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Does the parks shop not realise how much income they loose by their exorbitant high prices. We just got back from eight nights in Kruger, our grocery and drinks bill before we left was about R4000. All the shopping was done before the time. If the parks shops were more reasonably priced, and well stocked, this shopping could have been done before the time. I'd gladly leave the cooler boxes at home.

Nkuhlu picnic place and Letaba restuarant deserve a pat on the back for wHat they are doing!

Am I the only person who feels that way?

Not only are the prices extremely high, but they differ from shop to shop. At satara I bought my kids a curio which cost R57.00. At Crocodile Bridge the same thing cost R41.00!! How do they justify this?

You make a valid point - once spoke to the owner of the Skukuza shop he says he is there to make profit and is not ashamed of that (must confess that he has a right to make a profit) but the prices are crazy - even a map of Kruger R25.00 at the gate is R45.00 at the shop.

We also buy everything outside the park - Nelspruit has a fantastic butcher - the SPAR at the crossing - try their Large rump in special basting sauce - a must - (they have just been voted best S.A. Butchery ) I stop there every time on the way down- will get some on Friday as we are going to Skukuza

We take only essentials from JHB and buy the rest at Nelspruit or Malalane - as you say their Loss

The only thing I take when I go to Kruger is meat and cheese (I keep Kosher, so can't buy these things there. This also means I am completely self-catering, I never eat at the restaurants). I also have not stayed in any of the non-main camps (yet). Truth be told, I've changed a booking from Malelane to Crocodile Bridge because of the shop issue.

Otherwise I've never had a problem getting what I wanted or working around it. To be honest I don't really pay attention to the prices and it makes my life easier to do the shopping there instead of worrying about it and planning beforehand (I do enough planning and worrying as it is).

I am continually impressed at the range stocked by the shops in the camps as well as the hours they're open (which might also contribute to higher prices?)

Just my 2 cents worth: We have just spent 6 weeks caravanning in the park and as the caravan freezer section of fridge is so small, took what meat I could from my East London butcher. Stocked up at Hazyview before entering park as I heard that the camps had frieezers in kitchens. So discovered no freezers when we got to Satara and Shingwedzi. Elissah in Satara laundry allowed me to use a freezer in the laundry and at Shingwedzi the shop owner allowed me use of cold room. Phew! By the next camp could manage with my small freezer. Went out at Malelane to buy more meat and groceries and twice to Hazyview. No ways was I prepared to pay the prices in the shops for supplies especially when I suspected all those profits are not going to conservation but to shopkeepers pockets. I realise they must make profit to keep in business, but the prices they charge are ridiculous. I found the parks shops to have a good selection of goods. I feel they are out to fleece the overseas visitors who cannot bring stuff in from outside. I would have been prepared to buy there if the prices were a bit higher than supermarkets outside, but R6 profit on a litre of milk is too much!. So beside the odd litre of milk and loaf of bread and bottle of coke, they made ziltch from me.
Dekene

BB - try at any of the gates, Just bought 2 for R50.00 at Orpen ten days ago

Just one week before that at Malelane (the book with the lion on the front - Published by Jacana Media)

I get them to give to visitors who come with us - also just bought a book Getaway Guide to The Kruger National Park - it was R50.00 cheaper at Exclusive books - Monte Casino (also not know for being cheap)

Map books are typically R45.00 or more at the shops.

I can give many examples of price differences - I don't care about variances of a Rand or Two but when it is more than 20% I think it is crazy.

I notice the same thing especially since we've done our week long trip from the North till the South. We stay in Nelspruit so we use to the prices being highly different let's say between Olifants and LS.

My SO bought me a stuffed hippo at BnD once and it was around R 90 but when he priced the same hippo at LS and Skukuza it coast R 120!

Yes there is a massive difference between camps prices

For years we have been going to Kruger. And yes complained about the prices. I've never really paid any attention to other's total at the till. But now knowing the huge amount some of the international tourists drop with one shopping spree, it's quit an eye opener. I do understand that each shop must make a profit, but the inconsistancy in prices of the same the product, at the different shops do get to me . I feel that is unnesseccary and quit frustrating at times.

Its called monopoly...they can do what they want...our rands do not go as far as the dollars or pounds our friends from overseas bring with, but I still feel that all park shops should have "standardized" prices. Its still sad but as locals we still have the option to shop outside the park - so theoretically if we are lazy in doing this its our own fault for paying top dollar.

That I'm not really surprised about. But I guess I have the opportunity to buy my books outside the park.
I rarely buy anything but groceries in the park

Believe most books are aimed at the foreign market.
ID books are very expensive
Suspect each Saffie birder will have his/her ID book
ready and used
But you still find specials which can only be bought in Kruger.
Like Jannie Kriels book for eg.
And in the shops you do find a nice selection of some
great coffee table books.

Sure its about commerce. but the no of visitors is an easily obtainable statistic. if you do the maths, a camp like satara accomodates lets say 400 people, if they like us spend an average of R100 per head per day, that comes to R40 000 per day only for basics, then the sweets , souveniers etc on top of that. I was Charged R53 for a 5kg bag of charcoal (not briquetes) at satara, something i buy at home for R18, and my local shop also makes a profit.

The other thing that one should consider is what the competitions board may have to say about the situation. Remember the staff are also forced to purchase thier groceries there. The competitions board fined Mittal steel many millions because he abused his monopoly.

And remember the more it costs people to go tp the parks the less feet there will be, which long term whill mean the death of the parks. something us park lovers never happens.

we've spend 3 days in the park and found the shops ridiculously expensive. What I do not get however is how come that Satara shop is up to 30% more expensive than Letaba en Olifants shop (which is already over priced)

As beeing an overseas traveller,

the prices at Kruger really don´t shock me.
It´s a bit less expensive than here in europe.
So i can afford that easily - but i now the difference between europe & RSA.

I´ve travelled a lot around, through and over RSA, Nambibia & Botswana.
Prices for Books are the same as in germany - wow - who can afford that?
Binoculars, knifes or somethinge else for outdoor at kruger: Unaffordable for your wallet.
2 thousand rand for some sweets? Never!
That´s around 200 Euro - enough for a complete bike, a little digi-cam, a MP3-Player, 4 new tyres for that old Golf behin the house, a new fridge, a complete leather-suit for motorbiking, a pair of ski, a new business-suit...

If that money helps to develop Kruger - that might be OK.
But if that money feed some businessmen, i would say "No!".

Regards,
frreeclimb.

This morning on Radio Midrand (93.8 FM) the presenter was complaining about high prices in the shops at KNP.

If I remember correctly, he made the comparison that he bought an original artwork on the side of the road near Graskop for R150 yet a fabric print cost near R700 in the shop. He also mentioned that he paid R15 for a can of baked beans.