Two-way radios must fall!

During the winter school holidays, we visited the Kruger Park for the fourth consecutive year. As always, our accommodation was top notch and the staff members we interacted with were friendly and helpful. The only niggle was the way third-party safari vehicles behaved on the road. We were watching a pride of lions on the hunt for buffalo. There were five vehicles, including one such safari vehicle (not from SANParks). The guide was on his two-way radio the whole time. Within minutes, eight more vehicles arrived driving at speed, leaving enormous dust clouds in their wake. One of these vehicles drove straight through a herd of sable antelope at 80 km/h on a dirt road. Needless to say the lions left the scene, as did we. I understand the service these vehicles offer to tourists, especially foreigners, and I support it because it’s good for the economy of the park and surrounds. But couldn’t the park at least ban two-way radios? This would ensure that people search for their own sightings and the traffic in the park would be more evenly distributed. It would also prevent vehicles from speeding to sightings, endangering man and animal and leaving a negative impression. As far as I’m concerned, they can also shut down cellphone reception outside the camps. PIETER VAN DER MERWE, Paarl

LAURA MUKWEVHO, Kruger Park media officer, says: Park management strongly condemns the use of two-way radios by guides in open safari vehicles. It leads to inappropriate behaviour like speeding, road rage and congestion at sightings. However, banning these radios is not a viable option. Radio contact is critical to ensure the safety of our visitors. Guides take full legal responsibility for their guests while on tour and must be able to communicate with our offices when there is an emergency.

Turn to page 28 to find out how to report the misuse of two-way radios.