I believe that if local people wish to take an interest in the ecology of their homeland they must surely be accommodated. Effectively banning them, especially by financial means, from huge tracts of their own national heritage can only store up trouble for the future. It is also morally wrong. To ensure availability of local citizens to their parks may well require a two-tier system of pricing: a standard, lower price for locals and a surcharge for foreign visitors. This is by no means an unusual practice, and such pricing is currently in place in South Africa and Kenya – it is also being used in many European countries.

As an ancient, but avid, East African wildlife watcher, I am not convinced that the level of opulence of some lodges can be remotely justified. Tasteful as they claim to be, I find them rather incongruous (I hope and pray that this is not envy emerging on my part).

I would offer a suggestion that planning permission only be given for building luxury lodges on the condition that they also build and run an ‘economy’ establishment for the use of local citizens and less financially endowed tourists.

On another note, I was encouraged to hear about so many co-operative and compensation schemes that are in place and working well in Kenya (A question of conscience, Ed 43, Summer 2008). This has to be the way of the future.

I would just like to add that I have been a reader of Travel Africa since its inception, and it just gets better and better!

John Barke, Carlisle, UK