 1984 at a time when a number of new rest camps were planned to accommodate the increasing demand for overnight guests in Kruger.
The way of thinking, which was innovative at the time, was for these new rest camps to be an ecological extension of what the natural ecology was immediately outside the camp fence.
The idea was that visitors staying in the camp would ‘stay in the bush’, and in addition to a bed, they could learn about, and appreciate, the wider natural environment.
This has proven to be a great success.
Berg-en-Dal is a really well-designed camp, set amongst natural vegetation, giving guests a lot more privacy than most other Kruger Park Rest Camps.
Berg-en-Dal Merit Award for Landscape Architecture
In 1985, The Institute for Landscape Architecture in South Africa (ILASA), awarded Berg-en-Dal Rest Camp a Merit Award to for “a middle ground of ecologically responsive site planning and design”
Berg-en-Dal Accommodation
Berg-en-Dal Rest camp has 69 x 3 bed Bungalows, 23 x 6 bed Family Cottages, 72 camp sites and 2 Guest Houses.
Bungalow
The SANParks website, defines a Bungalow as being a “single bedroom unit with a bathroom. Some have communal kitchens while others have own kitchenettes with basic kitchen equipment. Some bungalows have perimeter or river views, while others have been upgraded to luxury status.”
Each bungalow has a brick ‘braaivleis’ (BBQ).
Family Cottage
“A multiple bedroom unit with a living room, bathroom and kitchen.”
Guest House
“Multiple bedroom and bathroom units with lounge area and often with bar facility and exclusive view.”
I mention the Award below, that the designers won for their design of the Camp, but I find the design of the chalets – both the exterior and the interior, a very different scenario altogether.
Brutalist Architectural Design
The exterior design of brown clinker facebrick and concrete is very harsh and is reminiscent of the Brutalist architectural style of 1950s where building materials and structural form took precedence over the intrinsic design.
Fortunately, the thatch roof does soften, and somewhat help, the bungalows blend into their natural environment!
The exterior ‘design’ permeates the interior as well – a lot of the floors and the interior walls are that same raw, brown clinker facebrick and concrete!!!
Fortunately, some of the accommodation has had walls plastered and painted, which does give a hint of style and homeliness!
The interior layout of the bungalows is, like so much of Kruger’s accommodation, badly designed!
I understand that space management is a complex function, and the arrangement in the family units is sometimes awkward.
Although the interior room size is good, they lack any interior design!
• In some units
— the entrance door leads directly into the main bedroom!
— there is too little space in the shower to open and close the door comfortably.
— the interiors can be dark with some abysmal lighting!
• The car park for each chalet can be quite a distance from your unit, which can be a problem if you have mobility or strength problems.
• The lighting of the pathways and roads at night is not good, so make sure you have a torch if you go outside.
Maintenance
The poor maintenance in Berg-en-Dal is what is sadly to be expected – in places, throughout Kruger!
The chalets tend be shabby and tired and fairly run down, with some of the old air conditioning units long past their sell-by date, and some of the curtains begging to be replaced!
A gripe of mine is that there are no basic cleaning utensils – as simple as a broom left in the accommodation, so you’re able to tidy up after yourself, without having to wait for housekeeping’s daily visit! (again, this is an issue throughout Kruger).
Where to Stay?
The top, north-eastern section of the camp, on the road closest to a view over the ‘river’, is my accommodation of choice!
BA3U Bungalows (3 x single beds; on the perimeter) : No. 27 and No. 28 and
FA6 Family Cottage (2 x bedrooms) : No. 26.
Berg-en-Dal Caravan and Campsite
Berg-en-Dal Caravan and Campsite has 72 camp sites, with a maximum of 6 persons per site
The camping/caravan site is a big area that is on a “first come first served” basis, with no reserved or defined individual campsites.
The very popular perimeter fence is approx. 280 metres (918 feet) long, with views, over a usually dry intermittent stream, into the bush.
Electricity
All campsites have a power point, but, like all of Kruger, they aren’t necessarily near your site. Ensure you have a long extension cord!
We have 2 lengths totalling 65 metres (213 feet) – 1 x 25 m (82 feet) and 1 x 40 m (131 feet).
In addition to this, whether you’re caravanning or camping, you’ll need your own Fredlin blue caravan adaptor plug to plug into the camp’s distribution box – without it, you’ll get no power!
You then connect your extension, using a normal 3 round pin plug (15A Type M plug), to this blue plug.
These blue caravan plug adaptors can be bought in most outdoor shops – countrywide, as well the Rest Camp shops at a much higer price.
All campsites should have a ‘braai’ (BBQ) stand, but a number of them have rusted away or are missing.
Again – zero maintenance!
Ask at reception to have one delivered to your site if yours has vanished!
Communal Ablution Blocks
There are 3 x Communal Ablution Blocks which again, aren’t particularly well designed, and guests can get in one another’s way when using them!
They’re also fairly run down, with very little maintenance, and not as clean as they should be.
On a positive note – regardless of time, I’ve always had hot water in the showers.
Communal Kitchens
There are 3 x Communal Kitchen Blocks which are spacious, but a number of the electric stove plates do not work and a number of the traditional ‘instant’ boiling water heaters, have vanished!
Washing up facilities are provided.
There are laundry facilities to hand wash, and lines to hang up your washing.

