A short drive from Skukuza airport, Kirkman's Kamp is a true luxury safari experience. On arrival at Skukuza,I was met by my guide Callum. On arrival at Kirkman's you will be welcomed by the team with refreshments and given an orientation tour of the main building and your cottage.
Times may differ throughout the year, but at the beginning of October the morning game drive was 5.00am wakeup call for a 5.30am start (barista coffee, fruit, biscuits/muffin etc., available first). Breakfast is served afterwards, around 9.00am, or whenever your group returns. Lunch is a la carte and served from 1.00pm. Guests return to the main building for afternoon tea at 4.00pm, before heading out for the afternoon/ evening game drive at 4.30pm, which returns around 7.00pm. A quick shower/change and then dinner is served.
A personal bar was set up in the room, complete with bucket of ice on arrival and fresh lemon - full size bottle of Tanqueray gin, wine, brandy, beer and softdrinks/mixers were provided, but if you prefer something else, you just need to ask. Plenty of bottled water is also available in the room.
There is outdoor seating at the back, although the lower numbered cottages are level with the lawn, so not a good idea to be out there at night! Guest safety is paramount and guests are not permitted to walk without an escort at night.
Hairdryer, umbrellas, woven tote bag, insect repellent, bug spray, robes and slippers are provided. The room had both aircon and fan - much needed when the temps were in the high 30s! Small treat jars (fudge and biscotti) accompany the plunger coffee and tea selection. There are no irons in the room, however laundry is included during your stay and arrives back ironed. Soap powder is provided for you to handwash your underwear.
Game drives are done in an open top vehicle and there is a maximum of six guests, so nobody has to sit in the middle seat. Blankets and 8x30 Swarovski binoculars are provided on each vehicle. Morning game drives include a coffee stop (one location overlooked a dam with hippos and a croc sunning itself) and in the afternoon the bar is set up for sundowners with nibbles and a hot savoury snack. Insect repellent is carried in the vehicle in case there are mosquitoes about.
Ranger Callum and tracker Martin were two highly skilled professionals whose combined knowledge was incredible, from explaining animal tracks to so many interesting facts about animals, birds, insects and plants.
Over two days, sightings included leopard, lion, white rhino, baboon, spotted hyaena, dwarf mongoose, impala, kudu, African buffalo, waterbuck, elephant, giraffe, wildebeest, warthog, zebra, genet, side striped jackal, hippo, nyala, chameleon, crocodile, as well as a scops owl and plenty of other beautiful birds.
The meals are plentiful and delicious, with a good variety of options to suit all tastes. Breakfast is a continental buffet selection, with a cooked to order hot menu. One breakfast was set up in a clearing during a stop on our game drive, delicious cooked and continental selection for us and another vehicle. They didn't utilise the boma for dinner during my visit unfortunately, but it is an impressive looking dining area.
Kirkman's Kamp has certainly set the standard for future safari experiences and I would happily return.