Kirkman’s Kamp

Location & Setting

The lodge’s position affords sweeping views over riverine woodland and open plains where elephants, antelope, and predators regularly pass. Its 1920s heritage buildings have been sensitively restored, preserving the charm of the original farmhouse while offering prime access to one of Africa’s most productive wildlife areas. Guests reach the lodge easily from Skukuza Airport or through Shaw’s Gate, the southern entrance to the reserve.

The camp takes its name from Harry Kirkman, who began his career as a ranger on Toulon in 1927. His old homestead is still where everyone gathers, its lounge kept in 1920s style with French doors onto the lawn. Kirkman’s stands on Tengile Game Reserve in the Sabi Sand and is one of five camps in the Tengile MalaMala collection. Children of all ages are welcome.

Rooms

Twelve cottages, one of them a family cottage, are styled in keeping with the property’s colonial-era heritage. Each cottage pairs period details, such as polished wooden floors and French doors, with air-conditioning, ceiling fans, minibars and in-room safes. Bathrooms have indoor showers and no baths. Spacious lounges flow onto private verandas overlooking manicured lawns and the bush beyond, where wildlife often wanders past. Comfort meets nostalgia here, offering a serene retreat after each day’s safari adventure.

Facilities

Guests enjoy a range of thoughtfully appointed communal spaces that celebrate the lodge’s storied past. Breakfast and lunch are served on shaded verandas or in the airy main house, while dinners take place in the lantern-lit boma beside a crackling fire. A rim-flow swimming pool overlooks the bush, and a small library invites quiet reading between drives. There is a curio shop for keepsakes, Wi-Fi in the main areas, and optional in-room spa treatments for complete relaxation after a day in the field.