Restaurants and Tea Rooms in Kruger Park

[Lisbeth]

Some of them e.g Mac Donalds are self service and thus "fast*. (I do not like self service). At least their French fries are good, not like the ones that SO got at Lower Sabie, which were not only coldish but also semi-raw and no way to have them cooked a bit more or changed. The waiter walked away dancing and singing "not cooked, not cooked" and that was the last we saw of him

[H. erectus]

It was the McKinsey report that laid down the basis of what is now termed the SANParks Commercialisation Strategy.

The same McKinsey that did surveys on other semi .gov institutions conveniently
so called in for advice!! Hah, not that McKinsey was very wrong,.........only,...

is a key part of SANParks Commercialization Strategy executed through Public Private Partnerships (PPP

McKinsey ethically correct,.. however opened avenues for the redistribution
of funds to suite!!!

If Sanparks was at all so sure and correct about themselves, then why did they
call for the help from foreign origin!!!

McKinsey, the report being correct, yet in doubtful hands!!!

I may add, the name McKinsey is/was coupled to other instances,
down the tubes as we speak!!!

[RobertT]

So what are the solutions then? What would people on this forum want?

I would want a return to the 50-year success story! However that would be very difficult...now, as especially Kruger's transport capability and catering department has vanished in this regard...

Second best is a simple A la-Carte system, actually successfully still run in Mopani, for example? Expensive, but worth it in my experience!

Which still begs the question why the far Northern Camps and Berg&Dal and others seem to be out of this deal?

Shouldn't there be a uniform plan?

From what I am led to believe, Berg&Dal is going to be run by same event company catering as Mopani, I think the restaurants in the north were skipped as the franchisee probably couldn't make the numbers work, they do after all have to see a profit too. Perhaps SANParks should have lumped a few together, say Lower Sabie and Shingwedzi or Satara and Punda

I need to ask, how many restaurants are around now days that are not part of a Franchise?

[RobertT]

RT, the new franchise groups may result in more vehicles as there’s more franchise groups. They aren’t sharing delivery vehicles

A section of the new franchise groups specialise in takeaways where as the current don’t, so potential for more litter, especially if more people are using them, which surely is the plan, but agreed a people problem.

Do you have confirmation that the price is going to be uniform? It costs more to run a franchise in KNP versus the rest of the country, so I wouldn’t expect uniform pricing

Agreed, we are getting ripped off with the current quality of food and service, but don’t you think that more than half the same staff are going to be employed by these franchises. Hopefully the management structure is different, so we don’t just get the same thing in different packaging

I think you lost the conservation point. SANParks should be more worried about the rhino that are getting killed than the restaurants, hotels or the new vision where money takes preference. The general public should also be.

Let's wait and see, but hopefully at least we will get better food in KNP, which is a plus

Hey BC, I am understanding that there is 1 franchise per camp, there is at moment 1 restaurant per camp being serviced by a vehicle. Not sure why there should then be more vehicles?

I have just climbed on and checked Wimpy menu online with pricing, it does not state for different regions there is a different pricing. I think prices are set by the Franchise and the individual franchises have to abide by it and also get majority of their stock from the holding company.

My comment on the conservation is a lot of people are saying SANParks should take back the restaurants and run them themselves, but we are also calling for SANParks to concentrate on conservation as that is their core responsibility. I just don't understand where the restaurants fall into the conservation category as a core function for SANParks.

[Richprins]

I need to ask, how many restaurants are around now days that are not part of a Franchise?

Most of those in Game Reserves!

[Duke]

I am willing to give Wimpy and M&B a chance. I mostly self cater and so does not really affect me in the greater scheme of things. I use the Mopani and Punda restuarants for a meal when I stay in those camps. I really cannot see what has changed except that the food and service may be better than we have now - time will tell.

[Bushcraft]

Hey BC, I am understanding that there is 1 franchise per camp, there is at moment 1 restaurant per camp being serviced by a vehicle. Not sure why there should then be more vehicles?

I have just climbed on and checked Wimpy menu online with pricing, it does not state for different regions there is a different pricing. I think prices are set by the Franchise and the individual franchises have to abide by it and also get majority of their stock from the holding company.

My comment on the conservation is a lot of people are saying SANParks should take back the restaurants and run them themselves, but we are also calling for SANParks to concentrate on conservation as that is their core responsibility. I just don't understand where the restaurants fall into the conservation category as a core function for SANParks.

Are there more different franchise groups under this new structure, not quantity of restaurants, but rather different franchise groups. My understanding is that the majority was previously run by 1 group, hence shared deliveries, but now that’s not possible

I hope it’s a set price throughout, but unfortunately the franchise group will have to make up the difference somewhere to make it viable (maybe salaries), but there must be a plan.

Agreed, I understand what you mean; SANParks can’t run the restaurants and should concentrate on conservation.

[RobertT]

Hey BC, if you take the name off the vehicle, it is still only 1 vehicle going to each camp using the closest gate. Where if it was previous all on 1 vehicle, the vehicle would be driving through park to get to each camp. Think there was more chance of speeding etc happening there, but I think pretty much the same travelling will be happening.

[leachy]

I need to ask, how many restaurants are around now days that are not part of a Franchise?

Most of those in Game Reserves!

which game reserves ?????????

[H. erectus]

I self cater!

Does not mean that I have no say in this matter!
As mentioned on other forums,"the ambiance of
dining in African bush has gone,...drumbeat a call
to join for dinner, patios filled with visitors preparing
to sit down for supper etc. etc. Nostalgic stuff, probably
a huge vertebrae in the spine of Kruger success!!

Sanparks are responsible for a bigger picture, more than only
Kruger!!! It strikes me that the nature loving fraternity only
focus on a few changes made in the lesser Kruger, the hub of
what would be deemed " Commercial Kruger",...

What about all the lousy undertakings in other parks!!!???
Again adjudicating small portions in certain areas, areas
viewed by public eye, yet not addressing the problem at large!!!

In my mind paving the way for total commercialization and control
of this money making portfolio!!, called conservation.

To be quite honest I have no problem about who runs and caters for
all, however I do have a problem with the host and that be the way
they manage to break up the bigger picture into smaller scenarios!!

Small scenarios easier to handle, yet the bigger picture still remains
questionable!!

Is the food so very hot in Tsitsikamma or Nossob or Karoo or Addo or
Table or,......

Sanparks there are many little fires burning 'round the ankles' way
out from Kruger!!

Do you have control???