As part of wider security strategies being implemented in the fight against rhino poaching, Kruger National Park (KNP) Management inaugurated 128 new security guards at the passing-out parade today, 24 October 2013 at Skukuza.
“The new recruits are meant to mainly manage access control at the entrance gates, provide asset security, monitor and control movement control throughout the Park as well as to conduct other policing duties that are safety and security related. As custodians of wildlife and its conservation, we warmly welcome this step as it will provide the much needed boost to the current team of ranger corps and should be seen as a necessary measure to top-up on our anti-poaching efforts”, said the KNP Managing Executive, Abe Sibiya.
The pre-selection process which took place in August 2013 required hopeful guard trainees to go through the vetting process such as language proficiency tests, criminal record checks; medical and physical fitness screening and they had to portray dedication and the right attitude; as well as team work spirit to qualify for the job.
Those who succeeded went on holistic, rigorous and intense month-long security training, followed by the passing out parade today. The deployment to the various strategic areas throughout the Park is with immediate effect, starting today.
For the past ten years, the Park outsourced its security service at the entry/exit points to private companies, as such was not totally involved in the guards’ selection and training process. “It is an absolute must that we prioritize the protection of this heritage and use every tactic which can assist in ensuring that the total control of all entry and exit points are managed by those tasked with the upkeep of the area integrity, concluded Sibiya.
Issued by:
South African National Park Communications
Verity and Dean Cherry had an African dream in 1999 and started Nhongo Safaris® to eliminate the logistical challenges of international visitors on safari. We provide a once in a lifetime experience for wildlife enthusiast that demand quality overnight safaris in South Africa and most particularly the Kruger National Park. We want to enrich our visitors’ experience by providing Luxury Safari Packages or African Safari Holidays and maintain our position as leader in Kruger Park Safaris.
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The photo shows some of our fleet of Open Safari Vehicles used while on safari in the Kruger National and Hwange National Parks. These ve...
Friday 25 October 2013
128 NEW GUARDS BOOST SECURITY IN THE #KNP
The new recruits are meant to mainly manage access control at the entrance gates, provide asset security, monitor and control movement control throughout the Park as well as to conduct other policing duties that are safety and security related. Follow the link to view more http://bit.ly/1cfJNje
Tuesday 22 October 2013
On Safari With Dean From 16 October 2013
16 October 2013
We left camp at 15h15 and made our way down the Numbi Gate Tar getting four different herds of buffalo, impala and kudu. We turned onto the Napi road and got some good sightings of more buffalo, elephant, warthog and kudu. We made our way down the Voortrekker link and got more kudu, reedbuck, impala, vervet monkeys and more buffalo.
We herd via the radio that there was a sighting of hyena with the pups, so we drove down the Numbi Gate tar and were blessed by a great sighting.
We carried on getting more good sightings of buffalo, wildebeest and zebra. Upon arrival at Numbi Gate we found the staff huddled together watching a huge elephant bull set about breaking of branches from the marula tree and consume them.
We enjoyed this sighting for about half an hour until we had to leave in order to get to the camp in time for the closing of the gates.
17 October 2013
This morning we left camp at 06h00 and made our way out of Nkambeni Safari Camp getting buffalo, elephant and impala on the camp access road. We made our way down the Numbi Gate tar having good sightings of buffalo, elephant, hyena and pups, kudu and impala.
We turned onto the Napi road making our way down the Napi for about twenty five kilometres getting a great cheetah sighting. We turned around making our way back on the Napi Road in order to get guests to Nelspruit for their transfer back to Johannesburg.
On the return journey great sightings of elephant, rhino, reedbuck and another sighting of cheetah was enjoyed.
We exited the park and made our way to Nelspruit for the guests transfer to Johannesburg.
18 October 2013
Today we made our way out of Nkambeni down the Camp Road getting Buffalo, elephant, waterbuck, impala and kudu.
We turned onto the Numbi Gate Tar getting four different herds of buffalo enjoying the new grass as well as elephant.
We Proceeded onto Napi road getting good sightings of giraffe and a distant visual of sable antelope. We then got a radio call about a leopard at the end of boulders exit. We made our way in that direction faster than normal and found him walking parallel with napi road we watched him for about 10 minutes before he walked off into the bush.
