Things to Do

Lush Blyde River Canyon with its sub-tropical foliage delights hikers. Impressive rock formations and plunging waterfalls punctuate the landscape. Its geological highlights include The Pinnacle, a 30 metre high quartzite needle, Bourke’s Luck Potholes, ground into the landscape at the confluence of the Treur and Blyde Rivers and of course, the iconic Three Rondavels. The cascades at Lisbon, Berlin and Mac Mac Falls add drama to an already magnificent setting. Deep in the Mankelekele Mountains you’ll discover the Sudwala Caves, thought to be the oldest in the world, and the nearby Dinosaur Park, whose life size models chronicle a time that fascinates us to this day.

Kruger is only a ten minute drive from Cambalala

Kruger National Park is firmly on the A-list of African national parks. South Africa’s flagship park is characterised by the diversity of its habitats and therefore its great variety of wildlife also. You can tick off the Big Five – that’s elephant, rhino, leopard, buffalo and lion – in your first morning and still have a Noah’s Ark full of animals to cross off your safari bucket list. Cheetah, hyenas, zebra, monkeys, antelopes and more birds than you can crane your neck to look at afford the very best of nature’s riches.

Beware – you’ll become almost blasé. Some say you can spot the most recently arrived tourists in Kruger National Park because their cameras are the only ones still clicking away at the ubiquitous impala. Safari veterans will enjoy the chance to look out for the Little Five, though if you’re a novice, you might need to Google the Buffalo Weaver, Elephant Shrew, Leopard Tortoise, Ant Lion and Rhino Beetle first so that you know what you’re looking for.

Best of all, this is accessible wilderness. Kruger is only a ten minute drive from Cambalala and as one of the world’s most accessible parks, it’s a safe and popular choice for a self-drive safari. You don’t need to confine yourself to your car. Kruger also offers a wide range of hiking trails and draws mountain bikers keen to explore. Game drives and guided walking tours can be conveniently booked at the reception desk of Kruger Park Lodge, taking the organisational headache out of your trip. And finally, a word from the wise: don’t forget to schedule in some downtime. Why not spend the morning exploring Kruger before returning to Cambalala for a leisurely lunch and a siesta? With the park so close, you can afford to dip in and out.

Easy access to the Panorama Route, Blyde River Canyon and Kruger National Park

Cambalala nestles in the heart of Mpumalanga Province, in the east of South Africa, its name in both Zulu and the local SiSwati language meaning “the place where the sun rises”. The chalets are perfectly situated for visiting not only Kruger National Park, but for excursions along the famed Panorama Route as well. The breathtaking views over the Klein Drakensberg escarpment are some of the most spectacular in the country, with the God’s Window viewpoint perhaps the jewel in the crown.

Lush Blyde River Canyon with its sub-tropical foliage delights hikers. Impressive rock formations and plunging waterfalls punctuate the landscape. Its geological highlights include The Pinnacle, a 30 metre high quartzite needle, Bourke’s Luck Potholes, ground into the landscape at the confluence of the Treur and Blyde Rivers and of course, the iconic Three Rondavels. The cascades at Lisbon, Berlin and Mac Mac Falls add drama to an already magnificent setting. Deep in the Mankelekele Mountains you’ll discover the Sudwala Caves, thought to be the oldest in the world, and the nearby Dinosaur Park, whose life size models chronicle a time that fascinates us to this day.

People have left their mark here too. At the gold rush town of Pilgrim’s Rest you can try your luck panning for gold, just as the first prospectors would have done back in 1873. The Shangana Cultural Village will delight those interested in the area’s cultural heritage. There, you can shop for locally made crafts at the village’s traditional market, enjoy music and dance performances and share dinner at the Chief’s Kraal.