BEYOND THE BIG FIVE

So glad to see some publicity for the camps run by South African National Parks (“With no guide, we’re on full alert,” Jan 11). We’ve used them for more than 20 years and find them very practical. All the main camps have laundries with washing machines and tumble driers, costing 10 rand [50p]. The kitchen equipment varies, so you have to be inventive – but that all adds to the fun!

Beyond the camps, dirt roads can be corrugated, so hire a vehicle with big wheels for a better ride.

The northern camps are much quieter and away from the safari vehicles of the south. Last October, the game viewing on the Tropic of Capricorn Loop from Mopani Camp was superb. KAY HODGE WINS A £250 RAILBOOKERS VOUCHER

BE ALERT AT AIRPORTS

Judith Woods’s story (“It was a case of gorillas in the red mist…”, Jan 4) in which she lost her phone reminded me of travelling with a friend who had his phone stolen at Bogota airport while going through security. He’d left it in his rucksack and it was taken out by officials and put in a tray. It was then stolen by an opportunist thief. I saw a man take it and walk off but didn’t realise it wasn’t his. You have been warned! HILARY SHARMAN

ABRIVADO TIME

Your cover story about festivals (Jan 4) reminded me of visiting AiguesMortes, in the Camargue, when the town was en fête. Shortly after dawn, excitement already filled the quiet streets – for the bulls were coming.

First came breakfast in the fields. Smoke from barbecues filled the air, laden with the smell of sausages. What better start to the day than a crusty baguette and a rough Provençal red?

Pursued by horses, the three best bulls ran through the marshland towards the corral. There was a cry as their drumming hooves sent a spray of muddy water into the crowd. The horsemen formed a chevron, marshalling the animals towards the gate. Leaving the field, they began to pick up pace, working together in a natural choreography. The abrivado had begun. GILLIAN WILLIAMSON

HIDDEN CRUELTY

Reader Jackie Ellis (People like you, Jan 11) is charmed by horses bouncing on their hind legs at a festival in Menorca. I may be wrong, but it brings to mind sights we used to see in circuses such as elephants standing on one leg or clothed chimpanzees riding bicycles.

In the UK at least, we now recognise that unnatural tricks performed by animals are often achieved by unseen cruelty and serve no purpose apart from our entertainment – and many are now banned.

Horses can be made to jump, race and lie down, but I fear that bouncing on their hind legs is a step too far. It is probably achieved by methods the audience would not like to know about. DOUGLAS FORSYTH