They are breaking the rules…Loud vibratng music…Fast driving on roads…Hand-feeding wildlife…

With so many tourists in Marloth Park right now, both the electricity and WiFi signal have been cutting in and out. But then again, one must keep in mind that TIA, or “This Is Africa.” With the enormous number of tourists in the park right now, especially over the weekend, it isn’t surprising that some of these vital services are being affected. The South African school holiday continues through October 5, and it’s clear how many people are here.

Last night, we tried streaming a show before bed, but we were kicked off no fewer than five times because of the poor connection. Each time, I had to reboot my laptop. When the show locks up because of the weak connection, simply restarting the program doesn’t resolve the problem. Waiting for the connection to return and then rebooting the laptop seems to be the only solution, although I have tried plenty of other approaches over the years.

This particular holiday season, however, the problems go far beyond unreliable electricity and WiFi.

Yesterday morning, someone played music so loudly that we could feel and hear the vibrations inside the house, let alone outside on the veranda. Although the road where we are staying isn’t a major thoroughfare, we still see vehicles speeding down the bumpy dirt road, often with loud, boombox-type music blaring from their cars.

I can’t help but wonder, what happened to the serenity of the bush?

That peacefulness is one of the greatest privileges of spending time in this magical place. We are also dismayed when we see cars stop when wild animals are standing in the road, or worse, tourists getting out of their vehicles to hand-feed huge animals directly in front of them.

What would happen if a 750-pound, or 340-kilogram, kudu became startled by a passing vehicle and suddenly charged or swung its massive horns, seriously injuring a tourist? These animals are not vicious, but they are wild and can become protective when they feel threatened. If an animal injured or killed someone, there could be devastating consequences. In some cases, the animal might ultimately be euthanized.

Is that fair to the animal?

The inconveniences of noise, speeding vehicles and busy roads are frustrating, but they are nothing compared to the possible consequences of reckless behavior involving humans and wildlife.

Of course, many tourists follow the rules, respect the environment and appreciate the wildlife. We applaud those people. We also appreciate the revenue visitors generate for property owners, shops, restaurants and other businesses. That income helps local owners continue providing the services that make Marloth Park enjoyable for residents and long-term visitors like us.

When we headed to the Wild Butchery on Saturday to buy more biltong, we couldn’t believe how many cars were parked at the waterpark. There were more vehicles than we have ever seen there, not even at Christmastime or during other holiday periods.

Still, we can’t help wondering whether there will eventually be a time when this magical place loses some of its charm and appeal for us.

We hope not.

Since the school holiday began last week, we have hardly seen any animals during daylight hours. Even our lucerne was barely nibbled. Most of the animals now seem to arrive in the middle of the night, when the tourists have gone to bed, and the bush is finally quiet again.

The bottom line is simple. Marloth Park is the most unique tourist destination we have ever experienced during our nearly 14 years of world travel. We hope the message continues to get out that visitors are welcome here, but they must respect this extraordinary place, its scenery, its serenity, its wildlife, and its people. That is what makes Marloth Park so special, and we hope it stays that way for many years to come.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, September 28, 2016: