SANParks.org Forums

I have been meaning to post this for ages.

For all those stories about the awful behaviour of some visitors to the park, here is a story that will restore your faith in the other strangers you pass in the park.

On my last visit to the park, I found myself in a bit of a predicament. I was all out of cash (the cash point at Letaba, and then at Satara later that day, had rejected my card or were out of cash) and by the time I got to Orpen to check in to Tamboti my petrol guage was on red.

I enquired at the Orpen desk whether there was any way that the petrol station would accept a credit card, to which I was told no. The only option they said to me was to drive to Acornhoek (45 minutes away).

The problem with this was there was no way in hell I had enough petrol to get me to Acornhoek.

At the same time, a tall guy and his wife were standing at the other end of the counter listening to me explain the dilemma to the receptionist. He interjected and said to me he could help me out.

He told me to follow him to the petrol station and he would use his card to pay for the petrol. I assumed I could then take his details and re-imburse him as soon as I was able to get some cash.

When I got to the petrol station I embarrassedly asked whether we could put R100 in which would allow me to drive to Acornhoek the next morning and withdraw enough cash to last me the rest of the time in the park. He smiled, handed his petrol card to the attendant and told him to "fill it up"!

I tried my hardest to get his details so I could get him the money at a later point but he was having none of it. He insisted that I accept it as a gift.

I have to say, I actually had goosebumps as I stood there shaking his hand.

Then he was off, like a tall angel in jeans driving an SUV!

(I did manage to gather from the brief conversation I had with him that his name was Theuns or Theunis and he was from Phalaborwa and he visited the park often. He mentioned he did security work as well as export/import with the UAE. He drove a black 2 cab SUV and had a wife and teenage son. Perhaps someone on the forum knows who he is?)

So, Mr Angel wearing jeans, thank you SO SO much for your amazing generosity and neighbourliness. I have been paying the favour on forward ever since, but if I ever do get to bump into you again, I will hopefully be able to reciprocate tenfold.

Your post gives me goosebumps reading it.
What you have experienced is real old- fashioned goosebumps.
Great jgstevens. Hope you can find him.
Maybe through the Phala mites.

Also a mite watching cams BTW.

Thank you for sharing this with us, Jgstevens and a huge 'THANK YOU' to to Mr Angel wearing jeans !

Now you all can see, us Phalagatte are not that bad!!

What a great story...and a SUPER nice gesture!!!

How stunning Got goosebumps reading this too...and love your "pay it forward" philosophy

Whoop-whoop. A feel-good story indeed. Thanks for posting, JGS.

I thought maybe it was you guys Elz.....

Far from me to want to ruin your joy, but I do not understand all this surprise.... Would you not have done the same for any person in jgstevens situation???

I have a sneaky feeling I know which forumite you are!! What a wonderful human being you are, God Bless you and yours!!!!

By the way, Micetta, most of us probably would have!!!!! Have a great weekend!!!

Great story to hear!! thanks for sharing

What a fantastic gesture - he must make up for all the Phala mites that infest our forum