We carried on driving for another 6 kilometres getting buffalo, elephant, impala and zebra. We then turned around and headed back to the gate getting the same leopard who had moved onto a rock and after 5 minutes he climbed down and walked away.
Just before leaving the park we managed to get a sable antelope sighting closer to the road.
After this we exited the park and headed back to Johannesburg.
We left camp at 15h15 and made our way down the Numbi Gate Tar getting four different herds of buffalo, impala and kudu. We turned onto the Napi road and got some good sightings of more buffalo, elephant, warthog and kudu. We made our way down the Voortrekker link and got more kudu, reedbuck, impala, vervet monkeys and more buffalo.
We herd via the radio that there was a sighting of hyena with the pups, so we drove down the Numbi Gate tar and were blessed by a great sighting.
We carried on getting more good sightings of buffalo, wildebeest and zebra. Upon arrival at Numbi Gate we found the staff huddled together watching a huge elephant bull set about breaking of branches from the marula tree and consume them.
We enjoyed this sighting for about half an hour until we had to leave in order to get to the camp in time for the closing of the gates.
17 October 2013
This morning we left camp at 06h00 and made our way out of Nkambeni Safari Camp getting buffalo, elephant and impala on the camp access road. We made our way down the Numbi Gate tar having good sightings of buffalo, elephant, hyena and pups, kudu and impala.
We turned onto the Napi road making our way down the Napi for about twenty five kilometres getting a great cheetah sighting. We turned around making our way back on the Napi Road in order to get guests to Nelspruit for their transfer back to Johannesburg.
On the return journey great sightings of elephant, rhino, reedbuck and another sighting of cheetah was enjoyed.
We exited the park and made our way to Nelspruit for the guests transfer to Johannesburg.
18 October 2013
Today we made our way out of Nkambeni down the Camp Road getting Buffalo, elephant, waterbuck, impala and kudu.
We turned onto the Numbi Gate Tar getting four different herds of buffalo enjoying the new grass as well as elephant.
We Proceeded onto Napi road getting good sightings of giraffe and a distant visual of sable antelope. We then got a radio call about a leopard at the end of boulders exit. We made our way in that direction faster than normal and found him walking parallel with napi road we watched him for about 10 minutes before he walked off into the bush.
We carried on driving for another 6 kilometres getting buffalo, elephant, impala and zebra. We then turned around and headed back to the gate getting the same leopard who had moved onto a rock and after 5 minutes he climbed down and walked away.
Just before leaving the park we managed to get a sable antelope sighting closer to the road.
After this we exited the park and headed back to Johannesburg.
On Safari With Mark from 14 October 2013
14 October 2013
Route: Numbi tar - Shabeni koppies - Albaseni - Nkambeni Tented Camp
2 large herds of buffalo (1 on the Numbi tar and other approaching mestal dam).
The Hyena den is still active with all four youngsters out playing around the entrance to the den.
General animals spotted:
Impala, waterbuck, common duiker, kudu and hippo's.
15 October 2013
Route: Nkambeni - Napi - Skakuza - Napi - Nkambeni
General animals seen:
kudu, waterbuck, warthog, common duiker, steenbok, klipspringer, zebra, hippos and vervet monkeys.
Large herds of buffalo's grazing on short grass in burn area at mestal dam.
Small herd of elephant near the buffalo. Matriarch wasn't happy with their presence around her young so performed a mock charge. Great sighting for guests and they could get great photos.
Further to this the day has been quiet with no cats spotted yet.
16 October 2013
Route Nkambeni - Napi - H3 - Napi - Albaseni - Doispan - Napi - Nkambeni
General animals seen:
giraffe, zebra, warthog, impala, chackma baboons, waterbuck, kudu, rhino and hippos
Great herd of sable just before Voortrekker link on the napi
4 hyena at the den on Numbi tar
Only elephant bulls seen on drives today.
