From The CEO's Desk

Dr David Mabunda

Poaching in the Kruger National Park has clearly become one of the greatest conservation challenges of our time, , and is something we as SANParks are determined to deal with head on. I recently had the oppertunity to be involved in a five - hour helicopter pursuit of suspected poachers over densely vegetated terrain in the park. Over and above my long past association with the KNP, the experience of this pursuit gave me an additional appreciation of the difficulties that are faced by our rangers in this enviroment. Not only do they have to cope with the inhospitable and sometimes impenetrable terrain, but they also have to deal with heavily armed poachers who are backed by a sophisticated and well - resourced machinery. I am of the view that sometimes the category of "enviromental crime" and the term "poaching" do not fully cover the nature of what we are dealing with. Rhino poaching has become linked with organized crime syndicates, which have a national, regional and international character. We are dealing with a crime syndrome that is akin to crash - in - transit heists and the activities of the international drug cartels. Despite our best efforts in 2012, the number of rhino killed in Kruger continued to escalate, as they did nationally. What we have had to recognize is that we are in a war situation, requiring military measures to stem the tide of rhino mortalities. We have therefore appointed retired SA National Defense Force Maj Gen Jooste to head up a revamped command structure, which will give operations on the ground that extra momentum to contain the threat. We have also entered into partnerships with DANEL (a public-owned arms manufacturer), the Paramount Group (a private-owned arms manufacturer) and the Ichikowitz Family Trust to enable us to deploy cutting-edge technology in assisting the fight against this crime. As with many modern wars it is not just the will and determination of the forces on the ground, but also the ability to develop and utilize advanced technology, that will determine the eventual outcome. We acknowledge, of course, that the long-term solutions lie in dealing with the markets for rhino horn, and within the terrain of international relations, both in Asia and closer to home in respect of our neighbor Mozambique. In relation to the letter we recognize that the concept of Transfrontier Conservation Areas has brought benefits to conservation and to improving international relations. In the case in point, however, the dropping of the fence between the KNP and Mozambique has proved our weakest line of defense against incursions into the park by gangs of poachers. I will refrain from quoting the adage, “good fences make good neighbors", but suffice to say we are compelled to look at all options in order to defend the eastern boundary. You, the public, have been especially supportive throughout this ordeal, and I would like to extend a special word of thanks to all those who have given their time and resources in helping us to deal with this scourge. We know we will not eliminate it in the immediate future, but we are aiming to reverse the trend and at last see a reduction in the rate by the end of the year. We owe it to both current and future generations to ensure that we do not fail in this difficult and yet worthwhile Endeavour.

SANParks Times newspaper March 2013

Rhino Poaching Update

#RhinoPoaching update and #MoU signed between SA and China... View the link for the full story http://www.sanparks.org/about/news/default.php?id=55488

Job Well Done by KNP Rangers In the Fight Against Poaching

3 poachers fatally wounded by KNP rangers in Crocodile Bridge yesterday 27 March 2013. A .458 new hunting rifle, silencer ammunition & poaching equipment were found.

We thank the KNP Rangers for a job well done in the fight against poaching and bringing those responsible to justice in the hope to save this beautiful animal.

KNP Ranger Tells Of His Harrowing Ordeal With Lion

Living in the Kruger National Park can be exhilarating and even life –threatening at times. This story on KNP’s ranger, Gus Adendorff’s close encounter with a lioness was first published in the February 1986 edition of the Custos. This wildlife conservation magazine was the flagship of South African National Parks from 1971 until 1998. Recently, as part of a SANParks honorary rangers project, the magazines were recaptured on a DVD-set. This story of Adendorff, as told by Arie Minnaar, is a taste of what appears inside the Custos pages...