Berg-en-Dal Rhino Trail
The Rhino trail, which is unique to Kruger, is a 3,2 km, unguided trail, that closely follows the perimeter fence of the Berg-en-Dal Rest camp.
Until recently, this trail looked very sad as it had fallen into disrepair.
Kudos (should be Kudus I guess !) to the Lowveld Honorary Rangers who made a project of revamping the trail, and with the help of the Lowveld Botanical Society, SANBI, Green Plastic, Bronze Art Africa, Extreme Signs, the Lions Club Nelspruit, Tree Tags, DB Training Solutions and Pick n Pay White River, have brought it back to life!
The first 800 metres uses a cable handrail to guide visually impaired folk to 26 braille information stations that explain interesting going-on in the vicinity.
The remaining 2,4 kms is now well signposted with information stations, as well as benches to sit and catch your breath while you gaze beyond the perimeter fence!
Berg-en-Dal Restaurant
The Tindlovu Berg-en-Dal Restaurant has a great setting with large picture windows overlooking the Matjulu Dam – but like every viewpoint in Kruger, it’s overgrown with vegetation, badly maintained and has no view!
The restaurant is air conditioned, if sitting inside, and opens out onto a big deck if you’d rather sit outside.
Berg-en-Dal ATM (Automatic Teller Machine)
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Berg-en-Dal Shop
The Park Shop has a fair selection of food stuffs, and like the rest of Kruger, has excellent fresh produce, sourced locally, at really good prices!
Berg-en-Dal Laundromat
The laundromat, which is near the swimming pool, has a number of coin operated washing machines and driers.
Berg-en-Dal Fuel
Omnipresent TOTAL has a service station not far from the entrance gate.
The Dis-Chem loyalty card is not accepted in the Park.
Berg-en-Dal Swimming Pool
The swimming pool in Berg-en-Dal is a big one, and even when busy, doesn’t feel crowded.
There is also a kiddies paddling-pool.

Kruger Park Fire Regime
In winter, especially after good summer rains, there is often smoke in the air around Berg-en-Dal Rest Camp, caused by frequent, high intensity fires that are lit to control the encroaching, thick indigenous bush.
Fire is also necessary to remove the dominant thatching grass that becomes tall and fibrous and unpalatable when it matures, and also necessary to burn away the excess moribund grass, allowing sun to get to the roots, and get that fresh, new green growth going!

Berg-en-Dal Suggested Game Viewing Routes
S110 Main road to camp : We’ve always seen a fair bit of wildlife on the tar road from Malelane Gate to Berg-en-Dal Rest Camp, including wild dog, lion and leopard,
S110 Matjulu Loop : We’ve seen basically nothing on the gravel section beyond the camp.
S120 Steilberg Loop : The gravel road to the Steilberg viewpoint isn’t worth the drive. We’ve never seen any worthwhile wildlife on this road and the Steilberg viewpoint, is, much like all viewpoints in Kruger, suffering from poor maintenance. The only view is into thick bush a few meters away!
S110 Matjulu Waterhole : Our favourite site! Late afternoon has been the best time for us to see a huge variety of game at close quarters – especially giraffe and elephant! What we love is that some of the viewpoints look down on the animals drinking, which makes for some great photos!
H3 : The tar road from Malelane Gate to Afsaal Picnic site is a lovely drive that has produced just about everything! It carries heavy traffic as it’s the main road from Malelane Gate to Skukuza, but I’d highly recommend it!
Renoster Pan Waterhole : Hardly worth the more than 2 kms drive from the H3 tar road, as the bush between the viewpoint and waterhole is overgrown and animals are difficult to see. I’ve never seen the rhino that this waterhole is named after!
S114 : The gravel road up to the Biyamiti Weir is another of our favourites! Great sightings of lion, leopard and cheetah.
Fantastic elephant sighting of the biggest herd of elephant I’ve ever seen, on the road moving up to Jamie’s waterhole
S118 Mlambane River Road : A short interesting gravel road off the H3, passing Ampie se Boorgat (Ampie’s Waterhole) and ending at the Mhlambane causeway and Jame’s Waterhole.
S119 Mlambane River Road : A short, 6 km gravel road that follows the Mhlambane River and includes the Gardenia Hide. I’m convinced that there are a lot of leopards along this stretch of river. Had great lion and leopard sightings near the Gardenia Hide
S25 Crocodile River Road : Gravel road to Crocodile Bridge turns off the S114.
This road hasn’t been good for us and we’ve never seen what we’ve been told we should see!

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Hours of Operation
MON – FRI
10:00am – 1:00pm
4:00pm – 10:30pm
SAT
3:00pm – 10:30pm
SUN
We are closed
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