Kruger Times News & Letters - Kruger Huts & Shower Curtains

During the period 4 - 9 August we had the pleasure of visiting the Park with friends of ours that had just spent one year in Qatar. What a positive experience, especially when it is shared with people who actually had wished, daily, for this experience whilst they were in the far east.They commented continously about the magic of Kruger whilst they slaked their thirst - Do we take too much for granted?

We camped at Berg-n-Dal on the first night, then spent two nights camping at Balule, finally ending our visit with two nights at Pretoriuskop. Our game sightings were fantastic, but we consider this as a bonus because Kruger is more than game and birds. It is a total experience made special by other factors, and this is why I write this letter. Kruger is made special by the camps one stays in, and the attitude for the staff at the reception offices of the camps, and at the gates.

The general impression we formed Of huts and shower curtains was that there had just been a concerted effort to train all personel with regard to their interactions with Kruger’s biggest asset, the tourists. An air of friendliness ( Ala Kenya) seems to pervade at all levels and this seems especially so in the case of staff who have to deal with tourists who are not well versed in english. If this newfound effort, is as a result of a training program, we would like to confirm that it has worked.

We would appreciate if, through the medium of your publication, this sentiment gets through to the responsible persons/ department. It is always good for a trainer, to hear from an objective source that a plan is coming together, especially when it seems to be the norm to write about the negative, rather than give praise where it is due. That was the bouquet, now a little comment/ suggestion! Would it not be possible to design a “standard” shower cubicle that works in a communal ablution block?

We found a myriad of configurations on our travels, ( including outside KNP) and they all seem to fail dismally when it comes to drying one’s self on a dry floor. I know that because of the sheer numbers involved, one cannot disregard the human influence on the problem) There always seems to be a need to insulate the dressing area from the water area. The KNP appears to utilise a standard design for huts, when they are rebuilt and this works!!- I am sure with past experience the ablution issue can also be solved, or maybe the planners have never tested the objects of their design.

Strangely the norm seems to be to use waterproof curtains, which stop working the moment the hot water is turned on! Doing exactly what they are designed not to do - spill shower water on the dressing area floor. My science friends tell me this has to do with convection currents caused by the hot air, so why do we employ something that does not work( like the so-called “non drip” ( ?) stainless steel milk jugs used on restaurant tables)

The latter do not work but they are everywhere!?! At all the above camps, availability of hot water was never an issue. (This is usually the cause for much disgruntlement when camping.) We encountered an obvious attempt at making a difference in the ablution block at Pretoriouskop. As it is our understanding that all camps are run as separate business units, those who are responsible should know that their efforts are noticed and appreciated. Your’s in Kruger Ed Schwulst