SANParks.org Forums

Do not have GPS co-ordinates, sorry.
But the Spar is easy to find.
You come into Malelane on the N4 from J'burg side, turn left at the first set of traffic lights and keep going across a pedestrian crossing and then turn left into the Inkwazi Shopping centre and Spar is to the right. Parking never a problem.
Back at the traffic lights on the N4 Pick and Pay is on the right - and often actually has better fresh produce than Spar.
If you are going on to Croc Bridge from there rather than Malelane Gate, then you can also try the Nampak/Colours fresh produce place at Hectorspruit.
Minimum of 1kg amounts of anything, but prices are lower than the supermarkets (many folk from up country stock up there on their way home from Kruger).
If they let you down, then you still have the Komatipoort Spar to fall back on.
That is on the right as you get into Komatipoort - a stop street outside a Caltex petrol station.

Must say I was pleasantly suprised with the Malelane Spar. Its quite huge, you will find everything there. Hope i am not breaking any advertising rules. ...

Coolers are probably best purchased outside the park.
There are a number of fairly large department stores that have a wide range of them and the pricing will be lower than if purchased inside the park.

Since you will be self catering, I suggest that you buy the coolers closer to your starting point, and use them to transport at least some of your food with you to the park.

Once there, you can refill with ice, food and drinks from any of the shops inside the park.

The Spar is on the right as you drive towards the Phalaborwa gate, when you are almost through Phalaborwa. You will not miss it. There are traffic lights just before, and you turn right to get to the parking area. The information centre is on the left of the road opposite it.

I've asked this question before in another thread, and received some good suggestions . . . seeing as how this thread is dedicated to the subject, though, I figured might be able to get some more responses!

Does anybody know of any easy/good places to stock up on food as well as purchase some camping essentials (ie. camping chairs, extension cord/blue plug, cooler box, etc.) on the way from Jo'burg to Punda Maria? And what kind of shopping can be done at Punda Maria?

Towns like Polokwane(Pietersburg) and Louis Trichardt(incorrectly shown as Makhado) are both good to buy these things from. But depending on what time you would be leaving JHB.

Punda has the bare necessities. And sometimes not even that. I wouldn't bargain on buying anything from the Punda shop.

Fishing Owl -- Pick n Pay stores have 5 lt boxes of wine in many different varieties -- red, white, rose, dry, semi-sweet, etc, which, I believe, are not too bad & are reasonably priced.

Hi,

We will be coming in to the park via Phalabowra Gate, I know that there is a SPar on the way in, but I also notice on the map that there is another supermarket in Phalabowra too.

I need to buy a coolbox and insect coils mozzi sprays etc before we come in.......... does anyone know if I can buy these at the Spar? Or would it be better to go to the other one? The name escapes me!!! Must be my age!!!

Any help please?

I believe the Spar in Phalaborwa stocks everything

Faunavista, welcome to this wonderful forum

You mention that you will arrive at KMIA and want the shortest route to the Park, need a place to shop and first 2 nights at Biyamiti.

I would shop in White River, very close to KMIA and the shortest route to Kruger will then be to enter at Numbi Gate instead of driving to Nelspruit (which actually take you further away from Kruger) to shop. I know there is a PnPay in White River, not sure about a Spar

If you prefer not to go in at Numbi, then I would think its better to get onto the N4 drive from KMIA to Malelane, do your shopping there at the Spar or PnPay and enter at Malelane Gate

Remember Biyamiti does not have a restaurant or shop. Most of the time you will be able to buy wood and ice, but rather buy some to see you through the first night, just incase

Hi Faunavista

Both of the above options are great!
Stay away from Nelspruit, it will be a waste of your time.

Taking in to account the time you are landing, I would go for the Malelane option.
The reason for this is simply the travel time inside Kruger itself. (Remember you will travel at less than 40 km in Kruger and at 120 km outside!)

Malelane gate is much nearer to Biyamiti than Numbi gate.
This will leave you with much more flexibility in your travelling schedule and less stress whether you will make it in time (You still have to spend time shopping.)

To get to Malelane:

It is easy to get on to the N4 (main road) from KMIA.

Follow the N4 all the way to Malelane.
Do your shopping at the Spar in Malelane.
It is a huge shop and you will be able to find all you need there. (From the N4 turn left at the first traffic light in Malelane, keep straight for a short distance - plus minus 500 meters - until you see a big shopping centre with a huge parking area on your left hand side).

To get to the Malelane gate: Get back on the N4 and continue travelling in the same direction. Follow the signs!

Shop at Spar or Pick and Pay in Malelane before entering at Malelane gate for Berg en Dal and then just top up in the park.

One of the things that the excellent Orpen shop has that I've found in no other KNP shop is a nice selection of sandwiches. I often grab one when staying at Tamboti if I am feeling too lazy to braai — or if, as it was in early October, it is too windy to braai.

I general, however, it is best to do your major shopping at a Spar or Pick 'n Pay outside of the park.
I can recommend both the Spar and the Pick 'n Pay in Phalaborwa.
The Spar is only 1km from the gate and there is a good bottle shop next door, as well as a full-service ATM.

No special requirements - although vacuum packed meat lasts longer.

RSA supermarkets will vacuum pack your meat for you.
I always ask them to vacuum pack mine in meal-sized packets, so that I only need open one pack per braai. These packets can then be frozen, so it's easy to carry enough meat for a two-week stay in the park.
Most RSA supermarkets also sell excellent re useable cooler bags that will keep groceries at least chilled for several hours, plus they fold flat and fit in your luggage!
I brought mine home with and am using it here regularly and it will likely travel back with me on my next trip! Adding ice to such cooler bags when traveling between camps worked fine for me in keeping meat and produce cool or frozen — just use separate bags for what you want to keep frozen and what only needs to be cooled.
I also freeze juice boxes (and water bottles) to use in cooler bags when traveling to my next camp — and to keep my padkos cool on game drives