Anti Poaching Helicopters in the Kruger National Park

A really nice video of the SAN Parks Kruger National Parks #Helicopters used for #antipoaching purposes. A realy nice fleet of well made helicopters used in day to day operations in the #rhinowar. If you would like to vist the "Rhino Orhponage", they talk about in the video clip, then please visit our website and go to https://www.nhongosafaris.com/exclusive-5-day-rhino-sanctua… and https://www.nhongosafaris.com/3-day-rhino-quickie-safari, or even if you only want one night added onto any other of our #Krugerpark Packages. #satsa_sa #WeDOTourism #OurJourneysChangeLives #atta_tourism #SATravelTrade  #SATravelPeople #KrugerLowveld

Media Release: KNP Helicopter Lands Safely After Engine Failure

One of the Kruger National Park (KNP) helicopters with three park officials on board went looking for two rhinos, which were believed to be outside the Park west of Orpen Gate yesterday (18 August 2015). The female rhino and her calf were observed outside the park; and a helicopter was dispatched to locate the animals in order to guide the Game Capture team on the ground.

The team was still searching for the animals, when the helicopter suddenly experienced a power loss and engine failure. The pilot was forced to carry out an immediate emergency landing which he did successfully with no injuries or further damage to the aircraft.

“We are grateful that our employees are all safe and no one was hurt; even grateful that the game capture team managed to recover the animals and ensure their safe return to the park. A special commendation goes out to the Pilot; who under critical circumstances, managed to land the aircraft safely;” concluded the KNP’s Managing Executive, Mr Glenn Phillips.

The helicopter is currently being inspected to determine the cause of the engine failure.

Issued by:
Communications & Marketing Department, Kruger National Park
Tel: 013 735 4262, cell: 082 807 1441
E-mail: laura.mukwevho@sanparks.org

Media enquiries:
William Mabasa
GM: Communications & Marketing, Kruger National Park
Tel: 013 735 4363, cell: 082 807 3919
E-mail: william.mabasa@sanparks.org

Reynold “Rey” Thakhuli
GM: PR, Media and Stakeholder Relations, SANParks
Tel: 012 426 5203, Cell: 073 373 4999
E-mail: rey.thakhuli@sanparks.org

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Rhino Poaching Update

South Africa and Mozambique have identified a number of projects to assist with the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the field of Biodiversity Conservation and Management signed on 17 April 2014.

http://bit.ly/1ot5ZLm

On Safari With Karen from 20 March 2014

20 March 2014

Last night's sundowner drive was a success. They set out from Numbi gate spotting zebras and hippos on the way to the sunset spot where they drank some Amarula. When it got dark they drove around with a spotlight, being lucky to see a spotted eagle owl, white rhino, hyena and a honeybadger!

Today we went out for a full day game drive. On camp road we greeted our impala friends and almost at the end we found a road block in the form of a buffalo. Instead of moving to the side he stop and had a poo in the middle of the road, taking his time. We waited and spotted a tree squirrel with a fluffy baby in the tree next to us.

When we continued we heard about a leopard sighting and made our way there. We met another car on the way that showed us the place. We saw some warthogs running away and then we indeed saw the leopard! As soon as we stopped him he got up and moved down out of site. We waited a little, as there was no way to go anyway since there were lots of cars all around, when suddenly an alarm call sounds and this big kudu bull comes jumping out of the thick bush. He scares us, us being there scares him so he screams again and jumps back into the bush the other way. Then we decide to turn around as the cars behind us did and while turning we get another glimpse of him first sitting up on the rocks and then slowly walking out of sight. We were hoping to see him on the other side of the rocks, but no such luck.

At the crossroads we spotted a warthog reading the road sign - no 'looking' at the sign, So this warthog stands in the middle of the crossroads looking at the road sign and then at us. He is quite indecisive so we warn him not to go towards the leopard, but who knows where he went when we left him...

We left the sighting to have a quick toilet break at Pretoriuskop and then continued onto Napi. We spotted an elephant feeding, this one much bigger than the one we saw yesterday. On Napi Boulders we saw 5 male giraffes. A young one and a youngish one who was twice his size were having a very half-hearted fight. They showed the moves but no power or passion. Even when two even bigger ones joined the squabble it looked like a slow motion show without conviction! So no giraffe got injured even a little bit. A little further we saw a terrapin crossing the road from one puddle to another.

