Grand Traverse Permits
13 Apr 2012 14:23 - 13 Apr 2012 14:38 #53549
by intrepid
Take nothing but litter, leave nothing but a cleaner Drakensberg.
Replied by intrepid on topic Grand Traverse Permits
OK, as usual, several topics and issues within the thread 
Let me add some of my thoughts on the permit and rescue issue, since these are strongly related, and I think the main topic here. I've being mulling on this since the thread was started and I've also now had a chat to KZN Wildlife about it.
Rescues cost a lot of money (up to R50 000 if helicopters are involved), and the hiking fees go towards that. The money collected by the Botloaka tribal authority (QwaQwa boom gate, Witsieshoek and Sentinel Car Park) currently does not go towards conservation of the UDP-WHS nor towards any rescue costs, even though the areas like Tugela Falls which are accessed from there, belong to the UDP. So if people are airlifted around the Chain Ladders, or if patrols are sent to the Tugela Falls (like they were on the Easter weekend), it is KZN Wildlife paying for that, even though they didn't get the hiking fees. This issue is being negotiated and addressed but I dont expect any changes soon.
I am accustomed to the guards at Sentinel Car Park charging a flat fee of R80 pp if you traversing - doesn't matter if its to Cathedral Peak or Bushman's Neck. Negotiate this if you can (because technically you should just be paying an entrance fee, and normally you don't even sleep in their area, so max 1 night hiking fees). But there isn't much to be done if they insist on R80, or more.
Sign their rescue register even though they don't do much with it. They should be sending it to Garden Castle (because you end at Bushman's Neck which falls under Garden Castle), but they don't. And it's been my experience that even if you don't "sign off" telephonically, they won't follow up with you. So, in addition, you should email an electronic copy of your register to KZN Wildlife too, before the time. This should be sent to the manager of RNNP, Stephen Richert, since that is where you start. He in turn will communicate with Garden Castle, and you should phone and sign off with them via telephone afterwards. His email address is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., and Eduard Goosen, Senior Conservation Manager of the Northern Drakensberg, can also be addressed, if need be: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . I will have an electronic version of the rescue form available on the site soon.
Now, KZN Widlife should also be getting some of the fees. This should include an entrance fee, and at least one nights worth of hiking fees, depending on how many nights exactly you spend in the UDP. The best would be to pay this to Garden Castle or Bushman's Neck afterwards. Now I know this will get some sighs, and some might say "Why bother?". But think about it...if you get injured, would you want that attitude? In the Alps you need mountain insurance for this, and in Nepal you have to have your credit card number handy when you make the call. As it is, even if you haven't paid your fees on a GT, you will be rescued and airlifted if need be. If you are technically in Lesotho but close to the border I think the air force helicopters can still do it. If you are further in, like on Thabana Ntlenyana I'm sure they will make a plan somehow...if its not just getting the clearance to fly into Lesotho, then you can even ride on a donkey closer to the border. And our Drakensberg rescue service is good, let me say that. In Canada for example there isn't a rescue form - you have to make sure friends and family have all your details and that they check up on you. Obviously they do search and rescues there but they have no way of knowing about you to start off with.
We are not talking about a lot of money here, so let us please all make an effort to pay something towards KZN Wildlife too for Grand Traverses. If there is a rescue then they can link the costs of it to a permit for auditing purposes. This will be favourable for a sustainable solution for rescues on a GT.
Let me add some of my thoughts on the permit and rescue issue, since these are strongly related, and I think the main topic here. I've being mulling on this since the thread was started and I've also now had a chat to KZN Wildlife about it.
Rescues cost a lot of money (up to R50 000 if helicopters are involved), and the hiking fees go towards that. The money collected by the Botloaka tribal authority (QwaQwa boom gate, Witsieshoek and Sentinel Car Park) currently does not go towards conservation of the UDP-WHS nor towards any rescue costs, even though the areas like Tugela Falls which are accessed from there, belong to the UDP. So if people are airlifted around the Chain Ladders, or if patrols are sent to the Tugela Falls (like they were on the Easter weekend), it is KZN Wildlife paying for that, even though they didn't get the hiking fees. This issue is being negotiated and addressed but I dont expect any changes soon.
I am accustomed to the guards at Sentinel Car Park charging a flat fee of R80 pp if you traversing - doesn't matter if its to Cathedral Peak or Bushman's Neck. Negotiate this if you can (because technically you should just be paying an entrance fee, and normally you don't even sleep in their area, so max 1 night hiking fees). But there isn't much to be done if they insist on R80, or more.
Sign their rescue register even though they don't do much with it. They should be sending it to Garden Castle (because you end at Bushman's Neck which falls under Garden Castle), but they don't. And it's been my experience that even if you don't "sign off" telephonically, they won't follow up with you. So, in addition, you should email an electronic copy of your register to KZN Wildlife too, before the time. This should be sent to the manager of RNNP, Stephen Richert, since that is where you start. He in turn will communicate with Garden Castle, and you should phone and sign off with them via telephone afterwards. His email address is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., and Eduard Goosen, Senior Conservation Manager of the Northern Drakensberg, can also be addressed, if need be: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . I will have an electronic version of the rescue form available on the site soon.
Now, KZN Widlife should also be getting some of the fees. This should include an entrance fee, and at least one nights worth of hiking fees, depending on how many nights exactly you spend in the UDP. The best would be to pay this to Garden Castle or Bushman's Neck afterwards. Now I know this will get some sighs, and some might say "Why bother?". But think about it...if you get injured, would you want that attitude? In the Alps you need mountain insurance for this, and in Nepal you have to have your credit card number handy when you make the call. As it is, even if you haven't paid your fees on a GT, you will be rescued and airlifted if need be. If you are technically in Lesotho but close to the border I think the air force helicopters can still do it. If you are further in, like on Thabana Ntlenyana I'm sure they will make a plan somehow...if its not just getting the clearance to fly into Lesotho, then you can even ride on a donkey closer to the border. And our Drakensberg rescue service is good, let me say that. In Canada for example there isn't a rescue form - you have to make sure friends and family have all your details and that they check up on you. Obviously they do search and rescues there but they have no way of knowing about you to start off with.
We are not talking about a lot of money here, so let us please all make an effort to pay something towards KZN Wildlife too for Grand Traverses. If there is a rescue then they can link the costs of it to a permit for auditing purposes. This will be favourable for a sustainable solution for rescues on a GT.
Take nothing but litter, leave nothing but a cleaner Drakensberg.
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