Badplaas Game Reserve

Nous revenons d’une semaine au Parc Kruger, entre les réserves privées de Sabie Sands et du parc Kruger lui-même, et le Kruger Shalati surpasse tous les autres lodges, son rapport qualité est absolument imbattable. L’idée d’un lodge dans un train sur un pont est déjà plus qu’originale. Les chambres sont magnifiquement décorées, et la vue sur le fleuve du haut du pont est saisissante. La nourriture est excellente est de loin la meilleure que nous ayons goûtée lors de notre séjour. Le personnel est très professionnel et absolument charmant, et notre guide SIZWE pour les Game Drives s’est montré adorable, très attentionné et très professionnel également, il a su nous transmettre toute sa passion au travers des explications qu’il nous a promulguées sur les léopards, lions, éléphants, hippopotames, crocodiles et oiseaux de toutes sortes qu’il a trouvés pour nous. Si vous envisagez de visiter le Parc Kruger, un seul conseil, descendez au Kruger Shalati Train on the Bridge, vous ne serez pas déçus, tout y est fantastique !

Leopard Sands Kruger Park does absolutely not live up to the description on their Mariott Bonvoy Hotel website. To start with a positive note, the room is pleasant and was clean. For the rest it was a massive disappointment. The main area of the hotel is soulless. It looks and feels like a 3 star airport hotel anywhere in the world. The outdoor areas are non inviting after dark. Some areas have too much glaring light other areas are dark. The small exterior pool and the area around are not lit at night. One does not know where to sit relax and enjoy after dinner. The dining room is a sad looking grey room. No ambience, no candles, the red fire extinguishers and the green exit signs are the most visible decorative objects on the walls, not the ideal decoration in what is supposed to be a unique safari experience. The hip hop TV generated music was blasting loud over dinner. Unpleasant ! The food was pathetic. Below hospital cantina level. We were served a three paper thin slices of an unripe tomato with three paper thin slices of an industrial cheese and three basil leaves for decoration. Total estimated cost of the dish…20 cents…excluding labor cost !! Shocking ! Alternatively the menu offered a vegetable soup ! During our two night stay there was no trace of a welcoming management team member, not to mention a General Manager. Staff was aimlessly wandering around. The next morning we arrived for breakfast at 7.15 am. No breakfast was set up. Staff standing around !