SANParks.org Forums

Is it more or less crowded?
Better or worse facilities?
Road condition?
Other?

I'd say there are far more visitors to KNP now than 10 years ago.

The facilities on the whole are better - many have been revamped and new facilities added.

Road conditions - on a par?

Other - way more activities offered

There is one major change and that is the virtual lack of friendliness.
The sharing of stories around fires and communal kitchens and the greeting of vehicles on the roads, stopping to tell people of a sighting that might be accessible to them - that is all gone!
To me this is the change that has had the most impact on the old time park goers.
Nothing will ever replace the wonderful camaraderie that existed in camps in the evenings.
Sadly this is a sign of the times and people are now wrapped up in their own little world and have little time for the niceties and etiquette that made Kruger what it was 20 years ago.
Don't get me wrong I still love it to bits but there is no question that it has changed and the changes I speak of are human changes and not material ones and therefore it is questionable whether it could not have been sustained!
Sadly though it is a sign of the times that we live in and the changes I mention have nothing to do with technology or any other kind of advancement other than the fact that we have all become too insular.

I cannot agree more...I miss the friendliness, ppl flagging you down to tell you what's happening up ahead...I always try to stop the ppl coming from the front, my SO gets quite upset, especially if they give you a cold shoulder if that happens I tell them I have seen absolutely nothing, even if I might have seen any of the big 5 or something special serves them right for being rude...
If my dream comes true to stay in the Park for 1 year, I will make every effort to change this attitude How, I will have to think about it..

What if all of us, start being friendly.
Specially if we all have a yellow ribbon and we as a "team" starts showing kindness?
Won't other people notes?
Or doesn't they care?
It will be my first visit with a yellow ribbon and I look forward to seeing other forum members!
Hope we can chat and greet along the roads and just be friendly to one another!

I am with you on this one! Going to make an extra effort on my next trip to Kruger.

Even i think,

1) the number of visitors increased
2) the most facilities are better now
3) untarred roads are worse
4) activities are more
5) all is a bit more expensive,

I also think that everybody I meet is much more friendly if I am friendly.
This year I visited KNP in February/March for the shortest visit I ever had (6 days / 5 nights).
But I was invited to 2 braais, got many information's of sightings, had some very good discussions, met wonderful people from (sorry pinky from Olifants, my wife didn't like me to visit you alone ) but I've seen only one yellow ribbon (my own) .

Thorsten

The facilities and choice of activities have definitely improved over the last 10 years.
It is unfortunate about the friendliness, and the large number of private "safari" vans racing around the South, but as has been said every person can combat the unfriendliness.
We continue to wave people down to tell them about interesting sightings and although a couple will keep driving looking at you is if you're nuts most become very friendly and I'm sure will learn to copy the behaviour.

In 1992, we were the first car out of Skukuza on to the LS road.
After about 5 km we came across 3 lions sleeping on the road.
They got up, stretched walked past our car down the convoy and sat again.
This was a common reward for early risers up until about then.
Nowadays there is a lot of riding around by who knows who, before the paying tourists are allowed out.
Game numbers in the south seem to have dwindled a bit, as numbers in the Satara area seem to have grown. The game seems to have migrated a bit northwards.
There were no taxis and staff speeding was almost non existent.
There were hardly any hides then, which is a big improvement now, although some are in great settings but seem not to be very productive.
Our sightings seem to be improving as we use our experience better, or our luck is getting better!

Facilities have improved somewhat...but I'm not so sure that I share the pessimism over the friendliness that has gone.
We frequently meet people on the road that will stop and tell us of sightings along that road (mostly happens on gravel roads).
I also do not think the gravel roads are worse than ten or even twenty years ago.
Road surfaces tend to vary from year to year.
Last night I finally started the process of sorting out the literally thousands of slides my late father took over his lifetime and I started with the Kruger Park slides...started with June/July of 1971.
What struck me is how similar the park is, in many aspects, now compared to 36 years ago.
I came across slides of large numbers of cars at predator sightings..people parking off the road, in front of other cars, idiots getting out of their cars to take photographs...sounds familiar?

I have noticed that

- Its generally easier to make bookings, especially with the aid of the internet.

- Outsourcing of restaurants might be relieving the resources of the Park staff but I miss the "home made" feeling and the service the old system had. But this is just an emotional observation.

- Cars got bigger. A Landy used to turn heads some years ago, but now a-days its a 50:50 ratio between cars and SUV's

- More visitors lose their minds and manners at predator sightings, squeezing and pushing in to get a better view.
But all in all its a GREAT place with great people and even greater animals

Surely you remember the yellow animal-print curtains
in the huts, as well as the cloth KNP maps?
Not that us men really take notice of curtains but those ones were impossible not to notice and always made one feel like you really are in the game reserve.
Do they still beat the drums before meals at the restaurants?
I cant recall hearing that the last time I was there.
I used to sit and wait (in the 70's) at the Letaba restaurant for the man to "hit the skins" at supper time.
He was no Ringo Starr but he made my day.

They even used to sell that curtain material in the shops years ago
I know I am in he park when I see those green bathroom tiles with the odd custos naturi one, sadly they are being replaced at many camps

Interesting topic.. and some thought provoking postings.

I have been visiting KNP, since as a small boy, for nearly 40 yrs now.

There are some things that have changed to the detriment of the Park.
Most revolve around the balance that Park Management try to achieve with Conservation needs on one hand and Political in the other.
A South African reality and we must ensure on our side that Conservation is the winner!
I sincerely believe that we are on the right track.

I can only say that with my recent travels over the past few years to famous parks in Central and East Africa, when I get to Kruger Park, I want to kiss the ground and hug the first Parks employee I see!

So when I consider the changes i have seen these past 10 years in KNP, I notice the upgrades to camps, new facilities, improved roads and lots going on.
I know that it is only for the better, and investment for the future... and my kids and theirs, will still have great experiences and enjoyment in the Years to come in the KNP.
I look forward to the next 10 years!

They played the drums at Skuk as well.
I remember the days when locals could take a family of 5 to eat at the restaurant for lunch.
Once everybody downed tools and ran out as a lioness was chasing a bokkie across the river right in front of the Skuk restaurant.
We all watched it get away and resumed our lunch.

I still have a cloth map hanging on the wall.
It does not have camps like B n D, Olifants, Mopani or some roads on it.

I remember buying elephant biltong at R60 a kilo.
I decided that it was 'kosher' after searching my conscience.
With the overpopulation of ellies destroying habitats, I decided to support it.
Best biltong I have ever had.