By Roxanne Reid
When the Kruger National Park announced that chains like Wimpy, Cattle Baron and Mugg & Bean would soon be running some of the park’s restaurants, faithful Krugerites were predictably miffed. All that city yuppieness had no place in Kruger, they argued. But on a recent trip to Kruger I discovered that the nay-sayers got it almost completely wrong. Kruger’s new restaurants are a huge improvement.
When the Kruger National Park announced that chains like Wimpy, Cattle Baron and Mugg & Bean would soon be running some of the park’s restaurants, faithful Krugerites were predictably miffed. All that city yuppieness had no place in Kruger, they argued. But on a recent trip to Kruger I discovered that the nay-sayers got it almost completely wrong. Kruger’s new restaurants are a huge improvement.
We all love the scent of the potato bush that wafts across the Kruger air in the late afternoon, making us hungry. We like the notion of drumbeats thrumming out over the camp to announce the start of dinner, but we know it hasn’t been like that in recent years. If we’re honest, we know that of late the standard of food was variable at best and dodgy at worst, that service was lethargic and lacklustre.
The restaurant at Olifants still has its wonderful deck and views of the river, but food and service have improved
Another day draws to a close at the Olifants Mugg & Bean
So I can confidently say that the arrival of Mugg & Bean at Letaba, Olifants, Satara and Lower Sabie is a huge improvement. The menu is varied, offering anything from bacon and eggs, a toasted sarmie or salad to a full-on protein boost of burgers, lamb chops or rump steak. And it comes with the consistent quality you expect from any franchise, so the Satara version is no worse than Sandton despite its greater challenges. And the service from mostly young waitrons is chirpy, friendly and usually efficient.
Don't want to waste a moment sitting in a restaurant? Get M&B takeaways! Debonairs has popped up at Satara too
That’s not to say there haven’t been teething problems. When we visited the Mugg & Bean at Olifants towards the end of August, the new sliding doors and the umbrellas for the baking hot deck hadn’t been delivered yet even though they’d already been open 4-6 weeks.
One big benefit is that the M&B still comes with the Kruger trademark stunning views out over the river at Olifants, Letaba and Lower Sabie. One morning at Lower Sabie, for instance, we sat under the umbrellas with our iced coffee watching buffalo, hippo and elephant along the water’s edge. In fact, you might even see four or more of the Big Five from the comfort of the restaurant deck. And that’s not something the M&B in Jozi or Cape Town will ever match!
One big benefit is that the M&B still comes with the Kruger trademark stunning views out over the river at Olifants, Letaba and Lower Sabie. One morning at Lower Sabie, for instance, we sat under the umbrellas with our iced coffee watching buffalo, hippo and elephant along the water’s edge. In fact, you might even see four or more of the Big Five from the comfort of the restaurant deck. And that’s not something the M&B in Jozi or Cape Town will ever match!
Lower Sabie's Mugg & Bean is always busy, but no wonder with those views of big game along the river
By contrast, the Wimpy at Pretoriuskop looked a little dejected and our lunch wasn't great, the milkshakes not up to the usual Wimpy standard. Skukuza was still in the process of completing the new Cattle Baron restaurant when we visited and there was just a fly-camp kitchen serving beers and boerie rolls. Now the final touches are being added to the Cattle Baron and it should be complete by the end of October, says media relations spokesperson Laura Mukwevho.
Our single experience at Pretoriuskop's Wimpy wasn't our best memory of Kruger
Next time you visit Kruger, don’t get all sniffy and refuse to visit the new franchise restaurants simply because they’re new, not the old Kruger you used to know. Instead, give the newbies a chance; you might be pleasantly surprised.
(Just for the record I have no link, personal or financial, with the Mugg & Bean chain.)
Agree? Disagree? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
More posts about the Kruger National Park
Copyright © Roxanne Reid - No words or photographs on this site may be used without permission from roxannereid.co.za
(Just for the record I have no link, personal or financial, with the Mugg & Bean chain.)
Agree? Disagree? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
More posts about the Kruger National Park
Copyright © Roxanne Reid - No words or photographs on this site may be used without permission from roxannereid.co.za
