Relaxing on your private balcony, raised to eye level with the treetops, enjoying the cool breeze and the presence of birdsong is a dreamlike reality for some, and at nThambo Tree Camp, it is where the fun only begins. Vistas from the guest’s special treehouse-style chalets include a panoramic look at the Drakensberg Mountains on the horizon, and the ambling Klaserie terrain that unfolds before them. Roaming between the marula trees, gnarled leadwoods, scaly tambotis, and scattered shrubs and thickets are Kruger Park’s famous inhabitants. This is a wild sanctuary, unfenced and free-flowing, allowing for the migratory movements of wildlife within the vast boundaries of the Kruger National Park. nThambo Tree Camp chalets overlook this expansive wilderness, which is bound to be populated by wandering members of the wild!
nThambo’s 5 chalets are positioned alongside the main lodge, boma, and plunge pool, and face an open clearing between the trees, which houses an active little waterhole. Over the years we have witnessed a host of unexpected species sneaking a drink at the pan, adding incredible value to our guests’ experience. On occasion, we’ve arrived at the lodge after an evening game drive only to be surprised by a hyena or two, a leopard, honey badger, civet, or porcupine (to name a few) rustling around at the waterhole in the dark. It is certainly a popular little drinking spot for the local wildlife, and is the gift that keeps on giving for us at the lodge!
Recently, camp manager, Nadia, has kept her camera close at hand to capture the waterhole activity during the day, and there has certainly been a lot to see! Herds of elephants frequently move through the open clearing in front of nThambo, sometimes even bypassing the waterhole and making a beeline for our swimming pool – an absolute delight for guests relaxing in the lounge which overlooks the pool. There are no fences around the lodge, so the Klaserie’s wildlife moves freely throughout, and at any point during the day or night, the lodge can be the location of a safari parade!
Elephants are some of the most highly frequenting visitors, which is incredibly special for guests who have travelled to South Africa to see these wild giants in their natural habitat, but the fun does not stop there. Over the years, the nThambo open area has been the location of predator action, with both lion and cheetah kills taking place right in front of our eyes, while herds of antelope and ungulates have moved in unison to the waterhole and beyond.
It pays to raise your gaze to the trees, where birds of enormous diversity perch and sing, spying insects on the ground and flitting between branches competitively. Other tree-dwelling creatures we’ve spotted at nThambo Tree Camp are bush babies, snakes, monitor lizards, and monkeys, which are fantastic photographic subjects. It is just as rewarding to sit on the balcony, or lounge at the pool and absorb the surroundings, as it is to head out on game drive… Well, almost!
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