Many years ago, Amanda and I heard about naturists booking a complete bush camp in the Kruger National Park and we wanted to join them but for various reasons, we never had the time or the opportunity to do so. Our naturist friends raved about it, saying that it was very enjoyable. We spoke to the organisers, Fanus and Andrea, who put our names down for 2025. We paid the 50% deposit in 2024 already and we paid the balance in February 2025.
We don't have a caravan or a camping trailer with a tent on top, nor do we have a fancy bakkie with a rooftop tent – we only have a small tent which is more than 35 years old, we have camping mattresses and we have enough camping equipment such as a gas cylinder, a kettle to make coffee on a fire (or with gas) and many other bush kitchen items. We soon realised that we needed camping fridges and a new gazebo which we bought. We were excited for many months, and we spoke to some of our friends who had previously been part of the group.
We then became part of the 2025 WhatsApp Group. That was when we realised that we needed an electrical caravan plug as well as a proper roll up extension cord and a multi-plug. Many of our friends were on that WhatsApp Group and so we did not feel "new" because we were immediately made to feel like "family". Amanda and I are not very active on WhatsApp Groups, but we did read every message which made us even more excited. We had been away on tours, every month for 8 months and so we felt that we owed it to ourselves to relax and to have a well-deserved rest.
The arrival date was a Thursday, so we decided to leave at 3am that morning, hoping to be there first and to choose the best river-side camping site. We are not sure how it happened, but more than half of the naturists were already there when we arrived at 10am. Maybe they all had the same idea as us? Maybe they arrived a day or two before the date? It was not a problem – we found a great site under huge trees, next to the river – exactly what we wanted. We later found out that there were 29 couples plus 4 singles so a total of 60 naturists plus Amanda and me.
The organisers, Fanus and Andrea, were so on the ball – the camp was closed to the public. We each had our own key to the lock on the gate, and nobody could see into the camp. The toilets were always clean, and the facilities were perfect – including a nice wash-up area with hot water. Every night, bonfires and braai facilities were supplied by the organisers as part of the camping cost. The only additional cost was the entry fee to Kruger, which Amanda and I did not pay because we have a Wild Card.
Each morning, just after 6am, most of us left the camp to go on safari in Kruger and we needed to be back in camp by 5.30pm each afternoon. We packed a breakfast box, coffee and cold water as well as some snacks like biltong, nuts, biscuits, fruit etc. Every day we saw plenty of Elephants, we also saw many huge herds of Buffaloes, as well as Giraffes, Zebras, Wildebeest, Impalas, Hippos, Crocodiles, and many other animals. On 2 days we saw Lions walking on the road next to us and once in the riverbeds, and on 1 day we saw a Leopard in a tree near the tar road. We also saw Wild Dogs and Hyaenas apart from a Hyaena which visited us outside the camp fence every afternoon.
Amanda and I were busy compiling videos for our 2 tour websites, so we took many videos of animals and birds. We were thrilled with all the videos which we made during those 9 days in Kruger. We normally take our group tours to Marloth Park through the Crocodile Bridge Gate or Malelane Gate (in the south of Kruger), so it was exciting to spend time in the central area of Kruger, entering through the Orpen Gate and enjoying the area between Skukuza, Satara and Letaba.
The friendly atmosphere in the nudist camp every night was special, whether it was around the bonfires, in the ablutions or while resting at our campsite. Some of the naturists walked around, getting to know all the other naturists, especially the lovely couple from Sweden who we have known for many years. We were also visited by the owners of a naturist farm in the Swellendam area and friends from the Port Elizabeth area. We also got to know a couple from Bathurst who offers homely accommodation for naturists passing through. Amanda and I spent quality time together those 9 days – we will certainly book for the next naturist camp which will be from 8th to 15th August 2026.
