SANParks.org Forums

Agreed.

I agree for 200%.

Ruud

What will be will be.

Understand that the waterholes are created for the animals
Understand that bush and trees provide cover for those coming to drink or wanting to hunt.
But werent some waterholes created next to roads for tourist as well?

But cutting away high grass at some waterholes next to the road next to the parking does makes sense to me

Dear Lesego, it is almost a month since you wrote: Thank you for this and I will forward it to our KNP management and hear what they say

Have you heard anything yet? Or will the lively discussion and pertinent questions emphasizing the different approaches to a park just disappear without any answer being given by a very busy management.

Would be important for all visitors to have an update on the current management policies the Park's Board is following and then we can respect their decisions. At the moment it is very unclear i.e. see discussions above.

I am in Kruger at present , and must say , it is quite disgusting to see the rubbish lying around in viewpoints .

IMHO , viewpoints are not necessarily used for " viewing " , but rather to dispose of unwanted trash , p..stops , cigarette butts , and such littering .
Maybe we already have too many "viewpoints "

If I travel in Europe , or America , or elsewhere in the world , I do not see any special " viewpoints " next to the road , but go anywhere in South Africa on a main-road , and you will find picnic areas at regular intervals - all of which has to be cleaned up regularly , paid for with our hard-earned tax money

Hi,

I think littering at viewpoints ( or not at viewpoints... ) is another discussion. But I am living in Holland and I am sure I can show you viewpoints along the mainroads in Europe but that's something else than a viewpoint in a wildlifepark like Kruger. And also something different than viewpoint near waterholes. Driving trought the Alps in Switzerland Germany, France and so on, of yes many viewpoints
I am looking forward to the answer of Sanparks.....

Ruud

Okie
Been a while since you have been in Europe
Many viewpoints and lots of picnic areas on all main roads

Bert How clean are they , and who does the cleaning .

Of course , on the other side , when we talk of "clearing to improve the view " , it becomes a different matter .
But here we are considering the nature of things . Grass and bushes do encroach , and one may want to have it cleared away so as to improve the view . Now this of course is done to some extent , but you do find that some places become very overgrown . Especially so after heavy rains . And at this time , the bush is certainly very very dense all over .
I am of course maybe more fortunate in that in the Landy , one sits quite high up ( almost 1 meter higher than a normal sedan car ) , and as such grass and bushes are less of a problem for me than many tourists who rent small , economy size vehicles .

Agreed okie
and not all spots on european roads are always clean

but i still do not understand if you create a parking next to a waterhole why not at least cut the grass.
Not with a lawnmower but with scythe
And while at it collect some rubbish as well
Can be done in a few hours

Ruud , perhaps we should also get this in perspective . Kruger is not a wildlife park . It is a nature reserve - and the main purpose thereof is to conserve nature - . The main purpose therefore is not tourism .

Here is an extract from the National Parks Act - act 57 of 1976 :

4. Object of a park
The object of the constitution of a park is the establishment, preservation and
study therein of wild animal, marine and plant life and objects of geological,
archaeological, historical, ethnological, oceanographic, educational and other
scientific interest and objects relating to the said life of the first-mentioned objects
or to events in or the history of the park, in such a manner that the area which
constitutes the park shall, as far as may be and for the benefit and enjoyment of
visitors, be retained in its natural state.

Okie a couple of points:-

You say the Kruger is not a wildlife park and then supply a text with title "Object of a park"

Trying to understand that text makes it easier to understand why not many people understand what the objects of a park are!!! What a lot of jargon was used in the old days.

But what I can understand that it is for scientific and educational purposes and also benefit and enjoyment of visitors. Now we all know the animals come first but science, education, and enjoyment all require that we see, hear, smell, and think about the animals.

Visitors must be able to calmly sit at beautiful natural spots away from the tarred roads and petrol fumes and watch this magnificent park show of its great wonders. I just cant undersdtand what the attraction is for queing up on "natural" tarred roads with 10 or more other cars often with all having their engines and airco's running.

We all love the park and clearly enjoy this paradise in many different and individual ways.

It is time for the management to tell us clearly what the future holds for those blocked views. We can then quickly move on instead of running around with silly arguments

Discussions about viewpoints being just litter bins is a wide step off the mark

Woweeeee.....
It seems everyone has a common goal, just other ways of reaching it.

For me, the quieter and most undisturbed part of nature i can find, the better. A viewing point with overgrown trees etc, may not be safe, but then realise you are in the deepest darkest Africa, and a overgrown tree is most certainly not going to stop a hungry Leopard , so overgrown or not, you are gonna be in trouble....

I say leave nature to be nature, and experience the true joy of being lucky enough to experience nature at its finest. Forget what makes you comfortable and respect what makes nature comfortable.

Photography in my eyes is this, right time, right place, that could be on a tar road, or it could be in the thickest vegetation ever, it is about a certain amount of skill, and a huge amount of luck.

An alternative for better viewing, a guided walk?

Exbrakpanite - google the Act and see for yourself .

I do not know about you , but it does involve the preservation of my childrens heritage , and their childrens heritage .

No problem