Mopani

Mopani rest camp is perched on top of a hill overlooking the Pioneer Dam. An idyllic setting in elephant country

About Mopani

Mopani rest camp is perched on top of a hill overlooking the Pioneer Dam. An idyllic setting in elephant country.

The location of the Mopani Rest camp is idyllic. It is perched on top of a hill, looking down over the vast mopane savanna. An added feature of this camp,is the accessible baobab tree, complete with resident barn owls and the preservation of many trees, that were already present, before the newest of the main rest camps was built in 1992. The building of this camp site was obviously more in line with with blending into the environment, than many other camp sites. The thatch roofs, rock walls, abundant plant life and flowing pathways blend in beautifully with the natural surroundings.

Why visit Mopani?

Mopani has an idyllic location in prime elephant country.
Birding can be very productive in the area – the Shipandani bird hide close by can even be booked, as an interesting unique overnight accommodation.
The mopane’s butterfly shaped leaves change to yellow, orange and red brown in autumn, which gives this area it’s unique warm winter colour.
Crossing of the tropic of Capricorn

Tips:

A family friendly camp, with varied accommodation and facilities.
Great game viewing along the watercourse of the Ntshawu drainage line on the S50 and the Tsendze on the S142.
Various walks in the camp site offer great birding and tree spotting possibilities.
Swimming pool for residents will entertain the kids on hot summer days.
Make sure to visit the tropic of Capricorn cairn and the Mooiplaas waterhole, which often gets good elephant and predator sightings
In the camp, be sure to keep an eye and ear open for barn owls.
Get to view a Baobab tree close up

Biome(animal and plant habitat)

Mopane shrubveld, with Mopane/Bushwillow to the west

Animals to look out for in the area:

Prime Big 5 area
Elephant
Leopard
Buffalo
Rarer antelope
Lion
Hyena
Giraffe

Birds to look out for in the area:

African Darter
African Fish Eagles
African Spoonbill
Black-bellied Bustard
Black-winged Stilt
Chestnut-backed Sparrowlark
Collared (Red-winged) Pratincole
Cormorant Reed
Cormorant White-breasted
Crowned Lapwing
Egrets
Kingfishers
Mocking Cliff-Chats
Red-crested Korhaan
Storks
Swallow Mosque
Swallow Wire-tailed
White-winged Tern

Not to miss routes in the area:

H1-6 S – Return after S48 and H1-6 N
S49
S50
S142 up to where it turns east
Shingwedzi via Nshawu(Nxawu) drainage line H1-6, S50, Shibavantsengele Lookout, Grootvlei dam, S50, Dipeni, Kanniedood dam, S50, Shingwedzi, H1-6 135km 9 hours!
Mooiplaas dam / Shipandani Hide H1-6, S49, S50, S49, H1-6,S142, Shipandani hide, S142, H1-6 35km 2 hours

Water centered game and bird viewing:

Rivers – Tsendze and Nshawu(Nxawu) drainage line These are seasonal, but pools and waterholes attract animals and birds into the dry months
Bird hides – Famous for birding
Dams: Pioneer dam
Waterholes: Mooiplaas, Bowerskop

Notable Camp Facilities and Activities:

Shop
Restaurant
Bush breakfast and barbecue(braai) or Sunset Drive-Boma Braai Combo
Game drive in an open vehicle, with a trained guide
Filling station
Swimming pool
Guided bushwalks
Cafeteria
Ladies Bar
Car Wash