Daily Archives: June 30, 2016

South African Braai

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I found that resteraunts in Kruger National Park varied quite a bit in quality.  Where I started in Lower Sabie was a Mugg and Bean (which I hear is a chain).  The food was quite good; mostly International fare, sandwiches, burgers, steak, etc; but the view was spectacular, right over the Sabie river with good opportunities to watch game on the morning, or the sunset in the evening.

When I passed through Skakuza (where I would love to stay next time) there was a steakhouse overlooking the river and the Skakuza railway bridge.  The food here was really good also.
So, I had high hopes for the last camp, Pretoriuskop.  Unfortunately, it features something called a Whimpy, which is a South African fast food place.  I cannot actually comment on the food since I decided to bbq instead.
In the park shop you can buy meat and vegetables, dessert, and even wine.  They also sell a Braai box which is this wooden box with a fire starter (looks like a small brick of C4), some kindling, and some charcoal.  As far as I can see, all the huts and campsites had somewhere to bbq.
So I placed this box on the metal stand and lit it, and presto … we have fire!
A lot of fire!  Of course, you have to wait for this to calm down a bit before you can start grilling.  Eventually you are left with just the charcoal glowing and then you can start cooking.  Cooking is then the same as using a charcoal grill, so you should spread your charcoal out before you start.
When you book accommodation inside Kruger, try to see what is included.  Some of them have hot plates, cutely, even pots and pans. A fridge is handy too so you can keep milk cold.

Victoria Falls (from Zimbabwe)

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Crossing the Zambia-Zimbabwe border at Victoria Falls is relatively simple and can be done on foot.  You can, if you wish, hire a guide and a driver.  A driver obviously speeds up the process by reducing the walking time, but it’s not really necessary.  I’m not sure what a guide adds to the experience, as it really just involves walking across a bridge!

The bridge itself is a single lane with a railway line on the other side.  There is a footpath on the bridge so you don’t need to fight traffic.  You clear Zambian immigration before you get onto the bridge and you clear Zimbabwean immigration once you get off the bridge.  Both immigration offices are rather slow with a lot of officials that seem to be doing very little! Canadians get the worst visa rate on the Zimbabwean side – $75US – which must be paid in cash.  We can also not get a double entry.  Americans (and most other people) can enter for just $30US.
Once you get stamped in, the enterance to the falls is about 200 meters or so down the road.
The big difference between the Zimbabwean side and the Zambian side is that on the Zimbabwean side you can go right to the edge of the cliff (aptly called danger point).  You should be really careful, as people have slipped over the edge before.  At this location you are going to get completely soaked.  I have some good pictures with my waterproof camera which I shall post later.  I was a bit too concerned to take my phone out in case it too got drenched.
There is a little cafe on the Zimbabwe side that has good coffee and small meals.  USD only are accepted on the Zimbabwean side and cash machines give USD (as long as they have any cash in them).
I walked into the Victoria Falls townsite.  It’s quite small with some little resteraunts and cafes on the main Street.  I ate Zebra here for lunch, which was quite tasty!
Going back, the very professional sign shows you are going back into Zambia.  If you already have a visa, the process to get back in is quicker and then you just need to haggle for a taxi!