SANParks.org Forums

Braai area....my heart aches for this place

Wow, Thanks Muhammad. It looks beautiful.

Hi all,
my first post! May there be many more.

My wife and I are avid KNP visitors and go there every year during June/July. This year I'd like to spoil her by taking her to the J le Roux guest house in Berg-en-Dal as it is our first wedding anniversary. I've also heard that the area is good for cheetah and wild dog; the only animals we've never seen in the park.

I would really appreciate it if someone could post some pics and info here as the booking area's description is quite short and there are no pictures of the J le Roux guest house.

Thank you in advance.

Hi there,

Was wondering if anyone has any feedback on or has stayed at Nyathi or Moni guest houses. Can find forum info on others but not these two. What is the view like, condition of property etc. Look great from the san parks pics but want to make sure. Thanks

I stayed in Nyathi 3 years ago. It was beautiful then and Sanparks seem to keep their standards pretty high so there shouldn't be a problem

Thanks for the speedy reply Pat What kind of view did it have on the terrace - was it towards the railway bridge?

Maddie - here is a bit of info for you, Nyati guest house. And all I could find on Moni guest house.

I seem to remember it was towards the bridge, but with plenty river view

The Monis has just treated us to the best we have ever stayed in Skukuza.

Fantastic setting and Alfred the cleaner is a real gem.

We have been reading about this NSHAWU guesthouse with great interest. We would like to book it for October 2009 for a special anniversary but checking each new month it seems to be fully booked as soon as booking is available online.

Is there a chance to do the booking earlier without doing it online?

Any tips are very welcome. Thanks.

Hi Walli - Nshawu house is fantastic for a celebration as it is so huge - I reckon you could have a party for at least 300 people on the massive verandah. There are no fewer than 4 dining areas. A fullon dining room - a dining area outside the kitchen, one on the front verandah and one on the viewing deck where the braai is. There are 4 bedrooms all main en suite and although the bathrooms are looking a little jaded and tired it is still excellent accommodation.

The bookings for Nshawu for October 2009 only open on 1st November 2008 so if you make sure to be on the phone at 8 a.m. on that day to Sanparks reservation office you should be lucky!

Yours in Parking
Penny

Walli - it is definately worth some extra effort to try and book Nshawu.

My tips are to phone up on the day bookings open, which I suspect is Monday 3rd November. Allow yourself a day or two either side of your most preferred date just in case its already booked. Stay two nights as it is the most fantastic place to just sit out all day on the balconies and watch the game action up and down the Olifants river (also invest in a good pair of binoculars!).

I was there for two nights two weeks ago. It is so much lower down compared to the Olifants main look-out and the river view rondavels, which means the action is much less distant. The full day we were there we happened to see a lioness walk right beneath us and hide out in the long grass in the river area. We watched her for 4 hours, moving every so often and springing across streams in the river. Didn't hunt though. While filming I also spotted 3 otters, who were disturbed by a herd of Elephants.

Even at R2000+ a night Nshawu is worth spoiling yourself on. I will definately go back on day.

Walli I have just read this on the Travel Tales section, posted by Eugene123

I hope it helps!!

Well, I have decided to take the plunge and do a TR. Our trip has been planned for a long time. Having a big family makes it difficult to find suitable accommodation during school holidays. The surest way is to visit a satellite office at 7.30 on the first day of booking, especially for a bushveld camp. The places are taken within seconds. We had a look on the system and I literally had a few moments in which to decide to take the available cottage at Biyamiti. Phoning or doing online bookings are not successful for these busy periods. For the Frankel house, I was fortunate enough to be helped by the Sylvia Flavell at Travel Trade. They make travel industry bookings and also handle the guest houses, so one can place a request more than 12 months in advance and then hope the donors don’t use their houses during that time. Quite daunting!

Hi,
thanks to all your e-mails. I have contacted the person mentioned but had no luck. She is not able to help me since bookings only start 11 months prior as written on the sanparks site.
We will have to be early on the 1st booking day! Press your thumbs for me, it means sooo much to us.
We visit the park for mor than 30 years now and have special birthdays and an anniversary next year. We want to celebrate with all our friends from SA, Germany and England.
I will try and submit photos of the places in the park where we stayed. Shimuwini is one of our favourites and I should have pictures available. There, piece and quiet days we´ve spend 2-3 times already.

Thanks again for all your answers. walli