We stopped at Transport Dam and saw a large herd of waterbuck snoozing on the opposite side. There was a water monitor on a rock and we saw two hippos in the water. An elephant was feeding but as he was all wet he probably just had a swim before we arrived. We also saw a pied kingfisher showing what he does best: fish. And we saw a lot of other birds like the carmine bee eater, grey heron, greenbacked heron, white faced ducks, water thicknees, blacksmith lapwings and yellow billed hornbills are the ones I remember.

We then turned onto the H3, heading for Afsaal. It is always stunning to see how different the vegetation and the sights get while driving in different areas. The road had some crossing wildlife like impalas, a leopard tortoise and a chameleon. The last one being very slow, showing his imitation of a leaf in the wind, until he got close to the other side of the road and took a sprint! We spotted a nice kudu bull on the side of the road, one that didn't look like he was about to jump in the car. Close to Afsaal on the open area we saw a massive elephant and more kudus.

After our coffee break at Afsaal, the road towards Skukuza had become rather quiet, spotting even hardly any impalas. We decided to take a look around the river as we were told about lions while at Afsaal, but these were unfortunately hiding somewhere unknown. At high level bridge however we spotted some more hippos and saw two nice and close crocodiles. On the way to the golfclub we also saw some zebras and another warthog.

We stopped for lunch at the Skukuza golfclub where a hippo kept on showing half his body above the water. On the way out we spotted a bushbuck hiding in the bush.

Just before we turned onto Doispane we saw a massive herd of buffalo and some zebras which tried to blend in with the herd. The trail of the herd crossed in front of the car when we actually turned onto Doispane.

A little further on we were stopped by another safari vehicle. They had found a leopard, quite far in the bush but with binoculars excellently visible. Grateful we watched until it jumped out of the tree it was lying in. It look like it was going into the direction of a herd of impalas we had just passed, so we turned around. We sat with the impalas for a little while when indeed the leopard showed up crouching in the long grass. We watched it go nearer and nearer but then lost visual when it was about 10m away. Too far to make a dash and the impalas were not aware of the leopard yet. So we hang around for a while, all the time scouting the area in between the last spot we saw the leopard and the impalas. But she did not return in our sights and unfortunately we had to leave as we were running out of time.

We turned onto Watergat and spotted some vervet monkeys. They were hanging around, quite literally as 1 was hanging upside down on a tree ready to jump/let go. The youngsters were having some playing time. We also saw a large elephant bull and more kudus and impalas.

Back on Napi we came across another herd of buffalo. But then close to Transport Dam we saw 11 hyenas outside their den. Of those 11 only 4 were adults and the rest was youngsters of various ages and one female looked heavily pregnant too. The babies were drinking with their mothers while the youngsters were running around in the grass.

After sitting with them for a while, we really had to go. While driving back to Nkambeni there was no more time for stopping, except for some dwarf mongoose and later on impalas in the middle of the road (we wouldn't want to run over anything, now would we!). It had been a long day, but a very successful one.

22 March 2014

Today was our last day. We left after breakfast once again and passed our impala friends on camp road without stopping this time. On the tar road we spotted zebras.

There were rumours there were lions on the Shabeni koppies so we took a drive around the loop. The previous vehicles there hadn't seen anything, but it couldn't hurt to see for ourselves. We drove right way around the koppies and spotted buffalos, impalas and a klipspringer. When we were all around we decided to go around the loop one more time the left way around. To see things from a different perspective, we joked. We once again saw the klipspringer and then suddenly spotted movement. We stopped and through our binoculars we didn't see the lions we were hoping for but a leopard! He was watching around and sometimes even straight at us. The klipspringer started whistling alarm when the leopard got up and walked in his direction. He ran away when the leopard came too close. We sat watching the leopard for about 30min, all by ourselves. The klipspringer came back, showing his mate the location of the leopard too. We could almost see them whisper "look, honey, there he is. I told you there was a leopard".

We also heard vervet mknkeys alarm calling in the area. Probably for that same leopard. As the leopard was settling down again, our attention waivered in trying to find the monkeys, but to no avail.

Then we decided to finish the Shabeni loop, with unfortunately no sightings of lions, but we did see another buffalo and a hovering black shouldered kite.