Fantastic herds of buffalo on camp road and Numbi tar and napi. Largest herd seen was
approximately 300
Got a call for a female lions and cubs on alpha loop. She was lying in the dry riverbed enjoying the shade with her 4 cubs
On our return to camp we had a male leopard walking parallel with napi just before the flat rocks
17 October 2013
Route: Napi - H3 - S112 - S114 - Napi - Nkambeni
General animals seen:
kudu, warthog, zebra, impala, giraffe, hippos, crocodile, buffalo, elephant and waterbuck
Male leopard just past boulders exit. Walked parallel with the road and then turned off back into the bush.
4 lioness and 1 male seen eating an impala 300m before the S114 on the napi.
Females got up and walked towards deloport dam.
After lunch we found the same pride of lions lying at the dam.
On our return to camp we found a young male leopard lying in a Marola tree just before the S65.
No herds of elephant found today, will look for them tomorrow.
18 October 2013
Route: Albaseni - Shabeni - Fiaya loop - Albaseni - Doispan - River link - River road - Kruger gate road - Napi - Nkambeni
General sightings:
warthog, rheed buck, common duiker, impala, kudu, hippos, chackma baboons, waterbuck, elephant, rhino and zebra
Still large herds of buffalo on Numbi tar. They not moving around because of the new grass growth.
No large herds of elephant only the individual bulls along napi
3 lioness and 1 male lion walked off the rocks and headed towards river road, approximately 2km from Kruger gate. We lost visual as they entered the reeds between road and river.
Not fantastic sightings today due to weather being cold and raining.
We try for a leopard for new guests tomorrow morning before they leave for JHB.
Route: Numbi tar - Shabeni koppies - Albaseni - Nkambeni Tented Camp
2 large herds of buffalo (1 on the Numbi tar and other approaching mestal dam).
The Hyena den is still active with all four youngsters out playing around the entrance to the den.
General animals spotted:
Impala, waterbuck, common duiker, kudu and hippo's.
15 October 2013
Route: Nkambeni - Napi - Skakuza - Napi - Nkambeni
General animals seen:
kudu, waterbuck, warthog, common duiker, steenbok, klipspringer, zebra, hippos and vervet monkeys.
Large herds of buffalo's grazing on short grass in burn area at mestal dam.
Small herd of elephant near the buffalo. Matriarch wasn't happy with their presence around her young so performed a mock charge. Great sighting for guests and they could get great photos.
Further to this the day has been quiet with no cats spotted yet.
16 October 2013
Route Nkambeni - Napi - H3 - Napi - Albaseni - Doispan - Napi - Nkambeni
General animals seen:
giraffe, zebra, warthog, impala, chackma baboons, waterbuck, kudu, rhino and hippos
Great herd of sable just before Voortrekker link on the napi
4 hyena at the den on Numbi tar
Only elephant bulls seen on drives today.
Fantastic herds of buffalo on camp road and Numbi tar and napi. Largest herd seen was
approximately 300
Got a call for a female lions and cubs on alpha loop. She was lying in the dry riverbed enjoying the shade with her 4 cubs
On our return to camp we had a male leopard walking parallel with napi just before the flat rocks
17 October 2013
Route: Napi - H3 - S112 - S114 - Napi - Nkambeni
General animals seen:
kudu, warthog, zebra, impala, giraffe, hippos, crocodile, buffalo, elephant and waterbuck
Male leopard just past boulders exit. Walked parallel with the road and then turned off back into the bush.
4 lioness and 1 male seen eating an impala 300m before the S114 on the napi.
Females got up and walked towards deloport dam.
After lunch we found the same pride of lions lying at the dam.
On our return to camp we found a young male leopard lying in a Marola tree just before the S65.
No herds of elephant found today, will look for them tomorrow.
18 October 2013
Route: Albaseni - Shabeni - Fiaya loop - Albaseni - Doispan - River link - River road - Kruger gate road - Napi - Nkambeni
General sightings:
warthog, rheed buck, common duiker, impala, kudu, hippos, chackma baboons, waterbuck, elephant, rhino and zebra
Still large herds of buffalo on Numbi tar. They not moving around because of the new grass growth.
No large herds of elephant only the individual bulls along napi
3 lioness and 1 male lion walked off the rocks and headed towards river road, approximately 2km from Kruger gate. We lost visual as they entered the reeds between road and river.
Not fantastic sightings today due to weather being cold and raining.
