Pafuri Tented Camp

In far northern Kruger National Park, you will find Pafuri Tented Camp, a little-known safari gem and one of the best safari values in South Africa. This part of the park is less visited and has a very different landscape from Sabi Sands and southern Kruger. It is more like traveling in southern Zimbabwe, with dramatic cliffs, baobabs, stone ruins, and herds of elephants. Rare species of birds are also plentiful here, including the Pel’s fishing owl. All of the tented rooms are spacious and offer views of the Lvuu River. However, the beautiful landscape will make you want to spend as much time out exploring as possible.

Beyond being an excellent safari, Pafuri Tented Camp is one of the best community-based tourism models in South Africa. The Makuleke Contractual Park where the camp is located was forcibly taken from the Makuleke people by the Apartheid South Africa government in 1969. However, in 1998 the Makuleke won the land back and chose to use it for ecotourism instead of moving back. The community now earns 10% of gross revenue from the camp as well as staffing many of the positions at it.