Just before we turned into Albassini road we saw a small herd of buffalo crossing. And then all the way up Albassini to Phabeni Gate we saw absolutely nothing. Not even an impala. Guess our luck had run out!

At Phabeni Gate we quickly stopped for a toilet break. Kelly thought it was wise to point out we have been so lucky with the weather those four days.... Needless to say we drove to the airport through thick fog and rain! But that didn't change anything. I had to say goodbye to Kelly and Alex at the airport, who are having a bit more holiday in Cape Town and surroundings before they are heading home. It was great having you on safari with us, and I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did!

Media Release: Rhino Poaching Update

14 March 2014 - The total number of rhino poached in South Africa since the beginning of 2014 has increased to 172, as the number of people arrested for rhino poaching-related offences climbed to 54.
 
The Kruger National Park remains hardest hit by rhino poaching, having lost 113 rhino since 1 January 2014. A total of 18 rhino have been poached for their horn in Limpopo, 17 in North West and 11 in KwaZulu-Natal.

A total of 24 poachers have been arrested the Kruger National Park and 15 in KwaZulu-Natal.

South Africans are urged to report incidents of poaching and tip-offs to the anonymous tip-off lines 0800 205 005, 08600 10111 or Crime-Line on 32211.

For media queries, contact:
Albi Modise on 083 490 2871

Issued by:
The Department of Environmental Affairs

Dehorned Rhino Found And Put Down

South African National Parks (SANParks) intensified its search again this morning for the dehorned rhino spotted by visitors on Friday, 28 February 2014 in the Kruger National Park (KNP).

According to SANParks Acting Head of Communications, Reynold Thakhuli, the Rangers took off again this morning in search of the dehorned rhino, it was found alive, but in a bad condition. It was found within the Phabeni Section of KNP but quite far from where it was initially seen. “An assessment was conducted to determine the extent of the injuries and suffering. It was discovered that a bullet had lodged in the rhino’s brain and therefore any chance of survival was slim.”

Thakhuli said the Ranger in charge, after a thorough assessment of the animal, took a decision to put it down to end the suffering that it had endured since the poaching incident. “There was simply no chance of surviving for this poor animal and unfortunately it had to be put down.”

SANParks would like to extend its gratitude to the visitors who alerted the authorities about this heart-breaking incident as well as to the Rangers for a sterling job and dedication to finding the animal despite challenges with the weather conditions and tough terrain they had physically tackled in search of this animal. “We will continue to work hard in the fight against the overwhelming scourge that is currently targeting the KNP... “to us one rhino killed is one too many.”

Issued by:
South African National Parks Corporate Communications

On Safari With Karen From 13 February 2014

13 February 2014

After 3 scorching hot days somebody had done a rain dance last night and it had worked. We woke up to a rainy morning and instead of diminishing it increased during the morning. Even though it was nice being a bit cooler we could have done without the rain.

We left after breakfast for a drive down Napi to find what was out there. It w...as a quiet stretch as apparently the rain made the animals shy. We encountered a couple of elephants close to the road feeding, but otherwise even the impalas were in hiding.

Nevertheless we once again found a new animal today, a klipspringer! And just then the call came in about a lioness on the road. We followed up on the tip and were lucky to see her walking towards us with an escort of about 15 other cars behind her. We stopped so she walked past our vehicle and she came quite close. She was roaring, calling out to presumably her lost pride members. While the rest of the cars followed her we had to turn around and decided to stay at a distance since we had such a good sighting. We stopped waiting for the road to clear when the lioness decided it was better looking the other way and she had turned around. This time just in the bush, but close to the road, once again she walked past our vehicle and once again she was followed by an amount of cars that had now doubled. While trying to make our way in the opposite direction out of the sqaubble she had turned again and we were a third time lucky to have her pass our vehicle and now she was roaring quite adamantly. We felt the car vibrate through her roars and decided now it was really time to let her be. We left the sighting while even more safari cars showed up and we were told later that she had found at least two more members of her pride.

On the way to our coffee break we saw more elephants, giraffe, vervet monkeys, leopard tortoises and after a long search some impalas.

