Amenities provided at Rest Camps

[Shelley_Marie63]

Hi, in about a month we will be visiting KNP for the first time!
We are currently booked into 2 rest camps : Satara and Berg an Deal. We have bungalows at both camps and it says complete and utensils are included. What kind of utensils does this mean? Do we need to bring a can opener, bottle opener, corkscrew etc. What about towels for bathing and dish towels? Do we need to buy some dish soap and bar soap for bathing? Is there a coffee maker in the bungalow or should we get instant? Are the bungalows kept up like a hotel room, each day?

I see mention of things like these that people advise to bring, but is that for camping only? I also see mention of a cooler. Where can we purchase these things along with some beer and wine? Should we purchase prior to heading into camp?

Sorry for so many questions. Feel free to add any necessities needed for a bungalow stay.

One last thing....should we be only drinking bottled water, or is tap water safe for drinking and brushing teeth?

Thank you, Shelley

[Elsa]

If your booking includes utensils then it will have cutlery, crockery, glasses, pots and pans plus a kettle, basically everything you need.
There are hot plates to cook on and a fridge/freezer.
You will have a braai/barbeque stand right outside your bungalow should you wish to cook outdoors.
It should include a bottle/can opener but sometimes we find that is missing so we do keep one in our picnic set that we carry with us.
But check the inventory that will be either on the back of the door or somewhere in the bungalow and if you find something listed that is missing do call on the reception and they will send someone round with the item.
Normal everyday knives are included but not steak knives, so if you are going to need those then maybe pick some up when you do your shopping.
No coffee maker but I have seen some shops selling plunger type pots, otherwise a good quality instant.
Towels and a small bar of soap each are provided.
Dish washing liquid, washing and drying cloths are also included.

The bungalows are serviced on a daily basis.

You can get a cooler box at most of the supermarkets and even some of the shops in the park.
The shops have a good selection of wine and beers plus ice, and some general groceries, some veges, bread, rolls, including limited meat, certainly a lot better nowadays than before.
Satara is particularly good as if Skukuza.

Both camps do have a restaurant on site as well.

The water is safe to drink but I recommend you use bottled water for drinking and just use the tap water for brushing of teeth, making of coffee, cooking with etc which is what we do.

Do bring with you a torch, binoculars, camera etc and good sun protection.
Although the park is well signposted, buy a map book as soon as possible for routes, distances, and lots of other info which will help you navigate yourselves around, available at the shops.

Do ask if there is anything else we can help with.

[Meandering Mouse]

Shelley, Elsa has pretty much summed everything up.

I always take a good thermos flask with me for coffee on the move. If you do a lot of your own catering a good cutting knife might be useful.

Enjoy the rest of your planning and I wish you a wonderful holiday.

[arks]

Elsa and MM have given you good advice, but I disagree with Elsa about the bottled water. I've always found the KNP tap water just fine to drink. I usually buy one or two small bottles of waterr and then keep refilling them to have water to drink in the car whilst out on game drives. I also usually freeze the bottle(s) overnight, so that I then have ice water to drink when the day gets hot.

I also recommend the soft-sided cooler bags that you can purchase in the supermarket, rather than a hard-sided cooler. My cooler bags and other reusable shopping bags travel with me on all my travels, easy to pack and they don't take up much space in luggage. I use frozen water bottles and/or juice boxes to keep things cool when transporting items in the cooler bag(s).

Have a great trip! boxes

[PNF]

Hi Shelley

The bungalows do not have things like air freshner and serviettes - we always take 2 rolls of kitchen paper towels. One in the car for the inevitable spills/cleaning mirrors or windscreens if they are dirty etc and one in the bungalow to use as serviettes/tissues etc. I find that a small air freshner in my bag has come in useful on several occasions!
I also do as Elsa and MM and use tap water for cooking and washing but drink bottled water but it is a personal preference!

Enjoy your trip

[Crested Val]

Elsa and MM have given you good advice, but I disagree with Elsa about the bottled water. I've always found the KNP tap water just fine to drink.

I agree with Elsa.
Yes the water is safe to drink, but I find it has a funny taste, so we use bottled water, for drinking (tap is fine for brushing our teeth, and cooking.)

However we are all different, and probably many (like Arks) don't mind the taste.
The main thing is that it is perfectly safe to drink if we wish to.

[Elsa]

The main thing is that it is perfectly safe to drink if we wish to.

Absolutely, I certainly for one wouldn't use it for anything if I thought it wasn't but I generally always prefer to use bottled water for drinking where ever I go, not only in national Parks and in fact even when we have traveled abroad.
Some tummies are more sensitive than others and mine is one that reacts negatively to different water.
So I always advise bottled water rather than have an upset tum and spoil ones holiday.

[Melaka]

On a more mundane note, we find the toilet paper rather thin so take a roll or two of our own.