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Coming from America -we purchase an inexpensive cooler at one ofthe stores near the gate - we like the SPAR in Phalaborwa and also the one in Malelane. We stock up on Ice, meats, cheese, bread, fruit, yogurt, museli and whatever else looks interesting. When we are ready to leave we find a staff member and offer the cooler and any things that we have left over that we can't take on the plane home.

honeybee - if you are interested I have what I call my KP 'check list" with everything from extension cords to food on it. Have forwarded to a number of visitors on the forum who have found it useful when planning.
If you pm me with your email address, I will gladly forward it to you.
I do buy everything before ... only use the park shop for emergencies. They are far too expensive.
If you go through Melalane gate, then shop at the Spar or Pick 'n Pay in Melalane. Have everything you would need.

Must have been a fluke, or a long time ago Certainly not in Nov last year, nor on our previous visits.

Hi honeybee79
I suggest you take as much as possible into the park with you. We have managed a 2 week trip without having to rely on the vagaries of the stocks at the park shops. I usually do a detailed menu plan for the trip and this helps to ensure that I only pack what we need for those meals (otherwise i tend to pack all the just in case items). Onions and potatoes have lasted 2 weeks in summer - just remember to pop as much as you can into the fridges when you reach camp. Try taking tinned ham with you.
My experience of the northern shops has been that Letaba has had the best selection. The selection available at Punda has deteriorated immensely over the last 2 years.
If you see a book that you like at one of the camp shops, buy it immediately as there is no guarantee that you will find it at a different shop later on in your stay.
Hope this helps and enjoy your trip! I am extremely

It was already disappointing during my last visit to Punda in 2006. I remember buying steak in the shop - none of the packets were showing any signs of specific cut, weight nor price/kg. I was told that the price is Rxx (cannot remember). But some of the packets were about twice the weight of others. Obviously I opted for one of the larger packets . I have to admit that it was good quality meat - maybe well matured donkey .

Unfortunately you cannot get any Stiffnecks caps, beanies, scarves or bumper stickers in the shops, to help anti-poaching, but if you want any, please contact me.

View here.

Although we buy most of our food and things outside the park I like nothing better than browsing in the shops, particularly the books and curios etc. Don't normally buy much but do find that they always stock items that I generally wouldn't find in the UK or wasn't aware off. On the whole we use them for luxurys as opposed to necessities although I did have to buy a torch when I was there in December as we had forgotten to bring one with us. The batteries cost twice as much as the torch though.

Hi Honeybee79

I agree 100% the best option is to buy it outside the park. My suggestion would be to travel from Letaba the 52KM to Phalaborwa stock up at pick and pay and re-entre the park at Phalaborwa. While is Skukuza i would travel to Phabeni Gate only 38Km exit go to Hazyview only 10 KM outside the park stock up and re-entre at Phabeni.

I only buy ice daily at the KNP Shops the rest from outside

as do we

Only bought breadrolls and milk while in the park recently...

As the others have said it is much better to buy all that is needed outside the Park. My personal experience (maybe just a perception) of the Parks Shops lately is that the employees in the shops (and restaurants) are extremely tired, exhausted and over-worked and I therefore felt guitly asking them for service.

Also agree with DB and MM.

We have always bought our meat outside the park, except on one occasion the year before last when we flew from Dubs to Nelspriut, and had no time to shop in White River.

We said "Well just for once we'll buy inside the park!!

Beeg mistake.

We bought wildebeest sosaties and chicken from P/Kop shop for our braai.
The sosaties had a very peculiar taste and were very tough, and the chicken was off!!

I must say however the cooked chicken we bought from Skuks the following night was lekker, and no more expensive than the supermarkets!!

Not all the meat is great but we did enjoy the blou wildebeest boerewors and steak