tour has become a sandy issue
Photo: Larry Bentley
OPPONENTS of the ban on boats crossing Third Lake to take tourists to Bhanga Nek beach, to see migrating turtles nesting and their hatchlings entering the sea, have received unexpected support.
The Zululand Observer recently published the complaint, which stated that forcing tour operators to take a two-hour road trip to Kosi Bay over poor roads – as opposed to a 30-minute boat transfer – was having a negative effect on tourists, many of whom vowed ‘never again’.
The iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority had responded that the ban was ‘in place for reasons including safety and security’.
However, a long-serving nature conservation official in the area, who asked to remain anonymous, disagrees with the decision.
‘I find this issue concerning boats crossing over to Bhanga Nek rather sad,’ he said on Wednesday in a letter to this newspaper.
‘When I worked there in the 1990s, we allowed boats to take tourists across to KwaDapha during the turtle season to view the turtles.
‘We had the odd complaint of reckless skippers and the managers then dealt with the issue.
‘I understand there is a problem with gill netting in the lakes, but I feel this is an opportunity that has been missed.
‘Why did iSimangaliso not rather approach the operators concerned and set up something formal which would accommodate the tourists, operators and management?
‘In SA we are supposed to be encouraging entrepreneurs and, as an organisation, we should be looking for ways to promote the natural heritage that we have been given to look after.
‘But, if we rather encourage a rough ride of nearly two hours through a sensitive area, I feel that we have fallen short of our mandate.
‘If community members (four this year) are appointed by the Authority and they can only get their clients to Bhanga by driving them around, I believe we are not giving the guests the best possible experience we can offer.
‘It is only through people experiencing events such as the turtle nesting, or being able to enjoy our protected areas, that our parks will survive.
‘If we continually close areas off or restrict the general citizen from experiencing what is on offer, we stand to lose this spectacular piece of KZN because no one will help us to fight to keep it conserved.’
The writer believes there are many who share his views, ‘and they were the ones who helped this area be proclaimed as a World Heritage Site’.
