Sight · Kruger National Park
Quiet roadside dam for reedbuck and elephants near Pretoriuskop
Overview
A small, tranquil reservoir on the upper Mbyamiti River, Shitlhave Dam is a classic pull‑off stop on the H1‑1 tar road between Numbi Gate/Pretoriuskop and Skukuza. It’s named after early ranger Sergeant Jafuta Xitlhave and serves as a permanent water source that draws wildlife throughout the day.
Map
Local know-how
Do not alight from your vehicle here—use camps or picnic sites for breaks.
Plan restroom stops at Pretoriuskop or Afsaal before/after your visit.
Arrive at dawn or late afternoon for the best wildlife and light.
Switch off the engine and wait 10–20 minutes; patience brings sightings.
Combine with Transport Dam and Mathekenyane/Granokop lookout on the H1-1.
Plan your stop
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Kruger Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Kruger National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Kruger audio tourRecorded for this place
Shitlhave Dam: A Quiet Stop for Reedbuck“The roadside pullout you are coming to is for Shitlhave Dam. It's a quiet spot, but it is one of the more reliable places in the area for seeing reedbuck. You can also spot elephants and waterbuck here.”
Plays as you drive up to Shitlhave Dam in the Parkwolf Kruger Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Guide
This is a dependable spot for antelope like reedbuck, plus regular traffic from elephants, waterbuck, and impala. Hippos and a variety of waterbirds (think herons, storks, egrets, and kingfishers) are possible if you’re patient. As always, Kruger sightings vary—give it 10–20 minutes with the engine off and you’ll often be rewarded.
Shitlhave sits right beside the H1‑1, making it an easy add to any southern Kruger loop. It pairs neatly with nearby Transport Dam on the same stretch, and you can detour to Mathekenyane/Granokop lookout for big granite‑dome views—all on good tar, fine for any sedan.
Roll in slowly, scan the reedbeds and far shore, switch off the engine, and listen for alarm calls. Bring a snack and give it time—this is a stop where patience pays.
Wildlife
1,312 sightingsLionMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
727 sightingsLeopardMost seen around 5 AMSighting map
2,403 sightingsElephantMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
425 sightingsWhite RhinocerosMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
547 sightingsBuffaloMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
502 sightingsWild DogMost seen around 6 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Kruger. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
Lodging · 6.3 km awayPretoriuskop Rest CampHistoric camp with a great rock pool and varied game drives
Gas station · 6.4 km awayPretoriuskop Rest Camp Petrol StationOn-camp fuel stop for early drives near Numbi Gate
Restaurant · 6.4 km awayPretoriuskop Rest Camp Restaurant (Nhlatfu)No‑fuss buffet hub for meals between Pretoriuskop game drives
Food · 6.5 km awayCafeteria at PretoriuskopNo-frills, fast fuel between Pretoriuskop game drives
Restaurant · 6.5 km awayWimpy PretoriuskopChain comfort food inside camp, quick bites between game drivesParkwolf’s Kruger ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
