"Commercial Tents at Pretoriuskop "

[Lisbeth]

Sanparks is allowing this, how strange it might sound

It IS a scandal!!

[Bushcraft]

Still can't believe SANParks is allowing this!!

Maybe they are still trying to work it out and who authorized it i.e. who is possibly scoring, before they announce a full statement

[RogerFraser]

Big discussion on Camps and Roads Between Janey and Joep so it looks like it is a known opearation and something they want to expand on ...

Some Snippets:

Joep Stevens In theory there is no rule broken if you would do that. Neither would you break any rule of you booked and paid for such as a non-operator. As I have indicated, if there is a growing trend for this type of product, we will consider dedicated sites that are appropriately prices.

Janey Coetzee Joep...big difference between theory and practice...this could open up a huge can of worms. Sanparks needs to rethink this. The Park is your property....do not allow others to misappropriate it for their own financial benefit.

Janey Coetzee Why doesn't Sanparks build permanent tents at all Camps, which are loved by all and are budget friendly, instead of a tour operator financially benefiting themselves.?

Joep Stevens Janey Coetzee Yes, SANParks must structure this to be a win-win situation!
Like · Reply · 33 mins
Joep Stevens
Joep Stevens Janey Coetzee Yes, management plan is up for review and we are evaluating the different categories of accommodation across the park looking for optimal formula. Increasing some budget accommodation is under consideration as part of this.
Like · Reply · 31 mins
Janey Coetzee
Janey Coetzee Joep Stevens Great. Tents are very popular and cost effective...most of us are battling to find accommodation that we can still afford in order to continue to visit our favorite place. Please do not allow tour operators to benefit financially by constructing this sort of operation....this is Sanparks property....and we, the Joe Soap visitor would rather enable Sanparks than one person who has his eye on lining his own pocket.

Joep Stevens Janey Coetzee We need a good healthy balance Janey Coetzee. As I said elsewhere tour operators are also important to us, just as the normal public. The sites being used at Pkop would have stood empty in the low season and SANParks gets a revenue that it wouldn't otherwise have.

Janey Coetzee I understand Joep...but you cannot blame the normal visitor for being upset about this. Far better...if there is space for Sanparks to erect their own tents

Joep Stevens Janey Coetzee Yes agree, but keep in mind this is Pretoriuskop, not Lower Sabie or Satara where displacement factor is lower. Would we put up budget tents there, when half Pretoriuskops budget huts at around R500 to R600 are running at relatively low occupancy?

Janey Coetzee Joep Stevens I think Safari tents would be a winner there. Take some of the budget accommodation, give it a revamp into proper family units. Add bar fridges to the school huts....so much can be done here with minimal expenditure.
Like · Reply · 1 · 1 min
Joep Stevens
Joep Stevens Janey Coetzee Yes, the school huts are up for revamp and I like your suggestion!
Like · Reply · 1 · 1 min
Janey Coetzee
Janey Coetzee By the way...love the school huts, in fact love all of Pretoriouskop.

[Flutterby]

So, according to Joep, I can set up a business by booking Kruger accommodation and selling it on at a higher price, making a nice profit with absolutely no overheads, and SANParks would not have a problem with this???

[Lisbeth]

User avatarSANParks
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Accommodation Exchange

by SANParks » Tue May 13, 2008 8:41 am

In an attempt to assist needy members who have booked accommodation, but due to circumstances cannot make use of the booking, we decided to start this thread where you can give details of the booking available.

Please note:

- The accommodation is to be sold for the price it was booked - no money should be generated from the exchange.
- The details are posted here, but the correspondence should happen via PM. As soon as the subject is closed (accommodation sold, or date expired), the poster needs to notify a Moderator, who will then remove the post.
- Please do not abuse this system. If you resort to it often, your posts will be removed, and in severe cases, your account may be banned.

Hope you find this facility helpful.

Edited: 14 May 2008
Last edited by SANParks on Wed May 14, 2008 11:39 am, edited 1 time in total.
Nedret Saidova
Senior Manager: E-Business, SANParks
Top

Am also curious how it ties into this, as far as I see money is being generated from this exchange.

[Lisbeth]

Someone has started to wake up over there

[RobertT]

Why stop at accommodation, why not have a mobile food caravan that you set up in a camp? The possibilities of little enterprises are endless then. Place will look like a flea market in no time.

[Flutterby]

Lots of business opportunities for the man in the street!

[somabhula]

Okay People, when do we start our Africa Wild Business Venture right in the middle of Kruger???

[Flutterby]

I'll volunteer to be on-site manager!!