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Re: Afsaal Picnic Site
Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2015 8:11 am
by Bushcraft
The kitchen and the running of the kitchen is the biggest problem
More than half the stuff on the menu hasn't been served since SANParks took over, but nobody ever bothered to change the menu so that the lack of competence could cope

Re: Afsaal Picnic Site
Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 6:59 pm
by Richprins
Dwarf and I were there Saturday...and had a discussion about it. It was fine, btw, toilets clean, picnickers carrying on, shop still sparse.
The thing is, this picnic spot was an absolute godsend when it was built over 2 decades ago....much needed and providing your traditional PICNIC opportunity, which is what picnic spots are about?
The shop, beer, expansion, additional toilet facilities, concession owners etc. came about as years wore on, so the infrastructure is fine.
There is no rule that says a picnic spot should provide meals...never has been! One can get meals/curios at the nearest camp, which has also always been the case!
Point being, if it didn't work regarding the commercial aspect, so be it.
However, this raises a pertinent point regarding greater commercialisation in Kruger. At some point the fancy stuff becomes unsustainable, for purely financial reasons, as whatever the concocted partnership scheme is becomes "voted out" by people on the ground not partaking?
This is a good proven example over many years, and should provide a dire warning regarding supply vs demand!
Afsaal will be fine!

Re: Afsaal Picnic Site
Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 10:26 am
by Bushcraft

Yip
I heard a rumour that some new franchises operating in camps prefer not to have the “competition” from the Afsaal kitchen

Re: Afsaal Picnic Site
Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 6:49 pm
by Richprins
Some new franchises in camps possibly are not making as much money as they thought they would!

Re: Afsaal Picnic Site
Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2015 6:37 pm
by Richprins
Yesterday:
The place was very busy during the day...chatted to an attendant.
The shop is still sparse, and SP employees running it. Kitchen operating, with limited menu. A bit grotty, but difficult!
You rent your own skottel top (R25), and then go and find an open gas bottle...not the end of the world!

Re: Afsaal Picnic Site
Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2015 6:53 pm
by dup
Thanks RP, and agree with you.
Re: Afsaal Picnic Site
Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2015 7:14 pm
by H. erectus
Richprins wrote:Some new franchises in camps possibly are not making as much money as they thought they would!
What on earth ever convinced them that they would!! They cannot or are not interested
in even trying to service the out of reach areas!!! Skuks as such will barely prove a profit
for them,....let alone the rest up north, just another hideous idea concocted by the San-
curator ship,...Mr. G. will always know better,.
Re: Afsaal Picnic Site
Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2015 7:21 pm
by H. erectus
In my greater sense of imagination I can but only
concoct a simple understanding for this so called
intent to service society,...a mere socio- economic
tax write off,..not much skin abrasion by the tenderer!~!!
Re: Afsaal Picnic Site
Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2016 8:24 am
by Richprins
There is a story by one of our schoolkids. It happened about 9 years ago, and is in the 101 Kruger Tales book!
The story can be read on the AG site linked here :
https://africageographic.com/blog/leopard-raids-braai/
Re: Afsaal Picnic Site
Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2016 8:40 am
by nan
magnificent story, good telling... I can see the Leopard
what a great souvenir