The coffee was nice and warm on this rainy day and after the warm-up we needed to make way to the gate as some of our members were saying goodbye. But before we were on our way Mark called in a leopard in a tree. Pushing our luck we followed up on the sighting and just before we got there it had jumped down. We searched and searched but didn't spot her. But time was an issue so we unfortunately had to leave the sighting. We were a mere 500m away when the call came to return as she had just climbed into another tree. We turned and just as we arrived at the scene she was lying in a tree, looked up, got up and jumped out of the tree out of sight. 30 seconds and it was worth it! Would you believe our luck!

But now we ran out of time so we headed back to the gate. We had no more time left to properly stop at a sighting but we could point out more impalas, kudus, leopard tortoises, a chameleon and three white rhinos.

At the gate we said our goodbyes to Gaby and Michael who were a great part of the group. Morgan, Terry and Maggie are staying another night to overcome all the excitement from the last few days and will transfer back to Johannesburg tomorrow. You guys were a fantastic group, I thank you for joining me on this safari!!

14 February 2014

Today I picked up the guests at the airport and with very variable weather we made our way through the plantations towards Numbi Gate. As soon as we entered Kruger Park we stumbled upon a herd of impala. We checked in into Nkambeni Lodge, our home for tonight and after lunch we went on our first game drive.

As soon as we were ready to go it was pouring down with rain, but undeterred we set off. We turned into Albassini following rumours that there might be lions in that direction far ahead. After a quiet start we saw kudu bulls and had our first elephant not far from the road. A dwarf mongoose was sitting on a tree stump but disappeared as soon as we stopped.

In the meantime it had stopped raining and bravely we had taken off our ponchos. On Doispane we saw guineafowls, a very well hidden steenbok , more impalas, wildebeest, zebra, warthog and giraffe. Of course it also had started raining again.

When it dried up we saw a lovely rainbow and Filip took one for the team and kept his poncho on. Then Melanie spotted movement and thought it was a lioness. As we were coming close to the spot where the rumoured lions should be we stopped and scouted around. We saw a leopard sitting on a rock, but that was not where she had seen the lion. We looked a bit more and found a second leopard close by! Two leopards in one spot, what a great sighting! Both were sitting up so we were hoping they would get up, but one by one they put their head down and eyes closed so we knew there wasn't going to be more to this show.

We continued our search but did not spot the rumoured lions. The time had come to make our way back to the lodge as the gates would close soon. On our way back we saw a family of baboons walking in the road, two reedbucks, a zebra crossing the road, more giraffes (also crossing), waterbuck more wildebeest, and two separate herds of elephants.

We stopped at Mestel dam for a good look at the hippos playing in the water and were surprised by a white rhino walking and grazing on the opposite side. And to top it all off, just before we got back to the gate a dung beetle was rolling his dung ball across the road. Once he had passed we drove the last bit and finished for today. It was dry as long as Filip had kept his poncho on, but what do you know, as soon as he took it off to go to his room... downpour!!

We had a very wet but good start, now bring on tomorrow!

15 February 2014

After breakfast this morning the bags were once again packed in the vehicle and we drove off for the last game drive of this safari. After being incredibly lucky yesterday we were hoping to find something new.

We drove along Napi and started off really quiet with a long stretch of nothing. We saw a duiker cross the road quickly in front of us, an elephant and leopard tortoises in different sizes (small, medium and large) and we'd been driving for two hours already when we spotted a small troop of baboons in a tree.

We were heading for an early coffee break when we saw cars ahead and got excited. But apparently we just missed a leopard that had crossed the road and now had disappeared into the bush. We thought our luck had run out when we heard about another leopard so we changed course. And man, were we lucky. She was lounging in a tree just off the road, snoozing, washing herself and snoozing again. At one time she even sat up, it was a brilliant sighting.

We continued on the S114 towards the S112 where we then spotted 6 lions lying on a rock. They were about 100meters in but we had good visibility as there was only 1 other car at the sighting. The females and youngsters were deep asleep, so the only movement we got was the twitch of an ear.

After watching this for a while we continued down Napi again towards our long overdue coffee break. We were told about another leopard not far away, but as we just had a brilliant sighting and were spoiled yesterday and were in need of a toilet break we decided not to pursue this sighting.

On the way though we saw an elephant crossing the road in front of us, two white rhinos, wildebeest, giraffe, zebras and kudus. Unbelievably we stopped next to a car at a sighting and he told us about the leopard in the tree a little further in the bush. We looked and there it was! The best sighting was our first leopard of the day, but who can say no to watching another one when you are already there?!

