Satara is the third largest camp in the Kruger National Park. Prior to the Kruger Park being proclaimed a National Park by President Paul Kruger in 1898 the area, where present day Satara is situated, was surveyed. An unnamed Indian person marked the spot on his map with the Hindi word “satra”, meaning 17. It is not difficult to imagine that a corruption of the word satra must have ended up as Satara.

It is considered to be the best area for lion, leopard and cheetah sightings, in the whole of the two million hectare Kruger National Park. During the dry winter months, these predators are frequently sighted along the riverside areas where they lie in ambush, waiting for the antelope species to come to the water.

A restaurant serves three buffet style meals per day, with an adjacent kiosk that serves fast food. A grocery store supplies basic food stuffs, a selection of souvenirs and clothing, and also soft drinks and alcoholic beverages.

Recently, guided game walks have been introduced, with great success. This is apart from the evening game drives done by the park authorities, in vehicles supplied by them. A spotlight is used to locate the animals, and once found, the guide will give an explanation as to the more interesting habits of the animal under discussion. It is advisable to book a seat well in advance, as these walks and game drives are very popular.

A large part of the terrain surrounding Satara is open savannah, with interspersed trees making it the ideal habitat for cheetah. Large wild fig trees abound along the mostly dry river beds. Birds are in abundance and it is a momentous occasion when sighting the endangered ground hornbill, the shy kori bustard and the proud secretary bird, all of which can be seen in the region. Another prevalent bird in the Satara region, is the marabou stork, a bird that reminds one of an undertaker, with its slow movements and seemingly endless patience. Not a pretty bird, but it still has its place in the eco-system.