SANParks.org Forums

After much thought (and it only happens 3 or 4 times a year ) on reading many of the chats on the Forum it seems as though there is a HUGE number of people who are so deeply interested in the preservation of our National Parks and who REALLY enjoy their trips to the parks and also the sightings and views of all the other members on the forum. I count myself amongst them ! But I am a newie to and enjoying the forum!
So I figured , that as a starter, it would be great to hear which parks we all go to and, at a later stage, why we go there. And then ....... whatever crops up. So here we go .... for better or for worse, (whatever that means ...)
Where then have I been ?
In no particular order -
1. It began with Kruger as my grandfather went there not long after it was proclaimed and many times after . His favourite camp was Rabelais followed by Pretoriuskop and Skukuza. And I was taken there as a few months old nappy wetter. Probably been there well above 100 times since then. More than 1000 nights ! And still looking forward to more. The next trip is SOON !!
2. Mapungubwe NP
3. Marekele NP
4. Pilansberg GR
5. Tankwa Karoo NP
6. Cederberg Wilderness Area
7. WEST Coast N P
8. Gamkasberg NR – Tierkloof camp
9. Table Mountain NP
10. De Hoop Nature R
11. Garden Route (Tsitsikamma, Knysna, Wilderness ) NP –Including Storms River
12. Karoo NP
13. Swartberg NR
14. Anysberg NR
15. Wilderness NR
16. Baviaanskloof Wilderness Area
17. Addo Elephant Park
18. Augrabies NP
19. Vaalbos NP now Mokola NP
20. Gariep Dam NR
21. Golden Gate NP
22. uKahlamba Drakensberg Park
23. Umfolozi GR
24. Hluhluwe -GR
25. Kgalagadi TNP
26. Magaliesberg NR
27. Itala GR
28. Mkuzi GR
29. Blyde
30. Ndumo GR
31. Umbabat NR (Ingwelala)
32. Sabi Sand GR – Ululapa Lodge
33. Sabi Sand GR – Simbambili Lodge
34. Klaserie Private NR – Gary Freeman Safaris

Also , outside of RSA ....
1. SKELETON COAST PARK - NAMIBIA
2. HWANGE NP – (ZIM)
3. MATOBO NP – (ZIM) with Rhodes grave
4. ZAMBEZI NP – (ZIM)
5. MOSI-OA TUNYA NP – (ZIM)
6. CHIZARIRA NP – (ZIM)
7. MANA POOLS NP – (ZIM)


ON BUCKET LIST
1. GAMKASKLOOF NR – DIE HEL
2. MOUNTAIN ZEBRA NP
3. AND MANY MORE

TIM ---- Tyd Is Min !! I must get moving !!

There is still sooooo much to see
Moose1

Welcome Moose

Yes the kruger is embedded in my soul I went their as a baby atleast 4 times a year and then I upstaged my mother and took my eldest daughter camping with me in the kruger when she was only 2 weeks old it was an adventure I have yet to visit the other parks but one day I hope to be able to do so and If I manage to get the opportunity other than kruger my next stop will be the Kgalagadi

The vistas in KTP are to die for. I have been lucky ( read "Spend lots of time driving" ) with beasties there. You must go !

Sounds good thanks for the heads up Moose will do!

Last May , 2012 , I was fast asleep in my little tent a meter from the fence in Balule when I heard a noise and quietly and SLOWLY opened the zip on the "door" which faced the fence. There was nothing there except a tree trunk ..... what ? .... that wasnt there when I went to bed, I thought !!!!! It was an ellies leg and he was feeding off the tree under which I had my tent. VERY quietly and SLOWLY the zip went up and I crawled back into my sleeping bag and eventually when the noise of crunching leaves abated, I dozed off. What a great experience !!!! Its little things like this which will forever remind me of that trip. Sorry !! No pics !!!

So ....... Im off soon off again to KNP and will be back in the same camp. Hope I get a camp site close to the fence again. Am busy reading up on the site how to scale pics etc.

Enjoying all the TRs on the site. Thanks to those involved for a fabulous forum

PS This was originally posted on another forum but I have changed it to this one which is a bit more appropriate.

