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Having flown in a microlight a few times , that would be the highlight of my experiences .

I assume the possibility of offering commercial rides has been investigated .
This could be feasible over the wilderness if the motor is suitably silenced , safety aspects could be largely taken care of with a professionally run outfit .

Before I get shot out of the sky , it could be done with relatively little visible impact around Skukuza area where there is an existing tar runway and infrastructure , regular source of cientele and extensive existing human impact .

There are various engine silenceing kits available .
Notice how quiet jet engined aircraft have become compared with 30 years ago and less .

Especially experiencing wilderness by boat. Even when I paddle on the Vaal in Parys, I am amazed at the wildlife (yes there is plenty, especially birds), how close you can get to animals, how unobtrusive you are in their environment, and how peaceful it is.

Thinking about it now, after having done the ORBT, slowly drifting down that river would be an amazing experience. Though you'll miss a lot of things by being on the river instead of land, like dung, tracks, small animals etc etc.

I think I'd prefer to experience the wilderness on boat than on a microlight. I'd feel a lot more engaged on a river than flying above in the sky.

Why limit it to day trips? A multi-day overnight trip could be great. Same story, tents, mattresses, food, stoves etc. Anyway, we're getting ahead of ourselves

Chobe offers boat trips as well as plane trips.
Sound idyllic to you?

Let me tell you - it is your worst nightmare.
The planes start really early in the morning, with the buzzing waking you up.
This carries on for a few hours.
Then, when you decide to take a boat trip, you cannot move for the volume of people on the water.

So you decide to escape it all and take a drive in the park.
You are surrounded by Jeep Jockeys, when you gaze out on the Chobe river, the view is spoilt by the numerous boats on the water, the silence and the sky interrupted by the constant buzzing of planes.

Is this what you refer to when you say we're nitpicking by not agreeing with the idea of dinghy-ing and microlighting?

As you constantly say Ndloti, "it's the thin edge" and believe me, you do not want to see the end of that wedge.
You will never step foot in Kruger again.

Just my 2c worth!

Initially I thought this thread was tongue in cheek, hence my sarcasm, but why not permit it along the Crocodile river.

12 people dinghys with 2 guides, possible from Malelane to Croc Bridge (if you can stop!) during the high water season.

Is there any dangerouss water section, like rapids etc in that stretch.

Rescue is a big safety factor, and monitoring on the other permanently flowing rivers would possibly be problematic, as might be entry and exit points.

Anybody know the answers?

Out of interest - what are the laws governing the usage of SA's waterways? Various countries have different rulings, and I know in New Zealand, the Maori have tried to lay claim to 'ownership' which went throught the courts.

Who would give permission to use the Croc River? I mean it's a boundary, so who has ownership?

In terms of 'ownership' - would they have control of the rivers in Kruger for example?

From what I understand from my leisure paddling, rivers belong to the public and are free for use.
This includes up to the high water mark (I'm not completely certain on this boundary).
So theoretically I think I could just enter the Croc River and do I want.
I'm not sure how the fact that it is a border of the park would affect its usage.

In terms of rivers inside Kruger, I'm again not sure.
I imagine the other laws would come into effect first, such as having to pay conservation fees, not getting out of your car etc.
What they would do if you decided to paddle from outside the park past the fence, I'm not sure.

It was quite funny last year, we entered and drove through the park, from Phalaborwa to Giriyondo with a large trailer with 4 sit-on-top kayaks in tow.
Quite a sight indeed

The park fence is on the Southern bank of the Crocodile river, so effectively the river is inside the park.

