SANParks.org Forums

Jen, that's great.
So often the staff just get taken for granted.

Also get told this, though don't think that we do. Always do the washing up, don't want to encourage the creepie crawlies.
I do try to leave the accommodation tidy, nothing on the beds or floor, so that cleaner doesn't have mounds to move before getting on with their work.
Any excess food is left in the fridge or cupboard, as I been told by the fore-mention brother-in-law that it is appreciated.

The people I think are forgotten, are those who clean the braais.
Who ever thinks of cleaning those... and how many think of leaving a "tip".

The gardeners also seem to get forgotten
We give them cooldrinks and biscuits if we are around when they are working.

Hi everyone

I would never just leave dishes (glasses, cutlery and crockery) to be cleaned by others. However if we have used a pot to make pap or something like that and it is soaking overnight, we will first ask one of the cleaning staff if they would mind cleaning it, and only if they agree will we leave it. For that they will be paid between R10 - R20 ( only $3 you know)

Having been camping and caravaning for a million years now, it is all part of the fun. Especially if you have kids, doing the dishes is a ritual and is delegated amongst family members. It gives the kids a sense of responsibility too.

Like in many "waitressing type" jobs, the tip makes all the difference.
I know that, yes, leaving a tip might mean a different choice of ice cream to me and my family... but to someone else (washing my dishes) it is whether there is meat on the table or not.
Also, from what Freda said, when we sit and look at the lovely gardens... how many of us give a thought to those who spent hours giving us this beauty?
Dirty dishes is not an issue for me... the tip is.

We do the same thing

I could actually feel myself blushing as I read all of your responses - on previous visits, I have always left a couple of our breakfast dishes. To be honest, I never expected anyone to wash our dishes for us, but found that whenever we returned from our morning drives, the dishes were done. I am a little ashamed of the fact that the staff probably thought us rude to have taken them for granted. As a South African, I am well aware of the need to tip the cleaners, so atleast I did do that!!! Thanks to all of you for your input - will be more considerate in the future.

We allways feel ashamed to leave dirty dishes for the cleaning-staff, so we don't....
Still, after talking to a few of the cleaning-staffmembers and hearing what kind of money they make with this work we allways leave a tip, and when we return home all the food and non-food items that we do not take home with us...
Whe had to learn something in this, after leaving a small tip on the pillow (European custom ) we found that every cent was put on the bedside-table every time... showed us ho honest this people are. So we give it their hands since we noticed that.

Interesting topic!

As I have mentioned before, I am a little obsessive when it comes to cleanliness .

I always clean our dishes and cutlery, firstly I cant handle allowing them to be dirty for any extended period of time and because I would feel bad to leave the dishes for the staff to clean. Even if they did clean them, I would still re-wash them just to be sure that they are 100%...... In fact I realised that I was spending too much time cleaning that could have been better spent and now bring along very good plastic plates that I throw away after use, only use tea cups and cereal bowls etc..

We keep the bungalow as tidy as possible. We also make sure that 'our' attendant will be there the day we leave and make sure she gets a tip..usually R15 - R20 per day..sometimes more, depending on service. We definitely leave unused food items in the fridge; eg..milk, fruit, veggies & meat, it is most appreciated.

I agree about the cleaning of the braai..I am sure that the attendant is the one who cleans it...

I think another aspect of bungalow etiquette or general camp etiquette would be that of being good neighbours. Loudness is really the only problem that we have experienced in terms of those around us on occasion. We mostly have like minded neighbours but have had some that are less so. Be considerate and know that sounds carry in the bush AND that if your neighbour's lights go off, they have probably gone to bed, so once again be mindful of others. We once had people shining spotlights at our windows while we were trying to fall asleep and they were rowdy...it was really not in the spirit of being in the park...but as I have said these experiences are few. Everyone is a first timer to begin with so perhaps a discreet notice of some kind would be helpful in educating new or uninformed visitors.

Once again, a really useful topic, well done!

A wee little bump for the newer members...

90 % of visitors leave their dirty dishes behind after the last day, but they also leave all their leftovers and perishables. (NOT booze)

I think the cleaning staff and picnic spot attendants have a royal time as far as snacks and leftovers is concerned, which is fair enough!

What we normally do whether camping or hutting is to arrange with an attendant to wash dishes and leave a tip per load while we are out.

Who wants to do dirty work while on holiday?

Just make sure to leave the cleaning equipment as well.

How do you go about organising a wash up attendant when camping , it sounds marvelous .

That's why you take your SO & children, dummy.

But don't tell them

Bucky, it takes a trained eye, almost like spotting a sudden movement in the bush...

Spot an attendant at the communal kitchen structures, preferably in the early morning or late evening.

Stalk and observe before waiting to pounce.

Try and judge the right moment, once the prey has completed urgent tasks.

Attack without baggage, while the rest of your pride lies in wait.

Be calm and nonchalant, luring the prey with subtle promises of reward.

If prey is not sighted, speak to the Alpha male at the Gate.
Results guaranteed.

Please don't twist this post! Just a joke!