Accommodation - ask all your questions here

[Johann]

On my last couple of trips I've taken units with a kitchenette and bathroom.
Towels,soap and toiletpaper are provided. Changed daily if you wish so, but preferably not, we need to conserve as much water possible.

Units with cooking facilities vary as some have hotplates and sinks and some only have sinks. The ones I used all had hotplates. Units with kitchenettes include the following: (electric sometimes) kettle, crockery & cutlery (set of four: plates, side plates, pudding bowls, glasses, cups & saucers, knives & forks, spoons and teaspoons), 2 pots and frying pan, salad bowl, bread knife, tin opener, water jug and braaitongs.

I think that's all of it. If anything is short you can just report it to reception and they will try to replace it as quickly as possible.

[Shidzidzii]

This is more to help others also wondering what the accommodation has , as you say you will be prepared .

The communal kitchen blocks have sinks for washing up , 2 plate stoves for cooking side dishes etc and a boiling water dispenser ( you can fetch boiling water in a thermos flask ) to make beverages . Always one close to your bungalow and a great place to talk to other people about who saw what.

All bungalows have braais - supply your own wood/charcoal
firelighters , matches and tongs (or use a fork etc) .

Some bungalows have own kitchenettes usually with utensils .
You can hire utensil sets at reception offices but it is a "schlep" and you must hand them in next morning which wastes game viewing time. It is worthwhile having your own set
.
You definitely need your own utensils at picnic spots so in my opinion take a set with. You can buy them in hypermarkets cheaply.

Picnic spots all have skottel braais for hire and this tradition (bush-breakfast) should not be missed. They also have basic kitchen wash-ups etc. Invariably these attendants would like to do your washing up for a fair consideration .

The most important appliance is the fridge to keep food fresh and the drinks cold . Every single accommodation unit (except Balule ) has one with a small deep freeze compartment .

The one piece of equipment all visitors should take is the humble coolbox . It is necessary to keep food cool between overnight camps , and also to have a supply of cool drinks at stopping (get-out) places . Buy one or two at hypermarkets when you get your utensils is my advice.

Otherwise the KNP has enough facilities including shops to supply your needs.

[Tollie]

A member of the family is seriously allergic to thatching. Can anyone please give me any information about camps that have tiled roofs. Much appreciated!

[Crested Val]

Shingwedzi, does (some are thatched, but a lot are not, you would just need to check)
I'm sure other people will let you know other camps as well where there are non thatched units!!!
Hope you can get sorted.................and please enjoy your trip.

[Josh of the Bushveld]

I may be wrong, but I seem to recall some of the chalets in Lower Sabie, near the movie area, have tiled roofs

[Elsa]

Do have a look at INDEX to the best unit numbers which will give you a good idea of what are considered prime sites.

Once decided then about 2 to 3 weeks before your arrival, e-mail the camp with your reservation # and dates requesting the specific unit you would like but please be aware it is just a request and not guaranteed but they generally do try and grant the request if at all possible.

More info Requesting specific Accommodation.

[Lola Watrin]

Hi ,
Good morning to all of you,
A great site for reservation.
I just don't understand the issue of Base rate and the max number of persons.

We are two persons, in case I reserve a tent with max number of beds (4), what is the situation?
Do I pay the other two vacant beds? or do another two persons can share the tent with us??

Another question: do u provide small camping tents?

Many thanks.
Lola

[DinkyBird]

Hi Lola, and welcome to the forums!

When you reserve a tent, you are paying for the number given for the base rate. So in most cases, 2. If you want to book for 4 people, and there are 4 beds, but the base rate is for 2 - then you need to pay for the extra 2.

There are permanent tents in Kruger, the safari tents which are for any visitors (local and overseas) to the park. No tents are provided to using for camping, those you need to supply yourself.

[Elsa]

If you are doing your reservation by e-mail then you just give the camp and code of chalet that you require ie. BD3 or EH2 etc
As long as its still available when the mail reaches reservations you will be allocated that type of unit.
If you book via the on line method then its immediately allocated to you.
Booking Methods

[DinkyBird]

Does anyone know what the abbreviations on the accommodation descriptions mean? I think we have worked out some of them such as:

B = bungalow
U = utensils
V = view
F = family
G = guesthouse
Z = Unit accessible to the mobility challenged
BB = 2 single beds?

I realise the number relates to the number of people that can sleep in each unit but there are other descriptions such as BD, BG, NG2U, FQ, GEG, GNG etc., that are not as easy to work out.

I am sure there must be a list somewhere, which I cannot find

U is for a perimeter unit, but not with a view. V is for view as you have.

D seems to be if there is a kitchen, E or G, means no kitchen, and use of communal kitchen. (might be that one has some kitchen items)
The number is for how many beds.

[lion queen]

To answer some of your questions have a look at this topic: Braai facilities/Utensils/ETC in Accommodation


- are the bungalows / hut / cottages equipped with winter blankets?
- are they equipped on the toilet with toilet paper? with hair-dryer? soap?


All bungalows are equipped with extra blankets

Bathrooms do have toilet paper

Bungalows have towels and a small bar of soap is supplied

NO HAIR-DRYER


Then let's go for the most complicated part, the kitchen stuff.
I've booked at Talamti cottage, but I didn't anywhere what is supplied for kitchen. Dishes? Cutlery? Soap for dishes? Kitchen paper? Charcoal for the grill?
For the other accomodations, where it is written "utensils", what is to be considered supplied?

And then, for the "communal kitchen facilities': how the facility is used? I mean, what stuff is available (cutlery, bbq tools, charcoal) and what is the etiquette (clean just after, share the bbq)

Talamati cottage kitchen will have all basic dishes and cutlery. Soap for dishes is supplied.

NO kitchen paper, NO charcoal.

At other accommodation with Utensils: crockery, glasses, cutlery, pots and very basic utensils will be provided.

Communal kitchen facilities are basins for washing up and hot plates to do your cooking.

All utensils are at your chalet.

All bungalows and safari tents have individual braais. As far as I can remember you only have communal braais at Punda Maria

And YES clean after yourself.

[Yoda]

Charcoal and kitchen roll can be purchased at the camp shops, if you don't bring with you.

[Elsa]

And also don't forget they add a 1% community fund levy to every booking as well which will not be shown directly on the tariff sheet but will be once you book.

[timoha]

I just booked some accommodation, and got the confirmation letter which says:

"NOTE: You will not be allowed to enter the park to travel to the rest camp you are booked at without adequate travelling time"

How can I inform the adequate travelling time?
* Is it possible to do via web page? I could not find such page.
* Or Is email enough to reservations?

[cheetahlady]

You need to look at the distance between the entry gate and your first camp. Speed limit is 50 km,hr on tar and 40 on gravel roads. Also need to allow for animal delays. E.g. If you are staying at Shingwedzi, your nearest gate is Punda Maria - about 75 km from the camp. You would need to arrive at the gate at least 2 - 3 hours before gate closing time to be sure that you could safely reach the camp before gate closing. Only a few camps (usually gate camps) will allow late arrival, and by arrangement only. So check your first camp, decide where you want to enter the park, and make sure you can safely reach your destination before gate closing.