SANParks.org Forums

New menu looks good!

A change in management was definitely required.
However, it will take time for "the Masses" to return as most visitors are arriving with all their own food at the moment (as a result of past restaurant quality).
Maybe a bit of marketing will help.

Looks very good will be sure to try something in June when I am at Skukuza again

I believe in the very positive approach by the new management.
They have answered every question i have asked on behalf of the forum.

This is good news. The new menu looks good - unfortunately i have to wait until next year to try it.

We had a carvery at Skukuza twice in December, and once in March and each time it was very good.
Nice selection of salad to start.
Main course carvery - Maybe veg a bit overdone, but plenty of delish tender meat and the roasties were great.
Choice of pud, but quite frankly by then I was stuffed!!
Very pleasant staff.
No complaints.

Just come back from the Kruger... I know this isn't the restaurant, but have to compliment Berg en Dal. I had a toasted sandwich and chips at the take away and it was one of the best i have ever had. Good value for money and friendly service. Well done.

To be totally honest, I believe the restaurants to be actually quite good, with the exception of Selati, Lower Sabie and Pretoriuskop.

But then again, I dont even try and order anything close to lunch time, as I dont want to wait an hour for the food either.

Had fantastic "spare ribs" for lunch at Selati in 2005 although the service was a bit on the slow side back then also.Will be back in "paradise" at the beginning of October and sincerly hope the spare ribs is still on the menu.

I am hoping that somebody from TREE RESTAURANT could respond to my following queries:

1) Why does Tree restarant not offer buffet dinners to guests at Letaba and Shigwedzi, as is done in Satara?

2) Why have the prices on the menus just gone up without input from members of the public? I bought a pie and chips at Shingwedzi earlier this week and it cost mr R45.90.....a normal little pepper steak pie...Rip off !!!!

Thanks, and will hopefully get some feedback.

I want to agree with MichaelM regarding the ridiculous prices charged at SANPARKS outlets.
At Satara I paid 46.95 for 2 x pepper steak pies which would have cost me less than R 25.00 at any outlet in Pretoria.
Are we subsidising something?
I do suggest that SANPARKS privatise their shops and restaurants to be competitive with standard markets. Any monopoly does have the tendency to rip people off and is against the law.
Would SANPARKS consider privatisation?

The shops and restaurants are privatized.
I am sure one of the other mites can confirm the company that has the tender for the services.
The prices are always going to be more expensive than in the cities.
One of the reasons is the extra costs to transport the items to Kruger.
Another factor we have to remember is that, unfortunately, there isn't any competition in the Kruger.
You cannot decide to go to another shop around the corner if you are upset about the prices.
Due to this they can charge more than your local shop in the city.

Which is probably why they charge so much LOL, if they charge what the international visitors expect, who cares about what is reasonable according to SA standards?

the food is a bit overpriced - even taking into account that it is out in the bush and not midtown of a major city.

I have visited Kruger for the last 35 years, and enjoyed the "Good Old Days" when a five course meal with waiter service cost next to nothing.
I always wondered how they made a profit.....and of course probably they didn't.

However things have moved on since then, and with the restaurants under private ownership and very many more foreign tourists visiting the park, who are used to paying higher prices without complaint, I'm afraid this is the situation today.
Saffies get used to it.........you have been spoiled for many years.

My gripe would be that although the prices continue to go up, in most cases the quality of the food has sadly gone down!!!

As regards no buffets at Shing etc, it may be because the demand isn't there.
We always braai north of Satara without fail, though sometimes in the south of the park we sometimes visit the restaurant, it's what we've always done.

I think we need to recognise that a lot of locals self cater, and most foreigners cannot, so I am sure that the prices are geared to foreigners. Pity the quality on most of the food is not.

For us locals, there are 2 choices, take your own or k&b. (pay up reluctantly).

To be honest, as an international visitor, I am appalled at the high cost, low quality, lack of choice and total lack of regard for my requirements as exhibited by the franchise holders.

For the last 3 years, we have taken the decision that even with having to buy utensils every year and leave them behind, as we do with freezer blocks, that it is still a lot cheaper to braai for our main meal at about 1200/1300 (amazing how quiet the picnic spots are at this time) and then have a light snack just before we go to bed. ( who wants to sleep on a full stomach anyway)

So, tough luck on the franchise holder, this is one family who will NOT avail themselves of their expensive low quality stuff. (We have emailed them and had no reply for the last 2 years so they obviously do not care)

Mike Goss