Sirheni Restcamp
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Sirheni Bush Camp nestles on the edge of the Kruger National Park’s northern plains within the Mopane Veld of the region. The Sirheni Dam, on the Mphongolo River, lies next to the camp. A hide on the perimeter fence overlooks the dam and a wide variety of game and birds are attracted to it. Visitors have been awakened to the sounds of lion and hyaena, as there are often kills at the dam.
Sirheni has a resident leopard that is seen on a regular basis, often coming down to drink at the dam. Sirheni is a Tsonga word meaning cemetery, since the site of the camp is near a type of elephant graveyard.
There are basic Bushveld Camp services here- a mini-shop with wood, ice and phonecards (no food); public phones; and each unit has its own braai facilities. There is a communal freezer. Power is derived from a solar panel system and not available in the rooms.
Accommodation consists of 9 six-bed, 5 four-bed and one six-bed units. There is at least one bath in each unit (some are en-suite) and all are cooled by ceiling fans. All offer private fully equipped kitchenette facilities.
GAME
The camp is renowned for the prevalence of antelope species that are rare in the Kruger National Park, such as roan, sable, tsessebe, lichtenstein's hartebeest and reedbuck. A poster at reception calls for guest's sightings of rare antelope to be recorded. Eland are another unusual species seen regularly in the area, while Sharpe's grysbok is a special species only found in the northern Park.
Elephant and buffalo are common, both grazing on the camp’s fence-line at night, alongside hippopotamus. Lion, leopard and spotted hyena have been seen, while in the grasslands between Babalala and the northern link to the Mphongolo Loop, cheetah, wild dog, African wild cat and several others may be seen.
BIRDING
The camp itself is busy with birdlife. Thrushes, robin-chats, parrots, orioles and weavers are particularly prominent.
On the Sirheni Dam, you may see Pygmy Geese, Painted Snipe, Rufous-Bellied Heron, Dwarf Bittern and Whiskered Tern. Arnot's Chat should also be looked for in this area, particularly along Mphongolo Spruit.
The weir across the Shisha River some 4km from Camp will usually produce Hamerkop, Giant and Pied Kingfishers, and some herons and storks.
Sireheni is also a great launching point for the stunning birding of the Pafuri region, 70km to the north.
VEGETATION
Sirheni camp is set in mopane woodland, giving the camp a shady luxury feel. As one moves east towards the main tar road, the vegetation becomes mopane shrubland and grassland which is good for grazing species.