Kirkmans Camp
Sabi SandsHarry Kirkman was a legendary warden and conservationist and Kirkman's Kamp is where he used to call home. This opulent Victorian-themed masterpiece conjures an atmosphere of bygone luxury and calm on the banks of the Sand River. The Kirkman's concession is set in one of the greater Kruger National Park's most game rich regions and the camp is famed for its inspired and fascinated game guides and trackers who will interpret the wonders of this natural paradise to you. For brilliant family and couple safaris, look no further than Kirkman's Kamp.
A homestead from home
Kirkman’s Kamp is the original home of the legendary conservation crusader, Harry Kirkman. While the 18 gorgeous suites feel like home, they are exquisitely appointed in the opulence of the 1920s when the camp’s original buildings were lovingly laid out. The homestead is surrounded by lush lawns beyond which 2.2 million hectares of the Kruger National Park stretch.
The Victorian main area boasts a beautiful bar and shaded verandas where you can while away the midday with a gin and tonic as a sounder of warthogs graze on the expansive lawns or a grey-headed bush shrike calls eerily in the branches of the ancient giants that shade the camp.
On hot days you can dip into the generous pool to cool off and on the milder winter middays you might even like to make use of the camp tennis court – a rarity in this area and an excellent way to work off the delicious Kirkman’s meals.
Luxurious cottages
The 18 suites surround the main area and pay tribute to the Victorian era but boast all the modern creature comforts you could imagine including a spacious bedroom, en suite bathroom with ball and claw bath and separate outside seating area with stunning views of the magnificent Kruger wilderness beyond. The suites are secluded enough for couples to enjoy complete privacy while families can be accommodated in adjacent cottages for easy access.
Quintessential Pan-African cuisine
Three delicious pan-African themed meals are served either in the dining room, on the veranda or in the privacy of your own room. Dinners are sumptuous affairs in the boma under the milky way with a crackling camp fire to enhance the atmosphere of the gorgeous African nights.
The joy of the greater Kruger National Park
Each day, as the African sun turns the horizon from inky purple to deep crimson, and the crested francolins herald the start of a new day, you will sip a steaming cup of coffee before heading out into the wild on a 4 X 4 safari vehicle. Your experienced and knowledgeable ranger and tracker team will unveil the mysteries and wonders of Africa’s oldest national parks. You might follow fresh leopard tracks and find a famous Sabi-Sands leopard resting in the boughs of a marula tree. You will enjoy herds of elephants as they feed along the Sand River and endangered rhino will delight you with their gentleness and humility.
Then, if you want a bit of exercise after breakfast, a walk in the vicinity of the camp will allow you to appreciate the smaller parts of the Kruger ecology – the birds, trees, tracks and flowers.
The day’s wilderness activities are rounded off with dusk game drive that leads into a spotlit night drive that might reveal spotted hyaena and perhaps a pride of lions on the hunt.
Travelling to Kirkman’s Kamp
Travelling to Kirkman’s Kamp is quick and convenient from Johannesburg or Cape Town. There are daily flights from Johannesburg OR Tambo International Airport into the charming Kruger airport of Skukuza. From the airport, there is a short and scenic game drive to the lodge. Daily charters also fly onto a nearby private airfield and Iconic Africa will recommend the best travel options depending on your itinerary. From Cape Town, we recommend a direct flight to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport. From there it is a two hour drive or a twenty minute flight to Skukuza or the private airfield nearby.
A gem in a rich jewel box
Iconic Africa recommends that Kirkman’s Kamp form only part of your African adventure holiday. Why not start in the stunning Cape – either in cosmopolitan Cape Town with its scenic splendour, fine dining and world-famous wine estates, or in Hermanus where the Atlantic boasts some of the finest whale viewing in the world. From the Cape, the majesty and adventure of the Victoria Falls is an excellent next destination before finishing your holiday at Kirkman’s Kamp – you might also like to add in a romantic few days on a private island floating in Azure waters off the coast of Mozambique.
Why Kirkman’s Kamp?
- World-beating Kruger wildlife
- Opulent, Victorian luxury
- Excellent pan-African cuisine
- Great for couples and for families
Kirkman’s Kamp is a glorious tribute to Victorian luxury and Kruger history. It offers some of the best game viewing, friendly service and some of the most delicious food that South Africa has to offer.
To read about one of our guests experiences at Kirkmans Camp on our blog, click here.
Contact Iconic Africa now to include Kirkman’s Kamp in your epic African adventure.
