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I would like to know how you would feel if there were a bird hide at sunset dam?

After I had a beautiful sighting of a big male lion drinking water at Sunset dam but had to return to the gate because it was 1 minute to 6 pm about 2 days ago I was wondering the following :

What if there were a bird hide at Sunset dam accessible from Lower sabie for example you climb some stairs from inside the camp that cross the road on a high bridge and then take a few 100 m walk to the side opposite the road to Skukuza. Just a small wooden bridge like a footpath in the air.

You can then walk into a mini bird hide maybe 2 meters high with a few permanent spotlights and can then sit for hours at night at the Sunset dam.

Would you hate or like something like this?

There was a big discussion about new bird hides in KNP a few months ago - unfortunately i couldn´t find it right now.

Anyway i think Sunset dam wouldn´t be a good place because a new hide there would cause to much impact on the environment and so would a path from Lower Sabie. It is a long way to walk from Lower Sabie to Sunset dam and therefore an animal-safe path would cause a lot of damage.

I think that there are enough hides in the southern part already.

I dont think it is a good idea at all unfortunately. It sounds like a very ambitious project and would be an eyesore.

There have been similar suggestions raised by formites recently.
I remember Mama Fariu starting a topic on building new bird hides.
That went all the way to SanParks and they communicated back saying they do not have any interest in developing new bird hides
Somewhere in that response I remember them saying that if a new birdhide was to be built it would be in the North.

Yes Cheetah you are quite right. I tried my best for Sanparks to build another hide but after so much communicating and debating the suggestion was turned down. It would be fantastic if they built a birdhide at Lower Sabie sunset. Mama Fariu

I would buy into the idea of a hide (not just for birds) if the access was underground, and if eye level was near the ground.

A pathway would quickly get trodden down by the many eles that walk in the area.

Dear Bushbaptist, I really battled for the Park to have one or two more hides, who do you think could get any further than I did (I am not being rude hey). Regards Mama Fariu

No offence taken Mama F.

I just replied to how I saw any possibility - no matter how remote.
I know it will never happen.
Thanks for all your efforts anyway

I don't support the idea.

If it was a smaller camp like a bush camp with limited visitors then that would have been something different but how on earth will you accommodate everybody who stays at Lower Sabie in a hide for everybody would like to be there at sunrise and sunset and after dark.

Thank you but No thank you.

agreed about the madhouse just before gate closing time
it already is because of the dam
I am all for a new hide like the one at Lake Panic
But not just next the gate like at Lower Sabie

Sunset Hide Arena... Seating for 600, all in the front row

Hopefully the lights will be better that those at St Georges Park!!!

Hi All,

I don`t think a hide will be a good idea because :-
a] There will be to much off a congestion of vehicles resulting to many people parking at one end and strolling along the waters edge to the hide.
b] For safety reasons Hippos and Crocs cross the H4-1 often during the day.
c] Most of the hides in Kruger are off the beaten track and attract more of a discerning visitor and i`m afraid a hide at Sunset dam will be invaided by an unruly mob.
I`m sure alot more reasons could be found and most of them to do with the SAFETY of Kruger visitors.
Maybe some sort of roving birdhide that leaves Lower-Sabie to Sunset Dam on a 2 hourly return trip say an hour before gates open and stays out an hour after the gates close with maybe another two visits during the day.

That would be a great idea, I will be willing to pay for an activity like a walk or drive where you get transported say a group of 6 or 8 to sunset hide as you said maybe 1 hour before gate close and then picked up one hour after gate close, which will stop an overcrowd.

Then again there were an overcrowd midday at lower sabie restaurant, not 1 person at the view upstairs and not 1 person on the walking path.

Bush Baptist festive idea!!!!! Just imagine the uproar. Mama Fariu