We try for a leopard for new guests tomorrow morning before they leave for JHB.
Monday 21 October 2013
Elephant Tusks Valued At R1.6 Million Seized At Beitbridge Border Post
Police in Zimbabwe intercepted a luxury bus carrying four elephant tusks valued at R1.6 million.
The tusks were found stashed in a secret compartment on a Citiliner coach.
Limpopo police spokesperson Hlangwani Malaudzi told the media the two bus drivers were arrested at the Beitbridge Border Post and taken to court in Musina.
Only one person was found guilty and fined R8,000 for smuggling and the illegal possession of ivory.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) told state media in Zimbabwe they want to clamp down on ivory smuggling syndicates.
It’s not clear whether the tusks were from Hwange National Park, where syndicates used cyanide to kill over 100 elephants.
Four people convicted recently for illegally possessing ivory in Zimbabwe have each been given 15-year jail terms.
Earlier this month, the man who supplied the cyanide used to kill the elephants was released on R1,000 bail.
It’s unclear where Elvis Mncube got the cyanide from.
By:
Eyewitness News
The tusks were found stashed in a secret compartment on a Citiliner coach.
Limpopo police spokesperson Hlangwani Malaudzi told the media the two bus drivers were arrested at the Beitbridge Border Post and taken to court in Musina.
Only one person was found guilty and fined R8,000 for smuggling and the illegal possession of ivory.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) told state media in Zimbabwe they want to clamp down on ivory smuggling syndicates.
It’s not clear whether the tusks were from Hwange National Park, where syndicates used cyanide to kill over 100 elephants.
Four people convicted recently for illegally possessing ivory in Zimbabwe have each been given 15-year jail terms.
Earlier this month, the man who supplied the cyanide used to kill the elephants was released on R1,000 bail.
It’s unclear where Elvis Mncube got the cyanide from.
By:
Eyewitness News
Man Arrested In Kruger National Park For Possession Of Poison
A man was arrested after he was found in possession of poison in the Kruger National Park, management said on Saturday.
The man was arrested on Thursday after being searched by rangers in the park.
"He entered the park through the Phalaborwa gate en route to Mozambique," spokesman William Mabasa said.
Rangers found four bottles on him and questioned about the contents, but found the man's story to be inconsistent.
The rangers called police and the man was arrested.
Police could not immediately confirm the arrest.
Earlier in the week, French news agency Agence France-Presse reported that a Zimbabwean court sentenced a poacher to more than 15 years in prison for poisoning and killing elephants with cyanide.
This was the fourth conviction relating to poisoning wildlife in the country in a month.
According to the report, the Parks and Wildlife Authority said 100 elephants were killed for their ivory with cyanide in one national park in just over a month.
Three other poachers were sentenced in September to a minimum of 15 years each for poisoning 81 elephants.
By:
Times Media Group
The man was arrested on Thursday after being searched by rangers in the park.
"He entered the park through the Phalaborwa gate en route to Mozambique," spokesman William Mabasa said.
Rangers found four bottles on him and questioned about the contents, but found the man's story to be inconsistent.
The rangers called police and the man was arrested.
Police could not immediately confirm the arrest.
Earlier in the week, French news agency Agence France-Presse reported that a Zimbabwean court sentenced a poacher to more than 15 years in prison for poisoning and killing elephants with cyanide.
This was the fourth conviction relating to poisoning wildlife in the country in a month.
According to the report, the Parks and Wildlife Authority said 100 elephants were killed for their ivory with cyanide in one national park in just over a month.
Three other poachers were sentenced in September to a minimum of 15 years each for poisoning 81 elephants.
By:
Times Media Group
Contact Made With Three Poachers
On Saturday, 19th October 2013, rangers in the Pafuri section of the Kruger National Park made contact with three suspected rhino poachers, close to the Eastern boundary.
During the incident, one suspect was arrested and the other two suspects managed to escape back into Mozambique.
A .375 hunting rifle, ammunition and an axe were recovered.
Issued by:
South African National Parks
During the incident, one suspect was arrested and the other two suspects managed to escape back into Mozambique.
A .375 hunting rifle, ammunition and an axe were recovered.
Issued by:
South African National Parks
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