After the long overdue coffee and a just in time toilet break we headed back towards Numbi gate for the end of our safari. We were still lucky in seeing more elephants, zebras, wildebeest and impala. We arrived early at the parking lot at Numbi reception so we walked around and swapped stories about trees and bushes as Filip works in a nursery back home. When the transfer arrived it was time to say goodbye. Melanie and Filip, it was great having you! I hope you'll enjoy the rest of your holiday just as much!

Keep watching for more!!

South African National Parks Calls On South Africans To Match Rangers Efforts In Fighting Poaching

The South African National Parks (SANParks) today appealed to the South African public to support efforts by Rangers to stop the massacre of our natural heritage by greedy poachers, who are promise wealth by syndicates.

This year alone, 46 rhino carcases have been discovered in the iconic Kruger N...ational Park which is bearing the brunt of the carnage. Six were from last year and 40 from the past 21 days of 2014. This has brought more resolve from the Rangers Corp to double their efforts to keep the species alive.

This weekend alone saw four armed contacts with Rangers that resulted in the death of seven suspected poachers. Rangers confiscated four hunting rifles, ammunition, poaching equipment and a pair of horns. The death of the seven suspects brings to 11 the number of poachers killed in contacts with our Rangers Corp and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) members in the KNP in January 2014. During these incidences two suspected poachers were arrested and eight firearms recovered. These armed contacts take place during the night and present a high level of risk to members of the KNP Rangers Corp.

Well over 80% of the incursions are from the Mozambican side. Multiple incursions of up to 15 heavily armed groups operate in the KNP at any given time especially during the full moon period. They operate in groups of four to six and are aggressive and engage and shoot at the Rangers on sight, creating a daily life threatening situation. The recent recovery of a handgun at a contact scene suggests elevated levels of aggression from the poaching groups. This heightens the fear of losing a ranger to a poacher’s bullet.

Despite all of the above, the Officer Commanding of the Rangers Corp, Major General (RET) Johan Jooste is optimistic that his well thought out long term strategy will bear fruits. “ We brought down the level of poaching incidents last year to 42.6% from 72.6% the previous year, we have also arrested 123 individuals in connection with poaching activities, it is now up to the prosecuting teams, investigators and the SAPS to conclude what we have started. We would like to ask the public, law enforcement agencies and our counterparts in Mozambique, to play their part, match the work that is being done by the Rangers and we will reap the rewards and win this war” concluded Jooste.

Issued by :
South African National Parks

Support Lasher Tools In The Fight Against Rhino Poaching

Now gardening, farming and construction can make a difference in conserving our environment and stopping poaching.

For each unit of their Big 5 tools sold, Lasher Tools will donate... funds to support the counter poaching activities of the SANParks Honorary Rangers in our National Parks.

Help protect our endangered species so that our children and their children can enjoy their natural heritage.

Buy any of these Lasher products at any hardware store, garden centre or shop.

Lasher Tools, a proud South African company supporting our National Parks.

For more information: http://sanparksvolunteers.org/

Seven Year Old Helps To Save The Rhino In Kruger National Park

SANParks Rhino Champion, Alyssa Carter is a normal seven year old and she is also last year’s winner of the Corporate Contribution to Conservation Award (Individual), SANParks Kudu awards. What sets Alyssa apart is she is doing what not many other seven year olds have the inclination to do – try and save a rhino.

Her idea came abo...ut after her school class learnt about endangered animals and her teacher explained how rhinos were being killed. Her emotional response was so strong that she immediately wanted to do something to help save the rhinos, her favourite animal.

With the help of her parents Alyssa started making and selling chocolates in May 2013. The chocolates, selling for R10 each, have a hand-drawn picture of a rhino created by Alyssa. The money she collects goes to support the SANParks Honorary Rangers in their fight to save the rhino.

To date Alyssa has raised over R17, 000 and her dream is to raise enough money to help buy a trained sniffer dog for the Kruger National Park, as well as the necessary supplies the dog will need. Although this generally costs R100 000 Alyssa is determined to raise the money as soon as possible so she can help the Kruger National Park buy a dog. She already has the name picked out.

“Her award is in recognition of her entrepreneurial spirit and acknowledging that the fight against rhino poaching requires funding. She has also been named a SANParks Rhino Champion, a first for someone so young,” says Janssen Davies, National Chairperson of the SANParks Honorary Rangers. “What she is doing is a triumph for her generation and we are proud to have her as a supporter.”

