uMkhuze Game Reserve

the game viewing was top draw , roads great and hides top tier - beds and accommodation was great but basic yet ok for us saffas as used to African camping - at night all animals game through the cam as not fenced - so noises and sounds close up .

we cam e for -game viewing as did not have to travel hours to see most game species , however no cleaning staff came to clean tents - quite sandy so tents flours needed cleaning - did not see anyone for 3 days except staff at office .WIFI needs to be sorted out as this is a basic requirement for all visitors

We were Advised by email the week before -that there were a new dept within local govt running the tourism side( office and camp maintenance ) , as from 1 July 26 , and the Ezemvelo actual game reserve side ( animals safety , care , monitoring etc... ) would remain with the current team ( this is great as they are invaluable ) . Appreciate that ( hopefully ) there will be a actual change as the KZN Ezemvelo house keeping have been ok however maintenance is a swear word . Possibly the camp should be closed , fixed up back to some normal acceptable customer standard , even if it is basic , then reopened . In short the basics : no soap holder in shower , no soap or normal shower gel in rooms , shade cloth over tent torn ( goes back at least 5 years I recall ) , outside kitchen animal cupboard guards down to pieces of electrical wire ( so your food get raided often) ....and still charged full price of R1300pn . Most of the other tents are closed , torn tent covers and in poor maintenance condition .The wifi is only available within 3m from office door - i normally come up to catch up on my business admin - no chance . Further , To try support the revenue and employment i would normally purchase breakfast and lunch at the Rhino Dino cafe and do my admin using there wifi - all closed until further notice as was the fuel availability - communication ??- not shocked but as normal disappointing , there is no customer imagination and professionalism - the camp site is in a even worse state of maintenance - where has all the money gone ? . Animal poaching is a ongoing daily battle with ( on first hand evidence ) repeated poacher arrest ( some more than 7 arrests per year ) and due to the apathy of law penalties and local law the animals need help from beyond KZN , hence SAN parks is seriously required to take over

Maintenance throughout the reserve remains at unacceptable poor standards - my repeated question as to why does the national parks not take over SANParks is met with the same reply - the arrogance and pride of the KZN govt will not hand over their enrichment money stream = when pride and self enrichment is allowed to go ahead of national interest ... the annual decay of the game reserves in KZN will continue . No longer are the Rhino cards usable so at R17per car and +/- R60pp per day a family outing is becoming expensive - where are all of these incomes going - sure they would be hefty salaries and benefits