BALULE CAMP, KRUGER NATIONAL PARK Jennifer Platt, Books editor

Idon’t do camping. The reasons are all too silly, common and numerous. For one, I need my own en-suite. Also, camping reminds me of those horrendous Orkney Snork Nie holiday films we watched when we were kids — not understanding the Afrikaans humour.

Then there’s the fact that I don’t like the mothball/damp smell one often finds in caravans. Tents are the worst (why would anyone consider that shelter?) and you have to cook and clean everything (even yourself) in rudimentary ways, sharing those facilities with strangers. Eeeyuck.

But, when offered a camping holiday in the Kruger National Park with my best friend, and promised loads of G&Ts, I said what the heck.

We visited various camps daily, putting up the tent when we got there, and waking up early to take it down. That had been expected and wasn’t too bad.

Then we got to Balule. The campsite only offers 15 places for tents and caravans. There’s no electricity, no shops, and no restaurant. Somehow, because of this, everybody speaks in their softer inside voices. There’s no music, just the sounds of animals and insects. Hyenas lie in wait in front of you while you braai — there’s a double electric fence keeping them at bay. It’s so quiet you can even hear the mostly silent elephants munching the top leaves of shrubs. It’s simply a soulful and blissful experience.

Balule Camp is a satellite camp of Olifants Rest Camp and not open to day visitors. Book at krugerpark.co.za 27•10•2019