SANParks.org Forums

Thanks Brigitte.
I am wondering if someone of Sanparks read the messages in the forum.
If not we should send a remark to the executives to mention the feeling of their visitors.
But they must be aware of the problem they have with the exploitation by the Tree-company.
I really can't understand that Sanparks hasn't the authority (by contract?) to ask to change the policy.
As part of their brand this has a negative impact on their marketing strategy.
We really love Kruger but if your stay is for two weeks or more you are so happy to visit from time to time Tshokwane and/or Afsaal (pancakes ... .).
Alex

Alex, if you have not done so yet, could you please forward your comments to Customer Care ?

I did before on place and when I received the feedback forms.
But I think that an individual opinion is not strong enough to have any weight.
One or other group,tourist board or community has more influence.
I'm convinced that it will be helpful for Sanparks in their development and strategy.
Thanks anyway for all your interests.
Let's hope that we see a lot of game in September (so there is no time to eat...)

I have found that filling in a guest feedback form is just a waste of time.
I have on numerous occasions filled in the form complaining and have never received any response.
I now don't even bother anymore.

We ate breakfast at Olifants in December (venison pie, gravy, and chips our favourite) which was really nice. Service was also very friendly.
I miss the restaurants of yesteryear, set evening menu with coffee/tea and cheese and biscuits out on the stoep afterwards.
Those were the highlight of our trip when I was a young girl.

I miss the buffet dinners at Shingwedzi.. there was always so many things to choose from you never had enough plate space!
The restaurants in Kruger have definitely lost some popularity.
Every camp should have a special menu, or like in the old days every second camp had another restaurant group (Wooden Banana and the Tree restaurants) these days it is only the Tree restaurant.
They have to give variation in their menus as it keeps things interesting and it will ensure that people come back and try something else each time.

I also thing the staff should all wear the same uniforms (from head to toe), as it differentiates them form the other staff working in the camps.
Last year during our December holiday none of the cafeteria staff at Satara camp wore the same clothing. Some of them just wore casual clothes.
This does nothing to improve the service and the overall enjoyment of the guests.

That is why there is a braai place outside the chalets, and braai facilities in the camping areas. (DIY)
Going to the resturants has become an irritation to the staff.

Bring back the days when the restaurants were run by Sanparks, when the resturant staff were a big part of the Kruger Park experience.

This bunch of money grabbers who run the resturants, would do well to take a lesson from Sanparks employees who are the cleaners of our chalets and camping sites, fantastic and friendly people.

I totally agree Isinkwe
Oh for the good old days when sanparks ran the restaurants!!
When it was a real pleasure to have a meal in any camps restaurant, with the drum call at dinner time.
But sadly those pleasurable meals are long gone

I'm with you, Mopani by far the best food in Kruger... try there bobotie, best i have ever tasted...


Any idea why the pap en vleis at Skukuza is R18 more than at Afsaal..??

I guess it is probably because those set Kruger menu’s for breakfast, lunch and dinner of yesteryear were replaced by more convenient and informal menu’s designed for quick and fast eating on the run whenever a person is hungry – to dine from those old style Kruger restaurant menu’s took much longer.
Everyone also has a cell phone these days indicating the time so reminders of dinner time – those drums calling the camp guests - are not necessary anymore.

Tradition should not be replaced by technology

I agree JeanniR, I would give anything to have one of the meals served off the menu from the old days, I'm sure the restaurants used to do far better then than now with the tasteless quick food they now serve. Also the drums used to be so part of Kruger, and added to the feel of the bush.

Those drums bring back fond memories.....

BB,
Do you know what the reasoning was, as to why they stopped it?

Trpp trrrrrrrr, I think everything just became to much of an effort and tradition flew out of the window.
I wonder why they, before changing things, ask the public what they think.
Its such a pity that today's kids could not experience things that we enjoyed, maybe they too would have enjoyed these things.

Oh well thank goodness we still have the privilege of having our wonderful parks to enjoy,

I think the drum calls were taken away due to the outsourcing of the restaurants.

if the present restaurants are more efficient, it is only because no one goes to eat in them! Well hardly anyway.

Come on Sanparks. Think outside the box. There is nothing wrong with drum rolls and they are part of the history and culture of Africa.

Bring back set menus with a choice and coffee on the verandah.

Running these restaurants is making a mountain out of a mole hill. Sending money back to shareholders on the London Stock Exchange instead of feeding profits into running the restaurants with decent pay and quality food is madness.