If you’ve taken the time to read many of the lodge profiles on the Bushscapes website, one thing you can’t have failed to notice is that we’re huge fans of tented camps. Being able to clearly hear the night sounds of the bush outside whilst you’re tucked up in your warm bed, is one of the greatest pleasures in life in our view! What’s even better is if that tented camp is situated in an area boasting fantastic wildlife - and that’s exactly the case with Camp Shonga!

Located within the 15 000 hectare expanse that is the Mpanamana private concession in the far south-eastern corner of the Kruger  Park (some of the most game rich country within the entire national park) lie 3 different camps of varying sizes and characters, of which 2 happen to be tented camps. The simpler of the 2 is Camp Shonga (the other tented lodge on the concession is called Camp Shawu), a simple little camp consisting of 5 spacious tented suites – in fact the canvas tents lie beneath substantial thatched roofs which offer some relief from the heat of the sun (a welcome intervention given that the tents aren’t air-conditioned) and also provide a greater sense of security for those guests who may feel a little trepidation about sleeping in a “tent”. The good news though is that despite this extra solidity, the tented suites at Camp Shonga still let in all the marvellous sounds of the bush outside! Especially at night, you can drift off to sleep accompanied by the calls of the nightjars and perhaps the cackling of hyenas or even the distant (or not so distant!) roars of lions!

The flip side of the coin of being one of the longest established Kruger concessions is that Camp Shonga and its sister lodges aren’t likely to win any points these days from the style aficionados who have been increasingly spoiled by the very contemporary architecture of many of the newly built lodges that have emerged in recent years. The style here at Camp Shonga by contrast, is unapologetically traditional and whilst some will find them dated, fans of traditional safari camps will have much to enjoy (including the much more reasonable pricing compared to the more stylish new competitors!) So if your priority is on great game viewing in a small, intimate traditional game lodge where the focus is on personal service and a close connection with the surrounding bush, then Camp Shonga may well be a good choice.

The 5 individual tents here are hugely spacious with a comfortable lounge area lying adjacent to the massive bed nestled under a huge mosquito net. A highlight of the en-suite bathrooms are the ball and claw baths which fit in perfectly with the traditional styling and add a welcome romantic touch. We’re also big fans of the outside shower on the private game-viewing deck – we find there’s little to beat the feeling of freedom of showering under the open African skies! As mentioned previously there’s no air-con here, with ceiling fans doing the job of offering some cooling during the heat of summer, whilst the open fireplace takes care of adding some welcome warmth in the chilly winter months.

The central common area consists of a simple but cosy lounge and open deck where guests can relax while sipping a cool drink as the game wanders past. A splash pool is an added comfort to enjoy in the heat of the summer – and with just 10 guests maximum, of course the attentive staff are pretty much at your beck and call. In the evenings, delicious traditional cuisine is usually served in the camp's outdoor boma where guests can enjoy their meal around a roaring fire, with nothing but the African night sky overhead!

As mentioned previously, the Mpanamana private concession is located in the extreme south-eastern corner of the Kruger Park, with the Crocodile river acting as the southern boundary and the Lebombo mountains on the border of Mozambique also acting as a natural barrier to the east. And the chances are pretty decent that those lion roars that you heard in the night from your cosy bed might indeed be pretty close by – after all, the superb game viewing in this far southerly section of the park is justifiably famous and is the main attraction for being here in the first place!

Going out with your knowledgeable rangers on your twice daily game drives, you’re free to explore the 15 000 hectares of the Mpanamana concession without the crowds and traffic jams that you’ll typically encounter on the public roads in the park. The other good news is that because the lodges in the concession have operated here for many years, the rangers know the area like the back of their hands and the game is relaxed and well habituated to the open game-drive vehicles, enabling you to often get really up-close-and-personal sightings of big game!