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October 2011 our trip to KTP - Our first night, camping at Twee Rivieren, KTP - Chat to the friendly campers - as you do. Then went out on a late afternoon drive - better than sitting in the camp! Later that evening, when braaing, I noticed that one of the campers was not back at camp. I mentioned this to my SO who said I should not be overly concerned as he could probably be at the restaurant or elsewhere in the camp - no need to create an undue fuss...However, next morning, he was still not back and I was still concerned! Nevertheless, we went on an early morning drive and then headed back to TR to pack up and head off to Nossob for the next part of our trip.

At the Leeuwdril 4X4 entrance to the route, we came across our missing camper sans his vehicle - He had decided to drive his 4 X 2 Vehicle - the day prior - (without permission, without alerting Sanparks, AND with no 4x4!!! and tyre pressure of 1.6! ) Bottom line - he got stuck in the sand, dug himself out to a certain extent, got stuck again, decided to turn around and then got horribly stuck and ended up spending the night in the Park - and it was cold that night, very cold! The next morning, at 9 am, after no vehicles had passed by, he decided to walk the approximate 6 to 7 km's out of the loop. He did however have a "pepper spray gun" as a form of protection! We picked him up at the entrance to the 4x4 loop and took him back to Twee Rivieren. Turns out he got fined.

Not counting the fine - I don't suppose he will do that again!!!

Well he got his punishment in the form of a fine....
but I thought the purpose of the Permit was to keep check of visitors. Maybe the missing camper neglected to collect his permit when he left camp in the morning but he if he did have his permit with him then somebody at KTP is not doing their job properly....

OUCH !!
Was that his first visit to KTP, Munchkin ?

Caracal - No, Gung Ho Charlie did not collect his permit - Nor did he indicate that he intended doing this route, and if so, he would have to pay and inform SANParks and pay the necessary fee, so not SanParks at fault. My question is, if I did report that he was missing, just where would Sanparks start looking because they would not have any idea as to where to start!

Matthys, it was his first visit - however rules are there for a reason No???

Yip, they are

was he trying to break every rule in the book in one fell swoop

I hope Gung Ho Charlie had a frightening night out in the dunes that night. And he suffers nightmares about it for a long time to come. Maybe then he will make an effort to follow simple rules put in place to save lives!

I really really hope the fine was HUGE!

And for the record.......we saw a pride of 7 Lions at Rooiputs just a few days later...... seriously, how effective would a pepper spray gun be?

See some pics below that KG took at Leeuwdril water around the 12 October more or less the time of the incident (KG's dates were out at that time). Pepperspray to make the food taste better maybe!

KG I hope he got a steep fine and the recovery of his vehicle was even more.

Exactely my thoughts DB
I saw a couple of Lions feasting on a Hartebeest at very close range....
I have no idea how he would have dealt with a pride of lions with a pepper spray gun as weapon.....

He's lucky he got off with only a fine and his life still intact.

unbelievable - was he a local south african or an overseas tourist. if he was local i cannot believe someone can be so stupid!! the sign at the leeudril 4x4 entrance cannot be clearer!! hope he was charged a bomb to recover his vehicle!!

Munchkin, I hope you gave him a tongue lashing the whole way back to TR !!
I get so angry just reading this , I can't imagine how I would have felt if I was to have found him
I hope this was the beginning and the end of the "wrongs"
Looking forward to happy stories from you