SANParks.org Forums

As a registred travel agent with Sanparks I want to point out that
1) Traveltrade do not pre-sell to travel agents, all have an equal oppertunity.
2) once you have a booking the unit is yours, irrespective of who might have donated it.

Hi,
we were lucky to get the Nshawu guest house for October 2009 for 3 days. For our special birthday we could only get the Mopani guest house, but we are sure it will be lovely as well.
We will spend 20 days alltogether in the park staying at Bateleur, Lower Sabie and Biyamiti as well. This time I will take a new camera so I can post some pictures on the internet.
It is still a long time until next year, but we are in the park nearly everyday on africam.com watching our so loved animals. Just listening to the sounds makes us homesick.........we used to live in SA for 12 years a long time ago, but it is still like home when we visit our friends.
Regards to all online.
Walli

Happy to hear you found a spot in Nshawu ….it really is an amazing place. Walli, frequently check the availability at Nshawu, especial one month before your visit…often there is cancellations and if a space become available you will be able to change your booking from the guest house in Mopani to Nshawu without any extra costs or penalties (because they cost the same per night).

Hello to all the kruger fanatics,

Can anyone tell me what the mopani guest house is like, i will be there over December.

Hi Batman,

Stayed at Xanatseni GH Mopani Easter 2006. Very comfortable, well-equipped kitchen (grub is important in any KNP holiday). The house comprises 4 seperate bungalows, with lounge/dining/kitchen in another outbuilding. There is a wonderful bar/entertainment area that stretches down to Pioneer Dam. Best place for a braai!

Grabbed Nshawu Olifants Oct 09 for 6 days in a row - nothing short of a miracle but then I was on the website at 6am, 3 Nov when they 'opened' booking for next Oct. Cant wait...

Sheebs

Hi there Sheebs,

Thanks for the feedback, it sounds great. Can't wait to get there. Well done on getting Nshawu, hope you have an awsome time.

Batman

My personal favourite is the Monis House at Skukuza - had some wonderful times there and so enjoy eating out on the deck under the huge tree. Last visit in May 08 noticed that the outside dining table was missing probably never to be replaced... Lebombo (Sept 06)at Olifants also spectacular but felt that bathrooms needed attention/upgrading. Ditto for Waterkant 1 (Dec 07). Rudi Frankel lovely and fresh (Jan 08) with great views of the waterhole right from the verandah. Worst guest house had to be the Wells (Sept 08) at Satara - a sad, poorly maintained structure hardly worth the R1 700 per night cost - rather opt for a renovated bungalow at Satara or one of the guest cottages, though the last one I stayed in at Satara also needed a refurb - badly too. Pink bath tiles that are cracked/missing, mosaic crumbling etc makes the place feel grimey. Prices have escalated over the years yet standard of accommodation has remained static and wanting in many respects.

Just my thoughts though.
Sheebs

Hi everyone
We are planning a Kruger holiday during Oct 2009. Since I have been living/working in Hong Kong for the past 3 years we are really looking forward visiting our favourite park again. I have read some very good reports on the forum about the Frankel guest house(Satara), the floodlit waterhole etc and we are considering to stay there for 3 nights.
My question is regarding the braai area. Is it facing the fence, in other words, would you be able to keep an eye on the waterhole while sitting around the fire, or is it situated away from the fence? Staring into a big fire (bush TV) and enjoying the night sounds are obviously high on my priority list after 3years in Hong Kong.

Replies would be appreciated

Hi jgs and a very warm welcome to the forum,

we stayed at the RF cottage a couple of years ago and as I recall the braais, and I do say braais as there are more than one, but altogether.
They are not really too close to the fence but do face towards where the water hole is situated, and it can still be seen together with any animals.

Really much better that way as it could very likely deter animals from coming to drink if the braais were too close, in my opinion.

I will try and scratch up some of my pics.

Thanks Elsa. Couple of pics would be appreciated. Looks like the cottage is build in a semi-circular shape. Were just concerned the braai area is located in this area far away from the fence.

I don't think you need to be concerned about the placement of the braais. they are fine and really as close as one wants to be while cooking.
The guest house also has a wonderful spacious verandah from where one can also view the animals at the water hole.
We organised ourselves a bench right at the fence and the one night while we were sitting there a huge male Lion came along and drank for about 10 minutes mere meters in front of us.
Absolutely magical.

Not sure if you have had a look Here where the various GH's are discussed along with my all time favourite Nshawu in Olifants.

Hi there. We stayed in Frankel in Oct 2008. I wrote a trip report and I have added some pictures of the place. You can look at my TR. Page 6 has photos of the house. If you look at pic 3 of the house at dusk, the braai sits to the right. It is about 10 paces from the fence. It is very pleasant to sit on the stoep at night and watch the happenings at the waterhole. The 4th pic is of the waterhole.
Frankel is a very pleasant, spacious and secluded place. The only drawback is that the main road is directly in front of the house with constant traffic during the day.
Following is a link to my TR

Frankel

You are welcome if you have any questions

Thanks for the info Elsa. I agree, Nshawu is fantastic, stayed there before, what a fantastic setting. Going to spend a couple of nights at Olifants, but Nshawu unfortunately already fully booked for this period (as always).

Eugene, thank you for the link to your trip report. Enjoyed reading it and got the answers I were looking for. Seems that you had a wonderful time with some great sightings.

Im taking my parents to Kruger, with me sitting in Hong Kong and they obviously not getting any younger, you never now if it would be the last Kruger visit together. I really want to treat them to a memorable holiday and thus the questions regarding guest houses etc

Seems that I have left it too late. Frankel already fully booked for the whole of October. Is Stanley guest cottage also quite nice with a good view over the waterhole?

Stanley has just as great a view of the waterhole. It is by far my favourite as it has loads more atmosphere than the Frankel.