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Thanks, this was helpfull and we cross the fingers and wait for the bidding in april 2013 for the restaurants (it seems for a contrat of 10 years). We are still wondering how long it will take afterwards for the new contractor to come in.It would be great if changes are made before our arrival in september !!!

In defense of Compass, they had to take on Sanparks staff to work in the restaurants and there is just no work ethic towards good service.
It is just a job and that is where the problem comes in.
You can have the best business model in the world and if there is just no interest or enthusiasm from the staff you are doomed to failure.
Add unions to the mix and you have a sure fire recipe for disaster.
If the individual is not interested in improving him/her self, you can have the best food in the world and it wont make an iota of difference.

I have just returned from 8days in KNP, all I can suggest is that you try and take as much food with as poss. We thought we would "treat" ourselves to a night out in Olifants....
The restaurant looked A LOT better then it did 3 yrs ago and thankfully no buffet in sight, however we were really disappointed at the food we received that night!
As a group of 5 people we had a mixture of burgers, chicken and 1 even tried a steak!
All I can say is we will never eat there again!!!
Our bill with one round of drinks came to R350.00, in hind sight what could you expect from a restaurant in the middle of nowhere.
We ate at Satara and Lower Sabie and the food was slightly better, also Satara had the most fresh meat available in the shop.

That is what I agree with. And staff must be paid fairly.

Thanks Bushbabies6067
We had the same experience last year.
Before (at the time of Sanparks and his buffet) it was our favorite and one of the best restaurants in KNP.
There was also that guy (an older tiny man) who was all the time present .
You could ask him whatever and he was already looking to help.
But he disappeared at the same time as the new company came in.

We hope that the new contract will bring changes in food and prices.
I'm still looking for the date of the "handover".
Can't wait to come over (September is still 6 months to go) and to look for the new style !!!!!!

When we first started visiting Kruger nine years ago there was always a queue at the cafeterias waiting to order, this has now diminished and no wonder when you see the prices and quality of the food served!

At the end of March we were at Bergendaal and ordered a light lunch, amongst the order was;
1. a toasted cheese & tomato with chips at a cost of R34.00 which consisted of 1 slice processed cheese, 2 slices tomato, 2 slices bread with no butter and approximately 20 chips. What was the ingredient cost of this to Compass, maybe R5.00?
2. a toasted cheese & ham sandwiches with chips at a cost of R36.00 which consiste of 1 slice processed cheese, 1 slice ham, 2 slices bread with no butter and approximately 20 chips. What was the ingredient cost of this to Compass, maybe R6.00?
We did call the manager, but it was his/her day off but were attended to by the supervisor who was polite and when asked whether she would order & pay for something like this she answered NO! However she did take them away and returned with freshly made sandwiches with a little more filling!

At Satara the following day I was feeling a little hungry but after the experience the day before I eventually bought a single pie in a packet at a cost of R22.00! Whish I appreciate that transport is expensive but really this is a disgusting price to pay for a pie!

i have read other posts and read that poor Compass had to take over the staff as they are the problem, with due respect they are managing the cafeterias and if the staff don't toe the line follow the procedures and dismiss them. It all boils down to poor management and exhorbitant profits.

when will SANP put this contract out to tender?

Hi Hooker and a warm welcome to the forum.

This is where you can more on the successful tenders awarded.

Sanparks in the late 70's and 80's where absolutely awesome.
Who remembers the real venison pie and mince...

We were friends of the head of Skukuza cafeteria. I remember her getting up at 3 in the morning to start preparing for the day ahead.

I've been to lower sabie in 2011 and again last year, things didn't change , food and service was really poor, quite embarrassing as there were American tourist standing in the line and this is the impression they get of SA, takes long to serve, disappears for 5 min then comes back
They need to be sent on a customer relations class or something,

Then the sub standard food takes long to come
I learnt one lesson, I bought myself a cooler box as soon as I retuned home, will be making my own food when I do eventually go again.
The only decent stuff I saw was ice cream and simba chips.

Stayed at Pretoriuskop last year, and notice the restaurant menu was the same as lower sabie? Is it the same throughout the park?

But hey, I prefer to have a braai in the evening, and snacks during the day.

My waeco fridge freezer will be packed. We will braai,make sarmies and enjoy our sundowners...we don't need those overpriced restaurants/take-aways. So visitors be prepared. Can't wait for June:)

Referring to an older topic on this issue at the beginning of 2013, I was wondering if there was any news in the meantime. If I understood well Sanparks had to make his choice before the end of April this year for a new contract.
Do we know the name of the new vendor and when will the replacement be in place?
I still hope that there will be an upgrade of the menu and visitors will find more variation in the buffets and take-away.
Keep fingers crossed.

Didn't I hear something about Spur... Someone will have to verify though...

The Spur thing was the Beeld speculating.

The latest we have is here. Some restaurants in other SANParks have new management and Mopani in Kruger also was taken away from Tree and given to others to manage. I'm hearing good things about it.

Self catering is the way to go, please no spur or any other fast food joint-

The best option will be for Sanparks to take over the catering themselves again, like the old days.
Bang the drum for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
The food that Sanparks produced was fantastic.
OR
I am sure that given the opportunity , there are Sanparks staff who could run a little restaurant as their own business- for example ,
The old restaurant at Lower Sabie ,which is now a complete eyesore and a disgraceful storeroom of sorts, This building could easily be donated to some eager staff members for their own benefit and would not cost Sanparks too much money. It will however empower people and also give them a sense of pride and achievement, and that is what is needed. The staff in the old days of Sanparks were always a major part of the Kruger experience. As a child I used to listen to all their tales and stories about the wildlife in the park.
What is the phone number, I want to book a table for my next visit?