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Schoemanskloof - look here ...........

http://www.sanparks.org/parks/kruger/ca ... &resort=35



viewtopic.php?style=2&f=48&t=5138

I think you will love it

Hey Schoemanskloof,

I can't help you with Boulders and Shipandani, but Lebombo, Nyathi, Rhino and P. Joubert are all great and I rate them in that order. (the first 2 being equal in my opinion)

Schoemanskloof we have stayed at Boulders twice and we think it is great. It is very quiet and peaceful and the surrounding nature is so beautiful and that was sufficient for us to enjoy our stay. Boulders is raised above ground level and the view from the raised platform where you sit did not fail to impress us on both occasions. We got a feeling that we are in a remote place where nature is priority. We did not mind at all that there is only solar energy for cooking and lightning purposes. Just take your own food, drinks and wood etc along and have a nice time!

Hi Schoemanskloof,we love Boulders, it is not a camp but a private paradise with no neighbours to disturb the peace. Just remember you have to take all food, drinks, wood etc with as there is no shop close by.
And because of the remoteness the staff would love a gift of something they have no access to - tabacco/cigarettes/cooldrink/sweets/tinned food, etc.
Enjoy your stay

We stayed in Lebombo Guest house last year and everything was fine. The kitchen is on the small side for the big house, but we managed with 4 people. I found that our privacy was a little compromised as the people from the viewing deck could see onto the house main living room when they look down in that direction. The bedrooms are all apart from the main living area, two bedrooms at the top and the other two closer to the living area. Here are a few photos of the kitchen, main living area and three of the bedrooms. All bedrooms have an en-suite bathroom with a bath and shower that I can remember.

I will say that one of the bedrooms had a funny drain smell coming from close by it, we just avoided it by using the other bedrooms.

Hope this helps.

We stayed at Keartland guesthouse at Lower Sabie for a special occasion over the weekend and I would appreciate if some can give clarity on some issues.

The unit has 7 beds, but we were 2 families with 5 kids under the age of 11, so 9 in total. Reservations, with the camps permission, gave us the booking for 9, but we would have to pay cash for the additional 2x 4 year olds at the camp, which came to R 940.

Now, I’m not sure how this works, but I was under the assumption that if you pay for an additional bed you actually get 1, so I asked that at the very least a mattress could please be delivered before 4pm, as we were leaving on our afternoon drive then. The confused staff member stated that she didn’t know if we would get a mattress, let alone 2, but after she made a few calls, we were assured of 1 mattress, but it never arrived, so 2 kids slept on the couches in the lounge for the weekend. They are kids and we camp often, so they are used to sleeping on the floor and had fun on the couches anyway, but how does it work for future reference.

We also had a nasty surprise after our evening drive and discovered that there was no hot water in 2 bathrooms and the kitchen. Upon investigation we found what you see in the pic below, no geyser.



Fortunately the office was still open, but they had no idea of why there was no geyser. After a few calls maintenance confirmed that they were aware of the situation and that a new geyser would be fitted on Saturday.

When we returned from our morning drive on Saturday at about 9am and the guys were busy with the geyser, but obviously had to switch all the water off to the house to do the job. The cleaning lady arrived and left as there was no water for her to do her job. By 3pm, after drilling, etc, the bathroom looked like this.



By 3:30pm the geyser was fitted and working, but the cleaning staff never returned to clean the kitchen, etc.

Now I realise that it must be difficult to maintain and repair things in the bush, but surely under these circumstances we should have been informed when booking in and when one is paying R7530 for 2 nights, there should have been a rebate or compensation as we never got what we paid for and if one pays R470 per night for 2x4 year olds, surely a mattress can be expected, or at the very least a delivery of hot water to bath/wash.

BTW the unit also comes with 2 portable braais – 1 has a broken grid and the other no metal pin adjustment for the grid height. (A screwdriver out of the car did that job). The unit is also sold with limited DSTV, not that one would want it in KNP, but we wanted to watch the Rugby, but the tree in front of the dish hasn’t been trimmed and blocks the dish every time the wind blows.

Disappointed

Hi Bushcraft

I agree 100% with you on the mattress issue, we spend 5 nights over long weekend in LS, had 5 units, did add 4 children for 5 nights extra with camps permission, tried my best before and during stay to get some mattresses, without luck, got towels and sheets, had to bring our own blow up one's....
At Satara it was not a problem, they were very helpful, even provide some free of charge !


Shame about the exprience at Keartland, one really expect more for the premuim one pay at the guesthouses. When we stayed in Keartland earlier in the year, the spotlight outside main room onto the river wasn't working, and the middle room toilet still had that smell..

What a pity Keartland did not live up to expectations Bushcraft, I hope you have put in a serious complaint as I think you are definitely owed some form of rebate.

Hey Elsa,

Everyone’s perception of value for money seems to be different at the moment and there’s continued excuses for incompetence, so the only complaint that I have posted/mentioned is here under this thread, but this is a SANParks forum and surely more attention is paid to issues on a public forum than private feedback forms, which I have never had a response to, although I’m not sure if this will get a response either.

No wonder people get frustrated and say/write things that aren’t within the rules.

BTW – The only night sounds that we could hear on Saturday night were from the staff premises behind Keartland and the shouting and screaming went on until after 12pm.

This issue has been noted, Bushcraft and feedback will be given as soon as it is received
Could you please submit the Feedback - under Contact us too ?

Thanks MATTHYS

To offer other feedback – I found Stanley House at Satara awesome. As Jumbo stated, a small stove, 1 shower, etc, but the house was clean, quiet, peaceful and in a great location. Stanley will see me again (after I win the lotto)

Please invite me
(after you have won the lotto)

Before spending your Lotto money on Stanley again….first go and visit Rentmeester in Shingwedzi …..will give a new perspective on things….

True, but I would be as happy camping in the garden of the Stanley Cottage, as it was awesome to sit and watch the waterhole over lunch time. It would be an expensive camping trip though

Reading the comments about Keartland house I went back to my own comments May 2010 and it appears that nothing changes - housekeeping at Lower Sabie needs to pull up their socks