“I can recall one incident at Shingwedzi when tourists reported a lion with a snare around its neck and body. It was near the tourist road, six or more kilometres from the camp. It was just after sunset and i immediately went to the place they indicated. When I arrived there, I spotted four lions. One of the females did not get up and assumed a threatening pose. I drove to within a few meters of her. My immediate presence forced her to stand up. The snare as clearly visible. It had already cut through her skin and her entrails started protruding on the side of her stomach. Limping, she fled onto the undergrowth. I did not have my dogs with me and decided to wait until the next morning. At the crack of dawn a few rangers, three of my dogs and I went to where I had seen her the previous evening. The dogs easily picked up her scent and in hot pursuit they charged into the undergrowth, the rangers and I followed close behind. I suspected that she would be laying dead somewhere. Deeper into the bush, the dogs followed the wounded lioness blood spoor. We went on for about five kilometres. The sun was becoming scorching hot. Thorns and reeds scratched our exposed limbs and we stopped to drink water. I was standing in the shade of a tree, lighting a cigarette. Now and again the excited barking of the dogs could be heard as they scented the fresh spoor. Suddenly the tone of their barking changed. I knew by the sound they found something. Distinguishable from their barking, the growling of the furious lioness was clearly audible. Then the dogs were quiet. One of them howled, and in an instant they ere speeding towards us with the lioness following on their heels. When she spotted me, she changed direction. With great bounds she charged towards me. There as a large Mopani tree to the left. I ran to it to steady the rifle on one of its branches, but time was running out. She was nearly upon me and I was forced to shoot. I can still see her in my imagination – fire in her eyes, mouth gaping and curved yellow canines glistening in the sun. I pulled the trigger. Luckily the bullet hit her in the chest, and her head sagged. The momentum of her body made her fall head over heels a few times. She came to a standstill a few paces away from me. My helpers and dogs had all taken to their heels. My whole body was shaking uncontrollably. Everything had happened so fast an unexpectedly. If that last shot had missed the mark, I would have been dead.”

SANPARKS TIMES NEWSPAPER MARCH 2013

SANParks Makes Public Its Ten Year Responsible Tourism Strategy

SANParks makes public its Ten Year Responsible Tourism Strategy.... Follow the link to view the full story http://www.sanparks.org/about/news/default.php?id=55484..

Safari Continuing From 18 March 2013

23 March 2013

We left Nkambeni  and went down Numbi gate tar getting a elephant herd close to shabeni kopies. We carried on for a while finding buffalo, more elephant and rhino and then at 8.2km's down napi we came across a cheetah lying quite a way from the road. We enjoyed the sighting although there were many local cars around us, we then made our way down napi, only to find another cheetah sighting 700mtrs past the last one. We enjoyed this one as it was a bit closer and lying on a termite mound. After the sighting, we turned onto the h3. We travelled down 3.2km's and found two male lions lying close to the road, after some good photos we headed for Skukuza for a break.

After our break the route driven was down the Paul kruger gate road then down river road up the river road link and then down doispane, albasini to Numbi gate. Animals seen were zebra, elephant, rhino,impala and giraffe.

After dropping off some guests returning to Johannesburg, we made our way down to Shithave dam before going into Pretoriuskop for lunch upon reaching Shithave dam, we came across our buffalo that had already been lying there for three days lying and wallowing in the dam, some waterbuck and hippo's were also seen. After lunch together with new guests that had arrived, we made our way to Nkambeni as all were going on a sunset drive.

James took the other guests from Pretoriuskop down napi to transport dam and then back to Nkambeni. They managed to find cheetah, elephant, rhino and buffalo.

24 March 2013

Today both vehicles travelled together from Nkambeni down Numbi gate tar onto napi to skukuza. Animals seen were rhino, elephant, buffalo, impala, kudu and giraffes. We heard of some lions at transport dam, but when we got there they were lying flat that we could not see them.

After our break at skukuza we travelled up Tshokwane tar around marula loop up and over the high water bridge and down elloff street back to skukuza for lunch.

Animals spotted were at 5.1km's down marula loop a breaking pair of lions, at 6.4km's two big male lions lying in the river line, we also got good sightings of a large herd of elephants from the high water bridge as well as other sightings of baboon, impala, kudu, giraffe and wharthog.

After lunch the route driven back to camp was down Paul Kruger Gate road and onto doispane, up the watergat to napi road and then onto Numbi gate. This was a long drive with only sightings of giraffe, elephant, impala and kudus.

25 March 2013

This morning it was out of the camp, down the Numbi gate tar were we found a large herd of elephant playing in the road close to Pretoriuskop camp, after watching them for a while, we made our way straight down napi to transport dam and back to Numbi gate. Made a stop at Shithave dam to see if our buffalo friend was still kicking. After watching him for a while we carried on with really nothing else seen until we left the park.

26 March 2013
Today more guests arrive and Dean heads back into the park to see what new sightings he can find.

More updates coming soon..........

