The Letaba ("River of Sand") rest camp, a green and lush oasis amidst Mopane bushveld, is a top location for game viewing, particularly elephant, which thrive in the area.

Learn more about the camp by clicking on any of the items in the menu below;

GENERAL INFO	CLIMATE
MAP	ACCOMMODATION AVAILABILITY
FACILITIES	RESERVATIONS
ACCOMMODATION	TARIFFS
ACTIVITIES	HOW TO GET THERE

Letaba rest camp
copyright © South African tourism

General info,...

This idyllic rest camp with its relaxed atmosphere lies on a sweeping bend of the Letaba river, midway between the southern and northern boundaries of the Kruger National Park, only 50km away from the Phalaborwa gate. In the camp at night, before you slumber away into sleep, you can listen to a symphony of sounds. Owls, nightjars, frogs, fruit bats, crickets and cicadas, all contesting to be heard, until the lion roars, then all are silent.

The riverine camp, with beautiful lawns, indigenous shrubs and tall shady trees such as the Sycamore fig, Natal Mahogany, Sausage tree and Apple Leaf, is a favourite with visitors. Game viewing in the region, with most of the Kruger National Park’s larger animals and predators present, is excellent. Antelope, Buffalo and in particular Elephants are regularly to be seen in the Letaba riverbed itself.

View across the Letaba riverbed from the restaurant area - Letaba rest camp
Photograph by Chris Eason

Visitors need not even leave the camp to view these animals and some lucky guests have been fortunate enough to witness lion and cheetah kills on the sandy riverbed in front of the look-out area at the restaurant complex. Letaba camp itself hosts a healthy population of bushbuck that have become very tame and wander freely amongst the bungalows. Other camp residents include tree squirrels, fruit bats and vervet monkeys which must always be considered before leaving food unattended.

With a rich bird population, Letaba rest camp and surroundings offers magnificent bird watching opportunities all year round. The camp is particularly known for viewing owls, of which the Pearl-spotted Owl, the African Barred Owlet and the African Scops Owl are all resident in the camp and you should be able to hear them when nightfall comes. The rest camp's Red-headed Weavers are unusually bold, they nest near the petrol station and in front of the restaurant.

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Map,...

Elephant drinking party
Photograph by Arno Meintjes

CLICK HERE... to view a map of the Kruger National park showing the location of Letaba rest camp, then click on the map to enlarge

CLICK HERE... to view a map of the Letaba rest camp showing the lay out of the camp itself, then click on the map to enlarge

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Facilities,...

View across the Letaba riverbed from the cafeteria

There is a wide range of services at Letaba, including the usual shop, restaurant, cafeteria, petrol station and communal ablution, cooking and laundry facilities, but notably also an ATM, an information centre and an emergency vehicle repair facility. Letaba restaurant offers you an relaxing atmosphere with waiters serving you at your table. And if you feel like a real South African “braai” (barbecue), there is a boma just next to the restaurant.

The information desk at the reception of the camp can give you detailed information about all the facilities available, which are as follows;

• Information at Reception
• Public Telephone
• Post Box
• Restaurant
• Cafeteria
• Shop
• Laundromat (in camp)
• Filling Station (cash and garage cards only)
• Communal Kitchens
• Communal Ablutions
• Swimming Pool
• Cutlery and Plates Hampers (from Reception)
• Basic First Aid Assistance
• Day Visitors Picnic Area on perimeter of camp with own swimming pool
• DSTV (limited channels) only available in Guest Houses
• Cell phone reception

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Accommodation,...

Visitors at the Letaba Elephant Hall
copyright © South African tourism

Letaba rest camp has been upgraded in recent years and is well looked after. From luxury and self-catering to camping, caravanning and safari tent accommodation, Letaba caters to a variety of guest requirements and needs, to make your stay in the wilderness a pleasurable experience. The comfortable air-conditioned accommodation units at Letaba are spaciously spread out in semi-circles facing wooded lawns and the river beyond.

All units are serviced daily and supplied with bedding, towels and soap. The accommodation of Letaba rest camp comprises the following;

CAMPING SITES

60 x tent or caravan sites, with power point. Communal ablutions and cooking facilities. (24 hour boiling water, electric hotplates and washing up facilities) Maximum of 6 persons per site.

