Bill,

Thanks from South Africa for that!

The point you make about very limited acess roads in parks of this type is very moot.

I was most interested to hear of baiting in the Sabi Sands, ancient or otherwise. So I have asked a reliable source if he was ever aware of baiting at any reserve within the Sabi Sands and his response was no it has never been done in the Sabi Sands and specifically not MalaMala, even in the hunting days, as in those days animals were hunted on foot.

He has spoken to many long term rangers who worked at various lodges, and no-one is aware of any baiting within Sabi Sands.

So if anyone knows differently and does not just "think" the fact, please feel free to mention the lodge.

Kind regards

Kaye

Kay,
your reliable source just proved to be unreliable. As conservation practices have improved along with more discerning tourists the practice of baiting has become passe.

My comment was not to belabour the point, but it is 100% true, MM baited, it was a feature of their safari and guests then loved it. This was back in the 60's & 70's..

However today it is a practice that is no longer tolerated and is NOT practiced in the Sabi Sand.

Yes, I know someone who saw lion baiting at Mala Mala in the mid-70s.

snit states:
"As for Divine 54 comments I can only say that she has demonstrated her knowledge of these matters by stating that SA is planning to cull elephants so that they can sell the ivory."

that's my statement.....
"it's also makes me wonder that CITES just allowed SA to sell tons of ivory to china shortly after kruger decided on elephant culling."

in addition to my statement:
a friend of us just returned from a 14 days DIY safari to krueger.
they went up also to the northern part of the park.
they noticed heavy heli traffic during the days and EACH AND EVERY NIGHT (!!!) big trucks driving thru
the park! :-(

div

Mkhonzo

I have gone back to MalaMala management to confirm what I had been told.

No leopard has been baited since the current owners took over in the early 60's. So that would make it that my source was not incorrect, but yours may be.

Tanky is correct, lion prides were fed impala in the 60's and 70's and in those days it was not a secret as it was shown in their brochure. In that time, hunting was still being carried on in neighbouring properties and of course, the fences were still up inbetween Sabi Sands and Kruger.

I am not defending what reserves did in those days as it had nothing to do with me. When you make such statements, especially from someone with some knowledge of an area, I would expect them to be correct, not once again having a dig at MalaMala for whatever your reasons maybe.

Kind regards
Kaye

It is pleasing to see that your contacts are in fact the management at Mala Mala.

I did NOT say that Leopard were baited at Mala Mala. I said Predators, which was practiced. My comment was made to clarify and put to bed the discussion/question raised about baiting in an earlier post.

I have no agenda with MM nor will I ever and thank you for reitearting the accuracy of my comment..

"Tanky is correct, lion prides were fed impala in the 60's and 70's and in those days it was not a secret as it was shown in their brochure."

"in those days it was not a secret..." - hmmmm!

What and where and when was there any secret?

Gigib, Blyde River Canyon Lodge is very beautiful and run by a very nice lady who is passionate about her property. Very good value indeed. We drove there from Phalaborwa gate which takes about 2 hours on good roads, however the lodge is actually closer to Hoedspruit and the Orpen gate. The Lodge is located right in the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve, and very close to the Blyde Dam, wghere you can take a boat trip on the dam/lake whoch is very interesting, one of best items on the itinerary. nearby you find Moholoholo which os a wildlife rehab center where they raehab eagles, vultures, lions, leopards, wild dogs, cheetah, and many more species for release to the wild. The owner Brian is quite a character! Also nearby is the Bombyx Mori Silk farm which I would not fuss about except for the quant tea garden which is very sweet indeed. From the lodge one needs to drive a bit to come to the other Panorama Route sites suce as the Echo Caves, Three Rondavels view, the Bourkes Luck Potholes, Gods Window, the lovely town of Graskop, etc etc but all this we dis in a days drive which took as back to White River which is very close to KMIA airport.

Hope this helps.

sorry for all the typos, Fodors does not allow edits so posting again with corrections.....

Gigib, Blyde River Canyon Lodge is very beautiful and run by a very nice lady who is passionate about her property. It is very good value indeed. We drove there from Phalaborwa gate which takes about 2 hours on good roads, however the lodge is actually closer to Hoedspruit and the Orpen gate. The Lodge is located right in the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve, and very close to the Blyde Dam, where you can take a boat trip on the dam/lake which is very interesting definitely one of best items on the itinerary which you need to plan around the boat timings. Nearby you find Moholoholo which is a wildlife rehab center where they rehab eagles, vultures, lions, leopards, wild dogs, cheetah, and many more species for release to the wild. The owner Brian is quite a character! Also nearby is the Bombyx Mori Silk farm which I would not fuss about too much except for the quaint tea garden which is very sweet indeed, ideal for a snack lunch. From the lodge one needs to drive a bit to come to the other Panorama Route sites such as the Echo Caves, Three Rondavels view, the Bourkes Luck Potholes, Gods Window, several beautiful waterfalls and the lovely town of Graskop with the famous Harries Pancakes! All this we did in a day’s drive which took us back to White River which is very close to KMIA airport.

Hope this helps.