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All you Kruger Park fans – a new article has been published that criticises our magnificent Kruger National Park and we have answered the author’s negatives as best we can.

http://www.kruger-2-kalahari.com/kruger ... -park.html

We would appreciate your thoughts on their critical assessment of the Kruger as well as our responses to their points raised.

If you are on Facebook then there is a comments section at the bottom of the page.

Totally disagree with that article!

Posted a comment!

Just found the link where we can leave comments.. I totally disagree with the bits you quoted! I have only stayed in the park for 4 nights and saw 3 separate lion sightings including a hunt, cheetah, hyena suckling, rhino, elephants galore, buffalo etc etc

sounds like a disapointed photographer. And yes, taking photographs from the truck is difficult.
A pity she didnt say that its the best place in the world to take photographs from your own vehicle

Thanks for defending one of the natural wonders of the world on our behalf fazekma!!!

"We have been to Kruger twice - during our most recent visit we covered a total of 4000 kms in 11 days without ever seeing a lion, cheetah, hunting dog, hyena or black rhino. A disaster for us as we were putting together our article for ANIMA MUNDI. "

That surely must be a KNP record!

I can probably count the days spent in Kruger without seeing lion on the fingers of one hand. On the other hand, I've long since lost count of the number of days I've spent in the KNP. Eight lion sightings in one day is my personal record, I'm sure others have done even better.

An average of 363 km per day must also be a world record. Assuming they were in the park for 10 hours every single day, and assuming they did not stop once, not even for a second, their average speed would have been 36 kph. I reality they are likely to have gone to the toilet, had a bite to eat, etc, so their average speed would realistically have been closer to 50 kph than 40. How many lions, cheetahs, hunting dogs and black rhinos do you spot racing around at such a speed?

Johan

The article seems to have been written and based on a very narrow perspective i.e. to be able to take the best close-up photographs which would then be used for a commercial perspective. I've stayed at Mala Mala, Londolozi and Motswari, and these is no way compare to Kruger. But then they're not intended to do that - they are very expensive, short visit luxury trips for people who are not looking for that true African experience but rather for a close up and rather canned view of African wildlife. A great experience for sure that probably provides better opportunities for close-ups, but that's not why we go to Kruger. Good, exciting pics are a bonus for us, and that's why we enjoy sharing these with each other and take such delight in our fellow forumites good fortune in getting that elusive snap.
There is no other place on our strained planet that offers such an amazing experience, that is available to the many millions of people who live in relatively close proximity, at a reasonably affordable cost. Kruger is a truly unique reserve, dedicated to conservation, and managed by a highly committed and skilled group of South Africans, in order to preserve this magnificent array of fauna and flora for future generations. It is not intended to be a photo-op for a petulant photo-journalist.

Googled Anima Mundi Magazine and then clicked on issue 10. It is absolute rubbish written by buffoons who have no idea what the magic of Kruger is all about.

I love being in my own vehicle and sitting at the gate waiting for it to open. The anticipation of "what will we see" and the freedom to choose the road is part of the experience that makes Kruger so special. Some of my favourite moments are finding the flick of a tail or twitch of an ear, getting out the binoculars and putting together the puzzle of what might be a lion, leopard or cheetah. Sometimes there is no photo opportunity only an indelible moment imprinted in your memory for eternity.

For me the Kruger is about searching for those "once in a lifetime" sightings. Whilst every trip to the Kruger may not have been hot and cold running cats... there has always been some absolutely magical experience... without fail!!! From watching a herd of elephants cross the road in front of your car, a magnificent jackalberry tree near the river, a Kruger sunrise/sunset to seeing a pile of dung covered in little yellow butterflies. You learn to appreciate everything Kruger has to offer.

If one goes to Kruger wanting a guarantee of seeing everything then you clearly have no idea about the magic, mystery, unpredictability and variability of the bush!!!

Well said Pawps!

Thanks Hilda. I think Sean has hit the essence of Kruger right on the button. It is truly a gem among gems, especially for those who know how to appreciate and enjoy its many wonders.

What a silly article! We are going for the first time in two weeks. We are so excited and can't wait....

Just goes to prove that you can't please everyone all of the time .......... extremely short sighted and very biased article. Certainly makes one wonder as to the value of other articles published by Anima Mundi not to mention the possibly twisted perspective. Does not inspire us to read this publication.

We live in Jhb and my wife and I are serious photographers, this year we will spend about 8 weeks in Kruger spread over three visits to catch the various seasons. We go for the photographs but also for the experience of Kruger. However we will be the first to admit that if we were overseas photographers Kruger would not be our choice of places to take pictures. The first two hours of daylight and the last two hours before sunset is the perfect light, and in Kruger you cannot guarantee to see cats at these times. Often the cats are far away and lost in the grass, or there is a 50 car traffic jam.

If you want images of the Big 5 then the private reserves around Kruger would be the place to go, there close up images of the Big 5 are almost guaranteed, but at price far higher than Kruger. There are several specialised wildlife photographic trips available, some even provide high end cameras and lenses, but it's going to cost at least R3000 per person per day, but you will get the pictures.

IMO the people who wrote the article just did not do their homework and went to the wrong place.

I believe SanParks are ignoring a growing and very lucrative market when it comes to serious wildlife photography, but that's another discussion.

Jim

I can see where the author is coming from and I have to say I agree with them. “But” (The but they liked so much) the authors seem to be representing only the serious photographer who wants and has the knowledge to drive anywhere in the wild, get out of the vehicles to take better shot.

For 99% of the population, Kruger is a great get away. We are in that 99% who feel that Kruger and the Kruger experience represents everything that we need. What the authors should have made clear is that they only speak for that not even 1% of very serious photographers who actually understand the wild and how, when to drive through the bush and get out of their vehicle.

Kruger, we will see you in September and as always counting the days.

I think the article (or the extracts I saw that were answered) is right on the money, and I am glad it is there. Well done!

Hopefully the right sort of people will read it. Those arrogant rich with drainpipe camera lenses who think they can destroy the habitat of smaller creatures just to get right up to and disturb wildlife just to get a 'good' photograph, and then prostitute themselves in magazines.

Hopefully it will keep the rich rubbish out of Kruger and leave it for those of us who try to leave as small a footprint as possible, and love the thrill of non guaranteed sightings.

Let the other lot go to the freakin zoo!

The article has done Kruger a great service for the type of visitors it needs.