New rustic camp is “a dream come true”

Five years ago I had a dream to build a rustic camp similar to Marula but closer to home. For section ranger Johann Oelofse, home at that stage and for the last 13 years is the Mooiplaas section near Mopani Rest camp. The dream was Tsende, the new rustic camp whose gates Kruger hopes to open in November this year.

Johann has always been very impressed with Marula Camp, which is situated near Orpen Gate, as the ideal tourist facility. “It is a winning recipe.” “I have always wondered why it is not repeated in the Park and thought the spot next to the Mooiplaas picnic spot would be an ideal site for a similar camp,” he said.

Johann put the proposal to the Kruger management some time ago as part of an internal programme referred to as the Business Proposal Initiative. It was well received, but gathered some dust until about three years ago when the idea was revived for the Mopani Plan and, once again, put to regional manager, Ben van Eeden.

Ben conducted a financial feasibility study and after an environmental impact assessment was carried out, “the rest is history”. Tsende Rustic Camp will have 30 sites. “It is truly rustic, with no electricity, no lawns and no formal paved roadways,” says Johann.

The terrain is laid out in the form of a capital B, with the two sets of ablution blocks and kitchens in the eyes of the B.

The sites are scattered around the B, and great care was taken to ensure maximum privacy where possible. The magnificent trees, huge mopanis, leadwood and apple-leaf, apart from providing welcome and wonderful shade, will leave visitors in awe and are certain to become Tsende’s hallmark.

The campsite is fully fenced with an electrified elephantproof fence and according to Johann, most sites have been placed in such a manner that the fence cannot be seen from the sites. “A site will consist of a 10x12m compacted gravelled area with a braai grid, water tap and a dust bin,” Johann added.

Although the ablution facilities and kitchen have been built to accommodate modern needs, the exterior will be finished in rough wood and thatch to maintain the rustic feel of the camp. “We have also left two of the six showers open to the skies above for those who prefer a closer feel to nature,” says Johann. Reservations, checking in and shopping can be done at the Mopani Rest Camp, which

is about seven kilometres from the Tsende Rustic Camp. “If all goes well, we hope to open in November,” says Johann adding that “hopefully these camps will set the trend for all future camps in the Park.”