1. kruger
2. Pilansberg GR
5. Tankwa Karoo NP
6. Gamka
7. Table Mountain NP
8. De Hoop Nature R
9. Garden Route (Tsitsikamma, Knysna, Wilderness ) NP –Including Storms River
10. Karoo NP
11. Wilderness NR
12. Addo Elephant Park
13. Augrabies NP
14. Golden Gate NP
15. Umfolozi GR
16. Hluhluwe -GR
17. Kgalagadi TNP
18. Magaliesberg NR
19. Itala GR
20. Blyde
21. Goukama
22. Tsitsikama
23. Richtersveld
certain Private Game Reserves that I will take not in account. I guess I missed some NP out. So If I remeber more I´m gonna add it

Also , outside of RSA ....
1. SKELETON COAST PARK - NAMIBIA
2. HWANGE NP – (ZIM)
3. MATOPO NP – (ZIM) with Rhodes grave
4. ZAMBEZI NP – (ZIM)
5. Etoscha (nam)
6. Namib Naukluft (nam)
7. Cape Cross (nam)
8. Chobe (bots)
9. Central Kalahari (bots)
10. Okavango Delta (bots)
11. Caprivi (Nam)
12. Hlane (Swaziland)
13. Teschlanyane (Lesotho)
14. Arusha (Tanzania)
15. Serengeti (tanzania)
16. Tarangire (Tanzania)
17. Lake Manyara (Tanzania)
18. Ngorongoro Crater (Tanzania
19. Kilimanjaro (Tanzania)

List to go
Kafue (sambia)
Mana Pools (Zim)
Selous (tanzania)
(these NP I´d like to go there one day, but so far no actual Booking date.)

WOW Maleala !!! Great to see where others have been. You have really been a travelling (man ?)

I was reading about the ellie who attacked the car last Monday at
Babalala and was wondering if I also should have become religious like Dan !!!
But here is my little experience
I suppose this could have happened at any camp but Balule chose it first. Also in May 2012.
I was driving out of the camp on my own early one morning and Titus had opened the gate for me. The whole night there had been a very cross ellie grumbling and trumpeting around the camp and breaking branches and trees.
Anyway , I was now going for a drive and the lack of sleep had been forgiven and forgotten
If anyone knows Balule camping section, as you drive out there is a large clump of trees on the left with a little path heading into the clump but with no exit on the other side – the only exit to the clump is from the road. I have been in and out of this gate dozens of times in my stays at Balule and never seen anything there.
Well as I accelerated slowly past Titus and the gate and came to the clump, I was watching Titus in my right side mirror and had my arm out the window to wave a “Thanks” to him. When I looked to the road in front of me - on the left but with his front feet on the road stood this HUGE ellie and only 3 meters in front/to the side of me. There was no time to even think as he trumpeted and I put my foot down and swung to the right side of the road to get past Grumpy . He blasted me with a trumpet of about 5 million decibels and moved on to the road . But luckily I was past him and just kept going. 30 meters up I stopped and Grumpy was standing in the road trumpeting and shaking his head. There is a small kink in the road at this stage and the gate is not visible so I could not see Titus.
After my days travels I returned to Balule about 5 pm but the last 200 meters took me about 15 minutes to do as I was looking under/behind every tree for old Grumpy. He had gone , thankfully !
Titus opened the gate for me and came down to my camp site . We had a good laugh about the whole episode and he told me that when he saw what was happening he had quickly closed the gate and ran into the shelter of the building next to the gate . He did not know Grumpy was in the bush there.
Phew! I wont forget that one in a hurry !
Sorry no pics !!!

Sounds like a narrow miss and scary encounter Moose!

Afraid I haven't been to many parks as we are a bit single minded in our love for Kruger!
but have been to
Augrabies
KTP
Cape Point,
Boulders
Table Mountain NP
and quite a few in KZN.
plus Pilanesburg.

heading to Dinaka Safari Lodge in Botswana tomorrow,
then a bit of tiger fishing up at Shakawe.
June will be in a secret camp in Kruger.
Will be camping in Letaba for 10 days in October too.

Ja !! probably the one (no names) on eastern boundary in June for R12000 pppd
Think of us when you are there

Moose I am a peasant will not pay R12000/night
will be camping away from the bright lights in June

FG , do you need a camp assistant ?

Hi Moose,

To be honest I just listed up the Parks in Afrika. If I would add it globaly there will come some additions... .

Anyway I have to say, that my Parents introduced to me to traveling since I was a Baby. Insteda of buying anew car they went on holidays. The many parks in South Afrika which I have visited is quite easy to explain. I´m comming from Germany but my Mom was born in South Afrika since 1996 I visit Southern Afrika regulary. From 2001-2003 I used to life in Lesotho. So instead of flying to Germany during my Holidays, I prefer to visit some Destinations in Southern Afrika. I bet that was a good decission. Except 2008 I haven´t visited South Afrika, but it´s time now :-) . Honestly I have to say that I have worked for 4 Month in namibia. After that I have done a treveling through Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Sambia. That is actually the explination for it. :-)

If you like I could sum up the global National Parks, but only if you wish otherwise I will leave it.

There are very few unspoilt places left to go and visit but Kafue in Zambia is a must. Bigger than Kruger but fewer visitors than Tshokwane on a quiet day. (That is to say if you don't mind the tsetse flies.) But, having said that, Kruger will always be on top of my list.