The History Behind SA’s Oldest Game Reserve, Umfolozi
Вставка
- Опубліковано 4 жов 2024
- Established as a park in 1985, the Umfolozi-hluhluwe Game Reserve is the oldest one in South Africa. It was once a hunting ground for the Zulu Kingdom, but today it is a tourist attraction that holds so much of our history, not forgetting Home for the Big 5.
Facebook | @expressoshow.sabc3 | / expressoshow.sabc3
Twitter | @expressoshow | / expressoshow
Instagram | @expressoshow | / expressoshow
Pinterest | @expressomorning | / expressomorning
Snapchat | @expressoshow | www.snapchat.com
Website | www.expressosho...
I was here in 2003 nice place
What about the Hluhluwe part
Same story. The camp at Umfolosi is self-catering and some of the chalets are newer so also better preserved. I've been many many times in the past. My first visit was in a landie with a metal trunk full of essentials staying at Umfolosi camp site, it was magic. Everything unfortunately is now smitten with the same problems.
Unfortunately the Hluhluwe Umfolosi park is a complete mess. What was the countries and indeed one of the worlds flagship conservation parks with stellar facilities for guests has become a run down mess starved of finances and scientific expertise and the hardest hit National Park in the entire Southern African region by poaching and lack of maintenance as a result. Corruption and government croneyism leading to political appointments to manage the park have meant greed and not conservation is now at the heart of the reserve. Crippled by stolen income and deleteriously large salaries paid to unqualified upper management appointed by government the entire organisation Ezemvelo Wild Life, the governing body for Kwazulu Natal Parks faces collapse.
There doesn't seem to be a will to save the park, indeed the very President of the country owns a large hunting reserve where wildlife is shot dead by the highest bidder rather than conserved. Despite the park and it's conservation ethics having been a major tourist money maker it's now simply falling apart and whats left of its income stolen, scientific expertise in conservation no longer find it sustainable to remain as their efforts are undermined and unfinanced.
A book about the history of this reserve " Game Ranger on Horseback" by Nick Steele 1968 tells the history of the struggle to save the Black Rhino. One of my favorite horse books. Ian Player was also active in Rhino conservation here. Important players in history of this land.
@@johnsmith-ht3sy Yes, the reserve was perhapse the worlds most shiny beacon of conservation. It's nothing short of a tragedy.
@@johnsmith-ht3sy I would love to read that book John, do you have a title for me? There is still I believe a framed photo at Hilltops (if it hasn't been destroyed in the general decline of the place) of a few rangers with their horses. One a grey called "Shortie". It was still there year before last.
@@johnsmith-ht3sy Thanks John, going to try and get it.
@@equestanton1017 I am looking at my copy " Game Ranger on Horseback" by Nick Steele. I first read it at Weston Agriculture College in Mooi River were I was a student. It was in the college library. Nick also went to this college as well as Ian Players son
( Garys brother). I do hope that you can get a copy.