The SANParks Honorary Rangers are the South African National Parks preferred channel for counter poaching support in our National Parks. They work directly with the counter poaching teams in the parks to provide crucial training and equipment.

The battle to save the rhino can also be supported outside the reserves when the kingpins are brought to book. Those with information can 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.

To help Alyssa in her cause, visit – www.sanparksvolunteers.org

Issued by:
SANParks Honorary Rangers

Three Suspects Found With Elephant Tusks

On Saturday, 7th December 2013, In the Punda Maria area during a joint stop and search of vehicles moving in and out of the Kruger National Park, three suspects transporting two cut up elephant tusks weighing approximately 80 kilograms to Mozambique were arrested.

A fourth suspect, who allegedly found and illegally picked up the tusks from a carcass close to Punda Maria, was later followed up and has been arrested.

Three of the suspects have thus far made confessions. Investigations are continuing and all efforts are being made to locate the carcass which is believed to have died of natural causes.

Issued by:
South African National Parks

On Safari From 22 November 2013

22 November 2013

The route today was out of camp at 06h00 down the Albasini road, onto Doispane and then up the Paul Kruger Gate Tar to Skukuza for a break.

Animals seen were elephant, rhino, buffalo, impala, kudu, giraffe and stenbuck.

After a tea and coffee break, it was up the Tshokwane tar over the high water bridge, down Elloff Street and back down the Napi Road to camp for lunch.

Animals seen were loads of elephant, buffalo, rhino and giraffe.

This afternoon after meeting some new guests who were joining the safari, we made our way up the Numbi Gate tar, onto the Napi Road, down to Shithave dam and then back onto Napi Road.

Animals seen were common Reedbuck, elephant, buffalo, rhino, waterbuck, impala, cheetah and wildebeest.

 23 November 2013

Today the route was as follows,

We left camp at 06hoo went up the Numbi gate tar getting some hyena females together with their pups. We turned onto Napi Road going down to the H3. We made our way past Quagga pan for about five kilometres, then turned around and made our way back to Napi road, as not much was going on. During this part of the drive, elephants, buffalo, rhino, impala, wildebeest, hyena and kudu were seen.

On the way back to Napi road, a call was received about a mating pair of leopards close to us on the Napi Road, we moved it up and got them in the middle of the road. They moved off the road and within three minutes were gone.

We made our way to Skukuza for a break.

After our break, we were told of another leopard in the tree on the S114, so we decided to go and have a look, we managed to find it lying in a marula tree. After a good sighting, we made our way down the S114 , onto the S112 and back up the H3, before making our way back to camp for lunch.

Animals seen were impala, wildebeest, zebra, hyena, rhino, buffalo, elephant and sable antelope.

This afternoon, we made a turn at Mentsel dam getting hippo's and then went across to Manungu koppies, getting baboon and dwarf mongooses as well as hyena and elephant, before returning to camp.

 24 November 2013

We left camp at 06h00 and made our way down the Numbi Gate tar and onto the Napi Road to the H3 junction and then back to Numbi Gate in order for clients to get their transfer back to Johannesburg.

Animals seen were rhino, buffalo, elephant, impala, kudu, waterbuck, hippo and Klipspringer.

After dropping clients off, we took another drive down the Albasini road, onto Doispane and then up the Paul Kruger Gate tar and back to camp on Napi Road.

Animals seen were zebra, giraffe, mating pair of lions, elephant, rhino, buffalo, impala, waterbuck, kudu, warthog and baboon.

This afternoon’s game drive was around the Shabeni Koppies, around Manungu Koppies and then around Voortrekker link.

Animals seen were hyena, elephant, rhino, buffalo, kudu, impala and baboon.

 25 November 2013

Today we left camp at 06h00 and made our way up the Numbi gate tar getting good sightings of buffalo and hyena, we then turned onto Napi Road going down to Transport dam and then returning to Numbi Gate to take guests through to Nelspruit for their transfer back to Johannesburg.

Animals seen were rhino, elephant, buffalo, impala, kudu, waterbuck, hippo, zebra and baboon.

This afternoon game drive left at 15h00 with new guests and the same route was driven with exception that we went down to the H3 junction.

