SANparks has implemented the new tax increase on all bookings from the 1st April, even if those bookings have been fully paid up.
Posted by Elsa:
Joep Stevens, for bookings post 1 April 2018, the service is only being delivered in that window period and will be subject to the legislated VAT rate. Therefore all such reservations with stays post 1 April 2018 will be updated to include the additional 1% VAT, Guests that have paid their bookings in full prior to changes can pay upon arrival or in advance - such reservation will not be cancelled due to outstanding amounts.
Apparently, according to government legislation, all goods/services offered after 1st April are subject to 15% VAT, so they don't really have a choice as they will have to pay that VAT.
So where does the deposit or full amount money go until such time as I arrive in Kruger?
According to a very reliable source on Facebook I have been told it goes into a "Control Account" until you book in and then only transferred to their income account.
Therefore it shows as income only when you check in and if this is after 01 April 2018 the 15% VAT is due and payable. They then pay the VAT across to SARS on that date.
The letter you get from SANParks is only a confirmation letter and not an invoice. The invoice is only issued once you check in therefore dated post April 2018.
So SANParks earns a fantastic amount of interest while the money lies in the "Control Account."
As long as they use it for the benefit of Kruger I do not have a problem.
Gets a bit confusing but as the saying goes:
Dis die wet van Transvaal so kak en betaal" can be roughly translated as
"This is the law of Transvaal so s**t and pay." Please excuse the language.
Faith is the bird that feels the light while the dawn is still dark. Author unknown.
STF has brought up something I was also going to mention. The interest on your booking would more than cover the difference in the vat rate that SANParks would have to pay over. I just had to pay in more for my October trip.
"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." Nelson Mandela The desire for equality must never exceed the demands of knowledge
Everybody is going to raise the prices from 1st April. Do you have the same VAT % on all categories?
"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." Nelson Mandela The desire for equality must never exceed the demands of knowledge
I just had to pay in more for my October trip. 
