Africa Wild

Richprins wrote:okie, trust me, I have years of experience of "going through the proper" channels with SP, and at the very best it is hit and miss affair. Look around at SP scandals and contentious issues over the last few years, responses at official level are to media reports, and social networking...that is the way to go, unfortunately, like the rest of Government!

Agreed

I’m not sure who Eco Africa is, but Echo Africa Safaris and Transfers are the worst I have ever had dealings with on the road, especially between Croc Bridge and Skukuza on the H4-2 and H4-1.

I have seen those “guides” push people out of the way, force their way into sightings, block all from the sighting, etc. I have witnessed this and reported it a number of times over the years. I have also seen the some crowd reported on the SANParks forum.

I still see them and the same rude inconsiderate “guides” every trip.

It was clarified on the FB page that this was Echo Africa and not Eco Africa, and after the first post there were numerous stories of other similar situations with the same company!

okie, this was posted on the SANParks FB page, so hopefully the right people will see it, but a number of people also posted on Echo Africa's FB page and sent emails.

this from "my lowveld"

A social media storm has once again been stoked up after a guide for the largest safari operator to specialise in day tours into the Kruger National Park (KNP) was caught on camera exhibiting road rage at a lion kill in the Park.

The guide, employed by Echo Africa Safaris and Transfers, is shown stepping out of his game drive vehicle and screaming at a couple parked on the side of the road viewing lions feeding on a buffalo.

“An annual permit is granted to safari operators who operate inside the Kruger for day tours. If they are found to be transgressing the rules, the permit will be reviewed and the company could be banished from the Park,” Kruger spokesperson Ike Phaahla said.

Michelle Marais, the eyewitness who posted photos of the confrontation on the South African National Parks’ (SANParks) KNP Facebook page, reported that the guide had shouted at the tourists to get out of the way, before getting back in his vehicle and ramming the couple off the road.

“He started screaming at the elderly guy to move his car as he had been 'sitting there for long enough'. The guy in the white car was next to the road and not at fault. This guide shows all his overseas guests that it is okay to get out of the car,” Marais posted.

She added that she had also taken a video clip of the incident.

“I have more photos and a video of the guy’s abusive behaviour. This is absolutely disgusting behaviour and we are seeing more of this from guides on every trip,” Marais said.

Echo Safaris and Transfers general manager Johan Rothman said that the company was investigating the claim.

“We have received reports from all angles. We have to take in all the information and make our decisions,” said Rothman.

Echo Africa Safari and Transfer guides are reportedly fully qualified by the Field Guides Association of South Africa (FGASA).

The company claims to be the only safari operator which can cater for groups of up to 300 people.

A video on the company’s website shows a close shave with a charging elephant bull. Members of the public have again voiced outrage at the road rage incident in Kruger.

“Maybe they should ban the whole company. This is the type of guy that gives the whole industry a bad name,” one person commented.

Video clips and photographs taken in the KNP have caused a stir on social media sites in recent months.

The most publicised incident, where an elephant bull rolled a couple’s car in December last year, was caught on video and attracted worldwide attention.

Phaahla said that the Park’s reputation had not been damaged by the media storm.

“The Park’s reputation is intact and there really is not much we can do when it comes to people choosing to behave like idiots,” Phaahla said.

“We do our part by giving out guidelines, rules and regulations, obviously we can’t be everywhere,” he added.

What a moron!

Now lets hope that Sanparks take action against Echo . Banning them from the park even for a short time short hurt their pocket and maybe make them behave in future .

Do any of you remember this happening a good few years ago and the company at fault simply painted out the names on the side of the vehicles and replaced them on top with new signage but it was still possible to read the old signs underneath. I remember it was an absolute fiasco that was very neatly side stepped.

Comijg from a great breakfast at Afsaal last Thursday and driving towards Skukuza we were stopped by a breeding herd of elephants crossing the road.
We and a few other cars stopped at a respectable distance as there were a few very you babies in the herd and we did not want to agitate the mothers.
From the Skuks side a game vehicle came and nearle drove right inbetween the herd and the elephants were up in arms about it.
They settled down again and moved onluckily without doing harm to the innocent tourists in the vehicle.

This too was a vehicle from the Eco company.

I wonder if the guides are told to do thse stupid things.

Did you take pix of that incidence, Penga? If so, maybe you want to send them as supporting evidence to Sanparks.

There is a discussion here too, leachy, with pic: viewtopic.php?f=278&t=3920&start=60

Maybe that should be moved here?

Mel wrote:Did you take pix of that incidence, Penga? If so, maybe you want to send them as supporting evidence to Sanparks.

Nope.
I do not bother about that kind of thing anymore.
I was there to enjoy the very little ones and not get upset about some crazy fool who would have made me a lot of money if things went wrong.

Some poepols just do not listen and they will pay the price.

Just make sure you are not at Skuks during lunch because Echo has taken over the area there with 15+ vehicles coming there every day to have lunch.