Using sightings groups/apps - good or bad?

[pandl]

I am an avid user of Facebook and when I am in coldest darkest England love seeing all the reports of what visitors are seeing there and then in the Park - when we cant be there.

However last time we went whenever we had a good sighting of something as soon a couple of cars arrived and it was put on the FB page the area was awash with vehicles including many many game trucks and this completely ruined the whole Kruger experience for us.

We never mind stopping vehicles and telling them what we have seen. But hate sightings when there are so many cars it is like being in the centre of London and people become bad tempered and impatient. I never look on the FB page when we are in Kruger as for us spotting things ourselves is what it is all about and so much more satisfying.

So my question for all you lovely people please?........(as we are due to visit THIS SATURDAY for two weeks) is it very selfish of me not to put it on FB when I am there so I can keep sightings to myself

I really don't know? your opinions would be very much appreciated

Yahoo - better start packing

[Nkulu]

My personal opinion, I go to Kruger to "get away from it all". If you are rushing from one sighting to another you are not enjoying the real Kruger and should rather go to Safari Parks
Kruger consists of so much more than big five sightings

Welcome to the forum, wishing you many great and small sightings and don't forget the Yellow Ribbon.
Save your memories and photos to share in a trip report on this forum

[Guinea Pig]

Hi pandl!

I'm an avid Facebooker and totally happy to admit I do NOT share a sighting online until back in camp, if I have connection. Call me selfish, but MINE! We will stop oncoming traffic to share, but having seen how selfish people can be? No.

[Mcook]

I have used these sightings recently in desperation to find a leopard, but it was a major mistake

Last week a leopard with cubs was reported on the S128 a few km from Lower Sabie, so we decided to go and check it out, but half of Lower Sabie camp and day visitors in the area also decided to check it out.

The leopard had left the area a long time ago, but the normally quiet peaceful S128 looked like a JHB traffic jam.

As it’s a narrow road, the road and vegetation next to the road was getting destroyed, people were losing their tempers and it was generally just a nightmare.

This isn’t good for the park.

[BushBaby2014]

Hi pandl.

I agree with the others. I love following the sites on Facebook solely for purposes of wishing I was there at that moment.

I will most certainly not post any sightings on Facebook until later in the day (if any). It's as you say- it's part of the fun to look for the animals yourself. And the sense of satisfaction after a few hours (or days!) of hard work is priceless.

[saraf]

Personally I won't advertise to the entire world that I'm not actually at home at present.

[squirrel_asc]

As it’s a narrow road, the road and vegetation next to the road was getting destroyed, people were losing their tempers and it was generally just a nightmare.

This isn’t good for the park.

Mmmm. Sounds like it might be a good idea to check facebook to see which areas to AVOID!

[NJVermaak]

As a Facebook user myself - I only use Facebook in Kruger to "check in" at gates and camps to make other people a little bit jealous!

For me - the things of everyday life (cellphones, emails, tv, Facebook & Twitter etc) are just something for, well, everyday life! I'd rather take a slow drive and see the small things than nothing at all because of over crowded sightings.

[Albert]

Personally I won't advertise to the entire world that I'm not actually at home at present.

[Bush Baptist]

The good the bad & the ugly.........

The good is that one has an inkling of where something might be seen.

The bad is that everyone on FB in the park will be there.

The ugly (and I really would be tempted to do it) is to post something far from my route of the day.

The serenity of the park continues........

[NetEk]

Luckily Map doesn't have a FB "crowd" so no problem there.......

NetEk thinking to herself : " can't even remember my Facebook password"

[4O4-5O4]

Last week Monday we drove 7 hours and 70kms, on a 4x4 track through the karoo national park, and in all that time saw no other car, no other human being, had no cellphone reception... heard nothing but silence.
The way it should be!!
Keep realtime electronic sighting boards out of our SANParks.

[MikeGoss2011]

To be totally honest, at £6.00 ( R102.) per hour download charges, and nearly R17 per minute phone charges, my phone is very rarely on whilst in the park. One thing I do wonder about is how long is it going to be before the forum is awash with complaints on the scale of the OSV situation, in relation to drivers looking at cellphones for the latest sighting reports. Saw many examples of this happening over the last 2 weeks in Kruger.

In my opinion, if you are wedded to social media, get therapy, get rid of the habit, and get back to nature and find your own sightings. Share with people on the road by all means.

Just my 2c worth and not meant to start a flame war, but being a realist, FLAME ON.

Mike Goss

[Graham_5000]

Personally I won't advertise to the entire world that I'm not actually at home at present.

I also feel the same. I am in south London, and this very week neigbours on both sides have been burgled and the house opposite had their car broken in to.

My personal opinion, I go to Kruger to "get away from it all". If you are rushing from one sighting to another you are not enjoying the real Kruger and should rather go to Safari Parks
Kruger consists of so much more than big five sightings

I like the Facebook sightings information as it allows one to pick up on general trends etc. In Kruger though, internet is strictly off until just before bed, and I tend to drive gravel roads during the day, looking for places to relax and wait for nature!

[pandl]

Thank you for your comments - I will not feel guilty then for not posting on the site. We don't need to worry about security as we live in a crime free area and also have the rest of our family at home.

My so hates me even checking my emails when we are away so perhaps this time I'll leave it switched off.

Yeh only 4 days to go until we are there