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Sorry guys, didn't check to see if it was all right. Let's try again:



This seems ok. I'll delete the other one.

I would realy like to know who the trails ranger was and when this incident happened. In a case like this, the ranger will explain to you that a white rhino is easier to make change direction than a black rhino. White rhino will charge especially if a small calf is present. The ranger and his guide will then shoot a couple of warning shots in front of the beast to turn the animal. If this doesn't happen a shot on the horn normally does the trick. Else the only way to keep the record intact is to brain it as it drops its head 2-3m away for the horn-upper.

Why the people was told to run to a nearby bush, sounds realy suspect.

WR are stupid. They will sometimes run off and then all of a sudden change their course as they think that they are safe. Which might bring them back into the trailist's direction.

Afterall you are in big 5 country and incidents like this are likely to happen. Rather thank your stars that the ranger got the rhino before it got you. I have been on many walks and only had 1 real close call. there were many other adrenalin pumpers though whilst we were on foot in the bush.

As for seeing more animals whilst driving: It is true, animals are used to vehicles and don't see it as a threat. Whilst walking you are strange to them and their first instinct will be to flee. However if in the dangerzone. They will attack . Rhino can barely see past 15m away. Their hearing and smell is very good though.

What happened to the calf I wonder?

100% agree with you on your whole post WTM!

Also very strange to me that the ranger would tell them to run.
I walked Wolhuter as well as Napi and the golden rule is to NEVER run!
On Napi we also encountered WR's with calves... the ranger and guide, both in front, told the 8 of us to quitely move into a straightline behind them and keep dead still... they made a few hand gesture etc in the direction of the snorting rhinos but eventually (feeling like hours ) they moved off and we could have our snacks on their spot.

ok, firstly what I am about to say IS NOT MY OPINION, but there is a very persistent rumour doing the rounds, from several sources, that certain trails rangers do not have the necesary "bush" experience for these walks?

The trails at Mapungubwe are on hold because of a lack of trained guides. I suspect SANPs is feeling the pressure of too many clients and insufficient trained staff. Also, my tuppence worth, a lot of people are being attracted into eco-tourism from non-rural areas who may not have sufficient bush skills (in terms of time = absorbed, intuiative knowledge). With all due respect, three years at a technikon/university does not a bush man make. Putting guys like this into situations that they may not have the experience for is as unfair on them as it is on the clients.

And most unfair of all: on the animals unlucky enough to find them on their paths!

The poor animal getting shot bugs me too....

Which rangers?

Trails are contracted out to a company called "KNP Wilderness Trails". They have the concession for 5 years. I know three of the rangers, Nic Squires, Jaco Badenhorst and Leon Serfontein. Most or probably all of them being SANP employees before.

These guys have more skills and experience that what I can ever come to dream of. They are the most professional people you can happen to come across. They are the best trails rangers IMHO that you will ever come accross anywhere.

Together with them there are assistants, employed by SANP. People like Ozias. A legend in Kruger. They themselves have exceptional knowledge. And are in the process of becoming trails rangers themselves.

As you can see there are a lack of personnel at this stage. Three trails rangers, I know of, with 7 trails.

Unfortunately that is the case and these poor guys realy work their butts of to do the trails. I do not know at this stage how much SANP are assisting them, but I do hope that they do assist them. I know some ex-trailists (Jazz, Manzi, Hein, Johann Oelofse), employed by SANP that does not do trails anymore, but some do still do daywalks like Manzi. These guys put some procedures in place that makes trails so safe and absolutely pleasurable as it is today. Hey, Hein was the founder of the mountain bike trails! Go Hein you good thing!!

You are walking in a big 5 environment. Close happenings with wild animals will happen from time to time. No visitor on a trail has ever been killed in an incident in Kruger. And yes, there has been many close incidents and some injuries that arised from it. To stop trails and mountain biking because of this incident is absolutely ridiculous!! Sorry, but it is!!

You are in a big 5 country and should know of the dangers. So sorry Ingrid Bohme, but your letter will never deter me from doing walks in Kruger! As a matter of fact, it encourages me more, so that I can share more of the amazing experiences of walking in Kruger to people on this forum!!

Typical... What would she suggest??? Negotiation?? Uhhhhh, sorry.... Mr. Rhino, pfffft

WTM I agree the whole story sounds fishy to me. I don't believe any trail ranger would advise you to run from anything. Besides, White Rhino tend to run away and Black Rhino is curious, and therefore runs towards the threat. Having said this, there are no hard and fast rules

@ Wildtuinman: maybe what you wrote needs to be put "out there", as I said, it's just rumours, but rumours do damage. So, how about you write a letter to GETAWAY telling them what you said above, I think it needs to be said! And just in case you wondering, I feel the same way, you walk in the wild, you will at some stage encounter danger, it's inevitable, is that not at least a small part of the attraction?

I am glad that you think the same as us Jay.

I really contemplate whether I should write to getaway... Oh what the heck, where do I send my letter to?

Ici?

getaway@rsp.co.za

Hope you win that set of binocs, although judging by last month's winning letter, anything approaching intelligence is unlikely to even get published. That last paragraph beggars belief, but is consistent with the general deterioration of journalism in the magazine, so typified by the editor's response "When tourism and wildlife collide, there are always going to be clashes."

Anybody know where I can get a Weg this month ... I've tried CNA, Spar, Woolworths, Pick&Pay, Local Cafe even the Garages but nowhere to be found ... lots of Getaways thou