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Mapungubwe Hill - I remember climbing the rocks with a rope during 2004 to get to the top where nomad tribes stayed. I remember the feeling one had when standing there and seeing remains/ruins etc. - it felt like the ancestors were still there. Now they have built a super-deluxe museum where it feels that they are trying to hard to convince you of the land claims and nomadic tribes. There is none of the magic left, none of the mystery - only a modern museum filled with artefacts and beads that look like they were bought at Craftersmarket last month. I was lucky enough to be standing on that hill a couple of years ago and to 'feel' the tribes, to see ruins of their huts and will treasure that. I felt robbed of a very specia experience when I returned for a 2nd time.

Restuarant:
Negatives - Imagine sitting down for a cold drink and something to eat on a very warm, dry day but not being able to drink or eat due to the fruit flies in your face, your food, your cold beer. You send back half of your cold Amstel or Castle because at least 6 fruit flies have found their way into the bottle. The attitude of the waietrs were that you should go sit downstairs in the warm, crowded area or you can sit on the 2nd floor and deal with the fruit flies. They don't have anything to deal with the siutation. When you ask the waietr for a citronella candle or anything, he promises you to see what he can bring and you don't see him ever again. Until he wants his tip.

Positives - the hamburgers are excellent value for money.

Hello Buffalofreak,

I will apreciate it if you can help with the following:

Did you fill in a feedback form about complaints for the restuarant. No, we spoke to two waiters and asked for help with regards to the fruit flies with no success. We were not aware of the feedback form. Will use the SANParks guest feedback form.

Do you have any evidence for the following:

a. the contractor was not paid when money dried up and he left the job unfinished resulting in the barbed and old cattle fences posing a threat to the wildlife. I was informed that they take at least 7 animals from the fences per month, animals that tried to cross the fences and got themselves stuck in the wires.

Unfortunately you misquoted me. I spesifically said "According to information".

My evidence for the statement with regards to animals getting stuck in the fence is eye witness accounts and various posts in this regard on this forum.

To sit by and watch 7 buck dying a horrific death every month and do nothing about it because it is not your job - you should not be an employee of SANParks. Maybe they should stop giving family and or friends game drives in their luxury Chevrolet SUV's and start conserving and protecting nature.

Only evidence available are;
- having witnessed this employee driving along River Drive with 3 passengers,
- a statement made by an employee and
- the many complaints about the fence on this forum.

One can only make the logic conclusion that the fence is a problem and that personnel are aware of it.

Please provide me with evidence stating that it is not the duty of employees to act on a problem posing a danger to wildlife instead of asking me to proof that it is their job. Fact of the matter is that the fence is a problem, that we can help and will do so voluntarily. We just need permission from SANParks or from Mapungubwe management. If money is indeed a problem, please consider our offer. That is the bottom line of my post. Mapungubwe is special, is under threat from mining and instead of complaining about the wrongs, we would like to assit by putting it right. At our own cost and time.

Thanks.

Hi Buffalocreak.

Thank you for editing your original post and removing the hearsay information from it It is difficult now to have the discussion about:

1. the contractor was not paid when money dried up and he left the job unfinished.

2. Maybe they should stop giving family and or friends game drives in their luxury Chevrolet SUV's and start conserving and protecting nature.

Are you saying Staff members are not entitled to drive through tha park with passengers who may or may not be family members.

Yes I edited because important portions was misquoted. I think you are driving in circles my friend and in no haste to get anywhere. But thanks anyway, I will rather take it up with the appropriate authorities.

Park personnel are aware of the fence problem but do not remove it themselves and it does not seem that SANParks have the funds to have the rest of the fence removed. We can however assist if permitted to do so by organising a group of volunteers who will remove thefence during a week-end or so. Only a safe place away from the elephants are needed to camp.