An Analysis Of Restaurants And Shops In The South African National Parks

South African National Parks (SANParks) has restaurants operational in the majority of camps in National Parks. However, feedback from SANParks’ customers has indicated that the dining product offered in the restaurants and at the take-away facilities is at best “average” and in many instances “poor”.

SANParks is of the view that the introduction of South African Restaurant Brands through a franchise model will resolve the problems that are currently experienced at the restaurants ensuring consistency, value for money, product and pricing options, quality of offering and high service standards. Therefore, the aim of this research was to determine visitors to South African National Parks’ opinions, needs and preferences regarding the introduction of brands and franchises in National Parks.

 Download the Analysis of restaurants and shops in the South African National Parks 2011: http://bit.ly/1f7QFgg

Poachers Arrests For The Month Of October 2013

South African National Parks (SANParks) announced a record number of arrests related to anti-poaching in the world famous Kruger National Park.
 
The Park has been under tremendous pressure from poachers, as it is home to over ninety percent of the global population of both white and black rhino that still roam in the wild. The animals are being illegally hunted for their horn, driven mainly by demand from South East Asia. Crime syndicates have been identified as the main culprits in recruiting those that kill the animals.

 Making the announcement, the Officer Commanding of the SANParks Rangers Corps, Major General (RET) Johan Jooste said the month had been a busy one with 213 tracks followed or spotted by field rangers, 30 shots heard, five contacts and four sightings.
 The total arrests for the month of October were nineteen individuals, the largest group consisting of seven suspects who were arrested on 11 October in Kabokweni, Mpumalanga, in an intelligence driven operation.

 Congratulating his team, Major General (ret) Jooste said “this has been a good morale booster for the entire team; though we still discover carcasses in the KNP we have been able to neutralize a huge number of poachers. We have also confiscated rifles, ammunition and poaching equipment in all operations. We are hopeful that the measures we are implementing will eventually yield the expected results, of bringing poaching incidents to acceptable levels”.

Jooste however reminded South Africans that the battle will be won outside the reserves, when the kingpins are brought to book. He urged those with information to make use of the Tip-off lines 0800 205 005, 08600 10111 or 32211; contact Crime Line where they will remain anonymous or their nearest police station with information. He also thanked his team for their commitment and dedication to the fight to save South Africa’s Natural heritage.

 Issued by:
 South African National Parks Corporate Communications

Procedure Regarding Scattering Of Ashes In The Kruger National Park

South African National Parks (SANParks) would like to remind the public to follow proper procedures if they wish to scatter ashes of their loved ones in the Kruger National Park (KNP).
 
This practice, which has been in place for years has reached a stage wherein management now finds containers, caskets/urns, small tombstones, crosses, memorials or other symbols of remembrance placed or attached against rocks, trees, look out points and other structures in the Park; which is not allowed in a National Park.

“We would like to inform people who place such items without permission from Management that their items would be removed as they contaminate the environment and detracts from the ambience of the Park. Not only is this a contravention of the National Environmental Management: Protection Areas Act No. 57 of 2003; but it is also disrespectful to other visitors to the KNP,” said the General Manager: Conservation Manager, Dr Freek Venter.

 As per the policy, visitors are welcome to send in written requests to scatter ashes in the bush or to place plaques/benches in memory of their loved ones but permission must be granted by Management beforehand. The relevant staff will then find the proper locality for them, in line with the conditions and relevant legislation; as long as no item is left behind and there is no private ceremony that may impact on the experience of other visitors.

 It must also be noted that approval for these requests does not constitute current or future unrestricted, free access to the park nor does it allow exclusivity for family members over any other visitor to the Park.

 Issued by:
 South African National Parks Kruger National Park Communications

South African National Parks Announces New Restaurants And Key Public Private Partnerships

South African National Parks (SANParks) today announced the successful bidders for the provision of restaurant and retail services at various national parks under its management. The announcements were made at the organisation’s headquarters in Pretoria following weeks of adjudication which began with tender processes.
 
A new retail agreement was signed between SANParks and Tourvest for operations in the Kruger National Park (KNP), Tsitsikamma and Addo Elephant National Park.

