Last updated: 27 October 2026
SANParks has announced the new restaurants in Kruger National Park, and one of them is already serving. Sabie River Café, which replaces the Mugg & Bean at Lower Sabie, has opened a temporary Grab & Go and coffee station, according to its own website. Berg-en-Dal’s Tindlovu Restaurant becomes Eziko Eatery and Pretoriuskop’s Wimpy becomes Le Lapeng Burgers and Grill, but no opening details have been published for either. The Cattle Baron at Skukuza keeps its name and will be refurbished.
| New Restaurants in Kruger National Park | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rest Camp | Previous Restaurant | New Restaurant | Status |
| Lower Sabie | Mugg & Bean | Sabie River Café | Temporary Grab & Go and coffee station open, full restaurant date not announced |
| Berg-en-Dal | Tindlovu Restaurant | Eziko Eatery | New name confirmed, opening date not announced |
| Pretoriuskop | Wimpy | Le Lapeng Burgers and Grill | New name confirmed, opening date not announced |
| Skukuza | Cattle Baron | Cattle Baron (refurbished) | Refurbishment announced, dates not announced |
| Sources: SANParks announcement, 12 October 2026, and sabierivercafe.co.za. Last updated 28 October 2026. | |||
Sabie River Café at Lower Sabie (formerly Mugg & Bean)
Of the four restaurants in SANParks’ announcement, this is the one you can already visit. According to its own website, Sabie River Café has opened at Lower Sabie Rest Camp with a temporary Grab & Go section and coffee station while the main restaurant is renovated. It replaces the Mugg & Bean, whose deck over the Sabie River made it one of Kruger’s best-known places to eat.
Is Mugg & Bean closing at Lower Sabie?
The Mugg & Bean name is going, but the restaurant is staying. SANParks announced the change on 12 October 2026, and the new name is Sabie River Café. If you’ve read that “Mugg & Bean is closing at Lower Sabie”, this is what it refers to.
Is Sabie River Café open?
Yes, in its temporary form. The café lists opening hours of 07:00 to 20:00, seven days a week, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. A casual seating area close to the restaurant takes up to 40 guests. It opens at 07:00, so if you leave camp at first light, take your own coffee. SANParks hasn’t said when the full restaurant will open.
What’s on the menu?
The café’s website lists café-style food plus open-flame cooking:
- Sandwiches: from R39, including cheese and tomato, chicken and mayo, and ham, cheese and tomato.
- Wraps: R69 to R75, including chicken and avo, Cajun chicken and veggie.
- Salads: R59 to R79, including Greek and beetroot and butternut.
- Burgers with chips: R85 to R109, in beef or chicken. There is also a food truck serving burgers at R105 single or R145 double.
- Bush Braai plate: R280 for steak, boerewors or a lamb chop with two sides.
- Roosterkoek and boerewors rolls: R48 to R65.
What we know so far
The temporary Grab & Go and coffee station is open, with the hours, seating and menu above.
What hasn’t been confirmed
- The opening date of the full restaurant.
- Whether the river-view deck comes back, and in what layout.
- The final menu and prices
If you’re heading to Lower Sabie soon
The café’s seating is limited, so email ahead if you’re travelling with a group. Sunset Dam is about 1 km from the camp and makes a good stop between meals. Our guide to Lower Sabie Rest Camp covers the accommodation, wildlife and prices.
Eziko Eatery at Berg-en-Dal (formerly Tindlovu Restaurant)
Berg-en-Dal is the only Kruger camp set in rugged mountain country, and its restaurant has a view to match. Tindlovu Restaurant sits in the main camp complex, looking out over the dam through large windows. The camp’s Rhino Perimeter Trail starts at the same dam, so many guests end up eating just after a walk.
SANParks says Tindlovu Restaurant will be “transformed” into Eziko Eatery. That wording points to more than a new sign, but SANParks hasn’t said what the new concept will be.
Is Tindlovu Restaurant closing at Berg-en-Dal?
The Tindlovu name is going, but the restaurant isn’t disappearing. SANParks announced the change on 12 October 2026, and the new name is Eziko Eatery. The announcement names only the Berg-en-Dal restaurant.
What we know so far
- The restaurant will be called Eziko Eatery.
