On our way from Swaziland to Hazyview, SA to Hippo Hollow (Sabie River). We were quoted everything from 3 hours to 5 hours as the reasonable expectation of duration of the drive. So, of course, it was 6 hours! A good drive for the most part passing through many villages along the way. As we we entered South Africa, we had that feeling that weary travellers often feel when they return to their mother-tongue-speaking land: OK, we’re safe!
We were greeted wonderfully by two beautifully helpful men at Hippo Hollow Country Estate who were tripping over themselves to bring our luggage to our room. Only problem – our car was full already as we were to drive to our thatched roof cottage. As they followed behind, we wondered if we should have made room, but quickly realized our cottage was 30m from reception!
We drove back to to KUKA in Hazyview for dinner. It was our first North American-priced meal in South Africa: ZAR700 for a very modest dinnner. All of a sudden, we realized that Kruger had done more than create game parks. He had created tourist inflation.Gone were the ZAR 6 beers (bottled water is ZAR 8) replaced by ZAR27.50 draught. Also were gone the grateful, and knowledgeable staff satified with 10% gratuity. Here peeople indignignant, lazy and ignorant of all tourist needs (i.e., coffee in the morning, directions to the local hike, etc.) serves you for an ungrateful 15%. Hmm.
Oh. No hippos. A quick check of the guest comments book shows the last mention of hippos as Apr. 14. We wonder if that was this year!
We were greeted wonderfully by two beautifully helpful men at Hippo Hollow Country Estate who were tripping over themselves to bring our luggage to our room. Only problem – our car was full already as we were to drive to our thatched roof cottage. As they followed behind, we wondered if we should have made room, but quickly realized our cottage was 30m from reception!
We drove back to to KUKA in Hazyview for dinner. It was our first North American-priced meal in South Africa: ZAR700 for a very modest dinnner. All of a sudden, we realized that Kruger had done more than create game parks. He had created tourist inflation.Gone were the ZAR 6 beers (bottled water is ZAR 8) replaced by ZAR27.50 draught. Also were gone the grateful, and knowledgeable staff satified with 10% gratuity. Here peeople indignignant, lazy and ignorant of all tourist needs (i.e., coffee in the morning, directions to the local hike, etc.) serves you for an ungrateful 15%. Hmm.
Oh. No hippos. A quick check of the guest comments book shows the last mention of hippos as Apr. 14. We wonder if that was this year!
This photo is of the Pinnacle in the touristy viewing area just outside Kruger park.
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