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I say leave the bush as is and don`t do any clearing and leave it to take care of its self naturally. If visitors find the bush to thick they can book their next visit in the drier months when the bush and grass has died back. This is actually the best time to visit these spots because water is limited and large amounts of different species gather to drink and interact offering better viewing and photographic opportunely.

I think designated areas which have been utilised as viewpoints for some time should be maintained. I do think it is important to afford a good view for visitors at these places. Maybe it could even go a little way to deter the temptation of some in pulling off onto the road verge in other areas to get a better look. The thing with maintenance, is that it should be done little and often. Left for any time the job soon becomes a big one requiring more manpower and time and equipment. I think the Sanparks managers whom this sort of job falls to in each area should try to draw up a maintenance schedule for this work once a year

Why is it that so many agree in the same way?

Quite a bit of Kruger needs serious gardining......

But one thing.

Why put a hide where the 'view' gets easily overgrown, like the one at Tamboti. Can't some reeds be cleared/cut?

This is quite an important topic and I think that Lesego's referal to KNP management is the correct step. We all should remember that the planning and construction of these viewpionts were done a long time ago and decissions then made should therefore be revisited. It is the same with waterholes that are closing down for conservation purposes. I also personally encountered view points that is actually not suppose to be open anymore. The environment changed to such an extent that these view points can be closed instead of opened up again. Some examples can be found on the S100 for instance. I also agree that some view points can be modified without tampering to much with nature.

This is really ridiculous to expect, from a simple logistics position, clearing that amount of bush, let alone asking management to have it done in the first place or blaming them for not maintaining the place?
2 Rifles required to guard the people working. Say a team of 10 people can clear 1km/day (highly unlikely), 5 days a week, 2000km of road. 400 days and they now in Pafuri and have to go back to Croc bridge and start again cause summer has destroyed their work since the were last there,lol.

Its an ecosystem not a theme park, it is rightly so, kept, as is. The camps and designated tourist sites are kept clear for obvious safety reasons, not so that it can be more easily accessible for photo taking or viewing, that is a perk, not necessity.

An EIS is required when wanting to clear a measly 20m of bush........what would be required to clear nearly 800000m2 of verges and lookout points?

Roads maintained and facilities kept clean and tidy, that is what I expect and demand, the rest is just a bonus.

It may be clear that I don't agree with you. Why are viewpoints or hides made for.... why do I get the advice: 'drive to a waterhole, wait relax and enjoy the wildlife and maybe take some good photo's' , while it is impossible to have a good view on the waterhole. In Etosha they know how to do it. almost every waterhole has a good view!!
I don't think it takes 12 man to clear the view at some waterholes. People visiting Kruger for the wildlife IMHO, so what is problem to make some better views. Only 4% of the park is 'open' for visitors so 96% can stay really 'wild' . I don't see the problem.
Roads Maintained....?? thats not the reason for most people to visit Kruger, they do come for something else, like birds,ellies,buffs,lions,leopards and so on.......

Ruud

I believe that a viewpoint was made to be a viewpoint. Keep the area maintained and then the people who are so determined to do viewing at the viewpoint don't do stupid things like getting out their cars or leaning out of car windows into tall grass. If maintenance can't be done or won't be done those viewpoints should be closed before an incident occurs then everybody will be looking for somebody to blame.

As expected there are views that are poles apart. I am pleased that the upkeep of this magnificent park and the work done by the hard working staff has been so fervently debated.

The animals are the priority. They must be protected but this will reuire the continuing interest of people all over the world, and as a consequence their financial input. On the one hand the less visible the animals become, the more peaceful their life will be and the less attractive the KNP will become for some visitors. On the other hand a godsend with less traffic jams but this is a non viable dream.

I stated in the very beginning that this criticism is meant to be constructive and the question remains what is the best balance for the animals of the KNP, or any other of the great parks of SA, and Africa. Others will decide this.

If you believe in less interference and want less upkeep, I can accept that. But then close those selected viewpoints down and not let unsuspecting visitors wander into blind green alleys spewing out more polltion as the turn around or try to reverse out. ( bit dramatic this last bit I know, but trying to make my point!!).
Further publish this new policy so that visitors know what the management has decided for the future.
On the other hand the park is to attract viewers to make them aware of our glorious, but threatened heritage. Then this will requires improvement with places for people to relax and stare, dream and be aware of what a wonderful world we live in. A place next to a river, under the shade of a giant tree, and animals in the distance, and running engines and moving wheels even further away. Who then needs to try to get into heaven anywhere else!

Two last practical points.
There are complaints about the traffic jams in the park. We no longer stay in the magnificent Skukuza area, but after visiting to Lake Panic head north east or west as soon as very slowly is possible. (I hate tar!!). An analysis of the effect of opening up all the non used but already present and now overgrown viewpoints may show that less congestion of the roads and less release of contaminating exhaust fumes may result.

Photography is not not the just taking pictures. Staring for hours, up to 10 hours a day from first light to dusk, waiting for decisive moments, month after month brings so many opportunities to view and learn about the little big things in nature. Photography is a tool that we must use to protect our wildlife. Let the people see the magnicient animals through viewfinders and not rifle sites.

Exbrakpanite.

I am afraid just cause you do not agree with my statements, does not meant that they are wrong.
It took 10 of us half a day to clear a perimeter fence in a camp in a work party during January. That fence was only probably a couple of hundred meters all the way round and we had cleared it the year before so it was easier than the previous year which took 1 ½ days initially. The bush grows and it would be an impossible fight to win, but I digress.

Etosha? Really?
Etosha is classified as an Arid region, what exactly are they having to clear and if so, nowhere in the amount of Kruger? Not really a fair comparison. I have been there and it was less maintained than Kruger is on less of a budget, so not sure when you went or where, but when I was there, can't say it was all roses.

We tamper with the bush, we get the people wanting to chain themselves to trees and protest till it stops........we leave the bush alone and people want an airstrip size viewing area just to not impeded themselves while looking for animals or views. The policy to not interfere seems to be the way SANParks are going, I suppose evident by the closing on most non natural waterholes, boreholes etc.
Like I said, as long as the facilities are kept clean and usable, i.e. Roads and camps, I like THAT Kruger.

3chordmonty.

Well said
Both schools of thought have their critics. Sanparks have chosen their path

@ cheetah.

The waterholes marked on the map, often 2/3 km of dirt road ie, Renoster Pan, are a disgrace.

There is nothing wrong wirh the pan itself, great water,great terrain, but no view unless you park in a corner thats specifficlly been created by 4x4 enthsiast that broke the rules and created a self made track. the grass is long the view non existant. you feel robbed when you arrive!!

Create more viewing points that are relaxing, photogenic and entice visitors to switch off and stay awhile and that reduces traffic and congestion at sightings on the main roads. The clearing of the natural bush has minimal impact on the natural vegatation of an eco sytem so large as Kruger plus is often sellable as firewood.

The clearing of 5 metre of bush next to roads is not discimilar as it allows drivers more reaction to aviod animals and the sale of wood/thatch can be plowed back into conservation.

I stongly believe that Sanparks can do far more to improve the visitors expierience by applying common sence to area that are designated as view points , clear it, and sell it.

EVERYONE has an expectation of a view at the end of that waterhole symbal on the map, sadly often were faced with bush encrouchment.