Two/three-bed
bungalows (20). Two of these bungalows
are equipped for persons with physical disabilities.
Facilities
in these bungalows include:
• Beds
with bedding and towels
• Private
shower and toilet facilities
• Hand
basin
• Air
conditioner
• Clothes
Cupboard
• Table
and chairs
• Kitchenette
on the veranda:
• Two-plate
hotplate
• Fridge
• Electric
kettle
• Crockery & cutlery
(set of four: plates, side plates, pudding
bowls, glasses, cups & saucers, knives & forks,
spoons and teaspoons)
• Pots
and frying pan
• Salad
bowl
• Bread
knife
• Egg
lifter
• Tin
opener
• Water
jug
Safari
Tents: There
are also eight two-bed safari tents in the camp.
These tents are built on wooden stilts and situated
in the shade of big trees. One of the tents has
been adapted for handicapped persons with a ramp
to the wooden deck and an easily accessible braai
area.
Facilities
for these tents include:
• Beds
with bedding and towels
• Communal
shower and toilet facilities, (1 adapted for
handicapped persons)
• Clothes
Cupboard
• Fridge
• Electric
fan
• Table
and chairs
• Cutlery
boxes are available at a fee per night
on request and includes the following equipment:
• Crockery & cutlery
(set of four: plates, glasses, cups & saucers,
knives & forks, spoons and teaspoons)
• Pot
and frying pan
• Teapot
• Frying
pan
• Egg
lifter
• Tin
opener
• Water
jug
Camping
Site: The campsite consists of twenty
electrified stands with movable braai grids.
A sparkling camp kitchen with 24-hour boiling
water, electric hotplates and washing up facilities
forms part of the amenities provided. Two ablution
blocks (one part adapted to the needs of the
handicapped) are available to the campers.
Services
/ Facilities:
No
restaurant or cafeteria facilities exist in the
camp, but the camp shop does stock the basic
food and drink requirements together with a small
compliment of books and curios. The retail hours
are the same as for the entrance gates. Laundromat
facilities are available - coin-operated washing
machines and tumble dryers can be used at any
time during your stay.
Ecozones
near this camp:
• Knob
Thorn/Maroela Savannah
• Delagoa
Thorn Thickets
• Sabie/Crocodile
Thorn Thickets
General
Information:
• Climate
Crocodile
Bridge is in a summer rainfall area. Such precipitation
is usually convectional and can result in heavy downpours.
The summer months (October to April) are hot and
often balmy. Winters are warm and mild, although
visitors going on night-drives will require warm
clothing.
• Day
Visitors
Crocodile Bridge has a designated picnic area which as the camp is also
an entrance gate to the park, is an ideal spot for breakfasts for arriving
visitors, and farewell meals for departing visitors
• Emergencies
Camp:
+27 13 735 6012
What
to do and see nearby:
• Gezantfombi
Dam
• Nhlanganzwani
Dam
• Hippo
Pool with Bushman Rock Art
Routes:
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.
Places
of special interest / History:
• It
started out as one of the first four ranger posts,
around the turn of the century (19th- 20th), with
the camp coming into existence in the 1930's. In
1987 the whole camp and gate setup was revamped
to include the present twenty rondavels, reception/shop
and a campsite.
• In
1996 the campsite was enlarged and during 1998 eight
safari tents and a new ablution block were added
to the facilities in the camp.
• The
railway bridge across the Crocodile River was severely
damaged during the floods of February 2000. One pillar
was pushed over and two iron spans collapsed and
were washed some distance down river. This bridge
once formed part of the Selati Railway line that
wound its way through the park to Skukuza . Construction
on the bridge started in 1894 and was completed just
before the 1900's.
• The
Selati Line was probably the start of mass tourism
in the Kruger Park with passenger trains following
the route to Skukuza. Seeing the historical importance
of the bridge in that light, management at Crocodile
Bridge is investigating the possible repair of the
Railway Bridge and welcome any person or institution
that has an interest in this project to please contact
us. For your convenience we include an e-mail form
which you may complete and "submit".
Wildlife:
• Mammals: Crocodile
Bridge is in great game viewing country and is
an ideal venue to pursue the big 5. Both rhino
species are regularly seen. Giraffe, zebra and
several antelope species are usually seen within
a few hundred metres of the camp gate. Lion, leopard
and cheetah are all regularly recorded, while hyena
patrol the camp fence every night.
See mammal checklist
• Birding: A
special to be looked for in this area is the Pinkthroated
Twinspot. Blackbellied Starlings have also been
recorded in this region. The rest camp itself has
a busy stream of bird activity. Look for Orange-breasted
Bush Shrike, Brown-headed Parrot and a host of
small ground feeding seedeaters such as waxbills,
manikins, firefinches, widowfinches and canaries.
• Vegetation: The
camp is situated in knob thorn/marula savannah
on basalt soils. Other prominent trees include
the round-leafed teak. The grass is sweet thus
attracting many grazing species. Immediately west
is a zone of delagoa thorn thicket on ecca shale
soil. Here prevalent trees include the delagoa
thorn and the magic guarri. The grass is still
sweet, but shorter. To the east of camp is the
Lebombo Mountain Range. Here the vegetation differs
again. However there are no public access roads
into this area.
