GOOD TO KNOW

Stay in a historical cottage at Punda Maria

Early in the 20th century the most north-eastern part of the Kruger Park – where South Africa borders Mozambique and Zimbabwe – was a very wild place, nicknamed Crook’s Corner because it was the hideout of big game hunters, poachers and recruiters looking for illegal mine workers. To counter this, a police station was built at Punda Maria in the 1930s. The police station was shut down in the 1970s and became living quarters for park staff and researchers. And the policeman’s cottage next door fell into disrepair and stood empty for years. Now the old house has been converted into a luxury self-catering unit called Russell Cottage. The renovation was funded by a donation from the estate of wildlife lovers Roland and Ursula D’Ivry Russell. Camp manager Garth Holt and his team took care to preserve the history of the building. They kept the original window and door frames and the furniture and decor hint at a bygone era. The charge office has made way for a boma with braai facilities, but the outdoor shower, made using an old water tank, has been preserved. Russell Cottage is up against the hill as you drive into Punda Maria. It’s a fair distance from the other accommodation and offers good privacy. The cottage comes fully equipped, with air conditioning and two en suite double rooms sleeping four people. The big stoep has screen doors and windows and views of the Punda Valley. It’s just the place to relax with a G&T after a long day of birdwatching on the banks of the Luvuvhu River. Rate: From R2 130 per night for four people. Contact: 012 428 9111; sanparks.org