 According to the CEO of SANParks Dr David Mabunda, this was done mainly to improve tourists shopping experiences and to upgrade the shops and make them eco-friendly. “SANParks has placed focus on value for money for all clients in appointing Tourvest”.

The organisation also embarked on a tender process to appoint operators for restaurants in the KNP. The bidders had several obligations to meet, such as operating, development and refurbishment requirements. They had BBBEE targets to meet as well as environmental obligations.

 It was announced that in the KNP’s, Lower Sabie; Olifants and Letaba camps Mugg and Bean restaurants will be fully operational from March 2014, while the Pretoriuskop and Satara rest camps will have Wimpy restaurants with operations expected to commence also in March 2014.

 The Skukuza Selati restaurant will be operated by Ciao! and are expected to start operations in December 2013 and the main camp restaurant and take away will be serviced by Cattle Baron and Bistro. Operations will start in May 2014 because of extensive refurbishment.
 Details were also given of refurbishments and timelines for the Skukuza Airport after an earlier announcement that airport will be serviced by the Skukuza Airport Management Company, a consortium consisting of Airlink; Federal Air; Lion Sands and Community Development Trust. The consortium will operate the airport for ten years from the commencement of operations.

 The service will operate under strict environmentally acceptable conditions. Hours of operations will be limited to between 9H00 and 15H00. Runway refurbishment commences on the 4 November. The terminal refurbishment will start early in 2014 with flights expected to commence on the 2 June 2014 from OR Tambo International.
 
Dr Mabunda congratulated all the newly appointed operators and expressed his satisfaction that all proper channels were followed. “I look forward to rave reviews from our clients on service, convenience, satisfaction and value for money, we will as always monitor the performance of our new partners and look forward to a mutually benefitting relationship’ concluded Dr Mabunda.

 Issued by:
 South African National Parks Corporate Communications

On Safari With Dean from 27 October 2013

27 October 2013

We picked up guests from the Africa Moon guest house and made our way onto Nelspruit, where we changed over into one of the open safari vehicles and made our way onto Numbi Gate of the Kruger National Park.

After checking in guests enjoyed lunch and then climbed aboard the open safari vehicles for a three hour drive.

Animals seen were impala, kudu, hyena, buffalo.

After the drive, guests enjoyed dinner and then it was off to bed for a good night’s rest.

28 October 2013

On this morning it was up early and after enjoying breakfast it was out on the road to see what turned out to be a brilliant day of game viewing.

We made our way out of Nkambeni Safari Camp and got elephant and buffalo on the camp road, we then made our way down the Numbi Gate tar getting more sightings of buffalo, impala and kudu. We turned onto the Napi Road and made our way in the direction of Skukuza where we planned to have a coffee break, before continuing on with the day’s game viewing.

On Napi road, we managed to get good sightings of buffalo, elephant, leopard, waterbuck, giraffe, kudu and impala.

While on the last section of Napi Road, we got a radio call about lions on the Tshokwane tar, lying in the Sand River, so we decided to make our way there before our break in order to miss the traffic. We found the lions who had moved into a very difficult sighting area, yet we were happy as we had showed the guests the big five before our break.

It was then off to Skukuza for a well deserved break and toilet stop.

After our break, we decided to take a drive down to the camp of Lower Sabie on Elloff street and see what could be found. On this route we found good sightings of hippo, giraffe many herds of elephant crossing the road to go down to the Sabie river, a leopard on lubbe lubbe bridge, thirteen lions on the road in front of our vehicle as well as thirty five crocodiles at sunset dam.

We stopped off at Lower Sabie for lunch.

After lunch, we made our way back on Elloff street getting more good sightings of giraffe, and more herds of elephant. Nearing the end of the route near to the camp of Skukuza, we got a call about a cheetah together with her five cubs on the H3' so we decided to make a turn down there to see if we could find her.

We finally got onto the H3 and at 3.2 Km's down, we found her about eighty meters off the road.

After a great sighting we made our way back up to Napi Road in the direction of the camp as time was moving fast.

