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My opinion as a non vegeterian I agree with DB.

I seldom buy meat in the Park. I am also never sure of how it has been kept cold on the trip to the camp. Chicken is a complete "no, no". I am also not too happy with some of the deli meats and try to buy most perishables outside the Park.

Hi
We are planning a trip to KNP in July.
What kind of groceries are commonly for sale on the shops (Punda Maria, Letaba, Skukuza etc) inside the park?

Regards
Mel

It seems that each shop has a slightly different compliment of groceries - obviously the larger camps have a better range. Generally they have some 'fresh' veg and fruit, meat, cheese, milk, bread, rolls, biscuits, alcohol, fizzy drinks, juice, condiments, some tinned food and packet mixes for flavourings, sauces etc, rusks, biltong, cereals, confectionery etc etc. Then there is a large range of other items (non-grocery) and souvenirs, books etc.
Many people prefer to do their main stock up outside the park (prices are cheaper, better range) and then just buy top up items, milk etc in the park as you go.

Rather buy as much as possible outside the Park as the camp shops are extremely expensive

The important stuff....wood, beer. The rest is irrelevant

And what 3dogs said. Availability will vary, fresh bread will generally disappear from the shelves quite quickly. We also tend to stock up on certain items when we get there (there are good places to buy things close to most gates). Like yourself, I travel from the Cape every time I go there, so it is sometimes a mission to transport fresh produce. I do, however, have my butcher vacuum pack the meat I want to take. I freeze the meat, wrap it in newspaper, and pack in a cooler box with some "cold bricks". Even after 2-3 days the meat is still mostly frozen, or at least very cold.

Personally I do not buy at Kruger apart from Charcoal and wood. Depending wherfe you are coming from there aqre some good supermarkets on gthe way in. There are superspars at Malelane and Hazyview as well as a nice one in Komatipport. I would rather buy there

Mel, do not rely on getting much at Punda shop. Letaba and Skukuza are far bigger shops and stock more. Mopani also has a nice shop, and we have found it to have the best fresh produce. BUT I think it depends if you strike it lucky and go to the shop on a delivery day.

Even with items like cheese, at times I have only be able to buy processed sliced cheese. Last time I was in Skukuza, I bought the last bag of tomatoes ... and they were not too great.

You will not starve if you have to rely on the park's shops, but if you are going to self cater, rather buy before you enter the park as suggested here.

Thanks everyone!
Useful info!

Regarding meat - is there a good variety or only braai chops and boerewors? Can one get something like chicken fillets?

We will be in the park for 2 weeks so we will have to buy some groceries there.
Do you know if these specific items are available?
Canned tomatoes?
Ham?
Margarine?
Onions?
Potatoes?
Fruit?
Fruit juice?

Thanks

Honeybee, you should be able to get most of the things on your list at the bigger camps, as has been said.
but do check the expiry date carefully on any meat products before buying.

We found Skukuza in particular had a good variety of foodstuffs on the shelves during our recent trip.
Of course you will pay more than outside the park but its the convenience.

Hi,

forget the chicken fillet. Never seen in a shop in Kruger.
I don't know if you an fridge/freezer in the car. We have one in the car and we always buy the chicken fillets at the SPAR in Nelspruit. Very good quality. put it in the freezer and you're ready for 2 weeks......

The shop at Punda is not the best of Kruger...., small shop.
Last time we were in Kruger, we found Olifants has the best shop.

Ruud

Depending on the size of the shop,

Canned tomatoes - at the bigger shops
Ham
Margarine
Onions
Potatoes
Fruit canned, yes
Fruit Juice

There is usually quite a variety of canned items, but fresh items depend on deliveries etc.

Apart from firewood,ice,charcoal and ice creams which we buy on a daily basis, everything else is bought outside of the park. Our meat is vacuum packed and frozen, put in our cooler box with ice bricks (5l silver wine bags) and remains frozen for the duration of our trip. The secret is to only open the cooler box with the meat in once a day. Our other cooler box holds all our drinks and other things like cheese,margarine and salad ingredients. We will also be in the Kruger in July

That is not true anymore. Or at least, it wasn't in Januari last year. The Punda shop was way better stocked than the Shingwedzi or Letaba shops.

Any recommendation on a COOLER BOX to buy, bearing in mind the cost and it will have to go in a smallish boot?

Thanks....

The shops are very unreliable.

You may find 3 of the items on your list at any given shop on any given day.

Skukuza is a the largest of the Kruger shops and usually the best stocked.

It will be in your best interest to buy your groceries outside the park, as even when they are available the prices are high and the quality poor.