After the Kruger was proclaimed a national park by Paul Kruger in 1926, the first three tourist cars entered the park in 1927 and with the first rest camp (Skukuza) established in 1936. The park’s tourist infrastructure significantly expanded over the years and the need for more modernized accommodation came about in the 1980s.
From 1983, ten new camps were scheduled to be built, including Berg en Dal in February 1984. The camp got its name from the scenic drives that climb hills and dip into the valleys of the area.
Berg en Dal was an impressive camp from the time it opened its doors, marking a departure from past styles and winning the Kruger National Park Camp of the Year award for three consecutive years, starting in 1985.
Berg-en-Dal is surrounded by breathtaking mountains, a dam, and dry riverbeds on the northern and southern sides of the camp. A striking feature of the camp is the concerted effort made to maintain as much natural vegetation in the camp as possible, affording guests a true bushveld experience.
The site on which Berg en Dal is built is of great significance as it was once a settlement for the San people. Today one can still view authentic San rock paintings by venturing out on the popular Bushman overnight trail. Staying at Berg en Dal allows one to appreciate not only the untouched wilderness and abundant wildlife, but South African heritage.
Today Berg en Dal is one of the Kruger’s most popular rest camps with well designed accommodation that is positioned under canopies of indigenous trees to ensure maximum privacy. There are a total of 69 huts, 23 family cottages, 2 guest cottages, and 72 caravan sites, making it one of the Kruger’s biggest rest camps. The accommodation is complemented with a wide range of amenities for guests to enjoy.
The safari experience is incredible in this area of the Kruger, with the presence of white rhino, kudu, impala, giraffe, elephant, reedbuck, klipspringer, grey rhebok and warthog. Leopard are seen regularly and wild dog can also be found in the area. Lion are usually found in the lower plains on the roads to Skukuza and Crocodile Bridge.
Visitors to Berg en Dal can look forward to a Rhino Perimeter Trail within the camp, as well as Bushman’s and Wolhuter Wilderness Trails, morning and afternoon bush walks, and morning and night drives.
