A visit to Pungwe Safari Camp is an African wilderness adventure par excellence, thanks to the camp's ethos of creating authentic safari experiences that completely immerse you in the wonderfully wild environment of the Manyeleti. Here are 10 of the top experiences that really make our little camp stand out...

1. Unfenced & authentic

Pungwe is completely open to the wilderness around it. There are no fences to keep animals out which means that we often have wildlife in and around camp. From elephants and buffalo to lions, hyena and leopard, the list of "visitors" is endless and creates a truly authentic camp environment where guests become part of the environment rather than separated from it. During the day you are free to move around camp but are advised to keep a wary eye out for wildlife. At night you are escorted to and from your tents by our staff. 

2. Big cat encounters

The Manyeleti is renowned for its concentrations of predators like lion, leopard and cheetah, with frequent sightings across the reserve. Thanks to its position wedged between the Timbavati, Kruger National Park and Sabi Sand private game reserve, with no fences between any of them, the game viewing is usually excellent all year round. Most of our leopards and our lions are accustomed to safari vehicles, allowing for close encounters of the feline kind. While sightings of cheetah are less frequent, when we do see these wonderful creatures, they are relaxed enough to allow for stunning photographs.

3. Elephants

From large, lone bulls to breeding herds and bachelor groups, the Manyeleti is not short of elephant sightings. We often have a local bull in camp, browsing along the drainage line and generally exploring, which adds a lot of excitement to things! During the winter, the Manyeleti's dams and waterholes are prime locations for great elephant sightings, and in the green season the reserve is full of "ellies" feeding on the fantastic grasses and trees, with exceptional sightings in our open areas and around water. If you're lucky, you'll hear the unmistakable "rumble" of elephants passing through or close to camp at night. 

4. Birding

Absolutely exceptional all year round, but off the charts in the emerald summer season, Pungwe is the place to be if you're a keen birder. Whether you're out on game activities, walking or even just sitting in camp close to our bird baths, you're sure to see a fantastic variety of birdlife, from small blue waxbills, firefinches and southern black tits to long-billed crombecs, red and yellow-billed hornbills, brown-hooded kingfishers and crested francolin. Spring and summer sees the skies filled with migrant species like Wahlberg's eagle, the woodland kingfisher (whose distinctive call welcomes in the rainy season of plenty) and southern carmine bee-eater. So don't forget your binoculars!

5. Walking 

When conditions are favourable, we love to offer our guests the opportunity to do a guided morning walk, either heading off from camp or driving for a short while before getting off to explore further afield on foot. Walking allows you to see all of the small things you rarely notice on a game drive and immerses you in the wilderness, allowing you to really understand the way the Manyeleti's ecosystems work. Your guides explain about geology, grasses, tracks and signs, how they read the bush for clues as to what has passed by and when, and show you insects, trees and shrubs, explaining how everything is connected in the wonderful web that is Mother Nature.

6. The campfire

It's the heart of our camp, as every good hearth should be. It's also the gathering point for our guests, who come to it for morning coffee before heading off into the wilderness to explore, and return to it before breakfast, chatting to one another and Nandrick - our "fire master" and maintenance magician. It's the "welcome home" following an exciting afternoon/night drive where pre-dinner drinks are enjoyed around its dancing flames, and the perfect place for an after-dinner digestif before heading off to bed. It's also where we share stories of our adventures, the things we've seen and amazing encounters we've had, where lively conversations are the order of the day.

7. Amazing food

From home-baked cookies on your morning game drive and incredible breakfast spreads to sensational high teas, snack stops and sundowners during your afternoon/evening drive and fabulous dinners, you most definitely will not go hungry at Pungwe. We cater for all dietary requirements provided we are notified in advance of these, and our talented Chef Carol is an absolute genius when it comes to creating delicious dishes for all of our guests. We take the opportunity where possible to cook over our open campfire, infusing mealtime with a wonderful authenticity that's hard to recreate on a stove. 

8. Game drives

Heading out just as the sun rises and again in the afternoon as it begins to dip towards the horizon, the excitement of climbing on to an open game vehicle never fades. It's fuelled by the anticipation of what you might see, and what's waiting around the next bend in the road... What will the eagle eyes of tracker Wonder Boy pick up that eyes used to cityscapes may miss? More than anything, game drives are about the incredible feeling you get being out in the wilderness of the Manyeleti, far from everything familiar, with the African sun on your face and the wind in your hair. No two drives are ever the same, which adds to the excitement.

9. Sleeping under canvas

Pungwe's en-suite tents offer all the mod cons and lots of space and comfort, but their superpower is allowing guests to hear everything that's going on around them, especially at night. The furtive rustles of civets as they forage close to the tents... The low rumble of elephants communicating as they pass by... The roaring of lions in the distance... The haunting call of the hyena... A scops owl's distinctive, repetitive frog-like "prrrup"... And what feels like a million crickets chirping in harmony... All of this makes staying at Pungwe pure safari magic.

10. Digital detox

We're off grid with no wifi! While you may get occasional signal from certain cellular providers (especially from the top of our camp termitarium) Pungwe is a place where you'll enjoy a complete digital detox, and we encourage you to use your phone to take photos and videos and nothing more. We've got enough solar power for you to charge your camera batteries and phone, but the rest is "au naturel" with lanterns for light in the evenings, wood-burning "donkey" boilers to create the hot water for your showers and the campfire and hot water bottles as needed for warmth. So enjoy the chance to forget social media, emails and WhatsApp!