At about 1.2 Km's from klipspringer koppies, we came across another young female leopard lying next to the road, she suddenly got up, walked past the front of our vehicle and
proceeded to catch a Crested Francolin and then sit next to the road and our vehicle and eat it, after which she got up and gave the guests the best chance for photos that anybody could get.

We made our way on and got the same leopard lying sleeping next to the road that we had got earlier in the morning.

We were told that there were three more cheetah lying further up the road, so we went looking for them, only to find them in the grass lying watching us.

We went on getting more good sighting of rhino, elephant, buffalo, hyena and a nice herd of sable antelope.

We made our way onto camp getting in at 18h00.

29 October 2013

Today it was our early again for the guests final drive, while out on the drive, we had good sightings of rhino, buffalo, elephant, kudu, impala, hyena and common duiker.

We left the park at 09h00 as guests had to catch their shuttle through to Dullstroom where they were going to do some trout fishing over the next couple of days.

Guests had a good time, and were amazed at the amount and the quality of animals that they saw while on safari.

Keep watching for more!!

Poachers Arrested

On Monday, 28th October 2013, rangers in the Satara section of the Kruger National Park made contact with a group of three suspected rhino poachers.
 
All three suspects were arrested during the operation.
 
One of the suspects was wounded in the initial contact and has been hospitalised.
 A hunting rifle, ammunition and poaching equipment were recovered.
 
Issued by:
 South African National Parks

Poachers Update 28/10

#PoachersUpdate: 28/10 - #Vlakteplaas, Rangers, backed up by the #SANParks helicopter made contact with 3 suspected rhino poachers. During the incident, 1 suspect was fatally wounded, the 2nd was arrested, and the 3rd suspect managed to escape arrest and is still being sought. Ammo, firearm and other related poaching equipment were recovered.

Poachers Update 26/10

#PoachersUpdate: 26/10 - #CrocodileBridge field rangers had contact with 3 #suspectedpoachers this morning. During contact, one poacher was fatally wounded, 2nd suspect was arrested and the third suspect managed to escape into Moz. A.458 rifle, ammo and poaching equipment were recovered.

Poachers Update

#PoachersUpdate: 25/10 - at 18h00, the third suspected poacher from earliers incident has been arrested by the Rangers. Let us continue to stand by the rangers as they continue with this war against rhino poachers. Indeed the huge role they play in fighting to keep our heritage alive, should be noticed by all. #ThankYouRangers

Historical Collaboration Brings Hope To Rhino Plight

A ray of hope has been cast on the crusade to save the rhino in the form of a historical joint collaboration between South African National Parks (SANParks), Bavaria 0.0% and South Africa’s Big 5 Retailers – Woolworths, Spar, Shoprite Checkers, Massmart and Pick ‘n Pay. Amidst the growing concerns surrounding fundraising schemes exploiting the current heightened rhino awareness, the ‘Adopt So Our Rhinos Don’t Die’ historical campaign is the first to bear the official SANParks Fundraising Seal, which ensures peace-of-mind that all funding will go directly to rhino anti-poaching activities.
 
SANParks CEO, Dr David Mabunda, said, “As the custodian and sanctuary for the majority of Africa’s rhino population, and 91% of the world rhino population, it is distressing to report that with the exception for the Honorary Rangers’ initiatives during 2012, SANParks has not received a cent from independent rhino fundraisers this year. We are in a crisis situation that requires funding for expert human and technical resources.

“This historical joint collaboration brings hope to the crisis. All money will be held in a ring-fenced trust fund that is managed by Rand Merchant Bank under the audit of the National Treasury. The trust fund will also be made available to any rhino conservancy that applies for assistance to ensure that we are able to help as many rhino as possible”.

Ms Edna Molewa, Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, endorsed the Adopt So Our Rhino Don’t Die campaign by saying, “It is an honour and privilege standing here on the brink of history, but I am filled with mixed emotions. I am filled with extreme sadness based on my knowledge of the carnage we are currently facing with the senseless slaughtering of our rhino, and the fact that we have lost over 500 rhino to illegal poaching since 1 January 2013, more than the days in the year. On the other hand, I brim with jubilation to know that help is at hand and that at last South Africans across the land will unite and stand together to make a difference, and protect the world’s natural heritage for generations to come”.

