Lancer
Pack Dog
- Joined
- Jul 5, 2010
- Messages
- 55
- Reaction score
- 0
- Location
- Plettenberg Bay
- Bike
- Honda XRV 750 Africa Twin
On the recent long-weekend, 9 to 12 August, some South African Adventure (and, we believe, Quad) Bikers went to the Northern Tuli Block in Botswana and potentially ruined access to the area for all Adventure Motorcyclists in the future. This arrogant group showed no respect for the area, trespassing by riding off-road on land that they had no right to access, riding in the Motloutse River bed at Solomon's Wall and also riding in the Limpopo River, churning up river frontage on private land. They also had scant consideration for other people in the area, riding bikes that are extremely noisy and doing donuts in several places. The noise from the bikes hampered the enjoyment of a group of tourists on a guided walking trail.
The Northern Tuli Block is one of Africa’s unspoiled wilderness areas and the properties in the Northern Tuli Game Reserve Area are privately-owned. The properties are primarily used for tourism and conservation and access is carefully managed in order to maintain a pristine environment with as small a human (and dare I say- vehicular) footprint as possible.
Many Adventure Motorcyclists have traversed the area and have enjoyed the abundance of wildlife and the tranquillity of the area. They would be horrified to know that the loutish behaviour of a small group of SA Bikers could lead to the banning of all motorbikes from the area.
One of the groups of riders, all on relatively new KTM's (the registration numbers of which we have - one of which was from George) were approached by the manageress of Mashatu EcoTraining whilst they were riding in the Motloutse River bed. A member of this group chose to not only ignore her request to cease riding in the river bed, but proceeded to ride donuts in front of her whilst she was advising the riders that they were not to ride in the river bed.
It is this kind of behaviour by some stupid and arrogant individuals that impedes on Adventure Biking access to various reserves and pristine unspoilt areas. This kind of behaviour is abhorrent to most Adventure Bikers and it is selfish and unfair that the consequences of the actions of a small group can potentially have a large impact.
The registration numbers of the offending bikes are as follows (I have the full registrations but have redacted them here as it would be interesting to hear the excuses of this particular group - if any excuses are offered):
YTP***GP; CAW6***0; BM***1GP; RGH***GP; BX***PGP; XRN***GP; BG***RGP; RWP***GP; RRN*** GP
If you were a member of this particular party, I ask you to please think about the impact that your actions will have on others before you so arrogantly charge off-road in ecologically-sensitive areas. Aside from owing Chantelle from EcoTraining an abject apology, you owe an apology to all sensible Adventure Bikers, who wish to ride to unspoilt areas and not have the "yobbo" stigma that you guys created.
The Northern Tuli Block is one of Africa’s unspoiled wilderness areas and the properties in the Northern Tuli Game Reserve Area are privately-owned. The properties are primarily used for tourism and conservation and access is carefully managed in order to maintain a pristine environment with as small a human (and dare I say- vehicular) footprint as possible.
Many Adventure Motorcyclists have traversed the area and have enjoyed the abundance of wildlife and the tranquillity of the area. They would be horrified to know that the loutish behaviour of a small group of SA Bikers could lead to the banning of all motorbikes from the area.
One of the groups of riders, all on relatively new KTM's (the registration numbers of which we have - one of which was from George) were approached by the manageress of Mashatu EcoTraining whilst they were riding in the Motloutse River bed. A member of this group chose to not only ignore her request to cease riding in the river bed, but proceeded to ride donuts in front of her whilst she was advising the riders that they were not to ride in the river bed.
It is this kind of behaviour by some stupid and arrogant individuals that impedes on Adventure Biking access to various reserves and pristine unspoilt areas. This kind of behaviour is abhorrent to most Adventure Bikers and it is selfish and unfair that the consequences of the actions of a small group can potentially have a large impact.
The registration numbers of the offending bikes are as follows (I have the full registrations but have redacted them here as it would be interesting to hear the excuses of this particular group - if any excuses are offered):
YTP***GP; CAW6***0; BM***1GP; RGH***GP; BX***PGP; XRN***GP; BG***RGP; RWP***GP; RRN*** GP
If you were a member of this particular party, I ask you to please think about the impact that your actions will have on others before you so arrogantly charge off-road in ecologically-sensitive areas. Aside from owing Chantelle from EcoTraining an abject apology, you owe an apology to all sensible Adventure Bikers, who wish to ride to unspoilt areas and not have the "yobbo" stigma that you guys created.
