Tamboti Tented Camp, Kruger National Park

I’ll admit upfront that I’m biased: Tamboti is my favourite camp in the Kruger. In fact, it’s my favourite camp in the world! It’s in an excellent game-viewing area: As you drive out of camp, there’s a patch of grassland where you’ll see grazing wildebeest, zebra, impala and sometimes a rhino or two. Vultures sit in the trees, waiting for action. The other thing that makes Tamboti great is that nearly all the tents have views of the Timbavati River bed. Late afternoon, without fail, a hyena will trot past as baboons scramble into the trees on the opposite bank. And when the moon is up, you might hear the rasping call of a leopard… Inside the camp there’s just as much action. Watch your braai so a honey badger doesn’t grab your chops. Bushbabies and scops-owls will compete to see who can make the loudest noise and a spotted genet will vanish silently under the deck of your safari tent. At Tamboti – like at most other tented camps in the Kruger – you share ablution facilities and a kitchen. The standard tents usually have a fridge, a table, a braai and chairs – you need to bring your own utensils as if you were camping. ( There’s also the option to hire crockery and cutlery at reception; R50 per day.) If you feel like spoiling yourself, stay in one of the more luxurious, fully equipped en suite tents. The camp also has wheelchair-friendly tents. Niggles? Walking to the ablution block in the dark can be scary, especially if you have an overactive imagination. Tents 8, 9, 25 and 26 are closest to the bathrooms. Rates: Four-sleeper standard safari tent from R646 per night for two people, plus R172 per extra adult and R86 per extra child. Four-sleeper luxury tent from R1 488 per night for two people, plus R263 per extra adult and R132 per extra child. Conservation fee R83 per person per day; free with a Wild card. Rates will go up on 1 November 2018. Where? Tamboti is next to Orpen rest camp, close to the Orpen gate. The nearest town is Hoedspruit, about 30 km away. Contact: 012 428 9111; sanparks.org Other Kruger camps with safari tents? Skukuza, Crocodile Bridge, Lower Sabie, Letaba, Punda Maria.