Vultures and storks formed a spiraling chimney over guests enjoying lunch on the deck of Hamilton's Tented Camp in Kruger National Park. Hamilton's offers a lavish colonial experience under canvas, with chandeliers, cut glass, and silverware. The beautiful deck features a large sausage tree and boardwalks lead to luxury permanent tents with amenities like air conditioning and outdoor showers. Game regularly wanders through the unfenced camp, and leopard kills are not uncommon. Guests enjoy early morning and afternoon game drives with meals in between, before returning in the evenings, catered to by the friendly staff.

1. A
COMMITTEE of vultures,
joined by storks, formed an
upwardly spiralling
chimney over us, reflected
in the silverware. They rose from
the water’s edge at the weir
spanning the otherwise dry
riverbed below the deck at
Hamiltons Tented camp, where we
were enjoying a light lunch which
leisurely rolled over to high tea
enjoyed by all, especially quick
vervet monkeys who had patiently
ignored lunch leftovers in favour
of warm blueberry muffins.
Hamiltons is not tented in the
“let’s go camping” way. It is
lavishly colonial, with pith
helmets and travelling trunks
evoking the era of Colonel
Stephenson Hamilton,
instrumental in establishing the
Kruger National Park (the size of
Wales). Chandeliers hang from
drapery under canvas, silverware
and cut glass abound.
The beautiful deck has a
magnificent gnarled sausage tree
as a central point and raised
boardwalks among ancient
Jackalberry trees lead to the
swimming pool and six luxury
permanent tents, complete
with aircon, teak floorboards,
mosquito nets, slipper baths and
outdoor showers.
The boardwalks in the
unfenced camp (no under 7s
allowed) are up to 4m high to
allow elephants to pass
underneath. A lot of game
wanders through and leopard kills
in the camp are not uncommon.
Game drives at sun-up is the
general routine, with late
breakfasts, lunch, high tea,
afternoon drives with sundowners
and snacks, returning in time for
din-dins. Hard work for the
waistline and, of course, for the
pampering, friendly staff,
including “short story” Ronny,
who always elicits a few chuckles.
5
SundayTravel
SUNDAY TRIBUNE
MAY 10 2015
Lavishly
colonial in
the Kruger
Kruger National Park
Staying in luxury tents is the kind of camping
one could get used to, writes Adrian Rorvik
The restaurant for the Hamilton Tented Camp.
A room at Hamilton Tented Camp. Leopards are regular visitors. Picture: Adrian Rorvik
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