Animals seen were elephant, rhino, buffalo, kudu, waterbuck, hyena, impala, zebra, hippo and baboon.

Guests returned to the lodge with five minutes to spare before gate closing.

 26 November 2013

Guest return to Johannesburg today with Dean.

 

Touching Lives - Rhino wars

Ruthless poachers have been mercilessly culling our endangered rhinos for the past few years. To combat this slaughter, the South African National Defence Force, the South African Police Service and South African National Parks have joined forces in Operation Rhino to catch and stop the poachers. See how your Tax is helping to protect our heritage. Follow the link to view the video https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nhongo-Safaris/43657075115

Poachers Update

#PoachersUpdate: A dehydrated and exhausted suspected rhino poacher handed himself over to SANParks Rangers yesterday afternoon after he lost his way. It appears that he was part of a group that was being investigated in the #Tshokwane area. Investigations into his activities are underway.

R17.3 million Worth Of Rhino Horn Seized During An Operation In Centurion, Near Pretoria

They arrived at a secure complex where they first found a car with a hidden compartment used for horns, microchip scanners, a bandsaw and hi-tech scales. Two horns were in the car. The following day, an eagleeyed policeman noticed that soil in the garden had been disturbed, and six rhino horns wrapped in clingfilm were unearthed.

 One of the horns was so fresh, it was later found to have been hacked from a rhino just a few days earlier.

 The details of Operation Whisper, which bust the rhino-poaching syndicate, were revealed in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

 Colonel Gerhard Vermeulen of the SAPS Forensic Science Laboratory told how he had arrived at the crime scene to find two rhino horns in a car.

 They had been stashed in a hidden compartment, between the rear seat and the boot.

“If you had opened the boot you wouldn’t have been able to see it,” said Vermeulen.

 In the dock was Vietnamese citizen Gulit Chu Duc, 23, who was arrested on May 31 last year at the Centurion complex.

 He has pleaded guilty to two charges related to the transportation and possession of rhino horns.

 His arrest was the culmination of Operation Whisper, during which undercover SAPS members had sold two rhino horns in KwaZulu-Natal and then followed the contraband to Gauteng.

 In a statement, Chu Duc said he had picked up a parcel from a person in Bruma, Joburg, and placed the parcel in his car.

 Vermeulen told the court that in the garage he also found a rhino horn in a bandsaw.

“It appeared to me that someone was in the process of cutting up the horn,” he said.

 On the floor were two microchip scanners.

 He believed the scanners were used to locate microchips left in the horns.

 The following day when Vermeulen searched the garden, he found six more horns.

 The horns were sent for DNA testing and compared to a genetic rhino database. They got a match on one of them.

 The horn belonged to a male rhino poached in the Hluhluwe Umfolozi game reserve in KwaZulu-Natal on the same day as the Centurion bust.

 The animal had been killed a few days earlier.

 A fingerprint matching Chu Duc was found on some of the plastic wrapped around the horn, said Vermeulen.

 Advocate Mannie Witz said his client was not part of a syndicate – “What he is, is the most dispensable person in the world.”

He claimed the vehicle Chu Duc was driving was registered to the Centurion complex’s landlord, who also owned a game farm in Klerksdorp, where legal rhino hunts were conducted.

 Witz said there were legal permits to hunt rhinos.

 Vermeulen said no permits were found relating to the eight seized horns.

“If these horns were legally hunted, why would they need to transport the horn in a secret compartment or hide them in the garden?” he asked.

 Chu Duc’s sentencing hearing will continue on December 6. THE GOVERNMENT’S plan to set up a national fund it would manage to combat rhino poaching has been blasted by the non-governmental sector, which fears the fund will be mismanaged.

 The Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) has been forging ahead with the establishment of the National Rhino Fund. It claims this will allow donors to be sure their money is going to anti-poaching projects.

 The idea behind the fund is that the government will look at projects that are underfunded and channel the money to them. It also will establish a separate DEA registry dealing with anti-poaching groups.

 However, at a meeting with NGOs, non-profit organisations, the private sector and the public in Kempton Park last week, the DEA came under fire.

 The major concerns raised included government involvement in the non-governmental sector and a potential mismanagement of funds.

“It’s a clear and absolute conflict of interest,” said Katheryn Kure, director of the eThekwini Community Foundation. She also questioned how the government could expect to raise funds through NGOs and why there was a need for a separate registry.