HUTS

5 x rustic 3-bed units with communal ablution facilities. There are no cooking utensils, crockery or cutlery, but a communal kitchen (located at the old picnic spot) with sink and electric stoves is available. Also equipped with fridge, fan and air conditioner. You have a choice of perimeter or river view units. Please confirm when booking.

SAFARI TENTS

10 x 2-bed and 10 x 4-bed permanently furnished, budget type canvas tents on stilts, including a fridge, standing fan inside tent and small veranda. Communal ablutions and communal kitchens are available.

Riverine vegetation adorning the Letaba rest camp
copyright © South Africa tours and travel.com

BUNGALOWS

86 x round-walled and single-room, African style units with thatched roofs, 2 or 3 beds per unit, equipped with en-suite ablutions (most with showers, but some with baths). All units have air-conditioning, some have fans. Kitchenettes vary, some have hotplates and sinks, some have only sinks, while some have neither. Cutlery and crockery can be provided and hired from reception. You have a choice between perimeter or river view units. Please confirm when booking.

GUEST COTTAGES

10 x 6-bed units (2 single beds in each bedroom), equipped with two bathrooms (one en-suite), air-conditioning (only in the bedrooms), lounge/dining area (with ceiling fan), large veranda and outside braai (barbecue). The open plan kitchen has a four plate gas stove with oven, fridge/freezer combination, sink, cooking utensils, crockery and cutlery and 6-seater dining room/lounge.

Guest cottage at Letaba rest camp
Photograph by Chris Eason

GUEST HOUSES

These are large luxury units in prime positions inside the camp, with riverside view. There are well-equipped kitchens (with microwave ovens) and multiple bedrooms and bathrooms. Limited channel DSTV televisions are provided. There are two Guest houses at Letaba.

Melville guest house: Sleeps 9, with 3 bedrooms (2 single beds in each room) and an additional single bed on the enclosed veranda.

Fish Eagle guest house: Sleeps 8, with 4 bedrooms (2 single beds in each room) and has an exclusive bird hide.

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Ativities,...

Guided game drive
copyright © South African tourism

Letaba rest camp is popular with visitors for the variety of activities it offers, from guided morning, sunset and night game drives and morning and afternoon game walks, to bush “braais” (barbecues) and bush breakfasts, a 2 day hike along the Olifants river, or a visit to the reconstructed iron age village at Masorini. A visit to Letaba camp’s Elephant Hall is not to be missed. It houses the enormous tusks of the seven greatest elephants the Kruger National Park has seen, known as the magnificent seven.

The variety of activities at Letaba rest camp include the following;

• Guided Bush Walks
• Game Drives (in the company of trained field guides)
• Bush Breakfast and Bush "Braai" (Barbecue). Includes game drive to venue. Confirm availability when booking.
• Letaba Elephant Hall
• TV Lounge
• Riverside camp walk
• Masorini Ruins (located about 38 km west of the camp)
• Matambeni Bird Hide (located about 10 km north of the camp)
• Kids Educational Programme (Seasonal)
• Olifants Wilderness Trail (pre-booked overnight activity)
• Mananga 4 x 4 Adventure Trail (weather sensitive activity - book at Phalaborwa Gate)
• Wildlife films (except Sundays)

These activities will ensure an exciting bush experience. All bookings, as well as further details are available from the reception desk at the camp.

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Climate,...

Herd of buffalos going for a drink at the Letaba river
copyright © South African tourism

Kruger National Park lies in a summer rainfall area with occasional bursts of quick summer storms (which can be quite heavy) occurring later in the day, cooling the air and settling the dust. The summer months (October to April) are hot and often quite humid. Winters are warm and mild with cool evenings. Visitors going on night drives during the winter period will require warm clothing.

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How to get there,...

Elephant Hall of fame at the Letaba rest camp
copyright © South Africa tours and travel.com

BY AIR:

The closest airport to Letaba is Gateway Airport situated in Phalaborwa, approximately 3 km from the Phalaborwa entrance gate into the Kruger National Park. There are daily scheduled flights between Gateway and OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. Letaba Rest Camp is 51km away from the gate. Allow about 2 hours for the drive to the camp.

