Page 1 of 3

Finding food

Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2021 4:50 pm
by JoeKing
Hi All,

Feb 27 - 14 March i'm going to KNP.

This will be the first time camping more then a few days.

We are renting a Double cab so will have enough space for the essentials like wood charcoal and hopefully beer, if the ban has been lifted.

My question, there is no way that i will be able to pack enough food for 3 people for 14 days.
The camps are expensive, ice will melt and vacuum packing meat will only last for a certain period.

We are going to be based at

Lower sabie(5 nights)
Satara(3 nights)
Tzende(2 nights)
Shigwedzi(4 nights)

The food i will bring from JHB should cover the first 3-4 days.

Where would you recommend stocking up(preferably outside the park as park shops prices are steep for a lad earning rands)

Re: Finding food

Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2021 4:59 pm
by Lisbeth
Have you tried to ask the car rental if they also rent electric freezer boxes, which you can attach in the car and also with a converter to the electric outlet in camp?

Re: Finding food

Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2021 5:16 pm
by Alf
You can drive to Phalaborwa and buy meat there on your way to Tzendze

Re: Finding food

Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2021 5:31 pm
by Richprins
Howzit, Joe!

All camps will normally help you to keep your frozen stuff in the coolroom of the restaurant or shop! \O

I think Tsendze has a communal freezer too, but not sure...ask Peter Betts! ..0..

From Lower Sabie you can duck to croc Bridge/Komatipoort... ..0..

Otherwise you are stuck! Canned food! O:V

Re: Finding food

Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2021 8:07 pm
by JoeKing
Lisbeth, i checked. the company we are renting from doesnt offer a freezer.

Alf, that could be an idea, depending on the time we leave satara. the full dy we have at Tzende i want to spend in that area, not drive to the town.

RP, I emailed all the duty managers at the camps to confirm, TY. Are we going to see you in Lower Sabie?

Re: Finding food

Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2021 8:21 pm
by Alf
You won’t have enough time to exit crocodile bridge to shop and still drive up to Satara or maybe you could :-?

Otherwise I don’t see you do shopping anywhere else than Phalaborwa

Re: Finding food

Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2021 8:35 pm
by JoeKing
Alf wrote: Sat Jan 16, 2021 8:21 pm You won’t have enough time to exit crocodile bridge to shop and still drive up to Satara or maybe you could :-?

Otherwise I don’t see you do shopping anywhere else than Phalaborwa
NAh that wont work.

Else we'll just have to use the parks shops. $$$$$$

Re: Finding food

Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2021 6:34 am
by Peter Betts
I see you are only going to Tsendze for 2 nights so you can use the fridges there just make sure you are near the end of your 'Frozen ' stuff and then go to Phalaborwa and refill

Re: Finding food

Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2021 6:39 am
by Peter Betts
Try and change your L Sabie nights it has to be the Worst SANParks CAMPING SITE in ANY Park ..has less bush atmosphere than a SPAR Parking Lot ..Rather dont go there or stay in Safari Tents ..they have fridges ..What are you doing for Freezers in Satara and Shingwedzi etc Camp staff will never let you put stuff in their freezers especially in Covid times.?? You will easily make going shopping at Super Spar Croc Bridge (12 kms away and then getting to Satara ) by lunch ..Just keep moving. Why not buy a National Luna Freezer if you are going camping regularly (R 12000 about for a 90 Litre Fridge Freezer Combo ..We take one of those now built in to our new trailer but in the past we just took the Freezer in the Bakkie and put it into our old tent trailer (Skipper) and turned it off at night for the slight humming noise >> still frozen the next morning as we restarted. Then if the bug really bites you and you like us start liking the No Electricity Camps you can then get a Battery Pack made up if you havent got a big off road job and that will sort you out for lenghty stays at Tsendze, Balule , Rooiputs and Polentswa etc . Joe I dont know how old you are but we are both 70 and 65 and for the last 20 yrs we have become tired of having a 10 day stay and going to 5 camps now we go for 3 weeks and stay in one camp that is nice to chill out in >> Not those Skukuza , L Sabie , Satara Hollywood camps but now with our new trailer we can take down and put up in an hour each end and no Schlepping of Freezers and Battery packs (Future old age Back Probs) so for our Sept month long trip we are going to 3 camps (10 nights in each ..Shing>> Punda and Tsendze)

Re: Finding food

Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2021 10:19 am
by Richprins
JoeKing wrote: Sat Jan 16, 2021 8:07 pm

RP, I emailed all the duty managers at the camps to confirm, TY. Are we going to see you in Lower Sabie?
No, we have our AW meet at Lower Sabie a week later! lol