Sunset and Night Drives

[Sprocky]

Guides are NOT allowed to ask for or solicit tips in any manner!

[Twigga]

Oi, another oppurtunist

This was the exact words of a guide on our night drive. I must however add, that at some stage he was under the impression that there was only overseas visitors on the drive. When he learned that there are 4 Saffies on the drive, his attitude quickly changed. He was surprised, or rather shocked.

So I can't help but wonder, is this now a new trend amongst some guides. To make a quick buck out of eager visitors desperatly wanting to see the big 5?

[Toko]

From what I have seen, guides on SANParks drives don't get very often a tip, most likely some are trying to change this

[Richprins]

The guides must understand that their privilege of taking people out is a stepping stone to becoming Field Rangers etc, unlike the guides at Private Lodges who get big tips, but may stay at that level.

[Amoli]

We did a night drive while in Satara. I was dissapointed.

We had to find our own animals, while this massively noisy truck was going at 40/50km in the dark.

I was under the impression, especially after filling in the form what we wanted to see, that the guide would at least take us to where certain of these animals frequented/stayed/hunted.

We stopped four times. Once for a AWC, for a genet, for a thick knee in the road, and then to look at the moon - and those were the times the guide spoke to us. No knowledge aquired.

[Flutterby]

That's bad Amoli. Our night drive at Satara was ok, the one at Skuks a bit better.

[Tent dweller]

Every trip of ours has always included a sunset drive or an early morning drive. Thay have all been disappointing and a waste of my hard earned money. Firstly most of the guides have got such bad attitudes towards there jobs and secondly they think they are doing you a favour. I know the guides cannot guarantee sightings but they should have some interesting information to fall back on when the sightings are far and few between. We have been on drives where the guides have "hinted" to the foreign visitors that they deserve a tip. Having just recently returned from a quick 5 night stop over in the Kruger we all (3) decided that we were not going to going on a sunset or early morning drive again. We leave the camp every morning at gate opening time and return just before gate closing time and we have seen the most fantastic sightings and most times it has only been the 3 of us and we have been the only car at the sighting.

[rayb]

We've always been lucky with sunset trips, we saw a Pangolin out of Lower Sabie once. The Ranger was a young girl but very knowledgeable and eyes like a hawk. We stopped on one of the bridges to stretch our legs, whilst she stood guard with a rifle as big as her. I think the "kick" would have knocked her over if she had to use it.

One of the best trips we did was the Astronomy trip out of Oliphants. Apart from us, the rest were all Saffies and great fun. A mile or so out of the camp we spotted a lioness in the ditch and a lot of people hanging out of cars. The Ranger told his assistant to tell them to get back in and one driver made a very nasty racist comment. The Ranger was furious. He radioed back to the camp and then parked the truck across the road, so nobody could get past. We stayed there for 15 minutes or so to make sure they were all well past the gate closing time. The Astronomy bit was excellent is was a clear August night but still warm enough for summer clothing. The Ranger set up a big telescope and used a laser pointer to identify the different planets and constellations.

So, we got a night drive and the star gazing for the price of a night drive. When we got back, we all piled into the restaurant and had a few beers. After Shingwedzi, Oliphants is my favourite camp. It's the first one I ever stayed in. Dinner was stewed game and veg. We ate in a bare room with picnic type tables and a member of staff sat at each table and talked about what we had seen that day. Our three bed bungalow was less than R100 for the night.

[iNdlovu]

That sounds great rayb, wouldn't it be nice if all feedback was as positive, but I guess some guides have a lot to learn still.

[rayb]

That sounds great rayb, wouldn't it be nice if all feedback was as positive, but I guess some guides have a lot to learn still.

Could it be a case that, in the interest of making money, guides don't get the opportunity to study enough and are sent out regardless. The Astronomy guide had been on a course and spent a lot of time studying. He did admit it was a labour of love.