Historic Houses/Cottages/Rondawels of the Kruger

[Lepardfan]

Is there maybe some pics of these buildings.

I would love to see what they look like or used to look like.

[Grantmissy]

Such photos if they exist, would be interesting to see Lepardfan.

Some of the guest houses in the Kruger are also becoming historical in a sense as some were built more than 25 years ago. Staying in the Stanley Cottage in Satara is like being transported back in time. Those Balule Rondawels are all historical and they remain very popular with many Kruger visitors. In Lower-Sabie those one person huts grouped together like finch nests are also very old Kruger style. When entering Pretoriuskop a person gets a feeling of days gone by with all those classic Kruger Rondawels there. Some of the family cottages behind the outdoors “in true Kruger fashion” cinema towards the fence has a sign indicating that they were built for the visit of the British Royal Family in the 1940’s.

[Lepardfan]

Very true Grantmissy.

I love the old charm of Balule and PK. they are some of our favourite camps. Just staying in these old huts makes one wonder just how awesome it must have been to go Kruger parking in those days.

[Grantmissy]

Lepardfan staying in all those Kruger huts do have a very strong appeal and a person can very easily start thinking and imagining those days way back in history when sitting at the braai fire in front of your Hut or Rondawel in the evening. And now Sanparks is adding the Old Police House at Punda Maria and the Old TEBA cacilities at Pafuri to the Kruger charm for those who would like to stay there . When we were in the Kruger in December there was a book that was sold in the Camp shops about the history but when we went to Skukuza on our last day in the Park the book was sold out. Perhaps they will get new stock when we visit later this year. I do not know whether they have included all these historical Kruger architecture in the book though.

[Philip1]

Thank you Grantmissy for "Historic Houses/Cottages/Rondawels of the Kruger".
Some people should see it through your eyes, because their eyes don't see it. (Only animals)

Lepardfan, I loved it when the staff came around to light the Lanterns at Balule.

[Grantmissy]

Arks thank you for posting the photos it looks like a great place to stay.

[Grantmissy]

The 1930’s Wolhuter Hut in Pretoriukop is a classic example of Kruger style of Rondawel accommodation in the Rest Camps. Likewise the Campbell Hut in Skukuza with now rusted Chamber Pots under the Riempies beds still on display as those pots were the only Convenience back in those days, winter and summer, rain or shine. No flushable WC’s in the rooms or nearby. I guess that the clatter of tin dishes rattling at meal times were a familiar sound in the huts in those days as it was prior to the introduction of the white china plates with the Green Kudu Kop on them. Just as familiar as the smell of the oil lamps at night or burning white candles made from ox fat.

In historical pictures a person always see the familiar thatch structure of the Tshokwane Tea Room wrapped around the large sausage tree. Always a feel good flutter on the stomach for some of us to stop there seeing the wide open spaces of the Kruger knowing that there are Lions in the veldt around Tshokwane. And that those lions almost look like the Roaring One that they had on the brown paper bags of years ago that were handed out at the entry gates to remind all visitors of the importance of cleanliness.

It is good that the historic Struben Cottage in Skukuza has been restored as it is also a fine example of classic Kruger Architecture It is just almost impossible to book it as it is seldom if ever available on the Reservations Availability site.

[chirinda]

GM, I've just read through the "Old photos of Kruger" thread and on the current page 7 Chip has posted a picture and story about staying in the guest house just outside the gate at Punda in 1958. It looks like the same building as Arks's photos.

[Hugh]

when we stayed n Pretorius kop in 1970 the hut allocated to us was the wolhuter one.. after a few OBs the walls actually began to look straight Also stayed in the square huts n Letaba with coir matrasses and in Malelane when the huts had no en suites and the Long drop loo was right in the corner of the camp Times have changed

[Grantmissy]

Thank you Chirinda it is very interesting. Hugh I think a visit to the long drop in the dead of night must have been an adventure as a person did not know what was waiting in the room or beneath

[Elsa]

Some lovely info and pics of the restored and open for business old TEBA house.

[RosemaryH]

I can still see the pictures posted by Dalene, Hilda. Hope you can see them now too.

These can be seen in the hut