- It replaces Tindlovu Restaurant at Berg-en-Dal Rest Camp.
- Temporary dining with limited menus will be available during the refurbishment.
- SANParks expects to unveil the upgraded facilities “in the coming months”.
What hasn’t been confirmed
- The opening date.
- The menu, prices and opening hours.
- What the restaurant concept will be.
- Whether the temporary dining is already running.
If you’re heading to Berg-en-Dal soon
SANParks lists a cafeteria and a shop at the camp as well as the restaurant. The announcement doesn’t mention either, so ask at reception what is open. Self-caterers are well set up here: the bungalows have kitchenettes, the family cottages have full kitchens, and the campsites have communal kitchens.
Our Berg-en-Dal Rest Camp guide covers the accommodation, the Rhino Perimeter Trail, the wildlife around the camp and current prices.
Le Lapeng Burgers and Grill at Pretoriuskop (formerly Wimpy)
Pretoriuskop is Kruger’s oldest rest camp and the closest one to Numbi Gate, about 9 km inside. It sits among granite koppies, with a natural rock pool and a reputation for sable antelope. Wimpy opened here in 2014, and for a decade it has been the camp’s go-to place for a burger, a breakfast or a milkshake after the drive in.
SANParks says the Wimpy will become Le Lapeng Burgers and Grill. The name suggests a menu built around burgers and grilled food, but that is our reading of the name. SANParks hasn’t published a menu.
Is Wimpy closing at Pretoriuskop?
The Wimpy name is going, but there is still a restaurant. SANParks announced on 12 October 2026 that it becomes Le Lapeng Burgers and Grill.
What we know so far
- The restaurant will be called Le Lapeng Burgers and Grill.
- It replaces the Wimpy at Pretoriuskop Rest Camp.
- Temporary dining with limited menus will be available during the refurbishment.
- SANParks expects to unveil the upgraded facilities “in the coming months”.
What hasn’t been confirmed
- The opening date.
- The menu, prices and opening hours.
- Whether the temporary dining is already running.
If you’re heading to Pretoriuskop soon
Many visitors pass through Pretoriuskop on the way in or out of the park, so it’s worth knowing before you plan a meal stop. The camp’s shop, filling station, laundromat and pool aren’t part of the announcement. Self-catering units have their own kitchens or share communal ones, and there is a day-visitor picnic area.
Our Pretoriuskop Rest Camp guide has the full picture of the camp, the sable antelope and the prices.
Cattle Baron at Skukuza: Refurbishment Underway
Skukuza is Kruger’s largest camp and its administrative headquarters, with shops, a deli, a doctor, a bank and a golf course just outside. SANParks lists its restaurant as Cattle Baron Grill & Bistro, and it is one of the better-known places to eat in the park.
Unlike the other three, Cattle Baron keeps its name. SANParks says it “will undergo refurbishment” to give it a “refreshed look and feel”. The announcement doesn’t say when the work starts or how long it will take.
Is Cattle Baron at Skukuza closing for good?
No. SANParks has announced a refurbishment, not a closure. Temporary dining with limited menus is promised during the work.
What we know so far
- Cattle Baron stays and will be refurbished.
- Temporary dining with limited menus will be available during refurbishment periods.
- SANParks expects to unveil the upgraded facilities “in the coming months”.
What hasn’t been confirmed
- When the refurbishment starts and finishes.
- What the temporary dining will look like at Skukuza.
- Whether the menu or the operator will change.
If you’re heading to Skukuza soon
The announcement names only the Cattle Baron. The camp’s other eateries, including the restaurant in the old Selati railway station precinct, aren’t mentioned, so ask at reception what is operating. Skukuza is also an easy place to self-cater, with the largest shop in the park.
Our Skukuza Rest Camp guide covers the camp in full. If you’re driving on to Lower Sabie, the H4-1 road between the two camps is about 43 km, and our Lower Sabie Rest Camp guide picks up from there. The official SANParks announcement is the place to watch for opening dates.
Why Are Kruger National Park's Restaurants Changing?
The restaurant changes follow the expiry of previous concession agreements and a competitive tender process, according to SANParks.