Rhino Girl Donates Winnings To Fight Poaching

SANParks Communications

Afeefah Patel (8) got the nations attention when she wrote a letter to president Jacob Zuma to “stop the bad people from killing our beautiful rhino”. With the assistance of her sister, little Afeefah addressed her letter to Zuma with one simple request: to aid in the fight against rhino poaching. Little did she know that her request would receive a response from the president himself. Afeefah was honoured with the corporate contribution to conservation award at the recent South African National Parks (SANParks) kudu awards where she also received a cash prize of R20 000. To show her commitment to this plight, Afeefah donated R5 000 towards the Unitrans VW Unite against Rhino Poaching Trust, “to help my rhino”.

SANParks Times newspaper March 2013

On Safari with Dean Starting 18 March 2013

18 March 2013

Route: Numbi gate - Pretoriuskop for lunch - Napi - H3 - Quagga pan - Numbi gate.

 A very quiet day with only four sightings of rhino and three sightings of elephant experienced.

 19 March 2013

Today's route was Numbi onto Pretoriuskop Koppies were there were some male and female lions. After watching them for a while, we made our way onto napi road, getting more rhino and elephant, kudu and impala, we made our way down the h3 as we heard of lions lying 800 meters from the s112, however when we arrived they turned out to be one legend wonders as they were on there backs out for a count.

We went as far as quagga pan and turned back to skukuza were we went for a break. After the break, we drove the triangle up Tshokwane tar, over the high water bridge and back on elloff street, nothing was really seen just a martial eagle, some white back vultures and that was it. We made our way back to camp on napi road. After a good rest that was awfully hot, we went out on another game drive getting buffalo at Shithave dam and the lions again at Pretoriuskop koppies. Unfortunately could not get photos due to very high grass and me sitting to low. After this we made our way back to camp.

 20 March 2013

Route: Nkambeni - Numbi gate tar - Napi - H3 - Quagga pan - Napi – Skukuza - Camp

Animals seen were impala, kudu, rhino, buffalo, elephant and lions at Quagga pan. After a stop at Skukuza we went down to the low water bridge and got more buffalo and hippo. We took a drive back down the h3 and onto the s113 and the down the biyamiti loop and got two lionesses with four cubs. After this good sighting we made our way back to the s113 were we got some great saddle billed storks. We made our way back up the h3 and down Napi to camp as guests were going on there night drive.

21 March 2013

Route: Numbi gate tar – Napi - Napi boulders loop – Shithave - Numbi gate

After Breakfast we headed out, not much seen  just some elephants and buffalo as well as impala and kudu. We then headed to Numbi Gate as some guests were leaving and new guests were arriving.

Afternoon drive with new guests:

Route: Numbi gate – Napi - Skukuza for lunch

On route had sightings of rhino, buffalo, elephant, impala and kudu. After lunch at Skukuza we went back to Numbi gate on the Napi getting more rhino and elephant as well as a female leopard walking in the grass 500mtrs from Shithave dam junction after this we made our way back to the camp.

22 March 2013

Next morning it was the same route but also going down to transport dam were we found lions 50mtrs from the Napi road lying sleeping. Other sightings include rhino, Buffalo, elephant, impala, zebra, giraffe, kudu and two cheetahs.

Afternoon drive:

New guests arrived and we took a trip down Napi road to Shithave dam getting waterbuck and buffalo, then went back to Napi and down to Napi boulders loop getting impala and kudu, we then made our way in the direction of Numbi gate, getting elephant and rhino as well as more impala and kudu.

That’s all for now.....

Facts For The Day



The Complex Blood Line...!

The stately giraffe, whose head sits some 16 feet up atop an unlikely pedestal, adapted his long neck to compete for foliage with other grazers. While the advantage of reach is obvious, some difficulties arise at such a height. The heart must pump twice as hard as a cow’s to get blood up to the brain, and a complex blood vessel system is needed to ensure that blood doesn’t rush to the head when bent over. Six feet below the heart, the skin of the legs must then be extremely tight to prevent blood from pooling at the hooves.

- Arun



Did you know that:

A rhinocero's horn is made of hair,
... The horns of most animals have a bony core covered by a thin sheath of keratin, the same substance as hair and nails. Rhino horns are unique, however, because they are composed entirely of keratin.

- Alfa