“It’s a needless duplication within the government,” Kure said. Her organisation was already registered with the Department of Social Development and was accountable to the Department of Justice, the Master of the High Court and Sars, with all finances available to the public on demand.

“When the government says we want to ring-fence your money and we’ll decide how it’s spent, I’m sceptical,” said another concerned person.

 Deputy director-general in the DEA Fundisile Mkenti admitted there was distrust in the government’s management of funds but said money would be used responsibly. “The money we get is not for politics; it’s for rhino poaching.”

Sheelagh Antrobus, of Project Rhino KZN, was worried that bigger, more politically connected groups would get most of the funding while smaller ones would get the leftovers. “I’m very concerned that it is going to be like lion cubs at a kill,” she said.

 Mkenti replied: “We don’t see competition. You help us by telling us who is funding you… give us those and we’ll avoid them.”

Another issue was whether the government would support groups opposed to legalising the rhino horn trade, because the DEA had a pro-trade stance.

“We don’t care, that’s your mandate… we won’t stop you,” said Mkenti.

 By:
 The Star

Newly Appointed Security Arrest Two Females

Newly appointed security personnel posted at Kruger Gate have arrested 2 females found in posession of 6 bags of dagga weighing 140.2KG valued at R100 000 or more.

Poaching Update 24/8

(Houtboschrand) Rangers made contact with a group of 6 suspected #rhinopoachers after tracking them for most of the morning. 3 suspects were fatally wounded and 3 arrested, one of which was wounded. 2 rifles and ammo were recovered. This comes after a week of success in the rhino war were the #Mozambique colleauges had contact with 3 seperate groups in Xongile and managed to arrest 3 suspects.

SANParks Announces Successful Operator For Skukuza Airport

The South African National Parks (SANParks) has today announced the appointment of a preferred operator for the Skukuza Airport in the iconic Kruger National Park.

SANParks, Chief Executive Officer, Dr. David Mabunda said the successful bid was submitted by the Skukuza Airport Management Company (Pty) Ltd jointly owned by Lion Sands, Federal Air and Airlink. The consortium will sign a Public Private Partnership (PPP) agreement with SANParks for a period of ten years.

The announcement follows a lengthy process of technical evaluation and adjudication of bids submitted in response to a Request for Proposals issued in April 2013.

According to Dr. Mabunda this development will benefit SANParks’ long haul clients and those from major centers who will no longer be subjected to a two hour drive from Nelspruit to the Kruger National Park. “We are reliving a tradition that started in 1959 to enhance visitor convenience and experience and we are looking forward to working with our new partners in taking the business of managing national parks assets to another level.”

In reacting to the announcement, Robert More, Lion Sands Co-founder and CEO said it is an absolute privilege to be involved in this venture. “Our lodges are all in close proximity to Skukuza and our customers will benefit significantly from re-opening the Skukuza airport to scheduled air services”.
C
arl Trieloff, Commercial Director of Special Projects at Fed Air added, “We are proud to be part of the consortium behind the winning bid. We are looking forward to providing visitors the opportunity to experience a high quality affordable bushveld experience”.

Rodger Foster, Airlink’s CEO responded by saying his company is delighted to be in the consortium and looking forward to delivering scheduled air services to Skukuza, and access to all lodges within the Skukuza precinct. This is going to make travelling to the Kruger National Park simpler and affordable.

Skukuza Airport Management Company will be given access to the Skukuza airport facility from 1 September 2013, in order to commence with the alterations and improvements essential to bringing the airport to the international standard, which will include rehabilitation of the runway.

It is envisaged that the airport upgrades should be substantially completed by 1 November 2013 to achieve the necessary licensing by the SA Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA). It is anticipated that the licensing process will be completed before the first quarter of 2014 with scheduled flights set to commence in March 2014.

In conclusion, Dr. Mabunda said, SANParks was highly impressed with the successful bidder’s operational plan for the airport and its associated air services. “This included a comprehensive environmental management plan to limit the noise impact of operations overarching minimized environmental impact philosophy.”

Issued by:
South African National Parks Corporate Communications

Foreign Tourists Involved In An Accident In The #KNP

Foreign tourists involved in an accident in the #KNP.. Follow the link for the full story http://www.sanparks.org/about/news/default.php?id=55496