I think it may be a good idea to hear this story from the horses mouth.
Three nice young guys arrived at my lodge in Kosi for 3 days of camping,
one of them was wearing a WWJD bracelet(What Would Jesus Do) and I thought
we would all have a good time.
The first evening I was too busy, so didn't see much of them. The second evening
I made a fire and the guys were standing around having a braai (barbecue).
DC decided to remove the grill with his hands and I tried to encourage him
to use something else, as I am responsible for his safety while he is on my property,
but he ignored me and continued what he was doing.
A little while later he returned with a can of something and a can opener that wasn't
working, so I tried to help him and was unable to open the can, to which he made a snide
remark and started giving me evil stares. I encouraged him to give this up in a firm
but not disrespectful way, but he continued trying to stare me down the whole evening,
creating an unpleasant atmosphere. I eventually excused myself and joined some other guests.
The same evening a group of guests approached me and told me that he had encouraged
them not to use my excursion to Kosi mouth and the fish traps, but instead to do it on their
own. This is part of my business and why I can afford to have campers staying at my place
for R75 per night and cheap accommodation starting from R95 for backpackers.
The excursions give mostly foreign guests an insight into the Kosi area as well as a guided
drive into the park taking in various view sights and the fish traps before they are taken
sandboarding and then snorkelling, they are left there for about 6 hours and then collected and taken
back to the lodge, and all of this for the grand sum of R150 per person.
To date I have not had anyone complain about this because they realise that they are getting value for money
and they can have things like permits and equipment all included in a no fuss service.
I am sorry that DC has misunderstood me and I must reiterate that his comment about South Africans
is unfounded, I did indeed say that I have never had this kind of issue with foreign guests, but occassionally
if there has been trouble in the camp it has been locals who have contributed towards it.
And to the chap who thinks I am conservative and a bunny hugger, I would like to invite you or anyone
else to spend a weekend at Thobeka at a discounted rate to come and see for yourself and not be too hasty
to take the word of someone who was angered because he felt hard done by, and for this DC I am sincerely
sorry.