Filthy Accommodation at Thendele Camp, Royal Natal National Park

<p class="MsoNormal">We recently stayed over at Unit 25 in Thendele Camp at Royal Natal National Park from 11 to 15 March 2016.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The accommodation is comfortable and well designed and the site and views are really beautiful. The accommodation comes at a premium price.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">We found the accommodation to be quite dirty and poorly maintained. The following was found to be unacceptable:</p> <p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;The shower was really dirty with cobwebs and riddled with black mould.</p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 38.25pt; text-indent: -18.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><!-- [if !supportLists]-->2.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><!--[endif]-->The oven and cooker hood were full of months&rsquo; worth of grease.</p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 38.25pt; text-indent: -18.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><!-- [if !supportLists]-->3.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><!--[endif]-->The lamp shades and roof rafters had not been cleaned in a long time and were full of dust and dead insects.</p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 38.25pt; text-indent: -18.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><!-- [if !supportLists]-->4.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><!--[endif]-->The kitchen utensils were in a poor conditions e g the saucepan was at the end of its useful life. There were also very few utensils in the kitchen which appeared to have been depleted with time, maybe some were broken or stolen and not replaced. We accidently broke a small glass and reported it to Reception and paid a replacement fee of R 10 for the glass. I don&rsquo;t think many guests bother to do the same.</p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 38.25pt; text-indent: -18.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><!-- [if !supportLists]-->5.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><!--[endif]-->We found a used sanitary pad wrapper under one chair in the lounge. It was there for all four days we stayed over and we only noticed it on the day we were leaving.</p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 38.25pt; text-indent: -18.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><!-- [if !supportLists]-->6.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><!--[endif]-->The fireplace grid was burnt through in the centre and could not be used to make a fire. It is in need of replacement.</p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 38.25pt; text-indent: -18.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><!-- [if !supportLists]-->7.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><!--[endif]-->The staff appear not to have any cleaning chemicals and just wipe the surfaces and superficially clean when they service the unit.</p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 38.25pt; text-indent: -18.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><!-- [if !supportLists]-->8.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><!--[endif]-->The outside braai had seen better days.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The matter was also reported to the camp manager, Caroline Mnculwane, who phoned us to acknowledge the problems mentioned, as we were on our journey back home.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The matter was also reported to KZN Wildlife Head Office on 29 March 2016. No response as to how they intended to make restitution for the sub-standard level of service for premium accommodation we had expected.</p>