SANParks.org Forums

A couple questions from an American newbie that will be there in just about a month.
We will be coming from Hoedspruit and I imagine it's fairly east to find a cooler, please correct me if I am wrong.
Should I also buy groceries before going into the park? Or are their grocery stores in some of the camps.
Finally, does the lodging have coffee pots or should I bring my own?
Thanks for your replies.
Stan

Hi elosonegro!

Buy a cooler and stock up with groceries outside the park. The camps do have shops but the range is much more limited and more expensive. Not sure what you mean by coffee pot? We brought our own coffee plunger pot (or what you guys might call a french press) as there are none in the chalets. If you mean a coffee pot like I would call cowboy coffee pots then you will also need to bring one too although I think I have seen basic ones for sale in Kruger camp shops.

@elosonegro

If you coming from Hoedspruit, there is an excellent butcher to the south of town on the way to orpen gate.
Sells awesome meat and Biltong (Jerky)

We usually stock up for 3 or 4 days, as the freezers in the chalets are very small, but at least you have some fresh produce.

A box or two of long life milk as backup also goes a long way.

Every camp has an aluminium kettle in the chalet.
A flask is a good suggestion for morning drives, and making coffee at the picnic spots, who all supply hot water.

Hi Stan,
Have a look at This Topic on shopping where you will find great advice and info.

The bungalows do not have coffee pots, just a kettle so if you prefer more than a good instant then maybe as some others have done, get yourselves one of those plunger coffee makers.

The camp shops do carry basic groceries, mostly at a higher price and of course varies from camps to camp on availability.
Enjoy your trip.

My post seems to have disappeared, so I am reposting it:

We take our own supplies, especially meat as the meat in the shops is very expensive and of poor quality.

My advice is do the same.

Hey Impyim,

I heard that for a teething baby it was also good to use frozen waffles since it numbs the gums and has built in druel cups with it. lol.

Hey elosonegro,

The french press that threedogs was talking about is the closest they have to coffee pots. I am a coffee drinker big time. When I went there before that is what I used, never saw too many of them here except in Starbucks, they have the french press there. I am also here in the states. I had to buy my food in Upington at the grocery store there when I went on my last trip.

Sheenaugh-lee,

we have long bread sticks called biscotti here and they are great for dipping in coffee, which sounds about the same as rusks.
our biltong up here is called beef jerky
and droe wors we call slim jims
chips are probably the same as up here.....potato chips
and hopefully they have some good cookies for my sweet tooth

Larry

Somebody told me that if you do onlineshopping with pick n pay and you are staying in north that they deliver your groceries on a Thursday morning at Punda Maria gate. Have anybody experienced this and can tell me what is delivery costs.

Hey Larry,

I'd love to hear you say droe wors.


Estellem - give them a ring and find out and let us know.

Hey Bush,

I probably wouldn't say it correctly anyways.

We should do a phonetic glossary! Quite tricky and would cause debate of course... What do you think of Droo(w)ervorse?!

If you have the choice of shopping in Komatipoort or Malalane, which will you choose?
On a previous visit we did our shopping @ Komatipoort Spar and was satisfied with the quality and pricing of items.
This time we will be entering @ Malelane Gate en route to Pretoriuskop after a staying at a resort just outside Crocodile Bridge and will need to stock up on supplies before entering Kruger in December 2013.
I have no previous experience / knowledge of Malelane area and would appreciate any advice.
Otherwise I will stick to the tried and tested and shop @ Komatipoort before leaving for Malelane.

Malelane Spar is bigger than Komatipoort and often a little cheaper for some reason. The choice of bakery items is different in both stores though, and I prefer the savoury breads at Komati but the Portuguese rolls in Malelane are fantastic. The butchery items in Malelane are much better too.