The appointments form part of a broader effort to invest in tourism facilities and improve the visitor experience within the national park.
Restaurants play an important role in the practical side of a Kruger safari. Visitors may spend hours travelling between sightings, and a convenient place to stop for breakfast, lunch or dinner can help make a long day in the bush more comfortable.
For self-drive visitors, knowing which facilities are available can be particularly useful when planning routes and deciding where to take breaks.
For guests on guided safaris, restaurant stops may also form part of the day’s arrangements, depending on the itinerary and the guide’s plans.
The introduction of new restaurant operators therefore represents more than a change of names. It is an update worth following for anyone who regularly visits Kruger National Park.
At the same time, visitors should avoid assuming that the new restaurants will offer particular dishes, prices or opening hours until those details are officially confirmed.
Will Restaurants Be Open During Refurbishment?
SANParks says temporary dining facilities with limited menus will operate during the refurbishment periods. It hasn’t said what those will look like at each camp, and they may differ from camp to camp.
A few things make this easier:
- Ask at reception. When you book or check in, ask what is operating that week.
- Carry some food. A cooler with lunch and snacks means a closed restaurant won’t ruin a day of driving.
- Use the camp shops. If you’re self-catering, the shop at each camp stocks the basics.
- Check SANParks before you leave. Their news page is the first place changes will appear.
Where to stay in Kruger
Lower Sabie, Berg-en-Dal, Pretoriuskop and Skukuza each suit a different route through the park. Our guides to the best rest camps in Kruger and the full guide to Kruger’s best camps compare them.
Nhongo Safaris has run guided overnight safaris in Kruger since 1999. Our guides are in the park regularly, and we will add what they see on the ground to this page as the restaurants open. Browse our Kruger safari packages or contact us to plan a trip.
Frequently Asked Questions About the New Kruger Restaurants
What are the new restaurant names in Kruger National Park?
Sabie River Café at Lower Sabie, Eziko Eatery at Berg-en-Dal and Le Lapeng Burgers and Grill at Pretoriuskop. The Cattle Baron at Skukuza is being refurbished.
What was Sabie River Café called before?
Mugg & Bean, at Lower Sabie Rest Camp.
What was Eziko Eatery called before?
Tindlovu Restaurant, at Berg-en-Dal Rest Camp.
What was Le Lapeng Burgers and Grill called before?
Wimpy, at Pretoriuskop Rest Camp.
Is Cattle Baron at Skukuza closing permanently?
No. SANParks has announced a refurbishment, not a closure. Temporary dining with limited menus is promised in the meantime.
When will the new Kruger restaurants open?
Sabie River Café is already open as a temporary Grab & Go and coffee station. SANParks hasn’t given dates for the full restaurants, or for Eziko Eatery and Le Lapeng Burgers and Grill. It says the upgraded facilities will be unveiled “in the coming months”.
Where can I find the latest information about Kruger restaurants?
SANParks publishes official updates on its news page. Ask the rest camp’s reception before you travel.
Is Sabie River Café open yet?
Yes. According to its own website, it is open daily from 07:00 to 20:00 as a temporary Grab & Go section and coffee station, with seating for up to 40 guests.
What are Sabie River Café’s opening hours?
07:00 to 20:00, seven days a week, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.
How much does food cost at Sabie River Café?
On its menu page, sandwiches start at R39, burgers with chips run from R85 to R109, and a Bush Braai plate is R280. Prices are as of 28 October 2026 and may change.
Keep Up with the Latest Kruger National Park Updates
The introduction of Sabie River Café, Eziko Eatery and Le Lapeng Burgers and Grill marks an interesting development for visitors to Kruger National Park. Alongside the refurbishment of Cattle Baron at Skukuza, these changes will bring new identities to several familiar dining stops.
For now, the confirmed information is limited to the new restaurant names, their locations and the refurbishment announcement. Opening dates, menus and prices should be confirmed as further details become available.
We will continue to follow the updates so that travellers can plan their visits with the most useful information available.
Planning your own Kruger adventure? Explore Nhongo Safaris’ guided overnight safari packages or contact our team for assistance with your trip.
Source: South African National Parks (SANParks), SANParks Announces New Restaurant Operators in The Kruger National Park, 12 October 2026.