SANParks.org Forums

We stayed in no 3 a couple of weeks ago and the fridge was inside the accommodation! We were woken just befor 0300 by a noise which was a honey badger on the patio tipping over the dustbin. We disturbed it and it trotted off.

Stayed in no 5 with the fridge inside.
Believe most are placed in the accommodation (for the time being, i hope)
Best would be place the fridge/kitchen behind a iron gate, like Satara and Lower Sabie upgraded units

We stayed in one of the family cottages last month and they had also put the fridge into one of the bedrooms, a bit inconvenient but I guess until they can figure out how to keep the night-time vagrant out of them, the option of choice.
I would have thought a simple clasp fitted onto the fridge would also work?

We put the bin on top of the one cupboard out on the verandah and never had any trouble.

I think that the placement of the fridges in the bedrooms until they can figure out how to outsmart the honey badgers is a good one. Elsa your idea of a clamp on the fridge also sounds workable and neither too difficult nor costly to implement.

Taking about rat...
While there during the evening on the 17th of march, round 8tish, somebody shouted
LEOPARD
and there it was, drinking from the WH visible in the floodlight
Only a video snippet, no images

Really, take aways? and food?

Wish I had taken more notice of it but yes, it was basically a little deck or area outside to the left of the shop, wooden tables and chairs under umbrellas as I recall and looked as if you could have coffee or perhaps something a bit stronger in the evenings, a bit like a beer garden.
Really not sure if food was on offer as well.

The previous times that we visited Orpen was before the upgrades and we stayed in one of the older huts with a little stoep, a fridge and some kitchen utensils but no bathroom facilities or washing up facilities. Those huts had a very nice atmosphere including talking to the other guests at the communal kitchen, but I believe the upgraded ones are even nicer. This time we will be staying in one the bigger guest cottages and I would like to ask whether it is worth it to ask for a specific one or do they all have equal/same view of the fence/waterhole?

We stayed in # 14 of the family cottages and it had a good view of the waterhole, I suspect # 15 would as well as that one is right next to the fence.

Grantmissy
Yes unit 15 will give you a better view on the waterhole because it is right next to the fence. No 14 is again next to 15. So if you can, try to get 15.

Elsa / Bush Baptist: The little table and chairs with umbrella is a small area where people can enjoy the coffee that the camp offers (I think free of charge if you book in) to the guests. I saw the small coffee station there (and cold water) where people were helping themselves. I did not notice that there was anything in the line of a take away or other services. It just seems like a complementary drink they offer.
The chairs and table are right next to the restaurant area and the view from there is unfortunately towards the garage.

Will be there again next week, I will check if that's what I think it is and let you know.

Does anyone have a email address of Orpen or is the only possibility to ask for a special unit by phone?

Have a look Here Katja.

I do hope that you and others realise that a request for a specific unit is ONLY a request, whether it can be fulfilled depends on many factors. A unit cannot be left empty for a day or so just so that it will be available on the day you happen to arrive. Most camps try their best to fulfill requests, but it is not always possible. Better to understand this ahead of time than to be disappointed if when you arrive, the desired unit should not be available due to an overlap of bookings.

I think is more important that a response is received as I agree that it is only a request for a specific number. We were not lucky to get number 15 as per our request but that is not important. The important part I think is the prompt customer feedback that the staff at Orpen provides. It looks like forum members are in general pleased with the good service provided by the Orpen staff. Good for Orpen!

I visited Orpen in January this year. It was, once again, impeccable.
The staff were friendly, the camp was clean, the pool was clean, the staff were efficient and everything was in perfect order. The H7 was the place to be at the time, we had some amazing sightings: lion, cheetah, leopard, several wild dog sightings, jackal and so much more. We also got frequent visits from the local Honey Badger:



Ten out of ten service!