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We were in the WCNP, in the Postberg section, on Saturday. We drove past at least 5 Hylton Ross tour busses. At one point a couple of cars stopped to look at some ostrich and springbuck on our right.

Next moment this Hylton Ross buss comes to a screeching halt behind the Nissan Xtrail, doors swing open and out pours all the Tourists that was inside ! Right next to the "Stay in vehicle" sign ! Now, they don't just stand in the road and take pictures, they storm INTO the veld, over flowers and delicate ecosystems to get the photos...and they are LOUD !

Of course I immediatly started taking pictures of them and of the bus and of the driver, making sure that he sees me. He starts waving his arms and making gestures at me ! When we left, we had to drive past the bus within 500mm of it on the narrow path. Driving slowly past I told him I'm sending this to Hylton Ross, so in no friendly terms he shouts back "Ja, take all the photos you want , do what you like "

At one stage I got the impression the tour guide lady tried to convince the tourists to get back in , but about 20minutes later when we caught a glimpse of them, they were still right there all around the bus with about 4 other cars, everyone outside !

I can understand, the tourists...if the door is opened for them they WILL get out, but I really expect the tour guide/driver to keep those doors closed !! It's their responsibility !!

Anyway, I will now attempt to attach the pics...Name And Shame !!! Unfortunately the bus did not even have number plates !!







Edit by Bert

Welcome to the Forum PCS even if your first post is not one particulary edifying. Some people are simply without any inhibition and are not a bit ashamed and get only aggressive if corrected.
Somewhere on the Forum there is a thread called something like.. Shame and... (do not remember) I shall try and find it and come back to you.

Welcome to the forums PCS Here is a link to the gallery of shame

Hi PCS
Made a little edit to keep the posting civil
And if you want i can ask HQ to look into this matter
@Chinese walking in the veld.
I also believe its the guide who should be held responsible.
If i am out on a morning walk in Kruger for eg. the guides are responsible and i must follow the rules/listen to them

PCS, are you sure they were chinese?

Doesnt really matter if the were chinese,korean etc.
Everybody has to obey the rules

Thank you Bert and sorry about that



I agree that the nationality of the tourists is irrelevant. The issue here, is that the tour guide and bus driver (at that moment representing THE WHOLE of the company which they work for !) are responsible for the actions of their passangers/clients (Some of these tourists of eastern origins can probably not even read English - I certainly can't read any of their language !!). In this case it is really easy to control them..DON'T OPEN THE DOOR ! They should be well aware of rules and regulations of the park that they are in. And failing that, there was a sign in CLEAR VIEW of the driver !

Sorry Bert, but it does! Nobody wants to be accused of something they have not done. The sign is in english and one presumes that travelling, a few of these people speak english, so obviously they have their part of guilt.
Would you as dutch be happy if somebody generalising accused you and other dutch people of having done something wrong, that in fact was done by a group of belgians?

Micetta, I see your point clearly.

I have edited the original to read "tourists" instead, and appologize for any offense caused.

As a registered tourist guide myself, I can gategorically state that

1. All guides can understand English. There are foreign language guides trained here in CT in English that will KNOW the rules.
2. the guide is responsible for the safety and otherwise of the tourists, not the coachdriver.
3. Tour leaders from abroad are not permitted to guide in SA and MUST have a qualified guide with them, and a company with THAT reputation would have a local guide who would be responsible for the behaviour.
4. All guides must wear a bagde which has their name on, and in the colours of the national flag.

Hi PCS,

Thanks for taking the time to post these photos. Let me say I agree it is just not acceptable and the tour guide is at fault, in my opinion.
I speak as a person who loves the park and volunteers my time to help where I can in my private capacity.
I have seen a SANparks vehicle patroling Postberg especially over weekends. In fact I reported an incident to them up at Uitkyk and during the course of the day I could have reported more. I can't speak on their behalf but I do believe they know the importance of patrols.
I know of a couple of HR's that did duty as well.
The number of vehicles in Postberg over the last 2 weekends must have made their task very difficult. I went on Monday last week and by 11.30 there were 100 vehicles in Postberg already.
A good idea too is to report an incident like you witnessed to the guard at the Postberg gate. They are in contact with the ranger in charge of Postberg.
There are also snakes and scorpions. People don't realise the danger (I saw a scorpion at Uitkyk last week and on more than one occasion have seen Cattle Egrets catching them in amongst the flowers - maybe the boards should hilight the danger) not to mention ticks at this time of year.
I believe this should really be brought to the attention of the park authority; and your photos make it more authentic.
Let me forward this to them if you don't have any objection.

Thanks

Tony T , u have a PM

We also witnessed the same group on Saturday PCS - so must have been in the Park at the same time.....

Wonder if they would have been so ready to disembark if they had seen what we saw on the gravel road just before the entrance to Postberg.......



and we saw two of them - a few metres apart and both on the side of the road...

Hi all.

Thanks PCS for the heads up on Hylton Ross. The incident has been reported to the authorities this morning. Tony T is correct, we (the WCNP Honorary Rangers) do at least two patrols a day through Postberg on Saturdays and on Sundays, and the Park Staff do as many as their resources allow. We can't catch everyone in such a large area, but where we do see transgressions of the magnitude you describe, we act immediately.


I'm sorry you had such an unfortunate experience in our Park, and hope that the fantastic flower displays made up for your disappointment at the selfish behaviour of a few.