Location:

Kirkmans Kamp is situated in the south-eastern part of the Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve  .This reserve is privately owned by  some 35 different lodges and makes up a wildlife area of roughly 70000 hec (172 973 acers). Although each lodge owes its own property there are no fence between neighboring properties so the animals are free to roam wherever they want. The Sabi Sand Reserve is situated to the west of the famous Kruger national park , roughly some 2million hectares( 5million acers) and here too there are no fence between the two reserves so the animals have free range between the reserves. This global echo system stretches from round about Nelspriut in the south all the way up past Phalaborwa up to Pafuri and Crooks corner in the north (no-mans land were three countries come together, South Africa,Botswana and Zimbabwe). The eastern border is the Mozambique border and the western border is made up of a mixture of private reserves like the Sabi Sand , Timbavati , and Baluli reserves and small towns such as Hazyview ,Hoedspruit and Phalaborwa. this extended echo system is Known as the Greater Kruger national park and it in turn forms part of the international trans frontier park which stretches across various countries.

Map

Directions:

Best way to get there if you are not flying in from ORT or KMIA would be through the town of Nelspruit ( also referred to as the Gateway to the low veld or Kruger) on to Hazyview were you then head east along the R536 straight to Kruger.

The distance to the Gate is about 80 kms roughly 45min driving time as you have to drive through informal settlements for most of the way. about 60 kms out of Hayzeview you will turn left  onto a dirt road for 7-8km before getting  to the sabi sand reserve gate, best to use shawes gate (second turn off to the Sabi  Sand ) the one closest to kruger . The road is well marked with all the lodge signs.

Summary:

The lodge:

Kirkmans  is situated in on a ridge overlooking the sand river ,it has a very colonial feel to it, originally a hunting kamp of Sir Harry Kirkman appointed to establish cattle farming in the area. The lodge still has all the hunting  memorabilia as décor

The lodge falls into the And Beyond basket  and has the characteristic good level of service and excellent food.

for more lodge  click on the link:

http://www.africadirect.co.za/lodge.aspx?LodgeID=21

Size & Atmosphere: The camp is situated on a hill over looking  pristine bushveld and   sand river, It is a large camp with 18 rooms grouped together in clusters of 4 rooms. It has a very relaxed atmosphere , sort of home away from home. There is a lounge separate bar area and a library with fast internet access.

Communal Pool: It has a large pool with pristine views over looking the sand river

Mobile Phone and Internet Access: very bad mobile coverage ,have to stand under a specific tree to get a weak signal this proves very inconvenient if you need to stay in contact with your office or staff.  Internet access is good at the guest computer in the library

Spa: Does not have a full spa but relaxing massages are given in the solarium at the pool

Child Policy: This is a child friendly lodge , kids are allowed on game drive from the age of 12 unless you have a group and you and all on the vehicle know each other in which case they may allow younger kids to go on game drive.

Rooms:

Game Drives:

Vehicle/guest policy: normally six on a vehicle rare occasions more , Note : the tracker sits on the back seat so couple could be split with one partner sitting next to the tracker and the other on the seat in front. Because the have there own property the game viewing hours are more flexible than at other lodges who share property

Property and traversing size: This is a beautiful property with a long stretch of the sand river on it so always good for game viewing, especially in winter. Game drives traverse over 6300 hectares (15 700 acers). Property is not share with any other lodge so exclusivity is more or less guarantied, occasionally you may bump into a Mala Mala vehicle as this used to be a part of Mala Mala and the still have traversing rights on kirkmans