SANParks.org Forums

First to get the balance of this point right, I want to clearly state how much pleasure we have had in our numerous visits to the park, and also our appreciation of a superb booking system (with amazon.com the best website in the world!!), and the friendly and wonderful camping facilities (compare the camps in Serengeti if you survive!).

However there can be improvements, as with everything. My comment relates to the viewing points. I know how busy the parks personel must be, but surely maintenance of the viewing points must become a priority. The viewing points in so many places along the rivers from north to south no longer offer any view. This seriously limits sightings and wonderful photographic opportunities. Granted my wife and I are camera mad but these problems have important general effects.

Photography is an exponentially growing hobby due to the digital era and keeping the viewing points open would allow the KNP to climb this specific league table. Furthermore traffic congestion along the roads would be less if cars could be enticed to spend more time at the many viewpoints all over the KNP. At the moment it is drive in and drive away as you find the view has disappeared in the last years, even though an entrance is present!!

To balance my criticism, thousands do like us, enjoy the pleasures, of the most beautifully varied of all the parks in Africa. Further Shem Campion in his recent book rates the KNP very high for wildlife photography. All I am humbly suggesting is that with a bit of gardening it could be so much better.

To end with an example, turn off at the first viewpoint after turning right to head for Bateleur camp on the S52 after crossing the Shingwedzi causeway. A few years ago, we saw a fish eagle swoop down on 2 Saddle bill storks to try and steal their barbel, followed by a leopard 5 minutes later on the rocks. Thus we return to that site again and again. Unfortunately it is now so overgrown you cant even see the rocks. I do of course have my memories and overexposed white eagles wings (dammit)!!!

Hi Exbrakpanite;

Thank you for this and I will forward it to our KNP management and hear what they say.

Have a lovely day ahead.

Hi,

I agree with you for 200%. Not just your constructive criticism of the viewing points and waterholes!! don't forget it, but also the pleasure we have when we are in Kruger. We can't wait for the next time. But we are just back from a 2 weeks stay in Kruger and also waterholes has very bad views. Try to have a view at Renosterpan...... it's almost invisible. The best view on the waterhole at the Talamati-fence is not out of the hide but right outside the gate. The road to Muhlambamadvude is closed for at least 3 years I think.... for what reason??? It was a really good places to take good photo's
The waterhole Shihangani (along the tar to Nwanetsi) I have even never seen that waterhole...??
Waterhole Welverdiend.....bushes bushes bushes. And so on. 7 km's north of Satara on the west side of the road, far in the field there is a waterhole, I think Witpens. Everytime I pass that waterhole I see lots and lots of animals, Rhino, zebra's,giraf,wildebeast,warthogs. But it is so far away that even with binoculars it is too far.
It should be great if there was a 'dirtroad' to that waterhole. It shouldn't be a problem I think.

There must be a way to improve the visibility with a minimal effect on the environment.



Ruud

To add another dimension, as was our experience last month, it can lead to protruding, we popped into Mestel Dam near Pretoriuskop where we hadn't been for ages only to find the grass so high it was virtually impossible to see anything.
Parked there was a car with some French speaking tourists who were both outside the car, one person completely outside standing up, next to the long grass! and the other, standing on the door sill and looking over the top of the car.
We pulled up next to them and tried to explain to them that it not only was it very dangerous but also breaking the rules of the park. Their reply in very broken English was that they couldn't see the water and they wanted to take some photos.
We were quite concerned as there was an Ellie who looked as if he was about to come down the little road leading to the dam and with both their backs turned away from it, could have led to a nasty situation.
I am sure the grass will be down in winter but others with bushes not so much.

Hi,

I agree with you both. Some of the viewpoints are absolutely shocking. With trees and bushes in the way that you can hardly see anything.

Especially the viewpoint by Orpen. You can't see zilch there. That is where they told us that you could see a leopard with her cubs, because apparently she has got a den there, but how the hec are you supposed to see anything. with all the trees in the way.

Samantha

Have to agree with the bad visibility at some viewpoints

The thing is this is a nature area where nature is being conserved. Should it be tampered with so we humans can have a good view .... don't we tamper with enough of the globe as it is

If it is a designated viewpoint, then it could be opened up.
After all we do want good visibility at a viewpoint.
The whole park is a managed area with humans visiting and living there.
There are wilderness areas that we cannot access and these can be in a natural state.

No attack on your post Kite. But...

We will never be happy, we dont want to remove the Manmade waterpoints, but then we do, we dont want to cull, but it was thought of, we dont want Hotels, but we want to open viewpoints.

I say, we should manage for the benifit of the tourist as you stated, but where to draw the line.

Rather not post here

I find your point a very important one. However when I drive along the tar roads, which I dislike intensely, i wonder what is interference, what is conservation, and the right balance. If we take your viewpoint, thats fine, but then close up those viewpoints that are overgrown.

Its all a matter of balance. This balance can be judged by people much more experienced and capable that I am. However sometimes it seems that the viewpoints have deteriorated out of forgotten neglect or financial restrictions rather than a nature conservation policy. Please correct me if I am wrong.

If we can entice people to sit and stare and dream as they gaze over wonderful scenes I feel nature is benefitting not losing out.

So we always interfere. we must however find the right recipe so that wildlife benefit from our intrusions. Allowing people a clear view of the wonderful events that occur in the KNP will aid conservation not disturb it.

{Exbrakpanite posted while I was typing this}

(@Scipio)

I'd also love a good view ... and the perfect spot to take pics. Its like the roads ... some people think the verge should be kept clear for 2m either side ... multiply that by the 2000 plus kms roads in KNP, and how much more of the bush is being tampered with.

Just my 2c for the sake of debate

Do not agree, if you made a view point, maintain it as a view point. That little grass you cut off wont kill the world.
Maybe "let nature" be is an excuse for being lazy.
That is what it was mean to be, a view point. Keep it that way.

ExB, I do agree with the neglect, or possibility there-off.

Another question: We, as humans have been part of nature since a zillion years ago. Now we have evolved, also part of nature, even the cities we stay in has a place in the greater scheme of Mother nature. Take i.e. the tarred roads. Have the animals not evolved together with this development, if you look at Lions hunting large game like Giraffe on these roads a lot, making it easy for the giraffe to slip.

Wild dogs use these roads as well in their hunting strategy it is said.

Interesting thread.

DB, they are clearing a lot of Mopani on the road in the North, aroung Phala and Letaba and Mopani. Is it right, I wont be able to say, but the reason for the clearing, is it not monetary/socio economic to get the neighbours some jobs instead of based on conservations principle, I dunno.

I say, leave everything as is, and let us only camp in the bush.

I agree with the sentiments expressed by the Exbrakpanite. It would also be really nice if Kruger could construct more hides at waterholes - such as the ones that you get in KZN reserves and Pilanesberg. I know if all this cost money and maintenance but it would be really nice if there are more places where one can spend in KNP outside of your car.

I love those river views roads you turn off to between Orpen and Satara - they are wonderful and one can sit there for ages. Amazing what does just happen to pass by in the dry river bed below. Views of dry river beds hold a certain fascination and I agree that a little bit of TLC would be great.