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Thanks very much. I really appreciate the feedback. Regarding the baboon problem it was never my intention to displace or remove the baboons, I merely mentioned it to serve as a warning to people hiking in this area to be more aware of their suroundings. Thanks again.

I have just posted the official response here…

I obtained permits at Helderberg nature reserve and on Sunday,9 December 2012 I went on the Crystal pools hike.It realy is an awesome place.The baboons however decended on the pools and caused havoc by trying to steal whatever they could find.The gate was standing open at 08:00 when we entered and during the day I counted approximately 250 people at the various pools. On our way out, groups of people were passing us on their way to the pools.When we left at 15:00 the gate was still unmanned and large groups of people simply walked through the gates and counting by the number already inside, I suspect that most of the people entered without permits. That left a bitter taste in my mouth because during the week prior I had to drive from Cape Town to Helderberg Nature reserve to obtain the permits that costs R60 pp.On the day of the hike I had to drive again from Cape Town to the hiking trail. Thus including the costs of the permits(3 minimum)and the two car trips, I do not think it is fair to allow people without permits to simply just walk in. It’s no wonder the place had to be closed down last year.With the amount of people I saw visiting on that Sunday, it won’t be long before it will have to be shut down again !!!

Really? R65 per person per day seems a bit much. The outing will end up being very expensive considering petrol to get there and if u go with a whole group of ppl. Used to be R15 per person….

Thanks for your opinion, Piet. I look forward to your continued input as I am sure that your right to judge my opinion uninformed is supported by the knowledge to provide all the missing information with regards this matter.
If I am uninformed, it is only because, as I point out in my post, there is a massive lack of information, and despite numerous, repeated requests, a lot of very concerned people feel that some very important questions remain unanswered. The main theme of my post should make this clear. I am sorry you missed that.
By volunteers, do you mean Honorary Rangers? As I point out in my article, I don’t fully understand who they are and what role they play. In fact, I ask some questions, as do others, and one of them is: are they qualified to make such an assessment? And no Piet, having a passionate love for nature does not “qualify” you as such.
You claim that park rangers have “studied the impact”. Where is the record of the methods used in this study, and where are the results of this “study”? The only reference to any such “study” is the recce ride that was made. Once again, the question has been asked: who was included in this team, and what are their qualifications? And riding over what I understand to be pristine, ecologically sensitive land to measure the impact is like killing and dissecting the last pair of breeding Dodos to better understand their reproductive organs.
“Immediately the rumour spreads”? Did you even read my post? One of my points is that it is my opinion that if you are going to hold an event within a National Park, the entry process should amongst other things be transparent and fair.
In a way, Piet, I am jealous that I didn’t get an opportunity to enter. I have twice been lucky enough to run the Otter African Trail Run in the Storms River Mouth Section of the Garden Route National Park. If this event had been organised in a similar fashion and satisfied my concerns in the way Magnetic South has done over my concerns with using the Otter Trail, my name would most likely be on the waiting list.
Piet: as you are the so knowledgeable on this (and I am so ignorant), it would be nice for my readers to know a little bit about you. I am pretty sure that they will want to quote you as the imminent expert on all conservation matters in Southern Africa. I for one would like to be able to quote you as the authority you clearly are. I am certain that such a passionate conservationist such as yourself has a blog that will have my pathetic attempt at sharing my love for nature hanging it’s head in shame. Or a book or two published. Or even just the source of the rumours you mentioned in your contribution.

What an uninformed opinion! The event is not being organised by a company but by volunteers and all the money goes to the park. An EIA is a legal document and is legally not applicable to this type of event. On the other hand extensive efforts have been made to ensure that there is no damage to the park and the park rangers have studied the impact and given the go ahead. Organisers have put in management policies to adress almost all of the concerns you express. Only 50 entrants … obviously it is going to be booked up immediatly the rumour spreads! The scare mongering of what is next … realy get a life! Are you jealous that you did not have the opportunity to book?

You can get the info you need here: http://www.helderbergnaturereserve.co.za/.