BY ROAD VIA PHALABORWA GATE:

Take the N1 toll-road to Polokwane (Pietersburg). 40km before Polokwane turn right onto the R71 and head for Tzaneen. After Tzaneen continue with the R71, heading towards Phalaborwa and the gate. Travelling from Johannesburg or Pretoria,allow between 6 to 7 hours for the trip to the gate. Letaba Rest Camp is 51km away from the gate. Allow about 2 hours for the drive to the camp, however if you want to enjoy the game viewing possibilities give yourself more time.

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Accommodation availability,...

Bush hikers with their guide on the Olifants wilderness trail in the Kruger national Park
copyright © South African tourism

CLICK HERE to view a monthly calendar with accommodation availability details of Letaba rest camp.

You will then be able to view the accommodation availability page of the South African National Parks organization (SANparks), for Kruger National Park’s Letaba rest camp.

• If you click on the accommodation type, you will see the facilities and content of that particular accommodation unit.
• The accommodation code enables you to book a specific type of accommodation - if you provide it with your request for booking.
• The figure between the square brackets [ ] is the number of units at the specific time and date of visit to the accommodation availability page.
• Please Note that the information is updated and therefore changing real-time on a continuous basis and that requests for reservations are processed on first-come-first- serve basis.

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Reservations,...

Hippo showing who is boss in the Letaba river - Letaba rest camp
copyright © South African tourism

CLICK HERE to book your reservation for the Letaba rest camp in the Kruger National Park on the official reservations page of the South African National Parks organization's (SANparks) website.

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Tariffs,...

The tariffs applicable to the Letaba rest camp for the periods 1 November 2006 to 31 October 2007 and 1 November 2007 to 31 October 2008 as published by the South African National Parks organization (SANparks), are as follows;

Tariffs from 1 November 2006 to 31 October 2007

CK = Communal Kitchen K = Hotplate and sink P = Perimeter

Unit type

Units

Rate

Base

Max. beds

Add. Adult

Add. Child

Camping	35	R110,00	1-2	6 people	R38,00	R19,00
Hut	5	R295,00	1-2	3 people	R76,00	R38,00
Safari Tent - communal facilities	10	R250,00	1-2	2 people	N/A	R38,00
Safari Tent - communal facilities	10	R250,00	1-2	4 people	R76,00	R38,00
Bungalow CK	14	R455,00	1-2	2or3 people	R108,00	R54,00
Bungalow K or P with CK	47	R490,00	1-2	2or3 people	R108,00	R54,00
Bungalow K & P	27	R540,00	1-2	2or3 people	R108,00	R54,00
Guest Cottage	10	R935,00	1-4	6 people	R190,00	R190,00
Guest House Fish Eagle	1	R1750,00	1-4	8 people	R320,00	R320,00
Guest House Melville	1	R1750,00	1-4	9 people	R320,00	R320,00

Tariffs from 1 November 2007 to 31 October 2008

CK = Communal Kitchen K = Hotplate and sink P = Perimeter

Unit type

Units

Rate

Base

Max. beds

Add. Adult

Add. Child

Camping	35	R120,00	1-2	6 people	R40,00	R20,00
Hut	5	R315,00	1-2	3 people	R80,00	R40,00
Safari Tent - communal facilities	10	R275,00	1-2	2 people	N/A	R40,00
Safari Tent - communal facilities	10	R275,00	1-2	4 people	R80,00	R40,00
Bungalow CK	14	R490,00	1-2	2or3 people	R116,00	R58,00
Bungalow K or P with CK	47	R435,00	1-2	2or3 people	R116,00	R58,00
Bungalow K & P	27	R595,00	1-2	2or3 people	R116,00	R58,00
Guest Cottage	10	R1025,00	1-4	6 people	R200,00	R100,00
Guest House Fish Eagle	1	R1870,00	1-4	8 people	R340,00	R340,00
Guest House Melville	1	R1870,00	1-4	9 people	R340,00	R340,00

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