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OK, let’s forget for a couple of minutes that the Porsche Targa is very low and not the ideal vehicle for Kruger.

My question: is it permissible to take down the roof while driving (e.g. during the mid-day heat between Skukuza and Olifants)? How does it differ from opening a sunroof?

(please note: I do not ask about this possibility at a sighting, … a No- No)

Dupacc, as far as I know but I am pretty sure Kruger rules state that no vehicles without a roof are allowed.
If you had to come across a predator suddenly there would surely not be enough time to put the roof back up.
And most sunroofs do not open that wide.
In any case I think its far better to have the roof up in the midday heat, to have the hot sun blazing down on your head is not ideal.

For males, travelling topless in Kruger is not that rare
But there is always room for females to follow suit

Throwing the roof into the back is not allowed.

And as Elsa says, not quite comfortable anyway.

Mites, keep this thread nice and neat for the readers

Seriously though, I thought that even open sunroofs were not allowed in Kruger, but I am perhaps wrong there!!

No roof at all though is another matter...........definitely not allowed.
As Elsa says, it would be far too dangerous..........even the safari vehicles have to have a roof!!

I'm sure that SANparks will reply here, with the actual rules regarding sun roofs and no roofs!!

Well, this is debatable, isn't it?

Without getting technical, perhaps I should point out that a Targa is not the same as a Convertible /Cabriolet that typically have canvass roofs that fold away completely. A Targa has a solid, removable metal section that is bigger than the normal section opening in a typical sunroof. The rear window and pillars stays up, as well as the side windows

.........but with respect Dupacc, if that was permitted, you would still have no roof................anything could drop down into the vehicle, while you were parked under a tree, or launch itself at you from the side

Then the headlines would read "tourists injured/killed in Kruger Park" and SANparks would have many questions to answer.

These things are probably very unlikely to happen, but they are possible. The rules are there for our safety.

BTW I googled Targa, so have seen the pictures.

Dupacc, if a person has the money to park a Porsche in his garage, he then surely must have enough $$$ to buy (or rent) a decent SUV to take him to Kruger (unless he wants everybody to see the size of his wallet )

No.

I have witnessed an open top car in the Park before, could not believe my eyes, a sanparks vehicle stopped them, gave them a good lecture, they put the roof down and went on their way. From that I would say its illegal and also idiotic.

A nice expensive vehicle like that should come with with a very efficient aircon system so, toe the line with rules, keep the roof up, chill out and enjoy the sightings.

You are not allowed to have someone on the back of an open bakkie either

Pity someone didn't tell that to the parents of the 5 year old we saw in one recently near Letaba camp!!
Oh yes, and by the way there was a breeding herd nearby, and not long afterwards we saw two male lions!!

Oh, come on! It would not be dangerous at all. Safari vehicles in the KNP have a roof only because SANParks says so, just about everywhere else they don't. Perfectly safe, I can confirm from decades of extensive exeperience. Besides, I don't have a roof when walking in the bush either, and I'm still alive.

Johan