Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
BOOK YOUR STAY ONLINE
For more accommodation reviews by Lonely Planet authors, check out
http://hotels.lonelyplanet.com
.
You'll find independent reviews, as well as recommendations on the best places to stay. Best of all, you can
book online.
In addition to the levy, there is a 12% government tax on hotels and lodges (but not all
campsites) and, unlike the levy,
is
usually included in prices.
SEASONS
While most budget and midrange options tend to have a standard room price, many top-
end places change their prices according to season. High season is usually from June to
November (and may also apply to Christmas, New Year and Easter, depending on the
lodge), low season corresponds to the rains (December to March or April) and the
shoulder is a short April and May window. The only exception is the Kalahari, where June
to November is generally (but not always) considered to be low season.
ACCOMMODATION TYPES
CAMPING
Just about everywhere of interest, including all major national parks, has a campsite. Once
the domain of the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP), most of the camp-
sites are now privately run.
The jury remains out on whether the change has been a good thing. The change in own-
ership has seen prices rise considerably. In some cases, the companies in question have
upgraded the ablutions blocks to have hot and cold showers and flush toilets, and gener-
ally make sure the sites are in good nick. Others do little to maintain their sites, offer cold-
bucket showers and pit latrines, and run inefficient booking systems. All campsites have
braai
(barbecue) pits. While we were in Botswana, rumours were circulating that the
DWNP's patience was running out and had plans to reclaim some (if not all) of the camp-
sites. As a result, some of the following information may be subject to change.
All campsites
must
be booked in advance and they fill up fast in busy periods, such as
during South African school holidays. And it is very important to remember that you will
not be allowed into any park run by the DWNP without a reservation for a campsite.