With a 300 year family legacy that is immersed in preserving heritage, Bavaria 0.0% is more than just a brewery and has shown its commitment to ensuring that the rhino is preserved for future generations by being the enabler of the Adopt So Our Rhinos Don’t Die campaign. This decision falls directly in line with Bavaria’s intrinsic value of 0.0% tolerance to rhino poaching, the illegal killing of any wildlife or humankind and to drinking and driving. The partnership also sees a decision by SANParks to clamp down on irresponsible alcohol-induced behaviour in its Parks.

 Stijn Swinkels, Family Board Member of Bavaria Brewery, commented, “Brewing is in my blood. My whole family grew up with it, but why should our sense of responsibility stop there? The plight of the rhino really touched me. This is about keeping your identity and national pride alive. It is about future existance. If we can deploy something as simple as our product’s reach and accessibility to make people stop and think about this, then I want to stand up for that.

“Hopefully our children will take over the brewery and therefore I understand how important it is to fight for survival. I hope that later our children will brew with the same passion, while at the same time realising that what they are holding in their hands is more than a malt drink and that outside of the brewery we can also make a difference”.

Bavaria 0.0% has extended the reach of the campaign into South Africa’s Big 5 leading retail chains and as front-runners to the consumer, each retailer will create the adoption ‘route’ for the public. From every purchase of any six-pack of Bavaria regular or fruit flavoured malt drinks, both the Big 5 retailers and Bavaria will match a massive margin sacrifice to fund the consumer’s adoption certificate cost and this money will go directly into the SANParks ring-fenced rhino fund.

 Swinkels adds, “We were so touched by the rhino plight, that the cause became greater than our risk to enter a new market and sacrifice our profit margin. We would like to thank the Big 5 retailers for joining us in this collaboration in aid of the rhino, who is the real hero.”
Ivan Oertle, Woolworths Specialist Buyer, commented, “We at Woolworths have always believed in doing the right thing and in this case it is collaborating with Bavaria, SANParks and our competitors to bring hope to the world’s last remaining wild rhino population. We urge our customers to support the Adopt So Our Rhino Don’t Die initiative. Never before has saving the rhino been done in a way that is so easy, such fun and so safe, as this the first campaign carrying the official SANParks Seal of Approval for a ring fenced fund”.

Mark Robinson, Group Liquor Manager, The Spar Group Ltd, said, “On behalf of the SPAR Group Ltd I would like to applaud SANParks, Dr David Mabunda and of course Bavaria 0.0% for what is undoubtedly and hopefully an initiative which will go a long way in protecting one of our country’s very rare and threatened assets and a part of our heritage. Hopefully this will make a meaningful contribution to the protection of our rhino and we thank you for including us in this initiative”.

“This is a fantastic initiative by Bavaria 0.0%. We are pleased to join other retailers in assisting SANParks to make a difference in the fight against rhino poaching,” added Jonathan Koff Makro Liquor Executive, Massmart.

 Dr Mabunda, concluded, “I believe that the ‘Adopt So Our Rhino Don’t Die’ campaign will ignite the nation, and the world, into a cohesive drive to adopt and protect the rhino against poaching. Bavaria’s contribution towards funding the consumers’ rhino adoption cost will lead the way in providing the much needed funding in our crusade against illegal poaching and wildlife trade”.

Poachers Update

#PoachersUpdate: 25/10 - #MooiplaasRangers made contact with a group of 3 suspected rhino poachers. Two suspects have been arrested and the third suspect managed to escape. A firearm, ammo and other poaching equipment were recovered.

SA AND LAOS TO SIGN AN AGREEMENT TO PROTECT AND CONSERVE RHINO

The signing of the MoU will be accompanied by the endorsement of an Implementation Plan putting into immediate action concrete steps to, among others, eradicate wildlife crimes through government-to-government and security initiatives, educate the public and raise awareness.

Follow the link to view more http://bit.ly/18SGGK5