Wild Card

[Richprins]

RP is closer to Kruger than I am to the airport

RP pays in sweat for 6 months!

[Mel]

If we Ausländers couldn't afford it, we wouldn't do it

Honestly, I've been jealous for a very long time at the thought of how quickly Saffies can get into a park (not even considering the expenses…).
By now I feel that if you don't live right next to the park, it takes you almost just as much time as it does take us - and all costs are almost the same, taking into the equation that we foreigners have excellent value for money at the moment and have had for quite some time now.

[okie]

Exactly mel . Consider - Cape Town to Punda 2200 km .Two days travelling ( both ways ) and accommodation before reaching the park , plus fuel costs to get there ( around R7000 ) , plus wear and tear on your vehicle ..........Ten days in the park at R1000 per night , plus food and fuel for getting around .

[Dzombo]

Just done a very rough calculation.

My September trip for 2 of us cost in the region of R65,000
That is for flights, car hire, fuel, accomodation , foreign conservation fee, food.
That was for 12 days in SA, 7 nights in Kruger

[Richprins]

About twenty pounds!

[okie]

Hmmmm.... comparing average income per country, takehome pay , after tax --- UK --------------- US$40169.
S. Africa---------US$16225.

[Dzombo]

About twenty pounds!

I wish

Hmmmm.... comparing average income per country, takehome pay , after tax --- UK --------------- US$40169.
S. Africa---------US$16225.

So taking these figures.......
My trip @ R65,000 (£3,600 approx.) is still a significant part of that income of £30,900
And that for 2 people only. If the 4 of us would have done the trip, it would have been double that.

[okie]

Hmmmmm..... and of course the REAL benefit for you would be that at least , for a couple weeks or so , you enjoy real sunshine

[RobertT]

Although you use comparable take home pay after tax, as South Africans we have costs that are normally covered by other governments but have become essential have to haves to survive in this country all eating into our moneys after tax. Namely private school fees as most gov schools are collapsing, private security as police force is useless (even police stations have private security to keep them safe), medical aid to get private health care as state hospitals are collapsing, higher insurances because of the crime. Higher fuel levies to keep the roads drivable which we pay every time we use our vehicles where a tourist only pays when they are here. So I think our disposable income to pay for the holidays would be less.

So after all these costs on top of taxes I can understand why there is substantial different charge.

[okie]

Exactly Robert South Africa for South Africans is not a cheap country .
Just consider , even today , if I buy peaches in the supermarket , then the price is about R40 per kilogram , even though it is now middle of the peach season And grapes , at R45 per kilogram , here in grape country

Then , if you wish to travel overseas , it easily costs R15000 to R20000 per return ticket to Europe . For what ?
A couple of weeks in London , and then to go and sit at a waterhole ( stand outside Buckingham palace ) , in the hope that one of the big 5 ( Royal family ) , comes down to drink ( inspect the guard ) , or even make a kill ( shake hands with the public )

Hmmmm..... gee whizz It could even turn out to be quite exciting