Africa Wild

Just completed a survey from Sanparks website which aims to determine the needs etc of visitors in regards to adventure activities in the parks (both those that currently exist and potential future activities to be implemented). Was SHOCKED and APPALLED to see that hunting and animal feeding/petting were in the list of activities to be rated. WHY WOULD SUCH THINGS BE INCLUDED IN A SURVEY ABOUT NATIONAL PARKS?

http://www.sanparks.org/about/news/default.php?id=56033

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

I agree mith

I think it's crazy and I'm appalled at the list of activities

It’s fairly obvious that current management are only interested in exploiting for financial benefit

Am also concerned, some of the activities could be ok in some of the parks, however the survey does not distinguish which activities for which parks and at the end of the day the results can be used as an argument for something totally not suited for a particular park.

That's what might be on offer


7.1 According to your needs, assess the importance of the following adventure activities for National Parks.
SOFT ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES

Cycling routes
Backpacking
Guided walks
Horseback safaris
Fishing (catch and release)
Campsite camping
Snorkeling
Canoeing
Sailing
Surfboard surfing
Hot air ballooning
Quad biking
Scuba diving
Bird-watching
Cultural dances
4 x 4 trails (self drive)
4 x 4 trails (guided)
Hiking
Safari / Game viewing
Ziplining
Hunting
Geographical tours
Archery
Orienteering
Team building
Obstacle course
Night drives
Archaeological tours
Historical tours (museums and historical buildings)
Low rope activities
Motorboat rides
Paddle boats
Sandboarding
Jet skiing
Animal interaction activities (limited - patting and feeding)
Elephant rides
Stargazing
Botanical tours (Tsitsikamma forests)



HARD ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES

Paragliding / Parasailing
Caving
Kayaking
White water rafting
Mountain biking
Rock climbing
Survival and wilderness training
Skydiving
Abseiling
Hang gliding
Mountain climbing
Bungee jumping
Kite surfing
Off-road and dirt biking
Cliff jumping
High rope activities
Trail running
Field guide training
Wilderness camping
Shark diving
Survival games


8. If children are included in your travel party, which type of adventure activities would they prefer?

Children game drives
Paint ball
Youth camps
Children trails
Animal interaction activities (limited - patting and feeding).
Obstacle courses
Outdoor learning programmes
Cycling
Horse / Pony riding
Ziplining
Fishing (catch and release)
Team building programmes (raft building)
Canoeing (guided)
Indoor adventure center
Adventure programmes (rope courses and orienteering)
Snorkeling
Paddling
Boogie boarding
Surfing
Lantern stalking
Wall climbing

WHY PUT HUNTING; ELEPHANT RIDES; PETTING/FEEDING ANIMALS on a list to determine how people feel about such activities....in a survey for SANPARKS?



and just in case anyone was in doubt about what I think of such inclusions......

Oh and WTF is lantern stalking?

I am not at all surprised. After all this is where they always wanted to go. The last survey was not very different

And even if you tell them you'd like a harmless activity such as stargazing, they will conclude, that they have to buld an observatory to fit tourists needs for entertainment

Lantern stalking is a game kids often play at night when they go on camp. A lantern is put somewhere with guards and the rest of the kids all have to try to get to the lantern without being spotted...something like that.

Flutterby wrote:Lantern stalking is a game kids often play at night when they go on camp. A lantern is put somewhere with guards and the rest of the kids all have to try to get to the lantern without being spotted...something like that.

Wow, what a great idea for all those awful children who ride plastic wheeled trikes around on dry stony camp sites making a hideous racket. Come on kiddies....out here in the thick bush....let's go lantern stalking.....

Sorry, my blood's up tonight...