Bush happy , I have advocated that these limited activities take place out of sight of tourists.
1 vehicle with a trailer with 4 boats/kayaks/dinghys to take maybe 8 tourists out to a certain secluded spot in 3 or 4 different locations to enjoy the wilderness without seeing a whole lot of cars and people along the ride .
With well silenced microlight rides at reasonable heights never passing over a specific area more than once per day from one or 2 locations (Skukuza , Malelane , Phalaborwa) to view the wilderness from the air where without being seen by or seeing tourists .
Just the same can be said for "Designated Quiet Camps" (see thread under Indaba) which I feel we have the right to , because the following has adversely affected our enjoyment to some degree.
Notice how many day visitor safari game viewing vehicles are allowed in KNP obstructing viewings and generally destroying the feeling of "being" in the wilderness ?
The beer garden at Afsaal ?
The daily flights allowed to land at Satara to service Singita concession .
The courier trucks speeding from camp to camp ?
The through traffic allowed to go to Mozambique & Zimbabwe ?
The overland tourist companies who seem to cause more disturbance than is healthy ?

While I have always vehemently objected to further visible development in KNP I think these "proposed" unique experience activities are but a single grain of sand in KNP compared with what is allowed and what we certainly can expect in the future .
Why not allow a few alternatives besides day walks and wilderness trails and oh so upmarket lodges for a slightly discerning tourist ?

I stand to be corrected but as far as I know the boundary is in the middle of the river for the adjacent land owner.

I think you'll find that all water resources and it's usage are under goverment control according to NATIONAL WATER ACT Act No 36 of 1998

Not me agitating - I was being very serious.

I done quite a bit of canoeing over the years and love the peace - I've never bothered here because the Swan and Canning rivers are as boring as bat doo doo . I've gone up into the Okavango in a canoe back in '87 and in '00 I did the Nile on a paddle dinghy raft (white water but also some beautiful stretches through the bush!) - both options are feasible if the water levels are good and the rivers are available.



I agree ndloti - I would see this as a further development from the walks, bush trails and other "wilderness" experiences that SANParks have already developed. There are sufficiently large rivers which during the wet have good water which would make this a decent project.

Guys, just a plea for caution here.
The “edge of the wedge” principle applies here too.
This is a difficult one.
Don`t get me wrong, I have sympathy for some of your ideas but I also tend to agree with Bush Happy`s warnings re Chobe, etc.
I have seen the same thing in places like Mana Pools on the Zambezi and others.
Someone recently told me never to go on a night drive in Luangwa.
He said there are so many open vehicles out at night with spotlights, etc, that it looks like the searchlights over London during the blitz! Granted, unlike Sanparks, there seems to be no regulation there, but still.
The problem, where tourism is concerned, is where to draw the line.
Various activities, albeit low-impact and low-key can, and in my opinion will, pose the next threat if we are not extremely sensitive and will lead, as always, to ever diminishing returns.
Being a discerning tourist is one thing but rest assured, once an activity starts it very easily expands and demands for something else starts.
It simply works like that.
I am in many respects a hypocrite too but I often question myself these days.
The following “products”, as they say, have all developed over the years.

The first cars entered KNP in 1927.
What has happened today – see the many posts and complaints especially about the over-populated south.
Walking trails
Night drives, sunset drives, etc.
Morning walks, afternoon walks, from all camps.
Mountain- biking at Olifants - morning and afternoon.
Lebombo Ecotrail.
Olifants back-pack trail.
Mphongolo back-pack trail – twice per week – why not just once per week? Matiovila and Malahlapanga springs which attract game will be visited and, no doubt, people could have a wash there and leave the human scent.

Microlight flights are just not on, no matter how silent.
What will the next demand be – hot air balloons?
I have seen these colourful monstrosities in Mara too.

It is true that one would be out of sight of other tourists but that is not the whole point.
It is not just about our own enjoyment.
I feel the wilderness, what little is left, has an inalienable right to be free from us.
I have heard it said that wilderness has no value unless it is used and renders a service to society.
In my humble opinion such thinking is devoid of imagination.

I know this is probably an unreasonable puristic attitude and I will be shot down but please guys, don`t do so before you have really thought about it.
Yes, I know, KNP needs money for its own continued existence and activities do make money, but we do not live by bread alone.
Those in favour of this sort of thing are no doubt discerning people but extreme sensitivity is required here.