An ‘Attaboy’ for the Parks Board
Although this blog consists principally of complaints, there is the odd occasion where praise is due.
We have been to Mkuze in Zululand, one of our favourite campgrounds, several times and have had a pleasant time. It is really an extension of the Lake St. Lucia. The last camping session is likely to be the last there.
Firstly, they have fenced the camp so we don’t get the odd rhino wandering through (hasn’t stopped the monkeys from ransacking tents though).
Secondly, the toilet rolls in the ablution are usually absent. The camp manager accused all and sundry of stealing them. He didn’t have an answer when I told hime that the inners were all there and whoever was resposible for replacing them couldn’t be bothered. Needless to say, the condition of the showers was in a similar pitiful state despite the fact that the woman responsible stood outside the ablutions for a solid 6 hours.
Thirdly, on the last occasion, the main lights in the campsite were due to go off at midnight but managed to extinguish themselves at 8pm. And, there are NO lights then. Complaining resulted in the fact that the generator diesel had not been replenished. The next evening, they were off at 8pm again.
We have been at the receiving end of this slovenly behaviour at several camps over the years.
However, we took some friends from Kiwiland to Ithala in the far north of Natal. We had been there several times over the years and always had a pleasant stay. It’s not a large reserve and there’s not a large amount of visible game.
The chalets there are really tastefully arranged so that they are almost invisible. The camp has a restaurant with a magnificent view over the Pongola vally from the deck, a fast foods outlet, a pub, provision shop, curio shop and information centre.
The Attaboy is directed at the chalet, which was spotless, There was more than enough pottery and utensils, also spotless. The chalet was free from any dirt. The Ezemvelo Wildlife need to get rid of the silly brick braais though and go back to the steel ones.
To make the evenings more interesting, a long procession of bush babies arrive to eat avocados, pineapple and bananas.
So, compliments to the staff of Ithala Game Reserve.